Chief Warrant Officer Three Andrew J. Kraus was born on 11 March 1986 in Chicago, Illinois. He was a loving husband and dedicated father who prioritized his family above all. He was a true professional who embodied the spirit and tenants of a Special Operations Aviator.

CW3 Kraus was a Pilot-in-Command and Basic Mission Qualified MH-60M Black Hawk Pilot assigned to Charlie Company, 4th Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. CW3 Kraus died when his MH-60M Black Hawk helicopter, tail #269, crashed during a training mission in Washington.

CW3 Kraus started his military career in the United States Marine Corps on 21 July 2008 as a CH-46 Sea Knight Helicopter Maintainer. He departed the Marine Corps in 2013 before joining the Army in 2017 and attending the Warrant Officer Candidate School and Flight School at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Upon graduation from Flight School, he served as an Aeromedical Evacuation Pilot-in-Command performing real-world medical evacuation missions for 1-214th General Support Aviation Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade in Germany. After assessing favorably for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) and completing Green Platoon, he was assigned to Charlie Company, 4th Battalion, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. While serving in Charlie Company, CW3 Kraus supported multiple CONUS training missions and deployed in support of contingency response operations in 2023. In February 2025, he completed the Aviation Maintenance Test Pilot Course at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

CW3 Kraus' awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (w/OLC), Navy Unity Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and Basic Aviation Badge. He was posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and was inducted into the Honorable Order of Saint Michael for significant contributions to the Army Aviation community.

CW3 Kraus is survived by his wife, Anna; his daughters, Enna and Reese; his parents, Bill and Rosemarie; his brother, Alexander; and his sister, Margaret.