Military Resistance:

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8.9.11

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Military Resistance 9H5

AFGHANISTAN WAR REPORTS

Some Aspects Of The Helicopter Downing Raised Questions About Whether The Insurgents Might Have Had Some Inside Knowledge Of The Raid

The Taliban Quickly Specified The Number Of Troops Aboard The Downed CH-47
The Taliban And Other Insurgent Groups Have Had Some Success In Infiltrating The Afghan Defense Establishment
August 7, 2011 By Laura King, Los Angeles Times [Excerpts] In the rugged district of Wardak province where the U.S. Chinook helicopter crashed early Saturday, apparently after being struck by a rocket-propelled grenade, NATO and Afghan forces engaged in daylong skirmishes with suspected Taliban fighters, according to Afghan officials. The Taliban and other insurgent groups have had some success in infiltrating the Afghan defense establishment, and some aspects of the helicopter downing raised questions about whether the insurgents might have had some inside knowledge of the raid in Wardaks Sayedabad district, jointly carried out with an Afghan commando force. In their claim of responsibility, the Taliban quickly specified the number of troops aboard the downed CH-47. Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, insisted that insurgent fighters had been lying in wait for the Western troops.

Two Foreign Occupation Servicemembers Killed Somewhere Or Other In Afghanistan: Nationality Not Announced
August 7, 2011 Reuters Two foreign servicemember died following an insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan.

At Least 3 Killed In Attack Had Nebraska Ties

August 8, 2011 By Matthew Hansen, Omaha World-Herald At least three of the 30 American troops killed in the deadliest attack of the Afghan War are now believed to have ties to Nebraska. Johnny Douangdara, a graduate of South Sioux High School and Navy SEAL dog handler, was aboard the Chinook helicopter that an insurgent pointed and fired a rocketpropelled grenade launcher at on Saturday. The 26-year-old son of Laotian immigrants had fulfilled a teenage dream when he joined the Navy right after his 2003 high school graduation. Matthew Mason, a Navy SEAL whose wife, Jessica, hails from Omaha, rode that same Chinook helicopter. Badly wounded in the infamous Battle of Fallujah, Mason had worked his way back into the sort of elite shape required by the elite military unit. Yet another Cornhusker, Sgt. Patrick Hamburger of Grand Island, served on the Chinooks flight crew. Hamburger had been in Afghanistan only since July, part of a Guard unit trained to fly the transport helicopters.

Friends Pay Tribute To Three Kansas Soldiers Killed In Afghan Crash

Aug. 08, 2011 By Lee Hill Kavanaugh, The Kansas City Star Army Reserve Spc. Spencer Duncan was a 2008 Olathe South graduate who at 21 left his Kansas family, his best buddies and his girlfriend because he wanted to serve his country. He wrote 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. Army Spc. Alexander Bennett, 23, had earned a reputation for his pranks on Marines and soldiers, drawing eye rolls from older officers. After a 2009 deployment in Iraq, he moved from the Tacoma, Wash., area to Overland Park to be a flight mechanic in the Army Reserves Chinook unit at New Century AirCenter. Piloting was Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bryan Nichols dream, something the 31-year-old Kansas City man wanted from the first day he saw a Chinook hoist itself gracefully into the sky. He studied and became one of his units best, a rising star in its stable of skilled pilots.

The men were among the 30 Americans and seven Afghans who died Saturday morning when their Chinook was shot down in Wardak province west of Kabul on a mission to help Army Rangers in a firefight. The military released names Sunday, and families in the heartland and across the nation felt the pain of war thousands of miles from the battlefield. ******************************************************************************** Her smartphone is still counting the days until he was supposed to return: Two hundred and twenty-five days, 10 hours, eight minutes and four seconds, she said Sunday. Andrea Miller, 19, cant make herself turn it off. That was when she and Duncan were going to reconnect. She struggled to talk about the young man she adored. Friends gathered at the home of Brittany Walsh, 19, whose father, Michael, has served 33 years in the Army, nearly all with the Company B 7/158th Aviation Regiment. Stories about Duncan rose faster than the tears sometimes. A teenage rebel, he loved to go mudding in a rural area, spinning wheelies, tearing up grass. One night the boys were caught, but Duncan told the farmer they were looking for a hat hed lost. No, that farmer didnt believe us, laughed Aubrey Thomasson, 20, who joined the Army Reserve because of his buddy. He will soon become a member of the 7/158th himself. The friends are holding each other up through their sadness. Theyve visited Duncans parents, who didnt want to talk publicly about their son so soon. Duncan has two younger brothers 15-year-old Calder and 18-year-old Tanner, who is in Marine boot camp. Spencer was going to surprise Tanner by showing up at his graduation, remembered Brian Bartels, 21. The friends said that on Facebook Duncan wrote them how much worse the war was becoming. The war in Afghanistan has sure become real to us now, Thomasson said. The friends cried some more. Were so proud of Spencer and all of them over there, said Mikayla Dreyer, 20. When Spencer gets to heaven, hell say: Let me in. Ive been to hell already. ******************************************************************************** Kirk Kuykendall, 47, eased himself into a chair inside the hangar of the 7/158th on Sunday. His right ankle is broken after a Chinook crash on June 25. No one died in that one. But its memory is still vivid.

