Scholarship created in honor of Black Hawk helicopter pilot who died in 2019 crash

Times staff report

Family and friends of the Black Hawk helicopter pilot who died in a late 2019 crash near Kimball have launched a memorial scholarship in his name.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 James A. Rogers Jr. died at the age of 28 on Dec. 5, 2019 along with two other members of the Minnesota National Guard. They were performing a maintenance test flight.

The two others killed were Chief Warrant Officer 2 Charles P. Nord, 30, of Perham and Sgt. Kort M. Plantenberg, 28, of Avon.

Members of the Krippner family raise a flag Friday, Dec. 6, 2019, in tribute to victims of Thursday's National Guard helicopter crash that happened Thursday on their land near Marty.

Rogers' family have named a scholarship after him.

In 2010, Rogers graduated from St. James High School in St. James, which is southwest of St. Cloud and the Twin Cities. He graduated from St. Cloud State University in 2019, according to a press release from his family.

The scholarship in Rogers' name is aimed for high school seniors at at his alma mater.

"James was active in the drama, choir and tennis programs at St. James and earned a spot at the state tennis tournament his senior year," according to the scholarship press release. "James decided to forgo the state tournament to go to Army basic training early so he could be home in time for the fall semester at Saint Cloud State."

Chief Warrant Officer 2 James A. Rogers Jr.

Rogers joined the Minnesota National Guard in June 2009 as a field artillery automated tactical data system specialist in New Ulm. He completed Black Hawk helicopter flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama in August 2014. He deployed to Kuwait from May 2011 to May 2012 and again from June 2018 to June 2019.

"James was an outgoing and charismatic man with a larger than life personality," according to his obituary. "Though he was already quite accomplished for a man of his age his future plans were even greater. He was preparing to attend flight school to add fix wing commercial aircraft to his skill set and hoped to further this education by attending either law school or pursing an MBA."

Months after the crash a National Guard investigation cited mechanical failure and human errors as the cause.

People who wish to donate to the James A. Rogers Jr memorial scholarship can do so online — cw2jamesarogersjrmemorialscholarship.org — or by mail: 22834 Lake Hook Road, Hutchinson, MN 55350.

High school seniors who wish to apply for the scholarship can send an email to cw2jamesarogersscholarship@yahoo.com.