By Nisqually Valley News staff
Following a crash near Olympia’s Summit Lake on Wednesday, Sept. 17, the four soldiers killed in the aircraft incident while conducting routine flight training on a U.S. Army MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter have been identified.
The deceased are Andrew Cully, a 35-year-old U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Three from Sparta, Missouri; Andrew Kraus, a 39-year-old U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Three from Sanibel, Florida; Donavon Scott, a 25-year-old U.S. Army Sergeant from Tacoma; and Jadalyn Good, a 23-year-old U.S. Army Sergeant from Mount Vernon.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we confirm the loss of four courageous Night Stalkers from the 4th Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), who tragically lost their lives on Sept. 17th during a training mission,” Col. Stephen Smith, commander, said in a news release. “These exceptional warriors — Chief Warrant Officer Three Andrew Cully, Chief Warrant Officer Three Andrew Kraus, Sgt. Donavon Scott, and Sgt. Jadalyn Good — embodied the unwavering dedication, selflessness and excellence that define the very spirit of the Army and Army Special Operations. Their sacrifice in service to our nation will forever be etched in our hearts and in the legacy of the Night Stalkers. These heroes were not only elite professionals but also cherished teammates, friends, and family members whose absence leaves an immeasurable void.”
Cully was commissioned in May 2013 as a U.S. Army aviation officer from Missouri State University as a second lieutenant. He completed flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama, and after his initial service as commissioned officer, he was reappointed as an aviation warrant officer where he served as a UH-60m Black Hawk pilot. In 2022, Cully completed his instructor pilot course at Fort Rucker, and had two operational deployments to the EUCOM theater in support of Operations Atlantic Resolve and Swift Response. In 2014, Cully was assigned to C Company at Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) after being selected to serve in the 160th SOAR.
The fallen servicemen’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korea Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Basic Army Aviator Badge, the Barachutist Badge and the Air Assault Badge.
Kraus served as a CH-46 (Sea Knight) maintainer in the U.S. Marine Corps from July 2008 through 2013. Four years later, he joined the U.S. Army and attended Warrant Officer Candidate School and flight school at Fort Rucker.
Additionally, Kraus served as an Aeromedical Evacuation Pilot in Command in Germany, where he performed real-world medical evacuation missions. In 2023, he was assigned to C Company, after being selected to serve in the 160th SOAR, where he supported multiple CONUS training missions. Recently, he was a 2025 graduate of the Aviation Maintenance Test Pilot Course at Fort Rucker.
His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal second award, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Navy Unity Commendation, the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Basic Aviation Badge.
Scott enlisted in the U.S. Army as a UH-60 Helicopter repairer, 15T. After he was selected to serve in the 160th SOAR, Scott’s first assignment was to D Company, 4th Battalion as a UH-60 Helicopter Maintainer. After the serviceman completed his MH-60 Non-Rated Crewmember Course, Scott served as a MH-60 Crew Chief in C Company, where he earned Fully-Mission-Qualified status as Crew Chief and accumulated over 776 flying hours. He also served on two support missions to Operation Inherent Resolve and a crisis response contingency operation.
Scott’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal - Campaign Star, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the Combat Action Badge.
Good enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2021 as a UH-60 Helicopter Repairer 15T, and after she was selected to serve in the 160th SOAR, she was assigned to C Company and served as a Helicopter Maintainer. In 2023, after graduating from the MH-60 Non-Rated Crewmember Course, she served as a Crew Chief and while serving in C-Company, she achieved Basic-Mission-Qualified status and collected over 730 flight hours. She played a big role in the success of numerous CONUS and OCONUS training missions and a crisis response contingency operation.
Her awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Basic Parachutist Badge, the Combat and Special Skill Badge Expert Marksmanship Qualification Badge and the Basic Aviation Badge.
“As we mourn their loss, we stand united in honoring their memory and their extraordinary commitment to the mission. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, loved ones, and the entire Night Stalker community during this profoundly difficult time,” Smith said.
Additionally, the U.S. Army Special Operations Command extended its “profound thanks” to the heroism and professionalism of many agencies who assisted in the recovery of the four fallen heroes, including: Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, Griffin Fire Department, McLane Black Lake Fire Department, King County Sheriff’s Office, Lacey Fire Department, Olympia Fire Department, Department of Natural Resources, 2/75th Ranger Regiment, 17th Special Tactics Squadron, 22nd Special Tactics Squadron, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), I Corps and Joint Base Lewis McChord.
