Thirty US troops and eight Afghans were killed August 6th when a rocket-propelled grenade fired by a Taliban insurgent downed a Chinook helicopter.
The US servicemen were 17 members of the elite Navy SEALs, five Naval Special Warfare personnel who work with SEALs, three Air Force Special Operations personnel and an Army helicopter crew of five.
The Afghans who died included a civilian interpreter. The rest were Afghan commandos there to aid in the mission.
Those lost to our nation are listed below in alphabetical order:
- Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Darrik C. Benson from California
- Army Sergeant Alexander J. Bennett from Washington
- Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Brian R. Bill from Connecticut
- USAF Techical Sergeant John W. Brown from Florida
- Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Parachutist) Christopher G. Campbell from North Carolina
- Army Chief Warrant Officer David R. Carter from Colorado
- Information Systems Technician Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Jared W. Day from Utah
- Master-at-Arms Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) John Douangdara from Nebraska
- Army Specialist Spencer C. Duncan from Kansas
- Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) John W. Faas from Minnesota
- Army Sergeant Patrick D. Hamburger from Nebraska
- USAF Staff Sergeant Andrew W. Harvell from California
- Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Kevin A. Houston from Massachusetts
- Lt. Cmdr. (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall from Louisiana
- Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis J. Langlais from California
- Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Matthew D. Mason from Missouri
- Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Stephen M. Mills from Texas
- Army Chief Warrant Officer Bryan J. Nichols from Kansas
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist/Diver) Nicholas H. Null from West Virginia
- Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman from California
- Special Warfare Operator Senior Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Thomas A. Ratzlaff from Arkansas
- Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves from Louisiana
- Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Heath M. Robinson from Michigan
- Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Nicholas P. Spehar from Minnesota
- Cryptologist Technician (Collection) Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) Michael J. Strange from Pennsylvania
- Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) Jon T. Tumilson from Iowa
- Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Aaron C. Vaughn from Florida
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Senior Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Kraig M. Vickers from Hawaii
- Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jason R. Workman from Utah
- USAF Technical Sergeant Daniel L. Zerbe from Pennsylvania
~ DoD News Release
This is Part One of this special tribute. Part Two is being published by SisTwo tonight.
• Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Darrik C. Benson ~ tribute by JaxDem
On his fourth tour of duty, Darrik Benson, 29, was a third-generation resident of Angwin, California.
Benson obtained a commercial pilot's license a few months ago and was considering becoming a pilot after leaving the military.
"He's a fine boy, we're extremely proud of him. He was one of the top men in his group." ~ His grandfather
“He was an outdoor fellow, he just loved life and loved to ride motorcycles.” ~ His grandmother
PO1 (SEAL) Darrik C. Benson is survived by his wife, Kara, a 3-year-old son, his parents and grandparents.
~ Source ~ Source
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• Army Sergeant Alexander J. Bennett ~ tribute by SisTwo
Alexander Bennett attended Foss High School in Tacoma, Washington. He loved cars and the military. After a tour in Iraq in 2009, he moved from Washington to the Kansas City area last year so he could join Bravo Company. He served as a Chinook flight mechanic in Afghanistan.
He was remembered as a prankster:
He once stole a division flag from an active-duty Army unit.
And there was that epic battle, he said, with the Marines over an extra large bench in Iraq. “The Marines stole it from us and Bennett stole it back, putting a lot of chains on it. Even the whole Marine unit couldn’t take it back.”
Army Sergeant Alexander Bennett, 23, and two others from Bravo Company - Spc. Spencer Duncan, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bryan Nichols were part of the helicopter crew who perished in the crash in Wardak province last week.
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• Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Brian R. Bill ~ tribute by JaxDem
A Navy SEAL since 2003 and an accomplished mountaineer, skier, pilot, and triathalete, Bill had planned on returning to graduate school at the end of his military service, to fulfill his dream of becoming an astronaut.
Chief Bill leaves behind his father, Scott; mother and step father Patricia and Michael Parry who jointly issued this statement:
We are heartbroken in our loss. Brian was a remarkably gifted, thoughtful and compassionate young man. We are incredibly proud of him. He was a treasured son, grandson, brother, uncle and cousin. He loved life. He loved a challenge. And he was passionate about being a SEAL.
