Female soldier inside Black Hawk during DC crash identified

Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach's identity was initially withheld after the crash

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The U.S. Army has identified the female soldier in the doomed Black Hawk helicopter that crashed into an American Airlines flight this week, killing 67 people.

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Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach, of Durham, North Carolina, was assigned to the 12th Aviation Battalion in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and had served since July 2019, the Army said in a statement.

The Army had initially refused to identify Lobach at the request of her family.

The decision to release her name came “at the request of and in coordination with the family,” according to the statement.

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“We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca. She was a bright star in all our lives,” her family said in a statement released by the Army.

“Rebecca was a warrior and would not hesitate to defend her country in battle … Rebecca was many things. She was a daughter, sister, partner, and friend. She was a servant, a caregiver, an advocate. Most of all she loved and was loved. Her life was short, but she made a difference in the lives of all who knew her.”

Lobach was a decorated service member, whose accolades include the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.

According to her family, she graduated within the top 20% of ROTC cadets nationwide.

Lobach also served as a White House social aide during the Biden administration.

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