On 6 August 2011, thirty American military personnel and eight Afghan personnel lost their lives in Afghanistan during a night mission. In addition, one US military working dog was killed.<\/p>\n
This was worst single incident during the War in Afghanistan from the perspective of US casualties.\u00a0 It is also the single worst loss of life in the history of the US Special Operations Command.<\/p>\n
The incident occurred in the Tangi Joy Zarin area of Wardak province, Afghanistan, about 60 miles southwest of Kabul.<\/p>\n
The mission at hand was to reinforce a group of embattled US Army Rangers attempting to kill or capture a senior Taliban commander.\u00a0 Transportation into the operational area was via Army aviation.\u00a0 The aircraft involved – a US Army CH-47 – is believed to have been downed while the it was taking off after landing in the operational area.\u00a0 It is believed that the aircraft was struck by an RPG round striking the aft rotor assembly while it was still at a relatively low altitude.<\/p>\n
All on board the aircraft – callsign Extortion 17 – perished.<\/p>\n
US personnel killed in action during the incident were:<\/p>\n
US Army (aircrew for the CH-47)<\/span><\/p>\n
SGT Alexander J. Bennett, 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment<\/p>\n
SPC Spencer Duncan, 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment<\/p>\n
CWO Bryan J. Nichols, 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment<\/p>\n
CWO David R. Carter, 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment<\/p>\n
SSG Patrick D. Hamburger, 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment<\/p>\n
US Navy<\/span><\/p>\n
PO1 (SEAL) Darrick C. Benson, NSWC<\/p>\n
CPO (SEAL) Brian R. Bill, NSWC<\/p>\n
PO1 (SEAL) Christopher G. Campbell, NSWC<\/p>\n
CPO (SEAL) John W. Faas, NSWC<\/p>\n
CPO (SEAL) Kevin A. Houston, NSWC<\/p>\n
LCDR (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall, NSWC<\/p>\n
MCPO (SEAL) Louis J. Langlais, NSWC<\/p>\n
CPO (SEAL) Matthew D. Mason, NSWC<\/p>\n
CPO (SEAL) Stephen M. Mills, NSWC<\/p>\n
PO1 (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman, NSWC<\/p>\n
SCPO (SEAL) Thomas A. Ratzlaff, NSWC<\/p>\n
CPO (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves, NSWC<\/p>\n
CPO (SEAL) Heath M. Robinson, NSWC<\/p>\n
PO2 (SEAL) Nicholas P. Spehar, NSWC<\/p>\n
PO1 (SEAL) Jon T. Tumilson, NSWC<\/p>\n
PO1 (SEAL) Aaron C. Vaughn, NSWC<\/p>\n
PO1 (SEAL) Jason R. Workman, NSWC<\/p>\n
PO1 Jared W. Day, NSWC (IS Technician)<\/p>\n
PO1 John Douangdara, NSWC (Military Working Dog Handler)<\/p>\n
CPO Nicholas H. Null, NSWC (EOD Technician)<\/p>\n
PO1 Michael J. Strange, NSWC (Cryptologist Technician)<\/p>\n
SCPO Kraig M. Vickers, NSWC (EOD Technician)<\/p>\n
Bart (military working dog)<\/p>\n
US Air Force<\/span><\/p>\n
TSgt John W. Brown, 24th Special Tactics Squadron (Pararescue)<\/p>\n
SSgt Andrew W. Harvell, 24th Special Tactics Squadron (Combat Controller)<\/p>\n
TSgt Daniel L. Zerbe, 24th Special Tactics Squadron (Pararescue)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Regrettably, the names of the 7 Afghan commandos and the Afghan interpreter who were also lost in the incident are not readily available.<\/p>\n
Rest in peace, my brothers-in-arms.\u00a0 May God continue to comfort your friends an families.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Hat tip to MCPO NYC USN (Ret.) for the reminder regarding today’s significance.\u00a0 Such sacrifice should never be overlooked or forgotten.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"