~ Source ~ Source
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• (USAF) Technical Sergeant John W. Brown ~ tribute by Chacounne
USAF, assigned to 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, NC, pararescueman
Sgt Brown, 33, grew up in Siloam Springs, Ark. Tallahassee, Florida is listed by the Pentagon as his hometown, and he and his wife, Tabitha, lived in Pine Field, NC, near where he was stationed.
With plans of becoming a nurse anesthetist, Sgt. Brown attended Brown University, but joined the military instead after a video on special operations caught his attention.
His mother, Elizabeth Newlun, remembers her son as being enthusiastic about being involved in "anything physical, anything athletic."If I wanted to have a conversation with him that was serious, I would have to shoot baskets with him. There's nothing athletic about me, but I realized that you have to get into other people's comfort zones to get information." He played basketball and swam competitively.
Sgt Brown received his some of his advanced training at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. two of a pararescueman’s eight required courses at Kirtland: the Pararescue Recovery Specialist Course and the Paramedic Course. The course includes field tactics, mountaineering, combat tactics, advanced parachuting and helicopter insertion and extraction, all in 20 weeks.
“When you think of what the ideal model of a soldier would be, he would be it,” Jon Woods, Sgt Brown's friend, and an Arkansas state representative told AP. “He could run all day. We lived down the street from each other and spent time together after school and hung out. Even if we had a long day of practice, he would put on his sneakers and run after practice.”
A video has been prepared in honour of the life of Tech Sgt Brown. Here is the link. http://www.youtube.com/...
Sergeant Brown is survived by his wife, Tabitha, his mother, Elizabeth Newlun, his brothers, Danny and Luke, and many family and friends.
May his family and friends have warm memories filled with love.
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• Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Parachutist) Christopher G. Campbell ~ tribute by JaxDem
"He had no fear" - High School Football Coach
" He didn't have a lot of fear of things. He was an adventurous-type guy" 70 year old friend
"...he wants to help people that need help." His mother
Petty Officer First Class Chris Campbell told his family that if he was ever killed in the line of duty, he wanted the local newspaper to write about his life and death, with a request for donations in his memory to the Wounded Warrior Project. The project helps wounded service members recover from their war injuries.
PO1 Chris Campbell leaves behind his wife, Angelina; daughter Samantha,14; mother Diane Campbell; and father, Larry Campbell.
~ Source ~Source
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• Army Chief Warrant Officer David R. Carter ~ tribute by SisTwo
David Carter was from the Denver suburb of Aurora. He was a chief warrant officer 4, a full-time Army National Guardsman and an instructor pilot. He was a skilled aviator with more than 700 hours of combat flying time and had a passion for training young aviators.
The 47-year-old was one of two pilots flying the Chinook CH-47D when it was shot down.
Following the Task Force Commander was B Co's Commander. Through a broken voice and tears streaming down his face he spoke of each of these men individually. Not just as solders, but as Fathers, sons, siblings, husbands, and to him personally.... friends. One such story he told was of the tattoo that CW4 Carter (the Co-pilot) had on his arm. It was a poem that said the following:
When I get to Heaven
To St. Peter I will tell
"Here I am reporting, sir!
I've spent my time in hell."
~Source
David and his wife, Laura, would have celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in December. A memorial college fund is being set up in CW4 Carter's name for his two children.
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• Information Systems Technician Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Jared W. Day ~ tribute by SisTwo
Jared William Day grew up in the Salt Lake City area of Utah and joined the Navy in 2002. He was a tactical commander of a Naval Special Warfare unit.
A statement from his family described him as being "determined with a fierce sense of humor." The family also said, "He was truly special, not only to our family, but to this country."
Day's family attended a ceremony earlier this week at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where they were given a few minutes to talk with President Barack Obama.
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• Master-at-Arms Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) John Douangdara ~ tribute by JaxDem
Master at Arms, Class 1 John Douangdara, 26, was a lead dog handler for the elite military unit, SEAL Team 6. His family's sadness was tempered with pride for the brother and son who served his country, a country that welcomed these Laotian immigrants 31 years ago.
We are proud Johnny fought for the country that embraced our family and gave us the opportunity to reach for the American dream," said Chan Follen, the oldest of five children in the family.
His sister said he had one of the biggest, most welcoming smiles you've ever seen and the family is taking solace in knowing John died doing what he loved.
~ Source ~ Source
Please visit the Facebook memorial for Bart, the Military Working Dog who died beside his handler, MA1 John Douangdara.
