Waipahu man among Schofield soldiers killed in Afghanistan | News

KANDARHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (HawaiiNewsNow) - The Schofield-based soldiers who died in Thursday's Black Hawk helicopter crash in Afghanistan's Helmand province have been identified.

According to Stars and Stripes, the four soldiers killed were identified as:

-Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nicholas Johnson, 27, San Diego

-Spc. Dean Shaffer, 23, Pekin, Ill.

-Chief Warrant Officer 2 Don Viray, 25, Waipahu, Hawaii

-Spc. Chris Workman, 33, Boise, Idaho.

The soldiers were flying in the helicopter alongside a medevac chopper in an attempt to rescue Afghan policemen wounded in a bombing.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Senator Daniel K. Inouye released this statement Monday afternoon:

"Once again, the tragedies of war have taken four from our Tropic Lightning Division, all of them Hawaii heroes; one of them, Hawaii born.  These brave Army airmen must never be forgotten.  Their contributions to our nation and to our world's security are beyond measurement.  Having watched the death and injury of my brothers in arms, I understand, too well, what this loss means to their fellow soldiers and families.  My thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time."  We'll have more information on this story as it becomes available."

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Two Schofield soldiers killed in chopper crash

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