Hostile fire blamed for copter crash that killed 2 Nevadans

Don Cox
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
-->Posted: 10/8/2005

As memorial services are scheduled for two Northern Nevada soldiers killed Sept. 25 in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan, investigators continue to look into the crash that is now believed to have been caused by hostile fire.

Nevada Army National Guard Sgt. Patrick Stewart and Chief Warrant Officer John M. Flynn died when their Chinook helicopter went down southwest of Deh Chopan, Afghanistan. According to an Army investigation, the Chinook was shot down by hostile fire.

Initially, Army officials said the crash was believed to be an accident. Militants claimed they had shot down the helicopter.

"The accident investigation board goes through several phases," said Air Force Capt. April Conway, the Reno-based spokeswoman for all Guard units in Nevada. "The whole accident investigation will take a couple months."

Investigators changed their preliminary opinion after examining crash wreckage, Conway said.

Stewart and Flynn were members of the Army Guard's Company D, 113th Aviation Regiment deployed to Afghanistan in support of U.S. military operations in the region.

Three other soldiers, two from Oregon and one from Arizona, died in the helicopter crash. The helicopter belonged to the Oregon portion of Company D, 113th Aviation based in Pendleton, Ore.

Memorial funds have been established for Stewart and Flynn.

Donations can be made to: Patrick D. Stewart Family Fund, Bank of America, account number 004971028272 and John M. Flynn Memorial Fund, Bank of America, account number 004970795551.

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Public services for Flynn, 36, of Sparks are scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday at Summit Christian Church, 7075 Pyramid Highway, Sparks. Parking is limited at the church so an overflow lot will be provided at Lazy 5 Regional Park, about a mile north on Pyramid Highway, with bus service to the church.


Stewart's memorial service is scheduled for 10:45 a.m. Wednesday in Reno's Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. The Wednesday service for Stewart, 35, of Fernley is open to the public. Stewart's service in Rancho San Rafael will be conducted adjacent to the farm house in the park.


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