~ Facebook Memorial for Bart
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• Spc. Spencer C. Duncan ~ tribute by CalNM
Spc Spencer "Dunk" Duncan, 21, was from Olathe, Kansas, and a Crew Chief on the helicopter.
Spencer had always wanted to serve his country, and joined the Army in 2008 after graduating from Olathe South High School. Spc. Spencer was assigned to Bravo Company, 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment based at New Century AirCenter in Gardner, Kansas. Some of his family live in Oklahoma.
Spc. Duncan had been in Afghanistan since late May, serving as a door gunner and mechanic on CH-47 Chinook helicopters. His friends describe him as very patriotic, and very proud of serving his country.
Spc. Duncan wrote about how much he loved his job as a door gunner on a Chinook helicopter. But he also told his friends that in the quiet amid the stark landscape of Afghanistan he missed the Kansas sunsets, lying in a truck bed listening to the radio and cuddling with his sweetie.
~Source ~Source ~Source ~Source
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• Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) John W. Faas ~ tribute by JaxDem
Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) John W. Faas was high school class valedictorian as well as quaterback of the football team, and friends say he had an abiding passion for his country.
"John was one of those rare, rare guys, where, you know, he made every kid around him better." ~ Former coach
"In some ways, the world was his oyster. He had kind of the complete tool kit -- very intelligent, very personable, very easy to get along with." ~ Childhood friend
"Words cannot describe the loss of our son, Chief Petty Officer John Weston Faas. John was a man of unquestionable integrity and courage, as were those he served with. He became a SEAL to serve his country and to make the world a better place for those less fortunate.
John made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting the ideals of our nation; while doing a job he loved, and while serving with the people he loved. Although his life was tragically cut short, his spirit will live on in his family and friends, and the brave men who served by his side until his death.”
~ Statement from the family
It is no surprise the extent of CPO (SEAL) Faas' awards: Bronze Star Medal with "V" device for valor (3), Joint Service Commendation Medal with "V" for valor (3), Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon (2), Presidential Unit citation, Navy Unit Citation, Good conduct Medal (2), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (3), Iraq Campaign Medal (3), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (3), Rifle Markmanship Medal, and the Pistol Markmanship Medal.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
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• Army Sgt. Patrick D. Hamburger by Blue Jersey Mom
Sgt. Patrick Hamburger, 30, was a native of Lincoln, Nebraska. He graduated from Southeast High School in 1999 and joined the Army National Guard at age 18. He planned to make the military his career. He served as a flight engineer and was on his first deployment to Afghanistan at the time of his death.
Sgt. Hamburger and his fiancee, Candie Reagan, are the parents of a two-year old daughter. They had planned to marry when he returned from Afghanistan. Hamburger is also survived by his parents, his step-father, and two younger twin brothers. On learning of Patrick's death, Maj. Gen. Judd Lyons, adjutant general for Nebraska, said:
Our National Guard family is deeply saddened by the loss of our soldier, Sergeant Pat Hamburger... Our most sincere thoughts and prayers are with his families and the soldiers he served with.source
Thank you, Sgt. Hamburger, for your long and selfless service to our nation. Our prayers are for your fiancee and your young daughter.
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• (USAF) Staff Sergeant Andrew W. Harvell ~ tribute by Chacounne
USAF, assigned to 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, NC, combat controller
Sgt. Harvell, 26, grew up in Long Beach, Calif. He lived with his wife and two small children in North Carolina, near Pope Field.
A football player in high school, Sgt Harvell is remembered by his high school coach, Kurt Diego, as having the "heart of a lion" and as having a "terrier-type mentality during every game." “He had to because he was too small, too slow, but not when you took into account his heart. It didn’t surprise me at all when he chose to go into the military. He was always a guy that gave every ounce of whatever he had.”
Sgt Harvell is not the only military member of the family, his older brother, Staff Sgt. Sean Harvell, also is a combat controller and received two Silver Stars last year for actions in Helmand province, Afghanistan.
May his family and friends have warm and loving memories.
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• Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Kevin A. Houston ~ tribute by JaxDem
For more than 100 missions, Chief Kevin Houston placed a plastic wrapped American flag beneath his body armor. In late June, Houston returned to his childhood home in Massachusetts where he visited Mr. Christopher Kelly who served in the 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War and who had been a faithful surrogate father to Kevin as he was growing up. He gave that flag to Mr. Kelly along with a letter.
