THE U.S. ARMY RELEASED THE IDENTITIES SATURDAY OF FOUR SPECIAL OPERATIONS SOLDIERS KILLED WHEN THEIR HELICOPTER CRASHED IN A FIELD IN SOUTHWEST GEORGIA, AP REPORTED. THE SOLDIERS WERE IDENTIFIED AS SGT. CHRISTOPHER M. ERBERICH, 25, OF CALIFORNIA; SGT. MICHAEL D. HALL, 30, OF ARKANSAS; SGT. RHONALD E. MEEKS, 28, OF TEXAS; AND CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER MICHAEL L. WRIGHT, 41, OF INDIANA. THE SOLDIERS DIED IN RURAL COLQUITT COUNTY WHEN THEIR MH-47 CHINOOK HELICOPTER CRASHED AND BROKE APART THURSDAY MORNING DURING A ROUTINE TRAINING FLIGHT. THE HELICOPTER CLIPPED A WIRE ON A TELEVISION TRANSMISSION TOWER, OFFICIALS SAID SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE ARMY IS INVESTIGATING. A FIFTH CREW MEMBER SURVIVED THE CRASH WITH MINIMAL INJURIES. THE ARMY DID NOT RELEASE HIS NAME. THE VICTIMS WERE MEMBERS OF THE 3RD BATTALION, 160TH SPECIAL OPERATIONS AVIATION REGIMENT, AN ELITE UNIT KNOWN AS THE NIGHT STALKERS THAT USES MH-47 CHINOOKS TO FLY SPECIAL FORCES COMMANDOS BEHIND ENEMY LINES UNDER COVER OF NIGHT. THE BATTALION IS STATIONED AT HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD IN SAVANNAH.
