FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 15, 2001
RELEASE NUMBER 2001-02-15

Army holds memorial services

     SCHOFIELD BARRACKS - The 25th Infantry Division (Light) and U.S. Army, Hawaii will hold two memorial services Feb. 16, for the six soldiers killed in a helicopter crash at the U.S. Army Kahuku Training Area Monday. The services will be held at Schofield Barracks' Main Post Chapel. At 9:00 a.m., services will be held for the four soldiers who were members of the Aviation Brigade. At 11:30 a.m., services will be held for those soldiers who were members of Division Artillery Brigade. Six soldiers assigned to the division were killed, and 11 others injured as a result of a helicopter training accident. The division was conducting an infantry brigade combat team field exercise in the U.S. Military Training Area in the northern part of Oahu. More than 3,500 soldiers were participating in the exercise.
     Eight of the injured were treated and released from area hospitals. Spec. Benjamin M. Brown III, a native of Franklinton, N.C., a mortarman assigned to C, Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment was released from Tripler Army Medical Center today. Three others remain at Tripler in stable condition. Five officials from the U.S. Army Safety Center from Fort Rucker, Ala. are leading the investigation into the cause of the accident. Since their arrival, the Army investigators have been studying the flight plans, individual flight records, weather forecasts and the crash sites, located in the rugged terrain of the Kahuku training area on the northern side of Oahu. The investigation will include statements from the injured and witnesses on the ground at the time of the accident.
     "In addition to the Fort Rucker safety investigation, the division is conducting a collateral investigation under Army Regulation 15-6," said Maj. Barry Stephens, chief, administrative and operational law, 25th Infantry Division (Light) and U.S. Army, Hawaii. "The 15-6 is required for any death case. We are also conducting a line of duty investigation for each injured or deceased soldier."

Services will be held for:

Maj. Robert L. Olson, a native of International Falls, Minnesota. He was a member of Headquarters and Headquarters Service Battery, 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment, and was assigned as the battalion operations officer. Olson graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1987, and was commissioned into the field artillery. His past assignments include: Company Fire Support Officer, Headquarters Battery, and Executive Officer, Bravo Battery for 3d Battalion, 320th Field Artillery, and 2nd FAD Commander, Division Artillery at Fort Campbell, Ky. Assistant Operations Officer, Division Artillery; Commander, Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 8th Field Artillery; Assistant Operations Officer and Adjutant, Division Artillery at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; and Company and Battalion Tactical Officer at the United States Military Academy.
     Following his rewarding career as a lieutenant and captain highlighted by his tour of duty in Operation Desert Storm as a Battery Executive Officer, he successfully completed Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Olson and his family arrived in Hawaii in August 2000, and he was assigned to 25th Infantry Division (Light), Division Artillery as the Aviation Brigade Fire Support Officer. In December 2000, he was reassigned to 2d Battalion, 11th Field Artillery as the Battalion Operations Officer. Olson's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (4 awards). He received a Systems Engineering degree from the United States Military Academy; and a masters degree in Leadership Development from New York Long Island University.
     Olson was the youngest of five children (two brothers and two sisters) and both of his parents are deceased. He truly loved the Army as a profession, yet God and family defined his life. He met his best friend, Holly, at the U.S. Military Academy and asked for her hand in marriage on graduation day. The greatest gifts bestowed upon the Olson family were the birth of their two children. His hobbies included running, golf, hunting, trapping, and fishing. He had completed a total of seven marathons; the most recent were the Motorola and Honolulu Marathons. Olson is survived by his wife, Maj. Holly L. Olson; and his son and daughter.

     Chief Warrant Officer Four George P. Perry, of San Francisco, Calif., was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, as a pilot. Perry is a graduate of the University of Hawaii, Manoa with a bachelor of arts in political science in 1982. Perry enlisted in the Army in January of 1985. He attended Flight School after joining the Army, becoming an AH-1 pilot. He spent his first tour of duty from 1986 through 1989 in Fort Ord, Cailf.
     In 1989, Perry moved to Hawaii and resided there until 1995. After serving in Hawaii, Perry moved to Fort Leavenworth, Kan. where he began his distinguished career as a Safety Officer. He moved to Fort Bragg, N.C. in 1996 where he was also a Safety Officer. In 1998 Perry was assigned to Camp Humphries, Korea, where he served one year. He returned to Fort Rucker, Ala. for the UH-60 Aircraft Qualification Course in 1999. Perry's most recent assignment was to 2d Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii where he was the Battalion Safety Officer. He was also a graduate of the Aviation Life Support Course, the Army Aviation Safety Course, Electronic Warfare Officer Course, and the Combat Lifesaver Course. In addition Perry was a rated Aviator in the C-12 and U-21. Perry's awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Army Commendation Medal (three awards), Army Achievement Medal (three awards), National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, Aviator Badge, and the Overseas Ribbon. He is survived by his wife Lovie and his two children. His parents are Lawrence and Beverly Perry of Hawaii.

