Night Stalkers honor their fallen

Col. Clayton N. Hutmacher, right, and retired Master Sgt. Tim Cash lay a wreath at the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment memorial Wednesday. (Jake Lowary/The Leaf-Chronicle)

160th adds one name to its memorial wall

The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment added just one name to its memorial wall this year, but that soldier's death affected the unit just as any other casualty.

On Wednesday at Fort Campbell, the 160th, commonly known as the Night Stalkers, paid respect to its fallen comrades just a few days before the Memorial Day holiday.

Pfc. Blaine Adams died Nov. 28, 2008, during a water survival training exercise and was the only Night Stalker added to the wall this year. Five names were added to the wall in 2008, six in 2007 and eight in 2006.

Col. Clayton Hutmacher, regimental commander, called Adams "a highly motivated young man" and "an example of courage and sacrifice" in his remarks during the memorial ceremony attended by hundreds of family members and fellow soldiers.

"It's personal for all of us when we lose somebody," Hutmacher said.

Staff Sgt. Benjamin "Levi" Pigman, 25, a native of Hamilton, Mont., and engine mechanic for the 160th, also died this year after finishing the Country Music Half Marathon in Nashville on April 25.

Since its creation in 1981, 81 names have been added to the memorial wall at Fort Campbell, 33 of those since 9/11. Twenty-six of the deaths have come in Afghanistan and two in Iraq.

Hutmacher said he struggled to find a way to properly recognize the sacrifice of those who have died, and came up with four words, or "simple thoughts": honor, remembrance, grief and thanks. "They were dedicated and gifted soldiers," Hutmacher said. "Their service and contribution as soldiers have had a lasting impact."

Later Wednesday, the regiment dedicated six new buildings on the 160th compound to the honor of six of their fallen comrades.

Staff Sgt. Kerry Frith, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jamie D. Weeks, Sgt. Thomas Allison, Maj. Stephen Reich, Master Sgt. James "Tre" Ponder and Maj. Matthew Worrell all had buildings named in their honor.

"We are who we are as Night Stalkers because of them," Hutmacher said.

RIP Night Stalker

Special Operations Aviation Soldier died following marathon participation

Staff Sgt. Benjamin “Levi” Pigman, 25, died April 25, 2009, at Nashville General Hospital after he collapsed following completing the Country Music Half-Marathon in Nashville earlier that morning.
Pigman was a native of Hamilton, Mont., and volunteered for Army service in October 2001. Following basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., advanced individual training at Fort Eustis, Va., and Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga., he successfully assessed with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) as a helicopter engine mechanic. Pigman arrived to his first duty station with the 2nd Bn., 160th SOAR(A), at Fort Campbell, Ky., in July 2002.
He is a combat veteran with five deployments, four in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan and once in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
His military training includes U.S. Army Airborne School, Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course, Warrior Leader Course, Airloaders Course Special Operations Aviation assessment and training program and Combat Life Savers training. Pigman’s awards include four Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, two Army Good Conduct Medals, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global on War Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Aviation Badge, Parachutist Badge, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon and Army Service Ribbon.
Pigman is survived by his father and step mother, Ronald “Chip” and Anne Pigman and his three brothers, Timothy Pigman, Tyler Pigman, and Dillon Pigman of Hamilton; and his mother and step father, Pamela D. Koreski and Chris Koreski, also of Hamilton.