Non-Profit To Pay Death Benefits To 2 Ft. Carson Families

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO -- Death benefits of $100,000 each to families of two Fort Carson helicopter pilots who died in a training exercise Saturday will be paid by a non-profit, since they could not be authorized during the recent federal government shutdown, Stars and Stripes reported Saturday.

Lt. Clayton R. Cullen, 25, of Indiana, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kevin R. Burke, 28, of California, were killed when an AH-64 Apache crashed about 1 a.m. at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin. Both men were assigned to the 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.

Army Spokesperson Jason Brown told ABC that the family of neither man would receive the death benefits because there was no way to appropriate them during a government shutdown.

Families usually receive a $100,000 death benefit provided for the death of a service member under any circumstance either stateside or overseas. The benefit money is typically used by families to cover the travel and funeral costs. It's not clear whether they will receive the payments from the government if it reopens.

Rockville, Maryland-based Fisher House Foundation agreed to pay the families' death benefits temporarily and pay for any travel or other expenses, they announced Monday. The foundation builds "comfort homes" at VA hospitals where family members can stay while a veteran receives treatments.

During the 2013 federal shutdown that lasted 16 days, Fisher House provided $750,000 in grants to 30 families, according to a press release.

“Families like the ones we helped in 2013 are very deserving. They are deeply dedicated to overcoming the challenges they confront,” Ken Fisher, chairman and CEO of his family’s nonprofit, said in a statement to Stars and Stripes Saturday. “Helping them isn’t charity but rather this nation’s solemn duty. In these very tough situations, they don’t quit. Neither should we.”

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., reached out to Fisher, and the nonprofit agreed to offer the families an advance grant until the government can make reimbursements, Manchin’s office said.

“I applaud Ken and the Fisher House for their dedication to serving our soldiers and their families during their time of need and especially as this senseless shutdown looms," a statement on Manchin's website said. "It’s shameful that our military families could bear the consequences of this shutdown and that’s part of why I will never vote to shut down the government. I’m grateful for Ken’s leadership and generous spirit.”

Funeral information for neither soldier has been released.

Images Clayton Cullen and Kevin Burke via US Army