Bennett was the crew chief for that flight. One of the pilots was Nichols. Nobody should have walked away from that one, but we all made it out, he said. It was an act of God. Kuykendall and his wife, Anya, have often taken in younger reservists who arrive at the unit. Bennett was like a brother to their daughter, Emily. He isI mean, wasa fun, goofy guy, Emily said from a cellphone on speaker mode. Her parents fought back tears. Hed sit and just talk with me a lot on the back porch..This is surreal. For the first time in my dads deployments, this really feels like war. Bennett wanted to transfer to the Chinook unit after meeting Kuykendall in Iraq in 2009. Kuykendall watched as the young man played jokes like hiding behind a corner and popping an unsuspecting officer with an air gun. Yeah, he got in a lot of trouble for that one, says Kuykendall. You could say he got a lot of butt-chewing and extra detail. 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 couldnt take it back. He laughed at the memory and quickly slipped into sadness. Alex really matured, and in Afghanistan, he became a mentor. He wanted to serve another tour there, too. He was thriving. ******************************************************************************** A lot of the stories about Saturdays attack have focused on the Navy SEALs who died, but those men werent alone on the Chinook. We want people to know there were others on that mission, too, says Sgt. Andrea Norton, a unit administrator for Delta Company. For a few years, Nichols was her counterpart administrator for Bravo Company. Bryan hated the desk, she said with a little laugh. He gave it his best shot, but we all knew he hated it. He had three loves, his friends agreed: flying, driving his motorcycle and talking about his family. His wife, Mary, lives in Kansas City, but military officers said she declined to talk. Nichols has a 10-year-old son. His friends cry knowing that his family is hurting.

From the first day I met him, he set a picture of his wife on his deskhe probably had one of her in his helmet, too, Norton said. Nichols grew up in western Kansas and worked in another Army reservist unit in Independence, but his heart was in the flying, she says. He transferred and began lobbying for flight school. Officers in the 7/158th knew he would make a good pilot. They were right. Theres one memory that Kuykendall cant shake: the crash they endured in June. He remembers how the engines were screaming and everybody knew they were going to crash. They were carrying 28 infantry troops just boys, they were so young, says Kuykendall. The helicopter landed hard 9,500 feet up a remote mountaintop in Afghanistan with tall timber all around and unknown enemy beyond that. It happened so fast that Kuykendall said he didnt have time to think he might die. But I can still see Bryan, so professional, helping all the injured. He and the other pilot, Buddy Lee, popped the doors off and helped all the injured. Bryan was calm and professional, remembering to zero-ize all the sensitive, secret stuff. Those two guys stayed with us all night, not leaving until everybody else was evacuated. And then they stayed with us all day, without any sleep, until they knew wed be all right. Ill never forget that. Nichols emailed him just last week. In two weeks he was coming back to Kansas City for a leave. He planned to see his wife and son, visit Kuykendall and then drive to Minnesota to see another unit member recuperating in a hospital. Things like that mattered to him. He was pretty special.

Two French Soldiers Killed In Tagab Valley; Five More Wounded

August 7, 2011 Zone Militaire This Aug. 7, two French soldiers belonging to the 2nd Parachute Regiment Etranger (REP) Calvi (Corsica) were killed in a serious clash with insurgents during a reconnaissance mission near the Tagab Valley, in Afghanistan.

These were Corporal Kisan Bahadur Thapa and Legionnaires 1st class Gerhardus Jansen. Five of their comrades were wounded in the same event.

Metro Men Among Those Killed In Afghan Crash:

Spc. Spencer Duncan, Navy Seal Matt Mason Died Friday
August 8, 2011 KMBC KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Some men from the Kansas City area were among those killed in Fridays fatal Afghanistan chopper crash. KMBCs Marcus Moore reported that Spc. Spencer Duncan, 21, joined the military in 2008 after graduating from Olathe South High School. Duncan was a member of Bravo Company, 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment based at New Century AirCenter in Gardner, Kan. He had been fighting in Afghanistan since late May. Moore reported that he was serving as a door gunner on the CH-47 Chinook helicopter that was hit by a rocket. A friend said Duncan was very proud of the job he was doing. "He really enjoyed it. I talked to him a few times about it when I was deployed," friend Matthew Oskvig said. It did not take long for news of what happened to Duncan spread throughout Olathe and to fellow soldiers. "People that did know him are already getting closer, talking about it, helping each other out," Oskvig said. Duncans family released a statement saying that they are proud of their sons service and asked for prayers for those who are serving for their families. The other victims include 23-year-old Spc. Alexander Bennett, a door gunner who recently moved to the area from Tacoma, Wash., and 31-year-old Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bryan Nichols, a pilot from Kansas City, Mo. Kearney native Matt Mason was also killed in the crash, according to friends. Mason was a member of the Navys elite Seal Team Six. Mason was stationed in Virginia. He leaves behind a wife, two children and a third child on the way.

