Probe Continues Into Deadly Chopper Crash

By Craig Day, The  News On 6

UNDATED -- The U.S. Military continues to investigate what caused a deadly helicopter crash that killed three Oklahoma Army National Guard members in Iraq.  Chief Warrant Officer Brady Rudolf, Sergeant Dan Eshbaugh and Corporal Michael Thompson died when their Chinook helicopter went down near Basra.

The men had just been deployed to Iraq a few weeks ago.

Some military families question why word of the soldiers' deaths came to light before official confirmation by the U.S. Department of Defense.

The original Associated Press story about the helicopter crash cited a spokesman in Congresswoman Mary Fallin's office as the source of the information, rather than an official from the Department of Defense.

That left many military families and people with friends serving in Iraq on pins and needles as they waited for specific details, including identities of the victims, to be released.  Usually information about deaths is made public by the military 24 hours after next of kin have been notified.

"My stomach has been in knots all day until I got a call from Brian's wife that said he's OK.  It's not him," said Guardsman's friend Jack Pike.

Some have posted comments on Newson6.com about the incident.

"How many families does that leave sitting by the phone, praying that it doesn't ring?" said a Norman resident.

Congresswoman Mary Fallin's communications director Alex Weintz says Fallin's office received information about the crash, and then, he was contacted by a reporter attempting to confirm the story.

He says he was unaware that the information had not been released through official channels and then confirmed it.        

Weintz says that was a mistake that he truly regrets and he never intended to circumvent the Guard's process for dealing with the very tragic and sensitive situation, and apologized for creating any anxiety and uncertainty during a tragic time.

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9/19/2008  Soldiers Killed In Iraq Identified