Army base mourns 11 killed in helicopter crash

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Soldiers lowered the flag for 11 fallen comrades and returned to preparing for a possible war with Iraq as investigators Wednesday tried to determine what caused the crash of a Black Hawk helicopter during a training exercise.

The UH-60 went down Tuesday afternoon in a remote part of the rugged, 167-square-mile post in northern New York.

Investigators from the Army Safety Center at Fort Rucker, Ala., were on the scene Wednesday, joined by personnel from Fort Drum's Criminal Investigation Command, which reviews all accidents on the base. Their work was slowed by heavy snowfall.

Two of the 13 soldiers aboard the helicopter survived. One was in critical condition, the other in serious condition.

Maj. Gen. Frank Hagenbeck said the two soldiers talked to him Wednesday morning about the crash, but would not release any details.

Fort Drum, situated along the eastern shore of Lake Ontario about 70 miles northeast of Syracuse, is home to the 10th Mountain Division and has been a major staging area for reserve units taking part in the buildup toward war with Iraq.

The Black Hawk had completed a routine assault exercise and was returning to the airfield when the crash occurred.

There was no indication of trouble beforehand, and crews from the two other helicopters participating in the exercise did not see the crash, said Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty, a spokesman for the 10th Mountain Division.

"They came back here and that's when they noticed the trail helicopter was missing," he said.

All those aboard the helicopter were active members of the 10th Mountain Division.

Spc. Gary Pennington of Jacksonville, Fla., said people were sad about the crash, but training has to be lifelike to prepare for war.

"It bothers people. Even if you don't know them, they are comrades in arms," he said.

Spc. Vanessa Carver of Washington, D.C., said she believes Army training is relatively safe, considering what soldiers are preparing for.

"When you think about the type of training we are doing, with guns and weapons, the thousands of people involved and that it goes on daily, really few people get hurt," Carver said.

"Something like this will make everyone more cautious. People will take a little more time, be a little more focused now."