Texas Military Forces Public Affairs

by Chief Master Sgt. Gonda Moncada
 
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas- Jan 14, 2009 — Media trucks, emergency and military vehicles still line the perimeter roads around Duncan Field at Texas A&M University following the crash of a Texas Army National Guard UH-60 at approximately 3 p.m. Monday, killing one and injuring five. 
 
The Soldier killed was 2nd Lt. Zachary Cook, a recent graduate from TAMU.   While waiting for his class date to officer’s school, he assisted the TAMU faculty with this year’s cadets enrolled in Winter Exercise training.
 
Approximately 190 Reserve Officers Training Corps students voluntarily enrolled in the course prior to the official start of the semester to gain Soldier skills at Camp Swift in Bastrop, Texas.  The course is offered every year and has been supported by the Texas Military Forces as long as the current faculty can remember.
 
Colonel Jake Betty, ROTC Commander, said: "Zach was one of those self assured individuals that when he entered a room, everybody knew Zach was there.  He had this young John Wayne swagger."      

Four Texas Army National Guard Soldiers were transported to local hospitals with various degrees of injuries and immediately the crash site was secured by Texas Army National Guard Soldiers, campus and College Station police officers.
 
One local journalist who happened to be on site recording the events for his newspaper, said: “It was amazing how fast people rushed up to the aircraft after the crash.  The thing was still smoking but nobody seemed to pay attention to that.  Everybody wanted to help.  It was remarkable to see.”
 
Everybody who sees the wreckage agrees that it is a miracle that anybody emerged from the aircraft alive.   Wreckage is strewn across the entire Duncan Field, a field that is sacred for many of the students and faculty at Texas A&M.   Years ago a bonfire went horribly wrong and killed the students who had built it.

Right: Story and photo by Chief Master Sgt. Gonda Moncada

Now it has claimed the life of one more person, and Texas Army National Guard Soldiers are being treated for serious injuries. 
 
ROTC Soldiers arrive at the field at different times during the day to pay their respects.  Some kneel to pray; others just stand and reflect.  Many of Zach’s friends agree, that he was doing what he wanted to do most, which is to fly and to a very small degree that is a comfort to his family.
 
The Texas Army National Guard Soldiers are receiving excellent medical care and their real family members and many of their Guard family members are praying for a full recovery.  Everybody at the Texas Military Forces agrees that our first priority is to these Soldiers and their families. 
 
All of the Soldiers currently being treated have served valiantly overseas in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.   This exercise to prepare young ROTC students for military life was equally important to them and undoubtedly if one where to ask one of these brave Soldiers, they would say that they would do it again.