The friends and family of Rebecca Lobach are understandably heartbroken over their loved one not only losing her life in an unexpected tragedy, but they also have to deal with the social media backlash that has come for her in death.
The U.S. Army confirmed Lobach, a Durham woman, and UNC alum, has been identified by authorities as the third person inside of the Black Hawk helicopter that collided with an American Airlines jet last Wednesday that left 67 people deceased, 60 AA passengers, four AA crew members and three aboard the Black Hawk.
The Army had initially refused to identify Lobach at the request of her family.
Friends and fellow Army officers who served alongside Capt. Rebecca Lobach stated that she was a skilled, dedicated, and patriotic soldier who inspired and lifted up those around her.
Each one of them spoke to Military.com about their own personal memories.
In addition to them, Lobach’s family also broke their silence amid anger toward their loved one.
They made it clear that they were devastated.
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The statement said in part: “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca. She was a bright star in all our lives. She was kind, generous, brilliant, funny, ambitious and strong. No one dreamed bigger or worked harder to achieve her goals.”
Rebecca began her career in the United States Army as a distinguished military graduate in ROTC at the University of North Carolina and was in the top 20% of cadets nationwide. She achieved the rank of Captain, having twice served as a Platoon Leader and as a Company Executive Officer in the 12th Aviation Battalion, Davison Army Airfield, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. With more than 450 hours of flight time, she earned certification as a pilot-in-command after extensive testing by the most senior and experienced pilots in her battalion.
Rebecca was a warrior and would not hesitate to defend her country in battle. But she was as graceful as she was fierce: in addition to her duties as an Army aviator, Rebecca was honored to serve as a White House Military Social Aide, volunteering to support the President and First Lady in hosting countless White House events, including ceremonies awarding the Medal of Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Rebecca cared about people, and she extended to individuals the same fearless defense she gave to this nation. She was proud of the difference she made as a certified Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) Victim Advocate and hoped to continue her education so she could serve this country as a physician when her time with the Army ended. She once said, “My experiences with SHARP have reinforced my resolve to serve others with compassion, understanding, and the resources necessary for healing.”
Rebecca was many things. She was a daughter, sister, partner, and friend. She was a servant, a caregiver, an advocate. Most of all, she loved and was loved. Her life was short, but she made a difference in the lives of all who knew her. Our hearts break for the other families who have lost loved ones in this national tragedy, and we mourn with them.
We request that you please respect our privacy as we grieve this devastating loss.
Social Media Has Been Unkind To Captain Rebecca Lobach
Following the fatal mid-air collision of a military Blackhawk helicopter and an American Airlines plane, the name of third pilot Rebecca Lobach was initially withheld at her family’s request.
It wasn’t hard to see why as social media found out the third pilot was female and immediately started to blame her and DEI as the reason a military Blackhawk helicopter collided mid-air with an American Airlines plane and killed 67 people.
The cause of the unusual mid-air collision remains unknown.
