Third Anniversary of Fort Campbell Training Crash to be Observed

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A memorial service will be held on Saturday at the Trigg County Veterans Memorial to honor the nine Fort Campbell soldiers killed in an aviation training accident in western Trigg County three years ago. The crash happened in March 2023 during a routine nighttime training mission, resulting in the deaths of all nine soldiers aboard the two HH-60 Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopters.

Why it matters

The Trigg County Veterans Memorial was originally conceived as a tribute to the nine soldiers killed in the 2023 crash, but has since evolved into a broader community memorial honoring all veterans from the area who died while serving. The memorial service is an important annual event to remember the sacrifices of these soldiers and their families.

The details

The memorial service will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 29, 2026, at the Trigg County Veterans Memorial site at 3300 Old Canton Pike. The nine soldiers killed in the 2023 crash were Warrant Officer 1 Jeffery Barnes, Cpl. Emilie Marie Eve Bolanos, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Zachary Esparza, Sgt. Isaacjohn Gayo, Staff Sgt. Joshua C. Gore, Warrant Officer 1 Aaron Healy, Staff Sgt. Taylor Mitchell, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Rusten Smith, and Sgt. David Solinas Jr.

• The aviation training accident occurred on March 29, 2023.
• The memorial service will be held on the third anniversary of the crash, on March 29, 2026.

What’s next

The memorial service on Saturday is expected to be attended by family members of the soldiers killed in the 2023 accident.