Blackhawk pilot from Ore. shot down in Iraq

08:24 AM PDT on Monday, April 9, 2007

By JANE SMITH, KGW Staff

Kenny Doleac's parents said they're grateful he's alive.

The 24-year-old Central Catholic and West Point graduate was piloting a blackhawk helicopter that insurgents shot down last Thursday. It happened just south of Baghdad.

Nine soldiers were on board. Everyone survived, but four of the soldiers suffered minor injuries.

The blackhawk lost communication. For several minutes, the crew feared no one saw where they landed.

Another blackhawk landed nearby and flew the nine soldiers to safety.

Doleac E-mailed his parents in Portland to let them know he was okay, but his parents had no idea he had been in harm's way.

"It certainly, as a mother, it sure takes your breath away. I mean I don't go an hour without quietly saying a prayer and thinking about Kenny and all of the soldiers in Iraq," said Marge Doleac.

Doleac has another six months to serve in Iraq.

His older brother, Michael plays for the Miami Heat.


http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_040907_news_iraq_blackhawk.5aac641.html