"They did something most people wont do. Give them respect that they deserve for what theyve done for their country," Oskvig said. A former Bravo Company commander, Lt. Col. "Tank" Sherman, told KMBC 9s Peggy Breit that the other members of the unit are dealing with the tragedy as best they can. "Theyre coping with it amongst themselves, but they know they still gotta go out there and get the job done," Sherman said. Another Chinook helicopter at the base will be used in a ceremony to honor the fallen troops. Bravo Company members want everyone to know about the members who died, which is why the memorial is open to the public. "Were proud of what they did and we want people around here to know what these normal citizens that volunteer their own time, secondary job, they come out and do this and when called upon and they go overseas and do everything that theyre asked to do, and it comes back to the saying all gave some, some gave all," Sherman said.

Friends in Seals Unit Are Citys Double Loss

This undated family photo shows Chief Petty Officer Robert James Reeves, a Shreveport, La., native who was killed when a U.S. Chinook helicopter crashed in Afghanistan Aug. 5, 2011. (AP Photo/Family Photo via The Shreveport Times) August 7, 2011 By THOM SHANKER, New York Times [Excerpts]

WASHINGTON They came from the same town, Shreveport, La. They were high school friends. Both men, Robert James Reeves and Jonas Kelsall, had overcome extreme tests and rigorous training to serve on the same elite Seal team. Both were assigned the same mission, and put in the same helicopter, only to perish together. The helicopter crash in Afghanistan that killed 30 American servicemen over the weekend, including 22 members of the Navys most elite counterterrorism unit, brought the pain of a double loss to a Louisiana river port on Sunday. Mr. Reeves, a chief petty officer who had turned 32 just days ago, was accepted for Naval Special Warfare training in 1999. He passed the harsh winnowing process to qualify for Seal Team 6, the counterterrorism unit that conducted the raid into Pakistan on May 2 that killed Osama bin Laden. He was always very gregarious, a star soccer and lacrosse player in high school, his father, James W. Reeves, said. It had never been obvious to me that he was going to choose a military career. It is very difficult to make it on these Seal teams. But that was where he knew he needed to be. Since his freshman year of high school, Chief Reeves had been best friends with Mr. Kelsall, who also enlisted in the Navy, tried out for the Seals and passed the trials to join Team 6. He then chose the route of officer training, and had been promoted to the rank of lieutenant commander by the time the unit was sent into the rugged Tangi Valley of Wardak Province, just west of Kabul. An investigation was under way on Sunday into the weapon used to shoot down their Chinook transport helicopter in a mountainous area of eastern Afghanistan. All 38 people aboard were killed, including 30 Americans, 7 Afghan commandos and an Afghan interpreter. It was the single largest loss of American life in the Afghan war. Over the course of his career, Chief Reeves had been deployed to war zones more than a dozen times in the 10 years since the attacks of Sept. 11, earning four Bronze Stars for bravery and meritorious service, each with a V Device for valor. The last time the family had seen him was during a Christmas reunion in Shreveport, and even then he did not talk about the specifics of those missions, in keeping with the highly secretive nature of the Navy Seals. In triumph and in tragedy, members of the Special Operations community do not speak of their work. In fact, many had expressed frustration with the jubilant atmosphere after the raid that killed Bin Laden, marked by fist-pumping and chest-pounding from some politicians and

a few retired members of the Seals. Yes, going after High-Value Target No. 1 was a supreme tactical success; but, no, in this line of work, you just do not talk shop. So it was not surprising that when the fate of Seal Team 6 was reversed on Saturday, there was only private mourning across the insular Special Operations community. There is no more closely knit community than the Navy Seals, said Thomas W. OConnell, a former assistant secretary of defense overseeing Special Operations forces, who also noted that all of the militarys secretive counterterrorism units develop such amazingly tight bonds that cannot be easily comprehended by the average citizen. While the downing of the Chinook, which also claimed the lives of Army and Air Force personnel, will be a deep scar indeed, Mr. OConnell said that Special Operations forces prided themselves on an unwavering commitment to the mission regardless of the highs and lows of specific operations. Trust me: they will continue on in the finest traditions of their respective services, Mr. OConnell said.

Virginia SEAL Killed In Afghanistan

This undated photo provided by the Vaughn family shows Aaron Vaughn of Virginia Beach, Va. Vaughn, a 30-year-old father of two, was among the Navy SEALs killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan Aug. 5, 2011. (AP Photo/Vaughn Family)

Fallen Navy SEAL Was Special Kid

August 8, 2011 By Christine McConville, Boston Herald The Hyannis-raised Navy SEAL killed Saturday in the deadly helicopter crash in Afghanistan was just a little boy when he decided to become part of the elite Navy commando unit. By age 36, Kevin Houston had more than accomplished his goal. During his three tours in Afghanistan, hed earned a Purple Heart, two Bronze Stars and numerous other military honors, a longtime Cape Cod friend said yesterday. He died doing what he loved, said Chris Kelly of Osterville, a Vietnam veteran who was a mentor to the younger Houston. And he wouldnt have done it any other way. He went out to rescue his buddies, and he got shot down. Houston, a married father of three, was among the 22 Navy SEALS killed when their Chinook transport helicopter was downed in a suspected Taliban rocket attack, along with eight other Americans and eight Afghan special forces in the coalitions deadliest incident in the decade-long war in Afghanistan. Kelly, whose daughter went to school with Houston, said the commando was one of a kind. He was 61 with movie-star good looks, and a great personality, said Kelly, who shared a love of military history with Houston. Former Barnstable High football coach Paul Demanche recalled Houston was a talented athlete who worked hard and valued his teammates. He was a special kid, Demanche said. Houston played on Barnstables football and basketball teams, and ran track, Demanche said. In his senior year, he captained the football team.

