CPT John D. Hortman USA (training accident)

Cullum: 60704


Class: '04


Cadet Company:


Date of Birth: May 6, 1981


Date of Death: August 8, 2011 - View or Post a Eulogy

 

CPT John David Hortman, 30, from South Carolina, died in a helicopter crash at Georgia's Fort Benning. His light attack helicopter crashed on a live-fire range at Fort Benning in west Georgia during an exercise with Army Rangers and other special operations troops. Also killed in the crash was Chief Warrant Officer 3 Steven B. Redd, 37, of Lancaster, Calif. Both men were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment at Fort Campbell, Ky. They were both part of the highly trained Night Stalker aviators.

CPT Hortman, a native of Inman, S.C., graduated from the United States Military Academy with a degree in History in May 2004. Upon completion of Initial Entry Rotary Wing Training, Hortman was assigned to Fort Drum, N.Y., where he served in multiple positions including scout platoon leader and company commander. Following his assignment to Fort Drum, Hortman attended the Aviation Captain’s Career Course at Fort Rucker, Ala. After a successful assessment in 2010, Hortman was assigned to 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) at Fort Campbell, Ky., as an AH-6M special operations light attack helicopter platoon leader.

He is a combat veteran with three deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

His military training includes the Initial Entry Rotary Wing Training, Aviation Officer Basic Course, OH-58D Aircraft Qualification Course, US Army Airborne School, U.S. Army Ranger School, Modern Army Combatives Level 1, Aviation Captain’s Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, and 160th SOAR (A) AH-6M Officer Green Platoon.

His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Aviator Badge, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Ranger Tab.

Local memorial services have not yet been announced.

He is survived by his mother, Brenda Jones of Inman, South Carolina, a sister, Jill Hortman of Colorado Springs, Colo., and a brother, Andy Pierce of Overland Park, Kansas.

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