Black Hawk pilot remembered as a selfless, humble person
Chris Hinkle flew numerous missions in Iraq and Afghanistan during his 20 years with the U.S. Army, earning two Bronze Stars and several other awards over the years.
His wife, Angelia Hinkle, said Chris — a 1989 graduate of Slippery Rock High School, a founding member of Portersville/Muddy Creek EMS and a lifetime member of Portersville/Muddy Creek Volunteer Fire Department — did not share this information with others very often, because of his humble nature.
“He was just a silent hero,” Angelia said. “He never boasted or bragged about anything he did. A lot of people only know about what he did because I told them.”
Angelia will continue sharing her husband’s story, because the Black Hawk pilot died Aug. 17 at the age of 51, while living in Japan. Angelia said doctors discovered that her husband had colon cancer in June 2021. The cancer was already in phase four and led to his eventual death.
The family will have a remembrance ceremony at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at Lakeview Beach at Moraine State Park, which will feature honors by members of the National Guard.
Ken Wilson, assistant chief of Prospect Volunteer Fire Department, had known Chris since high school, and said his selflessness deserves to be honored. He said he hopes people come to pay their respects to his longtime friend.
“We want him to be recognized as much as possible,” Wilson said.
Chris joined the Army in 1996, and he rose through the ranks, becoming an airborne infantryman stationed at Fort Bragg. He then went into long-range surveillance, then went to ranger school.
Chris made E-6, or petty officer first class, in four years, which Angelia said was “basically unheard of.” Chris graduated ranger school in 2001, finally fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming not only a pilot, but a flier of Black Hawk helicopters.
“He was flying for 17 years, and that was his happy place, in the cockpit,” Angelia said. “He flew a lot of air assaults. It was his second tour in Iraq — he planned the largest air assault in Operation Swarmer and executed it himself.”
Chris and his wife had been together for more than 26 years and have four children. The family moved to Japan in 2012, when Chris was still an active duty Black Hawk pilot. He retired while in Japan in 2016, and took a job as director of a training support center, training Japanese and American soldiers.
Angelia said being with Chris made her a better person. She also said his caring attitude has helped their whole family cope with his death.
“He was the most loving, protective, caring, humble — the most selfless person that you would ever meet,” Angelia said. “He raised our family to be very strong and humble. I think that's why we are able to get through this so well.”
Angelia said her husband did not want a large service at his death, reinforcing his humble nature. However, Angelia said a ceremony at Moraine will be an appropriate way to remember Chris, because it was one of his favorite places.
“He said, ‘I know you are going to be sad, but only be sad for a little and then celebrate my life,’” Angelia said. “He said, ‘I didn't have a long life, but I had a lot of things that I have done, and I want you to celebrate those things.’”