After graduating from high school in 1994, Houston joined the Navy, and eventually settled in Chesapeake, Va. His mother, who friends said raised Houston, his sister and a much younger brother as a single parent, moved there, too. She was always there at his side. said Jasen ONeil, who knew Houston since fourth grade. Houston made frequent trips back to the Cape to catch up with old friends and swap war stories with Kelly. The last time I saw him, he literally gave me the shirt off his back, Kelly said. It was in early June, and the nation was celebrating Navy SEAL Team 6s raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan, during which Osama bin Laden was killed. When I saw it said Navy SEAL Team 6, I told him I liked it, and he took it off, and gave it to me, Kelly said. Thats the kind of guy he was. Houstons mother and younger brother Craig, 19, could not be reached for comment yesterday. His sister Miranda died of cancer five years ago

Alessandro Sandrino Plutino, Army Ranger From Pitman, Killed In Afghanistan Monday

Sgt. Alessandro Plutino, a U.S. Army Ranger from Pitman, was killed in action in Afghanistan Monday. August 08, 2011 By Jessica Driscoll, Gloucester County Times Sgt. Alessandro Plutino, a U.S. Army Ranger from Pitman, was killed in action in Afghanistan Monday. Alessandro Sandrino Plutino, 28, was in the final weeks of his sixth tour of duty as a U.S. Army Ranger when he was killed by enemy gunfire Monday in Afghanistan while leading his fellow Rangers in an assault.

Plutino a Rifle Team Leader in B Company, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment according to the U.S. Army Ranger Association was serving his third tour in Afghanistan after serving three tours in Iraq. He should have been out in March, but he left on this special mission March 7 he said he had to, said Plutinos mother, Dianne Hammond. He always wanted to be in the Army. On his good-bye cake there was a picture of him at four years old with his wooden gun and camouflage. He wanted to leave high school when he turned 18 to serve, but I wouldnt let him. Then when 9/11 happened, he tried to leave college, but his uncle talked him out of it. After college, he signed up. Hammond said she and her family spoke to Plutino Sunday night when he called to reassure them he hadnt been involved in Saturdays helicopter crash in which 30 U.S. troops were killed. Twenty-two of them were Navy SEALs that were rushing to help Army Rangers who had come under fire. Plutinos fiancee, Natalie Layton of Glassboro, said he seemed excited to come home. Weve been together 10 years. We were supposed to get married next summer so we were planning everything out, said Layton. He was supposed to be done in the spring, but he went on this mission. His country meant more to him than anything else. If it was up to him he wouldve quit high school to go. He always said This is my calling. Layton said Plutino was the strongest person I ever met. We balanced each other out, said Layton. Im so vulnerable, and he was always the strong one. When he loved something, he really put his mind to it. He loved his country, he loved his family, he loved all of us. And we couldnt have been prouder of him, added Plutinos sister Brenna. Hammond said, in addition to his commitment and patriotism, her son could be remembered as the kid who always had a smile on his face. Even when he was very young, he could just walk into a room and capture it, said Hammond. He was special. And I know every mothers son is special, but he really was. People have been coming here to the house all day, his friends, his buddies from the motorcycle group he rode with. He loved to ride, he played football and wrestled, he was an all-American boy. ************************************************************ Friends, educators and local officials also reflected on Plutinos life Monday, recalling him as an outgoing student, gifted athlete and all-around great kid. This is a real loss to the whole community, said Pitman Mayor Mike Batten, who coached Plutino in wrestling. Our police department went over to his mothers house this morning and I plan to go over later today when I can get myself together. Sandrino was an extreme hard worker, as evidenced by the fact that he was an Army Ranger, and he was the best of what this country can put out.

