President Trump made an unannounced departure from the White House Thursday eveing to attend the dignified transfer of two U.S. Army soldiers who were killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 David Knadle, 33, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kirk Fuchigami Jr., 25, were killed when their helicopter crashed while providing security for troops on the ground in the Logar Province on Wednesday, according to the Department of Defense.
Their bodies were returned to the United States at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
All @WhiteHouse media just notified to gather for a previously unannounced Marine One departure.
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) November 21, 2019
Trump did not take any questions when he left the White House.
Marine One lifts. pic.twitter.com/oRIcP9HZbk
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) November 21, 2019
First Lady Melania Trump, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, and actor Jon Voight accompanied the President on the trip.
President Donald Trump watches one of the two American service members who were killed in a helicopter crash Wednesday are returned to Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware during a dignified transfer. pic.twitter.com/sGsu4NPnTA
— Doug Mills (@dougmillsnyt) November 22, 2019
"There was no intention of meeting the families or any of that," Voight told pool reporters. "I just wanted to pay my respects."
"First Attack is saddened by the tragic loss of Chief Warrant Officer 2 David C. Knadle and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kirk T. Fuchigami Jr," said Lt. Col. Adam Camarano, commander, 1-227th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, in a press release. "Our heartfelt condolences go to both families and their friends during this difficult time. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Knadel and Chief Warrant Officer 2 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."
Knadle and Kirk were deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel in October of this year.