“I carried this flag for you from the beginning. I’m honored to hand this to you.” ~ from the letter by Chief Kevin A. Houston
Chief Houston proved early on he had "the right stuff". Having broken his back in an accident and being confined to a wheelchair, Kevin forced himself to stand and walk across the stage to receive his high school diploma. He was captain of the football team, and at a young age he suffered through his parents' divorce and the death of a sibling. Through it all, he always wanted to become a SEAL.
"His mom would take him to the beach (as a kid) and he'd practice being a SEAL. He was coming out of the water with a knife in his mouth, and his mom would say, 'What are you doing?' And he'd say, 'I'm in training, mom.' I guess that was just in his makeup. He was a daredevil." ~ His Aunt
Chief Petty Officer Kevin A. Houston leaves behind a wife and three children.
~ Source ~ Source ~ Source
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• Lieutenant Commander (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall ~ tribute by Wide Awake in KY
Lt. Cmdr. Jonas Kelsall CPO Robert Reeves
Robert James Reeves and Jonas Kelsall were close friends from early days in Shreveport, Louisiana. Together they attended Caddo Magnet High School, where they played soccer. Both wanted to become Seals.
After graduation, life took them in different directions. Reeves spent a year at LSU; then he went to the Navy, where he ultimately became a Chief Petty Officer, and a Seal. Kelsall graduated from the University of Texas and became a commissioned officer in the Navy; ultimately he, too, became a Seal. Their paths took them to separate places for many years. Lt. Cdr. Kelsall did much of his training on the West Coast; Chief Reeves spent much of his time on the East Coast.
They were together, again, on a helicopter in Afghanistan.
Amid the outpouring of warm and supportive thoughts on Facebook tribute pages, some glimpses of these men appear. Younger people remember Robert carrying them and looking after them, remember his infectious smile or the way his father lit up as he spoke with pride of his son. Coaches and teammates recall a lacrosse player with immense talent and a fondness for mischief. Jonas is remembered by young sailors he looked after overseas, by comrades in training he introduced to Longhorn football, by elementary school teachers and old friends who remember his brightness, his kindness, his leadership. About both men, some words appear over and over again, from those who knew them best: Brave. Kind. Good. Love.
~Source ~Source ~Source ~Source
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• Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis J. Langlais ~ tribute by JaxDem
Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis "Lou" J. Langlais spent his childhood living mostly in Santa Barbara, California, but also in Vancouver and Switzerland.
In this poignant memorial written by a childhood friend, we learn that Lou loved skateboarding, baseball and fishing early on. Later he began snorkeling and SCUBA diving to satisfy his love for the sea - ace rock climbing and spear fishing were added in short order.
Lou made the nightly national newscasts - not to mention Sports Illustrated - on April Fools Day, 1997. He tried to parachute into Pro Player Stadium dressed as the Florida Marlins mascot, Billy the Marlin. The wind tore off his marlin's five-pound head at about 6,000 feet and Louie maneuvered his landing to come down outside the stadium. The head was found in good shape two months later, by the side of the Florida Turnpike.
Master Chief (SEAL) Langlais was a highly decorated serviceman, awarded more than 30 medals throughout his career, including the Bronze Star with valor and the Joint Service Commendation medal with valor.
"Lou" Langlais is survived by his wife Anya and young sons Gabe and Jack.
~ Source ~ Source
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About the IGTNT series:
"I Got the News Today" is a diary series intended to honor, respect, and remind us of the sacrifice of our US troops. Click here to see the series, which was begun by i dunno, and which is maintained by Sandy on Signal, noweasels, monkeybiz, blue jersey mom, Chacounne, twilight falling, joyful, SisTwo, SpamNunn, TrueBlueMajority, CalNM, Wide Awake in Kentucky, maggiejean, Kestrel9000, TheFatLadySings and me, JaxDem. These diaries are heartbreaking to write, but are an important service to those who have died, and show our community’s respect for them.
Diaries about the fallen usually appear two days after their names are officially released, which allows time for the IGTNT team to find and tell their stories.
If you would like to contribute to the series, even once a month, please contact Sandy on Signal.
Please bear in mind that these diaries are read by friends and family of the service members mentioned here. May all of our remembrances be full of compassion rather than politics.