Batten said he knows Plutinos mother well and was a friend of his grandfathers. Its a wonderful family and such a sad day for them, said Batten. Im going to ask the whole town to fly their flags in Sandrinos memory. Plutino, a 2001 Pitman High School graduate, is also remembered fondly by school officials. He was a Kindle student from kindergarten through fifth grade, and he was always full of positive energy, said Kindle School Principal Fran Yearwood. He was a delight to have as a student, and we loved his whole family. I know he was always very athletic and a leader on the playground, and he was just an energetic, enjoyable student to have. This is just horrible news. Pitman Schools Superintendent Patrick McAleer said Plutino and his sister were former students of his when he taught at Pitman Middle School. He said Plutino was a nice kid with a nice family. Today, the entire town of Pitman is devastated by the news that Alessandro L. Plutino, a United States Army Ranger, was killed in action while proudly serving his country in Afghanistan, said McAleer, in a statement issued by the school district Monday afternoon. His teachers and classmates will always remember Sandrino as a popular and outgoing young man who was always quick with a laugh or smile. He was a committed student who also excelled as an athlete, participating in football and wrestling. The Pitman Public Schools and the entire Pitman community share in the loss of this dedicated and brave American. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Plutino family and the families of all those servicemen and servicewomen who are proudly serving America. McAleer noted that Plutino went on to wrestle at the collegiate level at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. After graduating from high school, Plutino first attended college at Western New England University in Springfield, Mass. Dave Stawasz, associate director of media relations at Western New England University, confirmed that Plutino was enrolled there from fall 2001 to spring 2003 and that he was a member of the universitys wrestling and football teams. Articles from Wilkes University lists Plutino as a 2005 graduate, but calls to the university were not returned by deadline. Ed Campbell from the Pitman VFW said the news of Plutinos death was very sad. He is the 40th young man Pitman has lost over the years in various wars, said Campbell. I dont know if another town our size has taken a bigger hit. Its so upsetting. I served in Korea and every loss is like a punch in the gut. I want to stop putting monuments to our young people up in the park. Campbell noted, and Councilwoman Debra Higbee confirmed, that Plutino was not the first in his family to be honored among those lost. Navy veteran and Pitman resident Robert D. Hammond an uncle of Plutinos mother was killed in action during World War II in 1944.

************************************************************ Even those who had never met Plutino mourned the loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Army Ranger Alessandro Plutino, who served his country with honor and distinction, said U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo. Too often, we here in America forget that our freedoms are not free, they are courageously protected by the men and women who wear the uniform. As the Pitman community remembers and honors Sandrino, our country can never repay the debt of gratitude for his ultimate sacrifice on behalf of us all. Gloucester County Veterans Affairs Director Duane Sarmiento said he received many calls Monday about Plutino. I speak on behalf of the 22,000 veterans in Gloucester County and our hearts go out to the family, said Sarmiento. No one but the mothers and fathers who have lost children in the service can understand the great level of grief that comes with it, but on behalf of all veterans we will stand behind his family and we are so proud of his service. If we can do anything for the family, they shouldnt hesitate to ask. I am notified whenever a soldier is killed in the state, but it really hits home when that person is from Gloucester County. Sarmiento said Plutinos heroism is the type that should never be forgotten. We must ensure that the youth of tomorrow have an understanding of whom they should honor and why, said Sarmiento. People like Alessandro should be honored 20 years from now, not baseball players or celebrities. These are the true heroes. Hammond echoed the importance of that recognition. Its important that people know that these young men and women chose to do this, their belief in this country is way up there, said Hammond. Ive heard today that it is not what the SEALs wouldve wanted to come home now, and it wasnt what Sandrino wanted to do either. He believed in the mission and that they had to nip it in the bud before it came to our shores. A lot of people dont even fly their flags anymore, which is a shame. People should go to bed thanking those people serving in the military and their families.

Family And Friends Remember U.S. Navy SEAL Tommy Ratzlaff Of Green Forest AR
8.8.11 Chad Plein, KY3 News GREEN FOREST, Ark. At U.S. Navy SEAL Tommy Ratzlaffs familys home, a modest ribbon hangs on the front gate.

"I didnt believe it," Ratzlaffs nephew Jeff Adams said about his uncles death. In town, flags are at half staff. "Its just so difficult to process this because we are so fond of him," Ratzlaffs high school science teacher, Bruce Culver said. In the hours since his death, a flood of memories have rushed through the minds of those who knew U.S. Navy SEAL Tommy Ratzlaff. "I got to shoot his sniper rifle," Adams said, "Ill never forget that." "When it came to dissecting frogs, he was the best," Culver joked. Every teacher in Green Forest had a Tommy story. And every tale ended with his character. "He met every challenge," math teacher Ivy Miller said. "When the work was difficult, hed work harder than any kid in the class." By the time Tommy was in high school, he was the star, middle linebacker on the football field. Everyone that saw him play knew he was destined for big things because he gave anything he had at everything. "You could tell military was something he wanted to do," Culver said. "From day one we talked about (being Navy SEALS) as kids," Ratzlaffs best friend, Kevin Disheroon said. "It went by the wayside with me... no doubt with him." Disheroon was Tommys best friend since Kindergarten. He says, two weeks after their 1995 high school graduation, Ratzlaff was off to boot camp. One year later he was in SEAL training. "Pretty much on a daily basis I talked about him; thats how proud of him I was," Disheroon said. A boy from Green Forest was off to see the world and defend his country and leave a mark on everyone he came to know. "Hard to replace him," Disheroon said. "He was a hero, I love him and Im going to miss him," Adams said. U.S. Navy SEAL Tommy Ratzlaff will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The 34year-old leaves behind a wife, two sons ages 11 and six and a baby on the way - a daughter in November. He lived by one motto: "theres two ways to do things: do them right or do them again." His family says he told that to his boys all the time. Its a motto it looks like his family will hang onto as a way to pay tribute to Tommy.

