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Florida soldier, Mogadishu veteran, killed in Iraq chopper crash
Associated Press

CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. - An Army Ranger who survived the 1993 battle of Mogadishu and was fighting cancer while serving in Iraq was one of the nine soldiers killed in a Black Hawk helicopter crash there, his family was told Thursday.

Aaron Weaver, 32, a chief warrant officer based in Fort Bragg, N.C., was the son of Citrus County Chronicle assistant production manager Mike Weaver of Inverness and Kelley Weaver of Clearwater, the newspaper reported. Survivors include his wife, Nancy, and daughter, Savannah, 1.

Weaver, himself an observer helicopter pilot, was a passenger on the Black Hawk flight. He was a cancer victim and was en route to Baghdad for a checkup, the Chronicle said.

The medivac helicopter, marked with a red cross, crashed early Thursday. An Iraqi witness said it was hit first by a rocket.

Weaver, a graduate of Citrus High School, had served in the Army for more than 12 years. As a sergeant, he was involved in the 1993 battle in Somalia's capital, a fight made famous by the book and movie, "Black Hawk Down." Weaver is mentioned in the book.

Weaver's brother, Ryan Weaver, is also a military helicopter pilot and is in Baghdad.

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Information from: Citrus County Chronicle, http://www.chronicle-
online.com

I believe he was a Ranger with B/3/75th first then after the Mog he went to flight school.




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Edited by - Lunatock on Jan 10 2004 10:27 PM

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He was a OH58D Kiowa Pilot, but was a passenger on that BlackHawk that Got hit.

"The power to Destroy the planet, is insignifigant to the power of the Air Force----Mudd Vader

Why was he serving in the AOR with cancer? I am sorry but it makes no sense for the Army to send one of it's most recognizable heros over there with a disease. He should have been deferred till he was cured. I know a lot of you will jump on me because of this but this does not pass the logic test. You have to be medically fit to fight and the AF would not knowingly send someone with cancer into the AOR. Hell they wont even send someone with a cavity. So why would the ARMY send this soldier, who had cancer, which I would think would disqualify him for a flight physical.
Fender
"A woman drove me to drink
and I hadn't even the courtesy to thank her".
W.C. Fields

Edited by - Fenderstrat72 on Jan 11 2004 06:27 AM

Edited by - Fenderstrat72 on Jan 11 2004 06:28 AM

Edited by - Fenderstrat72 on Jan 11 2004 06:31 AM

MITCH STACY
Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. - An Army helicopter pilot who had survived cancer and a battle in Somalia depicted in the film "Black Hawk Down" was among nine soldiers killed in a helicopter crash in Iraq, his family said Friday.

Chief Warrant Officer Aaron Weaver, rebounding from testicular cancer, could have stayed put at Fort Bragg, N.C., when his unit shipped out to Iraq last year. But that wasn't like him.

Weaver, 32, of Inverness, had worked hard to get himself back into shape after cancer surgery in 2002, and got a special medical clearance to fly his OH-58 observer helicopter in Iraq, his father, Mike Weaver, said Friday.

"He wanted to go to Iraq," his father said. "When you're in a group like that, you don't want your friends to leave you behind."

Aaron Weaver, of the 82nd Airborne Division, was a passenger on the Black Hawk when it went down Thursday. The aircraft, marked with a red cross, was hit by an Iraqi rocket, a witness said. Weaver was flying to Baghdad for a post-cancer checkup with other soldiers in need of medical attention.

As an Army Ranger, Weaver survived the October 1993 battle of Mogadishu in Somalia that was recounted in the book and feature film, "Black Hawk Down." He helped save a buddy's life and is featured in a documentary on the battle.

Two other soldiers killed in the crash were 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers based at Fort Bragg, N.C., a division spokesman said Friday.

The Department of Defense identified one of the soldiers as Spc. Nathaniel H. Johnson, 22, of Augusta, Ga., of Company D (Aviation), 82nd Support Battalion. The identity of the other victim had not been released late Friday.

In Fort Carson, Colo., officials confirmed on Friday that four of its soldiers were among the nine killed in the crash.

Spc. Michael A. Diraimondo, 22, of Simi Valley, Calif.; Spc. Christopher A. Golby, 26, of Johnstown, Pa.; Chief Warrant Officer Philip A. Johnson, Jr., 31, of Alabama; and Chief Warrant Officer Ian D. Manuel, 23, of Florida, were all assigned to the 571st Medical Company, Fort Carson officials said. Hometowns for Johnson and Manuel were not listed.

The remaining two victims were identified by the Defense Department as Sgt. 1st Class Gregory B. Hicks, 35, of Duff, Tenn., who was based at Fort Hood, Texas, and Staff Sgt. Craig Davis, 37, of Opelousas, La., who was based at Fort Polk, La.



"The power to Destroy the planet, is insignifigant to the power of the Air Force----Mudd Vader

This is the sort of soldier that would probably insist on being there Fender.

That's about all i can offer on that.

<img src="http://www.worldaffairsboard.com/sigs/snipersig.jpg " border=0>

Well something has come to light. The soldier was not currently battling cancer. He was clean. He was a survivor and I admire his grit for saying I am well and want to be with my unit. He must have been totally sold out on the Army and his unit. I salute him. The US Armed Forces could use a lot more like him.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> Chief Warrant Officer Aaron Weaver, rebounding from testicular cancer, could have stayed put at Fort Bragg, N.C., when his unit shipped out to Iraq last year. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote><img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle>

Fender
"A woman drove me to drink
and I hadn't even the courtesy to thank her".
W.C. Fields

My name is Kevin Knight and I am an OH-58D pilot serving with Steve Weaver, the brother of Aaron. He was serving in the AOR because he asked, well demanded, the Army give him a waiver. Aaron was a fierce warrior and a great family man. He will always be in our memories. may he eternally keep the dirty side down.

Kevin Knight
3-4 Cav

Welcome aboard Kevin. Thanx for being here.

By this time tomorrow I shall have gained either a pearage or Westminster Abbey........Nelson

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YGBSM !

"He was serving in the AOR because he asked, well demanded, the Army give him a waiver. "

Bout what i figured.

I know the type.

<img src="http://www.worldaffairsboard.com/sigs/snipersig.jpg " border=0>

And it's that type that the rest of us are grateful for and the bad guys should be very fearful of.<img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle>

Hajji, you can run, but why die tired?

_________________
\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
- Thomas Jefferson