FORT CAVAZOS, Texas  –   Born on Nov. 24, 1965, in Hemet, California, Keith Yoakum enlisted in the Army shortly after graduating from Hemet High School in 1984. A passionate aviator, he earned his pilot's license in the 1980s and became a flight instructor. Yoakum's military career spanned over two decades, during which he served as an Apache helicopter pilot.

In 2005, he declined an opportunity to join the Army's elite Golden Knights parachute team to deploy to Iraq. On Feb. 2, 2007, during a reconnaissance mission near Baghdad, Yoakum's helicopter sustained heavy enemy fire. Despite the damage, he continued to engage the enemy to protect his comrades. His aircraft ultimately crashed, and he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his extraordinary heroism. 
 
Jason DeFrenn, born in 1972 in Barnwell, South Carolina, managed a Pizza Hut before enlisting in the Army at age 25. He pursued his dream of becoming a pilot and served as an Apache helicopter pilot with the 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. DeFrenn was on his third deployment when his helicopter was shot down on Feb. 2, 2007, near Taji, Iraq. He left behind his wife, Jenny, and four children, the youngest born just days after his death. 

In May 2023, Fort Cavazos honored these two fallen aviators by renaming its airfield to Yoakum-Defrenn Army Heliport Aviation Clinic. The clinic provides essential health care services to active-duty service members, including flight physicals and other readiness services. 

The Yoakum-Defrenn Army Heliport Aviation Clinic not only delivers critical medical support but also serves as a lasting memorial to two soldiers whose dedication and courage continue to inspire the Army community.