31 U.S. Soldiers die in Afghanistan Helicopter Crash

[SurelySerious]

Dozens of U.S. Troops Killed in Afghan Chopper Attack

KABUL, Afghanistan -- A military helicopter crashed in eastern Afghanistan, killing 31 U.S. special operation troops and seven Afghan commandos, the country's president said Saturday. An American official said it was apparently shot down, in the deadliest single incident for American forces in the decade-long war.

The Taliban claimed they downed the helicopter with rocket fire while it was taking part in a raid on a house where insurgents were gathered in the province of Wardak late Friday. It said wreckage of the craft was strewn at the scene.

NATO confirmed the overnight crash took place and that there "was enemy activity in the area." But it said it was still investigating the cause and conducting a recovery operation at the site. It did not release details or casualty figures.

"We are in the process of accessing the facts," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Justin Brockhoff, a NATO spokesman.

But a senior U.S. administration official in Washington said it was apparently shot down. by insurgents. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the crash is still being investigated.

The toll would surpass the worst single day loss of life for the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan since the war began in 2001 -- the June 28, 2005 downing of a military helicopter in eastern Kunar province. In that incident, 16 Navy SEALs and Army special operations troops were killed when their craft was shot down while on a mission to rescue four SEALs under attack by the Taliban. Three of the SEALs being rescued were also killed and the fourth wounded. It was the highest one-day death toll for the Navy Special Warfare personnel since World War II.

Also in the WSJ: Afghan Chopper Crash Kills 31 U.S. Troops, 7 Afghans

[nrodgsxr]

[Chip]

[B52gator]

Damn...

[BQZip01]

[LoneStar]

[donkey]

[VFR800]

AP & Fox News reporting that over 20 of those killed were from SEAL Team Six

WASHINGTON -- The Associated Press has learned that more than 20 Navy SEALs from the unit that killed Osama bin Laden were among those lost in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan.

The operators from SEAL Team Six were flown by a crew of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. That's according to one current and one former U.S. official. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because families are still being notified of the loss of their loved ones.

One source says the team was thought to include 22 SEALs, three Air Force air controllers, seven Afghan Army troops, a dog and his handler, and a civilian interpreter, plus the helicopter crew.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/08/06/afghan-president-31-americans-killed-in-helicopter-crash/?test=latestnews

[PapaJu]

[Masshole]

most of them from the elite Navy SEALs unit that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, along with seven Afghan commandos. It was the deadliest single incident for American forces in the decade-long war.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2011/08/06/nato_helicopter_crashes_in_east_afghanistan/?p1=News_links

America's credit downgrade is bad news, but I feel worse that we lost a lot of heroes. Some things can be fixed, but you cannot replace these guys.

[mxfreak54]

31 true bad asses that will surely be missed.

[Bronco130]

[nsplayr]

Son of a bitch...what a loss. To the fallen

Edited August 6, 2011 by nsplayr

[PK...]

[Truman08]

[LL Windshear]

[KingGuy]

An unspeakable loss. God bless those heroes and their families.

Anybody have any insight as to why a chinook would have been used in this kind of raid? Not being a helo guy, it makes sense to me that something smaller would normally be used for those types of missions?

[StoleIt]

Tragic. A great loss to this nation.

Them, them.

[nsplayr]

Anybody have any insight as to why a chinook would have been used in this kind of raid? Not being a helo guy, it makes sense to me that something smaller would normally be used for those types of missions?

Where are your troops and may I count them?

[Rusty Pipes]

[Bullet]

[Whitman]

To those brave troops who died in this crash, fighting for our country, and to those who will bring the fight to the enemy in the coming days

[B*D*A]

Godspeed gents. X 31

[backseatdriver]

Rough day for the SOF community. Here's a toast...

If you are looking for a way to honor their sacrifice, please consider making a donation to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF). For those of you not familiar, SOWF provides scholarships for the children of special operators killed in combat or training. They are a well respected charity within the SOF community.

[ClearedHot]

30 more comrades in arms...what price freedom.

God bless their families tonight.