Army Pilot Rebecca Lobach Identified

The U.S. Army Identifies Third Soldier Killed in Black Hawk Helicopter Crash

The U.S. Army has released the identity of the third soldier who was aboard the Black Hawk helicopter that crashed into a passenger plane on January 29, 2023. The soldier, Captain Rebecca Lobach, was a 28-year-old captain from Durham, North Carolina.

About Captain Rebecca Lobach

According to a statement from the Army, Lobach was originally from Durham, North Carolina, and was assigned to the 12th Aviation Battalion in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. She had served in the Army since July 2019. The decision to withhold her name initially was at the family’s request, and now the decision to release her name has come “at the request of and in coordination with the family,” according to the Army statement.

Personal Life and Achievements

Lobach’s family released a statement saying, “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca. She was a bright star in all our lives. Rebecca was a warrior and would not hesitate to defend her country in battle.” Her friend, 1st Lt. Samantha Brown, told CBS News that Lobach also served as a White House social aide during the Biden administration. Lobach escorted fashion designer Ralph Lauren through the White House as he was visiting to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former President Joe Biden.

Lobach attended Sewanee: The University of the South, where she played basketball, and then later went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she received her degree in biology in 2019 and was a distinguished military graduate. She enlisted in the North Carolina Army National Guard in December 2018 while still in college.

Remembered by Friends and Colleagues

Many of Lobach’s friends and Army colleagues have spoken out following her death, remembering her as a dedicated captain and friend. “Not only did she deserve what she achieved, but she was overqualified most of the time for what she was able to accomplish,” Capt. Bilal Kordab, who recruited Lobach to the North Carolina National Guard, told USA Today. “Nothing was just handed to her.”

Lt. Brown remembered Lobach as a voracious reader, who would often offer to buy friends books that she liked, an athlete who could “smoke” anyone when it came to weightlifting, and someone who was passionate about her work. “She was just so jazzed” when she received the title of captain one year ago, Brown told USA Today. “She was so proud to be piloting command.”

Investigation and Reaction

The Army previously identified the other two soldiers aboard the Black Hawk helicopter as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland, and Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia, who was the chopper’s crew chief. The move to withhold Lobach’s name came after President Donald Trump claimed that the government’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and the mental health of employees were to blame for the crash.

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Conclusion

Captain Rebecca Lobach’s tragic death has left a lasting impact on her friends, family, and colleagues. Her dedication to her country and her passion for her work will be remembered by all who knew her.

FAQs

Q: Who was Captain Rebecca Lobach?
A: Captain Rebecca Lobach was a 28-year-old captain from Durham, North Carolina, who was assigned to the 12th Aviation Battalion in Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Q: What was Captain Lobach’s background?
A: Captain Lobach attended Sewanee: The University of the South and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she received her degree in biology in 2019 and was a distinguished military graduate.

Q: What was Captain Lobach’s role in the Army?
A: Captain Lobach was a pilot in the Army and had served since July 2019.

Q: How did Captain Lobach die?
A: Captain Lobach died in a Black Hawk helicopter crash into a passenger plane on January 29, 2023.

Q: What was the reaction to the crash?
A: The move to withhold Captain Lobach’s name came after President Donald Trump claimed that the government’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and the mental health of employees were to blame for the crash.