Parents Share Memories Of Son Killed In Afghanistan Chopper Crash

Aug 08, 2011 By Oscar Valenzuela, Hawaii News Now Robert and Mary Vickers sat down at their home on Maui to share a few memories about their son Kraig. Kraigs father had coached his sons high school wrestling team where he excelled, and wasnt too surprised when their son told him and his wife Mary he had some news. "He came home one day and informed us he had enlisted." said his mother Mary. Not one to miss an opportunity for humor, Kraig showed his father a coffee mug that the Navy recruiter had given him. "I said whats with this, you know the coffee mug? I signed up he said, if I sign up for an extra year theyll give me another cup. He liked to make people laugh. I told him theres only one class clown in this family, that was me but he out did me." said his father Robert. But Kraig Vickers new job was no laughing matter. He had signed on to be a part of the Navys explosive ordinance disposal team, a bomb expert. Robert Vickers explained part of what his son did for a living. "Part of his job was to set up the training for the Seals so he would go in and set up the booby traps and stuff like that." Kraigs father, a former Air Force man and Maui police officer, was not blind to the extreme nature of his sons work but accepted it with pride and honor. "Kraig talked about joining the military and to serve his country and for him it was God first, his country and his family." he says. Kraig Vickers mother notes how many more lives have been given serving in the military forces. "For all of those that were on that helicopter, every life was important, not just this incident but all the ones before them." she said supported by her husband at her side. "Serving your country to me is a privilege and an honor."

Stamford Man Among Troops Killed In Afghan Crash

Brian Bill (credit: In memory of Navy SEAL Brian Bill/Facebook) August 8, 2011 MICHAEL MELIA, Associated Press HARTFORD, Conn. From his days as a student athlete at a Stamford high school, Brian Bill was clear on his career goal: He wanted to join the elite Navy SEALs. Bill, who was among the SEALs killed in a weekend helicopter crash in Afghanistan, was remembered Monday by friends and teachers as a dedicated young man who wanted to be the best at anything he pursued. "He set his standards high. He was that kind of person," said Kimberly Hess, a friend who graduated from Norwich University in Vermont with him in 2001. "He was remarkably gifted and very thoughtful. There wasnt anything he wouldnt do for you no matter the time or day." His family said he wanted to return to graduate school after completing his military service and hoped to become an astronaut. He was also a mountaineer, a skier, a pilot and triathlete. "We are heartbroken in our loss," the family said in a statement. "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." "We thank all the SEALS who gave their lives this week and share our sorrow with the families of those dedicated men who fought for our safety and freedom," Bills mother and stepfather, Patricia and Michael Parry, and his father, Scott Bill, said in the statement.

The 30 U.S. troops and eight Afghans who died in Saturdays crash of the Chinook helicopter were on a mission targeting a Taliban leader when an insurgent with a rocketpropelled grenade reportedly fired on the chopper and shot it down, officials said Monday. It was deadliest single loss for U.S. forces in the decade-long war. The helicopter was transporting the troops to an ongoing battle early Saturday between coalition forces and insurgents in eastern Wardak province, NATO said in a statement. Hess said Bill had been decorated many times for valor on deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. "His death is tragic and its really fitting that he was going to help others," she said. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy issued a statement extending condolences to Bills family. Diane Warzoha, who had Bill as a student in a language class at Trinity Catholic High School in Stamford, said he was in many ways a typical high school student who played hockey and soccer, but it was no surprise that he fulfilled his goal of joining the SEALs. "Brian just wanted to do his best, to protect other people. Brian wanted to be the best at whatever he did. Challenge did not deter him ever," said Warzoha, an assistant principal at the school. "Were deeply, deeply saddened. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family. Its just so sad," she said.

Tacoma Soldier Among 30 Killed In Afghanistan Crash

Aug 8, 2011 By KOMO Staff & News Services TACOMA, Wash. - A 23-year-old Army Specialist from Tacoma was among the 30 American service members killed when their helicopter was shot down over Afghanistan Saturday. Alexander Bennett was part of the crew who had rushed to help Army Rangers who had come under fire. Bennett attended Foss High School and loved cars and the military, a family friend told KOMO News. Jessica Hall said Bennett wanted to make a career of the military. "I never met somebody that loved to do something as much as he did," Hall said. She says Alex was always smiling, or joking. "He was so selfless," she said. "He would give you the shirt off his back, he was a really great guy."

Edward Tuck shared a passion for cars with Alex. So often, the two were found under the hood of a Honda talking about life, and Alexs military ambitions. "He wanted to be a pilot," Tuck said. And Bennett was on his way. After a tour in Iraq, he moved to the Kansas City area last year, and was a Chinook flight mechanic in the Army Reserve. Then it was on to Afghanistan. "He died doing exactly what he loved," Hall said. She says he loved fighting for his country, even into that final mission. "Alex was a hero," she said. A current and a former U.S. official said the Americans included 22 SEALs, three Air Force members and a dog handler and his dog. The crash was deadliest single loss for U.S. forces in the decade-long war. All but two of the SEALs were from SEAL Team 6, the unit that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan last May, officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information. None of the SEALs killed in the crash took part in the bin Laden mission. Eight Taliban fighters were also killed in the battle, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement.

