A Rolling Prairie man was one of four United States airmen killed Tuesday when their helicopter crashed off the coast of England. Tech. Sgt. Dale E. Mathews was one of four killed during a training mission when his chopper crashed into a marshy area of a nature reserve, according to the U.S. Air Force. Our reporting partners at WNDU-TV spoke with Mathews family, who say he was due to come home for good in a March and end a military career of nearly two decades. Mathews joined the military soon after his 19th birthday and served in Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. He leaves behind a wife, two children and two stepchildren. A memorial fund for his children has been set up at 1st Source Bank. Contributions can be mailed to: Dale E Mathews Memorial Fund, 848 West Michigan Street, New Carlisle, IN 46552. Mathews will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are pending. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
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