Wife of soldier killed in Afghanistan was from Corrine

One of the two soldiers killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan on Wednesday was the husband of a Corrine woman McKenzie Norman Fuchigami. Chief Warrant Officer Kirk T. Fuchigami Jr., 25, of Keaau, HI had been married to McKenzie for eight months at the time of his death. Chief Warrant Officer David C. Knadle was married with two children, a Facebook post said.

A Facebook photo of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kirk T. Fuchigami Jr. 25 of Keaau, HI who was killed in Afghanistan Wednesday.

The military newspaper Stars and Stripes reported the two were providing security for troops on the ground.

Although the Taliban claimed to have shot down the helicopter, a U.S. military spokesman said that was untrue. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

According to the U.S. military, Fuchigami, 25, entered active duty in May 2017.

In October 2018, he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division in Fort Hood, Texas, where he served as an Apache helicopter pilot.

Fuchigami’s awards and decorations included the Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Action Badge and Army Aviator Badge.

Both soldiers deployed to Afghanistan in October 2019.

Lt. Col. Adam Camarano, commander of the 1-227th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, issued a statement offering his condolences to the soldiers’ families and friends.

“Chief Warrant Officer Knadel and Chief Warrant Officer Fuchigami will always be remembered as a part of the heroic legacy of the 1st Cavalry Division, forged by the sacrifices of brave Cavalry Troopers who have laid down their lives in defense of freedom,” Camarano said.

McKenzie posted about her husband’s death on Facebook.

“My heart and world is completely shattered to tell you that my husband, Kirk has been called back home,” she said on a Facebook post. “He was and is a strong, courageous soldier and loyal husband. Eight months of marriage with him was the best months of my life.”

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