     Chief Warrant Officer Two Gregory I. Montgomery, a Hesperia, Calif. native, was also assigned to A Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, as a pilot and safety officer. He graduated from the University Of California, Irvine in 1991 with a bachelor of arts in Economics. Montgomery enlisted in the Army in March of 1994. He graduated from the Warrant Officer Basic Course in 1996 after completing Flight School and the UH-60 Aviator Qualification Course. He is also a graduate of the Aviation Life Support School and the Aviation Safety Officer Course. Montgomery's first assignment was as a UH-60 Pilot for Alpha Company, 2-227 Aviation Regiment, 1st Calvary Division at Fort Hood, Texas in September of 1995. His most recent position was as a UH-60 Pilot-in-command assigned to Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Infantry Division (Light), Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii.
     Montgomery's awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, NATO Service Medal, Army Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. He has also earned the Air Assault Badge, Air Borne Badge, and the Aviator Badge. He is survived by his parents, Thomas and Sharon Montgomery of Hesperia, California. His brother is Clayton Montgomery from Calif. and sister Melanie Faircloth from Fayetteville, N.C.

     Staff Sgt. Thomas E. Barber, a UH-60 crewmember, assigned to B Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, was a native of Champlin, Minn. He graduated from Anoka High School in Minn. He enlisted in the Army in February 1992. His first assignment was in Germany as a scout helicopter crew chief. His second duty assignment was in 1994 at 1/229th Headquarters and Headquarters Troop Attack Helicopter Battalion in Fort Bragg, N.C. Barber's third duty assignment was in 1996 at 1/159th Aviation Command in Fort Bragg, N.C. After his Fort Bragg assignments, he went to Fort Eustis, Va. where he reclassified to a 67T, a Black Hawk crew chief. Barber reported to Bravo Company, 2d Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. He was also a Master Driver, Equal Opportunity representative, and a Hazardous Communications representative.
     Barber's awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal (two awards), Army Achievement Medal (five awards), the National Defense Service Medal, two Good Conduct Medals, Army Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon. He is survived by his wife, Heather and two sons. His mother is Patricia Barber.

     Sgt. Bob D. MacDonald, an Alta Loma, Calif., native was assigned to B Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, as a UH-60 crew member. MacDonald enlisted in the Army in August 1996. His first assignment was 2-12 Field Artillery in Fort Sill, Okla. from January 1997 to January 2000. He then proceeded to Fort Eustis, Va. where he reclassified to 67T, a Black Hawk Crew Chief. MacDonald reported to Hawaii in May 2000. He joined B, Company, 2d Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. MacDonald is a graduate of Combat Lifesaver School, Drivers Training School, Fire Direction Center, and Primary Leadership Development School. He was also the budget management soldier for B, Company.
     His awards and decorations include the Army Achievement Medal, two Good Conduct Medals, and the Army Service Ribbon. He is survived by his wife Anna and son. His parents are Richard and Sally Lynn MacDonald, both from California.

     Spec. Rafael Olvera-Rodriguez, an El Paso, Texas, native, was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Service Battery, 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment, as a field artillery crewman. Olvera Rodriguez was born in Juarez, Mexico. He graduated from Riverside High School were he played football and dreamed of becoming a general in the Army. He enlisted in the Army on 6 August 1998. He served the Army with the 2d Battalion, 11th Field Artillery, 25th Infantry Division (Light) at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
     An artilleryman by trade, he was assigned to B, Battery as a M119A1 cannon crewmember. Noted for his exceptional performance and unwavering professionalism, Olvera -Rodriguez was later selected to be the Battalion Operations Officer's Driver. He attended Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. SGT Olvera's military schooling includes Primary Leadership Development Course. He was also attending Hawaii Pacific University for his Criminal Justice Degree with aspirations to become a Texas State Trooper in his hometown. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Achievement Medal. Undoubtedly, a role model at work, Olvera-Rodriguez frequently spoke of his passion for cars and love of his family. On 4 June 1998, he married his true love, Norma, in El Paso, Texas. A strong and passionate man, he filled his free time entertaining friends and family to bring those closest to him together. He was the oldest of three children and both his parents currently reside in El Paso, Texas.
     He is survived by his wife, Norma Olvera; his sister, Carmen; his brother, Jorge; and his parents, Rafael and Leticia Olvera.

     "We will work closely with the safety team to do a careful, complete investigation," said Maj. Gen. James M. Dubik, commanding general, 25th Infantry Division (Light) and U.S. Army, Hawaii. "The purpose of this investigation is to share our experience with the rest of the Army in the hope of preventing future accidents of this nature."