160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment Public Affairs
Fort Campbell, KY – Two Army Special Operations Aviation Soldiers who died in a helicopter accident August 8th, at a live-fire range on Fort Benning, GA, have been identified.
Capt. John D. Hortman and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Steven B. Redd both assigned to 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Fort Campbell, KY, died after their AH-6M Little Bird helicopter crashed while conducting routine military training involving Rangers and other special operations personnel.
The U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center is conducting an investigation into the cause of this accident.
Captain John “David” Hortman
Capt. John “David” Hortman, 30, died August 8th, 2011, when his AH-6M Little Bird helicopter crashed at a live-fire range on Fort Benning, GA, during a training mission.
Hortman, a native of Inman, SC, 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, NY, 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, AL 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.
Hortman’s 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.
Hortman is survived by his mother, Brenda Jones, of Inman, SC, his sister, Jill Hortman, of Colorado Springs, CO, and his brother, Andy Pierce, of Overland Park, KS.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Steven Burton Redd
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Steven B. Redd, 37, died August 8th, 2011, when his AH-6M Little Bird helicopter crashed at a live-fire range on Fort Benning, GA, during a training mission.
Redd, a native of Lancaster, CA, volunteered for Army service in June 1992. After serving nine years in 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, as a Forward Observer, Redd was accepted into the Army Warrant Officer Program at Fort Rucker, AL, in 2001. Upon graduation from the AH-64 helicopter course in 2002, Redd was assigned to Alpha Company, 6-6 Cavalry Squadron in Illesheim, Germany, as an attack helicopter pilot and instructor pilot. After a successful assessment in 2007, he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) at Fort Campbell, KY, as an AH-6M instructor pilot, aircraft survivability equipment-electronic warfare officer, and aircraft armament officer.
He is a combat veteran with 12 deployments, 10 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and two in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
His military training includes the Warrant Officer Candidate School, Aviation Warrant Officer Basic Course, Aviation Warrant Officer Advanced Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, AH-64 Aviator Qualification Course, Pathfinder Course, US Army Airborne School, US Army Jumpmaster Course, Joint Firepower Controller Course, and U.S. Army Ranger School.
Redd’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, three Air Medals, four Army Commendation Medals, eight Army Achievement Medals, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, three Army Good Conduct Medals, two National Defense Service Medals, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, three Overseas Service Ribbons, Combat Action Badge, NATO Medal, Senior Army Aviator Badge, Senior Rated Jumpmaster Parachutist Badge, and the Ranger Tab.
Redd is survived by his wife Adalia Redd of Clarksville, TN; children Jazlyn, of Clarksville, and Tristyn and Dezaray of Fort Polk, LA; step-children Paige, Eden, and Ledger Halls of Clarksville. He is also survived by his parents Louis and Dorothy Redd of Layton, UT.
