by The Associated Press

A Mercer County man was among five U.S. service members killed when their helicopter crashed during a routine post-maintenance test flight in Iraq, the Department of Defense said.

The CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed near Taqaddum air base on Tuesday. Among the victims was Staff Sgt. Stanley B. Reynolds, 37, of Lashmeet.

Reynolds was a truck driver before enlisting in the military more than five years ago. His late father was a Marine who served in Vietnam.

"He wanted to serve his country the way his father did,'' Anthony Masters, a family spokesman, said Thursday night.

Reynolds, who was married with three children ages 8, 6 and 4, left for Iraq in early July for a 15-month deployment, his second overseas, Masters said.

The Defense Department identified the other victims as Chief Warrant Officer Christopher C. Johnson, 31, of Michigan; Chief Warrant Officer Jackie L. McFarlane Jr, 30, Virginia Beach, Va.; Staff Sgt. Sean P. Fisher, 29, of Santee, Calif.; and Spc. Steven R. Jewell, 26, of Bridgeton, N.C.

They were part of the 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment, Task Force 49, based in Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Johnson's family was told the crash was an accident. Masters said he spoke Thursday with Reynolds' battalion commander, who indicated he didn't know how it happened.

The bodies of the five are scheduled to arrive in Dover, Del., on Friday afternoon, Masters said. Bailey Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton will be in charge of arrangements for Reynolds' funeral, he said.

http://www.dailymail.com/story/News/200708175/Mercer-County-man-killed-in-Iraq/