Cantonment Soldier Among Four Killed In Texas Black Hawk Crash

November 28, 2015

A local soldier was among four U.S. service members killed in a helicopter accident earlier this week on Fort Hood in Texas.

Their Black Hawk helicopter crashed Monday about 6 p.m. in the northeast portion of the base about 60 miles north of Austin. The Army said late Saturday that the crash killed Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen B. Cooley, 40, a Cantonment native; Sgt. 1st Class Toby A. Childers, 40, a Hays, KS, native; Sgt.1st Class Jason M. Smith, 35, a Destrehan, LA, native; and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Michael F. Tharp, 40, a Katy, TX, native.

The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Army Combat Readiness Center based in Fort Rucker, AL.

Pictured: Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen B. Cooley of Cantonment was killed in a Black Hawh helicopter crash Monday, the Army announced late Friday. Reader submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

15 Responses to “Cantonment Soldier Among Four Killed In Texas Black Hawk Crash”

  1. Richard Ragsdale on August 1st, 2017 8:20 pm

    Good bye Brent..I will miss you..Thanks for always being a bright light even though your child life wasn’t always so great..you were a good friend to me..I won’t forget you..

  2. Jesus Granados on December 9th, 2015 8:52 am

    I served with him in 3rd Force Recon in Mobile, Al. I will never forget him and his family.

  3. Jason Jacobs on December 4th, 2015 11:29 pm

    Brent was always smiling. ..have not seen him in twenty plus years…he didn’t live around us very Long but Southside subdivision and warren county Tennessee sure did like it when came over…I can only imagine all the lives you have touch…god bless you brent. ..and thank you for the ultimate sacrifice

  4. Amy on December 2nd, 2015 4:24 pm

    My deepest sympathy to Chief Cooley’s family and the other families as well.

    We were high school friends and I often thought about him and wondered how he was.

    Thank you for your service and sacrifices.

    You will never be forgotten.

    RIP

  5. Tiffany Holland on December 1st, 2015 12:05 am

    Brent was one of the most amazing guys I ever knew. I had known him since high school (MANY MOONS AGO). His passing is so very sad and I am sending prayers and love to his family. He was taken from this world way too soon and unnecessarily! Stephen Brent Cooley will be missed beyond words!

  6. Christopher hall on November 29th, 2015 11:19 pm

    I had the pleasure of crewing with Mr. Cooley for 2 deployments to Iraq he was a great pilot, mentor, and friend. He will forever be in my heart and will miss him.

  7. Dex on November 29th, 2015 4:05 pm

    I have also had the pleasure of knowing Stephen for 20 years. I met and served along side him in the USMC. My deepest condolences to the family and friends he will be missed but not forgotten Semper fidelis.

  8. 429SCJ on November 29th, 2015 3:58 am

    Prayers for the Cooley family.

  9. georgette harris @ Farm Hill Barbershop on November 28th, 2015 11:40 am

    I am thinking and praying for Stephen’s family at this time. I have had the pleasure of knowing this great guy for 15 years now and he will surely be missed. He loved his country and he loved his family time. I always looked forward to him coming to the barbershop in his vintage cars that he was very proud of. Our country and especially our community has lost a great PATRIOT. RIP CWO 3 Stephen Cooley/

  10. Henry Coe on November 28th, 2015 11:20 am

    RIP to this crew. Thank you for your service to our country. Condolences to family and friends.

  11. joseph on November 28th, 2015 10:55 am

    Thank u Steve for all u done for this country an for all u taught me u show me there was a better way of life love u cus an will see u again one day say hello to my parents for me while u r there

  12. Marcia Taylor on November 28th, 2015 10:23 am

    May God Bless You for your service. I thank you for protecting our country and letting us live free. Deepest Sympathy for the family.

  13. Causey on November 28th, 2015 9:37 am

    Our deepest sympathy to Chief Cooley’s family and to thank him and his family for his service to our country. May God bless you all.

  14. Jack Hunnicutt on November 28th, 2015 7:33 am

    It takes great americans like this to keep our nation safe; thank you Mr. Cooley for your service. God please watch over and protect his family. RIP.

  15. Jane on November 28th, 2015 5:48 am

    My deepest sympathy to the families.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News