Funeral services for Mo. soldiers killed in Black Hawk crash

These photos provided by the 101st Airborne Division Office of Public Affairs at Fort Campbell, Ky., show Chief Warrant Officer 2 Rusten Smith, 32, of Rolla, …

These photos provided by the 101st Airborne Division Office of Public Affairs at Fort Campbell, Ky., show Chief Warrant Officer 2 Rusten Smith, 32, of Rolla, Mo. and Zachary Esparza, 36, of Jackson, Mo. They were two of nine soldiers killed in a helicopter crash Wednesday evening, March 29, 2023. (101st Airborne Division Office of Public Affairs via AP)

by: Kevin S. Held

Posted: Apr 9, 2023 / 05:02 PM CDT

Updated: Apr 9, 2023 / 05:02 PM CDT

ST. LOUIS — Visitation and funeral services have been announced for two Missouri soldiers who died last month in a military helicopter crash.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Zachary Esparza, of Jackson, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Rusten Smith, of Rolla, were killed on March 29, when the Black Hawk helicopters they were riding in crashed near Fort Campbell during a nighttime training exercise. Esparza was 36; Smith was 32.

Both men served in the United States Army’s 101st Airborne Division.

Seven other soldiers were killed in the crash. Esparza and two others were posthumously promoted to the next rank.