Posted on 09/23/2010 5:11:27 AM PDT by nuconvert
The bodies of nine American soldiers and sailors killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan two days ago have arrived home to a Delaware air base.
-excerpt-
Among them was Navy Lt. Brendan John Looney, 29, a 2004 graduate of the Naval Academy, where he was an All-American lacrosse player. Since June 2008, he'd been assigned to a Navy SEAL unit based in Coronado, Calif., the Los Angeles Times reported. His comrades considered Looney "a skilled SEAL operator who led and motivated the people around him," the Times quoted a Navy statement as saying.
Another Navy man killed was Senior Chief Petty Officer David Blake McLendon, 30, his sister told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. McLendon was a member of a Naval Special Warfare unit stationed in Little Creek, Va., his sister Kelly Lockman said. "He loved to go fishing," she was quoted as saying.
Five of the victims were soldiers from the Army's 101st Airborne Division, based at Fort Campbell, Ky. The others, including Looney and McLendon, were sailors, the military said.
(Excerpt) Read more at aolnews.com ...
Maj. Robert F. Baldwin, 39, of Muscatine, Iowa.
Chief Warrant Officer Matthew G. Wagstaff, 34, of Orem, Utah.
Chief Warrant Officer Jonah D. McClellan, 26, of St. Louis Park, Minn.
Staff Sgt. Joshua D. Powell, 25, of Pleasant Plains, Ill.
Sgt. Marvin R. Calhoun Jr., 23, of Elkhart, Ind.
Baldwin was assigned to the brigade headquarters; Wagstaff, McClellan and Calhoun were assigned to the 5th Battalion; and Powell was assigned to the 6th Battalion.
The sailors were identified as:
Lt. Brendan J. Looney, 29, of Owings, Md., assigned to a West Coast-based SEAL Team.
Senior Chief Petty Officer David B. McLendon, 30, of Thomasville, Ga., assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Adam O. Smith, 26, of Hurland, Mo., assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL Team.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Denis C. Miranda, 24, of Toms River, N.J., assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL Team.
Makes my heart weep. Prayers for their families.
I honor both their service, and now their memory.
HOWEVER, were I a parent of any one of these incredible young people, I'd damn sure want to know exactly why the helicopter went down. EXACTLY!
And "mechanical failure" don't cut it, not by a long stretch.
I'd want to know who serviced the aircraft - and it better not be any "foreign nationals".
No, the reason won't bring back any of these great young people...but finding it just may prevent a re-occurence.
And that is important in the extreme.
God Bless our military and their families...
I believe that should be Hurdland, MO, not too far from where we live.
Very brave men indeed!
Lt Looney was a USNA 2004 graduate. Prayers for all families and friends of these brave warriors. My heart breaks.
One of the survivors, with a broken leg and possibly a broken back, is also a Navy SEAL and US Naval Academy graduate, hailing from Long Island, New York. He was airlifted out, via Germany, and should be hospitalized in Washington, DC by now. Many of us in the USNA family know his parents.
Please remember all the victims of this crash and their families in your prayers.
Those soldiers and sailors represent the very greatest sacrifice that those mothers, fathers, siblings, and spouses could give to our country.
de oppresso libre
Tears and prayer.
Romans 8:26
“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;”
AMEN
Just one Phrase... Obama’s War... may God bless the soles and spirit of our troops in harms way. Have you ever noticed, Obama shows no affinity for, not even those who gave the ultimate sacrifice? He has no American spirit... he only wants to whittle America down to size, to make her pay... God da_ _ you Mr President.
Seal Team 6 likely.
The only Seal team that's Delta.
Peace to them and their families.
Valiant warriors-we mourn your loss. Prayers of comfort for the grieving.
When I was in Vietnam it seems like I spent the majority of my time getting on and off helicopters (2 Air Medals - Central Highlands). Can’t ell you how many close calls we had from non-hostile fire. When I asked a pilot about his maintenance schedule he jokingly referred to it as “seldom”. The environment and altitudes in Afghanistan are not friendly to helicopters and there is an element of risk everytime you board one. I hope their maintenance is better than my days. As the father of a Special Forces Officer, my heart goes out to the families of these brave men, but given what I have been reading about he new Woodward book, I think we should get out sooner rather than later and save some lives. Whether we leave now or five years from now, what we leave behind will still be the same. It’s eerily similar to Vietnam.
I understand your frustration with Obama yet, when I think of these men and what they do. They aren’t do this for Obama, I believe that in their hearts and mind they are doing it for us in spite of Obama.
God Bless them and their loved ones.
Oh yes, yes, I agree whole heartedly...
R.I.P comrades.
Prayers up for comfort, strength and healing for their loved ones.
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