WGNO

Guardsman killed in Blackhawk crash from Thibodaux

Staff Sgt. Lance Bergeron

HAMMOND, La. (WGNO) – The U.S. Military has released names of the Louisiana Guardsmen killed in a helicopter crash off the coast of Florida.

One of them was 40-year-old Staff Sgt. Lance Bergeron, originally from Thibodaux but lived with his family in Hammond.

“He’s been deployed in most of our state emergencies,” says Major General Glenn H. Curtis. “And deployed to Iraq in 2003 and again to Iraq in 2008.”

The airman joined the Marines in 1998, then the National Guard three years later.

The Louisiana Army National Guard in Houma is following a statewide order to lower the American flag at half-mast in honor of Bergeron as well as all of the servicemen who perished.

Bergeron served a total of 21 years in the armed forces.

He’s survived by his wife and two children.

“There have been numerous thoughts prayers vigils,” says Curtis.

The investigation into why the Blackhawk helicopter crashed killing three other National Guardsmen along with seven Marines is ongoing.

“You got to get it right as you’re going to get it,” says Curtis. “Was it a mechanical failure?”