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Knox Co. Native Killed In Military Helicopter Crash

Last updated on Wednesday, January 24, 2018

(KNOX CO.) - The Army says two soldiers - one of them identified as northern Knox County native Lt. Clay Cullen — were killed Saturday morning when a helicopter crashed in the Southern California desert.

Cullen was commissioned into the Army from Indiana University in 2015.

The Army says 1st Lt. Clayton Cullen was among two Fort Carson, Colorado-based soldiers killed Saturday during a training crash at Fort Irwin, California.

The Vincennes Sun-Commercial reports the 25-year-old Cullen grew up in Bicknell and was a 2011 graduate of North Knox High School, where the American flag was lowered to half-staff Monday. Cullen was a National Honor Society and student council member and MVP of the school's soccer team.

He was a top student and athlete at his high school before starting Army officer training while in college.

Principal Matt Sandefer says Cullen "was an extraordinary young man."

Cullen joined Indiana University's ROTC program and entered the Army after his 2015 graduation.

During his nearly three years of service, he was awarded the Army Achievement Medal.

The Apache helicopter he and 28-year-old Chief Warrant Officer Kevin Burke of California were flying crashed at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin in the Mojave Desert.

Cullen and Burke were based at Fort Carson in Colorado and were training at Fort Irwin.

Both men were assigned to Fort Carson's 4th Combat Aviation Brigade.

Cullen is the son of Robert and Julie Cullen.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

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