Chief Warrant Officer 3 Donald V. Clark

by Channel 2 News staff
November 17, 2008

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Two Fort Wainwright aviators died Saturday when their helicopter crashed near Mosul, Iraq, according to U.S. Army Public Affairs.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Donald V. Clark and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christian P. Humphreys were piloting an OH 58 Kiowa helicopter. Both soldiers were assigned to the 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force 49.

The men were likely on a mission, said Chuck Canterbury, media relations officer with U.S. Army Alaska, but he said it was not clear whether the helicopter had come under fire. No other soldiers were injured.

Clark came to Fort Wainwright in November of 2006 by way of Memphis, Tennessee, and Humphreys came to Fort Wainwright from Fallon, Nevada in April of 2008.

A Fort Wainwright soldier who calls Clark his best friend says the two aviators were flying a combat mission near Mosul.

"I knew them, I knew both of them," Michael Eckhart said in a phone interview. "I knew Clark much, much better than Humphreys. I really don't know what to say. He was a great guy."

There will be a memorial service in Iraq this Thursday. Army officials have not yet announced plans for a service closer to home. Next of kin have been notified.