CW3 Donovan L. Briley

3 October 1993, Somalia

160th SOAR

Chief Warrant Officer Three Donovan L. Briley, of North Little Rock, Arkansas, died on 3 October 1993 while supporting Operation CONTINUE HOPE in Somalia.

Briley first enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1980 before transitioning to active duty in 1984. After completing flight training at Fort Rucker, Alabama, he became a qualified UH-60 Black Hawk pilot and received his Warrant Officer commission in 1985. Following an assignment at Camp Stanley, South Korea, he joined the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in 1988. CW3 Briley participated in multiple operations with the 160th SOAR, including Operation JUST CAUSE in Panama.

In August 1993, CW3 Briley deployed to Somalia as part of Task Force Ranger. During the Battle of Mogadishu, the MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter CW3 Briley was piloting was struck by a rocket propelled grenade and crashed, resulting in his death.