Flags at Half-Staff in honor of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Zachary G. Esparza

(JEFFERSON CITY, MO) – Today, Governor Mike Parson ordered that the United States and Missouri flags at all government buildings statewide be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Monday, April 17, 2023, in honor of United States Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Zachary G. Esparza, of St. Louis, Missouri.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Esparza served with the United States Army’s 101st Airborne Division as an Instructor Pilot. He was killed, along with eight other Untied States service members, when two UH-60 Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopters crashed near Fort Campbell, Kentucky, during a nighttime training mission on March 29, 2023.

“While Zachary was taken far too soon, we know he made a large, lasting impact in the lives he touched,” Governor Parson said. “We are eternally grateful for his service to our state, nation, and democracy. His patriotism and love for flying led him to the U.S. Army, and while he may no longer be with us, we take comfort in knowing he was doing what he loved. Our hearts go out to his family and friends, and we will continue to keep them in our prayers as they navigate life without a beloved son and friend.”

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Esparza enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 24 and graduated as a UH-60M pilot in 2015. He was deployed to Afghanistan in support of the International Security Assistance mission and had served as an Instructor Pilot since 2021. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and National Defense Service Medal, among others.

The flags will be held at half-staff on the day Chief Warrant Officer 3 Esparza is laid to rest. To view the proclamation, click here.