A soldier from Estherville has been identified as one of five killed in a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan on Monday. Funeral arrangements are pending for 27-year-old Sergeant Steve Blass at the Henry-Olsen Funeral Home of Estherville.
Military officials say cause of the crash is under investigation, but initial reporting indicates there was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the incident. All five soldiers killed in the crash were based at Fort Stewart in Georgia.
The U.S. Department of Defense has not released any additional details as of this time.
By Ed Funston, KILR, Estherville