FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 14, 2023) – Gov. Andy Beshear has ordered flags at all state buildings to be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Saturday, April 15, 2023, in honor of a Fort Campbell soldier who died in a training exercise.
According to the U.S. Army, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Rusten R. Smith, 32, of Rolla, Missouri, died March 29 when his HH60 Blackhawk helicopter crashed in Trigg County, Kentucky, during a routine training mission. He was assigned to 6th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
A memorial service for Smith will be held on Saturday at the St. James Middle School gymnasium in St. James, Missouri. Interment will follow at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Fort Leonard Wood.
Gov. Beshear encourages all individuals, businesses, organizations and government agencies to join in this tribute. Additional flag status information is available at governor.ky.gov/flag-status.
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