SEAL Killed In Afghanistan Has Duluth Connections

August 08, 2011 By: Brandon Stahl, Duluth News Tribune Nicholas Spehar, who was one of 30 Navy SEALS killed in Afghanistan, has connections to Duluth. Spehar is the son of Patrick Spehar, who grew up in the New Duluth area, according to Bill Spehar, who is Nicholas Spehars great uncle. Im so shook up by this thing, Bill Spehar said. Immediate family members of Nicholas Spehar could not be reached for comment. The Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting that Spehar lived in Chisago City, Minn. The 30 U.S. troops and eight Afghans were in a Chinook helicopter when it was shot down.

Hometown Mourns Iowa Navy SEALs Afghanistan Death

August 8, 2011 AP ROCKFORD, Iowa When Jon Tumilson set his mind to something, he achieved it, becoming a Navy SEAL despite his battered knees and competing in endurance races to prepare for the arduous missions hed be sent on, neighbors and former schoolmates said. Tumilson was a hero to some in his hometown of Rockford even before he and 29 other Americans died Saturday in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan during a mission to help fellow troops who had come under fire. Tumilsons father, George Tumilson, confirmed to The Des Moines Register that his son was among those killed in the crash. He declined to comment further, and the family declined to comment to The Associated Press. Neighbors, though, said they were heartbroken for the family, and said the town had lost one of its finest. Jan Stowe told The Des Moines Register that the 35-year-old Tumilson "was going to be a Navy SEAL since I cant remember when." "Hes like a hero to everyone here," Stowe said. Another neighbor, Mark Biggs, told the Mason City Globe Gazette that those who knew Tumilson were shocked by his death. Said Biggs: "You just never thought it would happen to Jon. Hes done so many dangerous things." Tumilson had been a wrestler in high school, and Stowe said Tumilson competed in marathons and triathlons as part of his preparation for the dangerous and often arduous missions he would face with the SEALS. "When he did something, he put his all into it," said Stowe. A friend of Tumilsons, Justin Schriever, told the Globe Gazette that Tumilson made up his mind late in high school to compete for a spot on the elite SEALS. "Hell, while training they were going to kick him out because his knees were all battered up," Schriever said. "He wouldnt let them. "He was a die-hard at everything," Schriever said. "Hed always go the extra mile on everything. He wouldnt let anything stop him from accomplishing something." Biggs said Tumilson loved his country.

"He was willing to do whatever it took. He wanted to be there" with his SEAL team, Biggs said. "That was his second family."

York County Once Again Dealing With The Loss Of A Servicemen

August 8, 2011 Reported by: Christina Butler, WHPTV For the second time in two weeks the York County community is dealing with the death of another fallen service member overseas. Airman Daniel Zerbe was one of 37 people killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. Zerbe was a member of the U.S. Air Force; he graduated from Red Lion in 2001. His family has asked for privacy, but others in the red lion community say his death brings the war that much closer to home. The crash that killed Airman Dan Zerbe marked the deadliest single day for Americans in the War in Afghanistan. 30 U.S. troops and seven Afghan soldiers died in the helicopter crash. The troops were targeting a Taliban leader when a rocket propelled grenade fired on the chopper. Zerbe joined the military right after graduation from Red Lion High School, where he was known as a popular kid. He played football and wrestled all four years while in school before graduating in 2001. Its the second time in two weeks people in York County are mourning a fallen service member. Last week the Dallastown area lost Marine Sgt. Chris Wrinkle. My heart just really goes out to the family, it could be a neighbor, someone you grew up with, anybody, said Red Lion graduate Jenna Shearer. Its terrible, its terrible, explained Dave Rinehart. These guys are over there giving their all for our freedom. Obviously when its in the community it hits a lot closer to home, it certainly affects you when it is people you know, Still they say these losses just reaffirm their belief in how selfless our troops and the families who love them, are. Im very proud to know people who served and are serving, Shearer added. They arent here enjoying summer; they are over in sand carrying 50 pounds of gear to keep us safe.

Its devastating, I cant even imagine as a parent thats just something nobody should have to do. Rinehart lamented. Bury their child, its noble, but its just painful. The Philadelphia area lost Petty Officer First Class Michael Strange, a 25-year-old Navy Seal. Funeral services for Zerbe have not been announced yet, but Tuesday the community will gather to mourn Sgt. Chris Wrinkle.

Eugene Native Killed In Action

Aug. 2 By Matt Cooper, The Register-Guard A young father and former North Eugene High School student who became a soldier to support his family was killed Sunday in Afghanistan during a firefight, his family said Monday. Pfc. Brice Scott, 22, was a crack shot who continued a family tradition of military service extending several generations. He sought out action on the front line and died doing the job he loved, family members said. Scott, stationed at Fort Riley in Junction City, Kan., was a member of the Fourth Cavalry Regiment, on his first tour of duty near Kandahar, a large city in southern Afghanistan. Scott and his unit were in a rocky, mountainous area, a stronghold for enemy fighters considered the most volatile area of Afghanistan, said his mother, Carol Tripp, 39, of Junction City, Kan. You can count on getting into a firefight anytime you walk into that area, Tripp said. Scott and two others were working a security checkpoint when they were ambushed by eight fighters. Scott was shot in the head and killed and another soldier was hit in the torso before American troops killed the enemy combatants, Tripp said. She said she was notified by military personnel on Sunday. A spokesman at Fort Riley did not return a call for comment Monday. A service for Scott is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 9 or Aug. 10 at the Ada Grange Hall in Florence. I personally dont believe in the wars, but it was his life and his calling, Tripp said. I just had to let him go. Born and raised in Eugene, Scott was the baby doll of the family on whom relatives doted, said his cousin, Sarah Hemple, 31, of Eugene.

