The U.S. Army has identified the four soldiers who died in a Sept. 17 helicopter crash near Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington while conducting routine flight training.
According to Army Special Operations Command, the deceased are: U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Three Andrew Cully, 35, from Sparta, Missouri; U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Three Andrew Kraus, 39, from Sanibel, Florida; U.S. Army Sgt. Donavon Scott, 24, from Tacoma, Washington, and U.S. Army Sgt. Jadalyn Good, 23, from Mount Vernon, Washington.
“These exceptional warriors — Chief Warrant Officer Three Andrew Cully, Chief Warrant Officer Three Andrew Kraus, Sgt. Donavon Scott, and Sgt. Jadalyn Good — embodied the unwavering dedication, selflessness, and excellence that define the very spirit of the Army and Army Special Operations,” said 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) Commander Col. Stephen Smith in a statement. “Their sacrifice in service to our nation will forever be etched in our hearts and in the legacy of the Night Stalkers. These heroes were not only elite professionals but also cherished teammates, friends, and family members whose absence leaves an immeasurable void.”
Cully was commissioned in May 2013 as an Army aviation officer from Missouri State University as a second lieutenant, according to the release. He completed Flight School at Ft. Rucker, AL. After his initial service as a commissioned officer, he was then reappointed as an aviation warrant officer and served as a UH-60M (Blackhawk) Pilot. In 2022, he completed the UH-60M Instructor Pilot Course at Fort Rucker, AL. He also deployed twice to the European theater in support of OPERATIONS ATLANTIC RESOLVE and SWIFT RESPONSE. In 2024, after being selected to serve in the 160th SOAR (Abn), he was assigned to C Company at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. While assigned to C Company, he supported multiple Continental United States (CONUS) and Outside Continental United States (OCONUS) training missions and deployed to the INDOPACOM theater.
Cully's awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Basic Army Aviator Badge, Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge.
Kraus, served in the U. S. Marine Corps as a CH-46 (Sea Knight) maintainer from July 2008 until 2013, according to the release. In 2017, he joined the Army and attended Warrant Officer Candidate School and flight school at Ft. Rucker, AL. He then served as an Aeromedical Evacuation Pilot in Command in Germany, performing real-world medical evacuation missions. In 2023, after being selected to serve in the 160th SOAR (Abn), he was assigned to C Company, where he supported multiple CONUS training missions and deployed in support of contingency response operations. He is a 2025 graduate of the Aviation Maintenance Test Pilot Course at Ft. Rucker, AL.
His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal second award, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy Unity Commendation, and Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation and Basic Aviation Badge.
Kraus is the son of Bill Kraus, the co-founder of Mission BBQ, the barbecue chain known for honoring soldiers and first responders that began in Maryland and expanded to more than 20 states.
“Dawn and I are heartbroken to hear that Andrew Kraus, the son of Mission BBQ co-founder Bill Kraus, died alongside three other service members during a flight training,” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, an Army veteran, wrote on social media. “Mission BBQ began here in Maryland, rooting their values in service and community. Our entire state mourns alongside the Kraus family.”
Scott enlisted in the Army as a UH-60 Helicopter Repairer, 15T. After being selected to serve in the 160th SOAR, his first assignment was to D Company, 4th Battalion as a UH-60 Helicopter Maintainer, according to the release. After completing the MH-60 (Blackhawk, Modified) Non-Rated Crewmember Course, he served as an MH-60 Crew Chief in C Company. While serving in C Company, he earned Fully-Mission-Qualified status as a Crew Chief, accumulating over 776 flying hours. He has served on two support missions to OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE and a crisis response contingency operation.
His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal - Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Combat Action Badge.
Good enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2021 as a UH-60 Helicopter Repairer, 15T. After being selected to serve in the 160th SOAR, she was then assigned to C Company, where she served as a Helicopter Maintainer, according to the release. After graduating from the MH-60 Non-Rated Crewmember Course, she served as a Crew Chief. While serving in C Company, she achieved Basic-Mission-Qualified status, accumulating over 730 flight hours. She was instrumental in the success of numerous CONUS and OCONUS training missions and a crisis response contingency operation.
Good's awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Basic Parachutist Badge, Combat and Special Skill Badge Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge and Basic Aviation Badge.
“As we mourn their loss, we stand united in honoring their memory and their extraordinary commitment to the mission. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, loved ones, and the entire Night Stalker community during this profoundly difficult time,” added Smith.
The cause of the mishap remains under investigation, according to the Army.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.