PRESS RELEASE: Special Operations Aviation Soldier dies in helicopter training accident

By 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment Public AffairsMarch 4, 2014

Capt. Clayton O. Carpenter
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (USASOC News Service, Jan. 17, 2014) -- An Army Special Operations aviation Soldier died in a helicopter accident Jan. 16, 2014, near Hunter Army Air Field, Ga.

Capt. Clayton O. Carpenter, assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Hunter Army Air Field, Ga., died after his MH-60M Blackhawk helicopter sustained a hard landing during routine military flight training.

Two others were injured in the accident.

Carpenter was born August 12, 1983, in Brooklyn, N.Y. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in May 2005 from the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. After graduating, he was assigned to Fort Rucker, Ala., for initial entry rotary wing training. After completion of the Officer Basic Course, he was reassigned to 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii, and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He further served as an HHC Commander and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He arrived at the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) in September 2012 for Officer Green Platoon and served as a MH-60M Platoon Leader in C Company, 3rd Battalion.

Carpenter?'s military schools include the Initial Entry Rotary Wing Course, Aviation Officer Basic Course, UH-60 Flight School ZZI, Aviation Captain?'s Career Course, Air Assault School, Aviation Tactical Operations Officer Course, Aviation Safety Officer Course, UH-60M Aircraft Qualification Course, Survival Evasion Resistance Escape Level-C Course, Combatives Level-I, and Officer Green Platoon.

His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with V Device, Meritorious Unit Citation, Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 Campaign Stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.

Carpenter is survived by his parents Paul and Colette Carpenter of Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.

The U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center is conducting an investigation into the cause of this accident.

NOTE TO THE MEDIA: media queries should be directed to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment Public Affairs Office at (270) 412-8108 or email at 160-RS5-PAO@soar.army.mil.

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