Scott was a student and football player at North Eugene High when he became interested in the Job Corps, a free federal education and training program that helps young people find jobs. He spent summers in Florence with a grandfather, 58-year-old Tim Robins, where Scott liked to ride the sand dunes in an ATV and tool around in his sports car, a Nissan 300ZX. He met his wife, Dell, there and soon they were raising two girls, Celina and Mia, now 3 and 1, respectively. After training at a Job Corps site in Yachats, Scott got a degree in carpentry in 2006 through the organization and worked as a carpenter in Newport and Albany, beginning his climb up the career ladder, Robins said. But he lost his job about two years ago in the economic crash, and to support his family he turned to another career that had long interested him: the military. Described by his grandfather as a tall, good-looking young man, Scott grew up playing paintball and other war games, and was virtually unbeatable at the simulation-shooter video game, Halo. In the Army, he became an excellent marksman, Robins said. Scotts military lineage includes more than a half-dozen ancestors and relatives who have served overseas with distinction, said his father, Steven Scott of Florence, 44, a former tank commander. Brice was a super soldier, Steven Scott said. He did what he was supposed to do. He did it in an outstanding fashion, and he lived up to the expectation of all of us who have gone before. Brice Scotts tour of duty started in March and he was last stateside in May, for a twoweek visit with his wife and daughters in Kansas. For a young man, he was the best father Id ever seen, Steven Scott said. Hemple choked back tears Monday as she described a recent exchange with Scott on Facebook, the online social media network, while he was serving abroad. In response to a comment by Scott that explosions were going off as he was typing at a computer keyboard, Hemple said he should have gone into the military to be a cook. Scotts Facebook reply: I joined the Army first and foremost to support myself and family, but I am not someone that can sit behind a desk all day. This is the best job in the world, I dont care what anyone says.

WNY Native Injured In Afghanistan

Aug 8, 2011 WGRZ & By Ed Reilly WKBW

BUFFALO, N.Y. - A Western New Yorker was seriously wounded in an attack in Afghanistan. Green Beret Matthew Kreiger, 25, was shot in the head by insurgents sometime Sunday. One of the bullets entered the side of Matthew Kreigers head knocking him to the ground and leaving him unable to move his arms and legs. Chris Kreiger, Matthews brother, says they dont know the extent of his brothers injuries but told 2 On Your Side the bullet is lodged in Matthews brain. But Chris said he spoke with Matthew on the phone Monday and though he was hard to understand at times, he was in good spirits. The 25 year-old enlisted in the Army in 2004. He was deployed to Iraq a few years ago and was only in Afghanistan eight days when he was shot on Sunday. Chris says, Matthews wife spoke with her husband just before he was sent on his latest mission. "She had just talked to him earlier that day through Skype and he just had this awful look to him that she couldnt figure out," said Chris Kreiger. "She said she never saw this look before. He had told her that if something happens to him while hes there just dont be mad; just realize that he died doing what he loved." Chris, also an Army veteran, was injured in Iraq a few years ago himself. He has since set up the group "Western New York Heroes" to help veterans and their families with bills and benefits. But he never thought his brother would be one of those he would be helping. Matt Krieger has a wife and two young daughters. They live at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In an update late Monday afternoon, Chris updated his Facebook page saying; "Matthew is up and moving around". He also wrote, "Chances are they could do more harm trying to remove the bullet rather than leave it in."

POLITICIANS CANT BE COUNTED ON TO HALT THE BLOODSHED THE TROOPS HAVE THE POWER TO STOP THE WARS

REALLY BAD PLACE TO BE: ALL HOME NOW

U.S. Marines of Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines check a dug-out in the Garsmir district of Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, July 7, 2011. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov

U.S. Marines with the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines based in Camp Lejeune, N.C., during a fire fight in the village of Salam Bazaar July 20, 2011 in Helmand province, Afghanistan. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Second Foreign Military Helicopter Crashes In Afghanistan

August 08, 201 Reuters Kabul: A foreign military helicopter crashed in Afghanistans east on Monday but there were no apparent casualties, officials said, another stark reminder of the dangers of the war after 38 people were killed in an air incident, the largest single loss for foreign forces in 10 years. The helicopter had made a "hard landing" in Paktia province, a volatile area in Afghanistans southeast, another official said. An investigation was underway but it appeared there was no enemy activity in the area at the time.

MILITARY NEWS
THIS IS HOW OBAMA BRINGS THEM HOME: ALL HOME NOW, ALIVE

The remains of Sgt. Anthony Del Mar Peterson Aug. 5, 2011 at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Peterson, 24, of Chelsea, Okla., died Aug. 4 in Paktia province, Afghanistan of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)...

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