King Hill man dies in Iraq rescuing child

A young King Hill man, trying to save the life of a child, was killed Friday in Iraq.

Cpl. Richard P. Carl, 26, a graduate of Glenns Ferry High School, died when the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter in which he was flying as a part of a medical rescue effort, crashed into the Tigris River. Two other crewmen of the helicopter also died.

Carl, and CWO Brian K. Van Dusen, 39, of Columbus, Ohio, and CWO Hans N. Gukeisen, 31, of Lead, S.D., were members of the 571st Air Medical Company, which is home-stationed at Fort Carson, Colo.

A memorial service will be held Friday at Fort Carson for the victims of the rescue accident. Local arrangements, if any, were not immediately known. At press time, officials at Fort Carson were not sure if his family was here or in Colorado.

Carl is survived by his wife, Audrey, and two children. The family was dealing with its grief in seclusion and asked the media to grant them privacy.

In a statement released through the Idaho National Guard, his wife said: "Our family is dealing with this loss as well as can be expected. Richard was a good man, and while he was not known to the world, he played an important role. We are so proud of his contributions to our nation and his role in making the world a better place. He will never be forgotten."

The news devastated the small communities of King Hill and Glenns Ferry, where Carl grew up and was well known and liked. No one seemed surprised that he had died trying to save another life, all saying it was typical of the young man.

Carl died Friday evening when two Blackhawk helicopters were sent from the Tikrit area to help the Iraqi child, who had suffered serious head injuries when unexploded ordnance went off outside Samarra, U.S. military officials in Tikrit told Associated Press reporter David Rising, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The Blackhawks landed near the Tigris River, and the child was put into the first helicopter, which took off without problems, the officials said.

But the second helicopter snagged a wire across the river as it took off, flipping the Blackhawk over and into the water. One of the crew, not identified, was able to swim to shore and was picked up by the first helicopter, which returned after seeing the accident. The other three in the Blackhawk could not be saved, one official said.

Both the child and the surviving crew member were taken to a U.S. military hospital for treatment. There was no immediate word on their conditions.

The Blackhawk is the Army's main troop transport helicopter. A crew of four usually flies the Blackhawk, which can carry up to 11 more soldiers or up to six casualties when configured in a medevac role.

Carl was the second Idahoan to die in the conflict and both were tied to Elmore County. Maj. Gregory Stone, a member of the Idaho National Guard who had previously been stationed at Mountain Home AFB and worked at the base's battlelab as a civilian advisor, was killed March 25 when a fellow soldier threw a grenade in his tent, just before the war with Iraq began.

Idaho Senator Mike Crapo said his "condolences and prayers go out to Corporal Carl's wife, his children, and family on their tragic loss this past week," said Crapo. "He joins a long list of Idahoans who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country."

"Cpl. Carl is a tremendous example of our military's commitment to risk life and limb to help the innocent Iraqi civilians wounded in the war....There are no words for such an incredible loss, but we are a greater nation because of brave men and women like Cpl. Carl."