Cathedral City Soldier ID in deadly helicopter Crash

A Cathedral City soldier was named as one of the seven Americans killed in a Black Hawk helicopter crash last week.

U.S. Army officials say four soldiers based at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii were killed last week when a Black Hawk helicopter was reportedly shot down by the Taliban leading to the crash.

Army officials confirmed Monday that among the seven Americans and four Afghans killed was 29-year-old Chief Warrant Officer Suresh Krause, of Cathedral City, Calif. Krause’s father called Newschannel 3 Sunday night saying that his family was flying to Delaware for the dignified transfer. He also said his son graduated from Cathedral City High School in 2001.

The other soldiers identified were 37-year-old Chief Warrant Officer Brian Hornsby of Melbourne, Fla., 41-year-old Sgt. Luis Galbreath of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and 23-year-old Sgt. Richard Essex of Kelseyville, Calif.

The crash happened during a firefight with insurgents in a remote area of southern Afghanistan. It’s one of the deadliest air disasters of a war now into its second decade.