Hall helps dedicate helipads to helicopter crash victims

Photo: State Rep. and Lt. Col. Rodney Hall comments at the dedication of two new helipads in honor of two pilots killed in a helicopter crash in February 2024. (Courtesy photo)

Two new helipads at the Mississippi National Guard’s Camp Shelby have been dedicated in honor of two Guardsmen who died in a helicopter crash back in February of last year. 

The dedication of the helipads on Saturday to Chief Warrant Officer 4 Derek Abbott and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Bryan Zemek came about with the passage of House Resolution 86, sponsored by state Rep. Rodney Hall (R-Southaven), who also is a Lt. Colonel in the Mississippi National Guard. Hall was on hand at Camp Shelby for the dedication.  

“As a lifelong soldier and as Vice Chairman of the House Military Affairs Committee, it was an honor to author House Resolution 86, ensuring the legacies of CW4 Zemek and CW4 Abbott are forever etched into the grounds they once served,” Hall said. “This dedication is more than a memorial — it’s a message to every service member and veteran that Mississippi will always stand behind those who wear the uniform.”

The resolution sponsored by Hall was adopted by the House of Representatives on March 17.

Abbott and Zemek died when their Apache helicopter crashed in a wooded area near Booneville Feb. 23, 2024.  The AH-64 Apache helicopter Abbott and Zemek were aboard crashed during a routine training flight.

The helipads are named “Alpha” and “Zulu.” Alpha is dedicated to Abbott and Zulu is dedicated to Zemek.  CWO4 Zemek served as an AH-64D Apache Standardization Instructor Pilot with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 149th Aviation Regiment, based in Tupelo.  CWO4 Abbott was a Maintenance Test Pilot with Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 151st Lakota Medical Evacuation unit and was a combat veteran from Fulton.