[OwenKellogg]

According to the Brian Bill Foundation:

On 6 August 2011, a U.S. Boeing CH-47 Chinook military helicopter was shot down while transporting a quick reaction force attempting to reinforce an engaged unit of Army Rangers in Wardak province, west of Kabul, Afghanistan. The resulting crash killed all 38 people on board—25 American special operations personnel, five United States Army National Guard and Army Reserve crewmen, seven Afghan commandos, and one Afghan interpreter—as well as a U.S. military working dog. It is considered the worst loss of U.S. Military life in a single incident in the Afghanistan campaign, surpassing Operation Red Wings in 2005 (Note: during Operation Red Wings, on 28 June 2005, a Chinook helicopter carrying a U.S. Navy SEAL team was shot down by a RPG round as it attempted to extract U.S. troops on the ground).

Of the Navy SEALs that were killed 15 were members of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU), The other two Navy SEALs killed in the helicopter shootdown were from a West Coast-based SEAL unit. The five other Navy personnel were NSW support personnel. In addition to the NSW losses, three AFSOC operators died in the crash, one Combat Controller and two Pararescuemen, all members of the 24th Special Tactics Squadron. Their deaths are the greatest single loss of life ever suffered by the U.S. Special Operations community in the 24-year history of the U.S. Special Operations Command.

A source from the Navy’s special operations community described the reaction as, “Shock and disbelief. There’s no precedent for this. It’s the worst day in our history by a mile.” The previous highest U.S. death toll from a single incident in the war also came from a rocket attack on a Chinook helicopter carrying Navy SEALs during Operation Red Wings on 28 June 2005. In that incident sixteen Navy SEALs and Army special operations troops were killed and three more SEALs were killed in fighting on the ground.

•15 U.S. Navy SEALs from the Naval Special Warfare Development Group

•7 Afghan National Army Commandos, part of Afghan National Army

•5 U.S. Naval Special Warfare support personnel.

•3 U.S. Army Reserve personnel from the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment

•2 U.S. Navy SEALs from a west coast based SEAL team.

•2 U.S. Army personnel from the 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment, part of Colorado Army National Guard

•2 U.S. Air Force Pararescuemen from the 24th Special Tactics Squadron

•1 U.S. Air Force Combat Controller from the 24th Special Tactics Squadron

•1 Afghan civilian interpreter

•1 U.S. Military Working Dog

[OwenKellogg]

Among the books on the subject ...

Billy and Karen Vaughn are the parents of fallen Navy SEAL, Aaron Carson Vaughn (SEAL Team VI). On August 6, 2011 Aaron was killed in action in the Tangi River Valley of Afghanistan when a chopper (call sign Extortion 17) carrying thirty Americans was shot from the sky. The day Aaron’s life ended theirs began again.

In the months following this devastating loss the Vaughns began searching for answers. What they learned was life-altering. They quickly came face-to-face with their worst nightmare...the downing of Extortion 17 was at best unnecessary and at worst, a negligent, reckless loss of life.

For Our Son

Karen Vaughan speaks at the Republican convention

[OwenKellogg]

Among the memorials for the fallen ...

Cut River Bridge Dedicated to Memory of Heath Robinson, Navy SEAL

[OwenKellogg]

More ...

Free Republic keyword Extortion17: http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/extortion17/index?tab=articles

Links to articles from NavySeals.com: http://navyseals.com/?s=extortion+17

Twitter: https://twitter.com/search?q=extortion%2017&src=typd

[OwenKellogg]

Ping.

[LeoWindhorse]

1 U.S. Military Working Dog

the SEAL Malinois was named ‘ Bart ‘
RIP Bart

[huldah1776]

Will always remember, mourn, ask for the truth, share intel (news only) with StopQatarNow, and look forward to meeting the guys, and Bart, when I pass.

[KSCITYBOY]

btt

[lysie]

Never forgotten.

[wastoute]

We all know there is at least one email Hillary deleted that has info about this mission in advance. That is the one Assange needs to release.

[ASA Vet]

SOCOM Ping

[GailA]

Support our Troops!

[Chgogal]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2030304/Happy-ending-Hawkeye-Dog-lay-Navy-SEAL-masters-coffin-funeral-finds-new-home-best-friend.html

There is no relief from the loss.

[wtd]

Thank you for posting this much needed reminder.

Prayers to all family, kin and acquaintance marking their loss today.

I hope I live long enough to witness a full accounting of those personally involved in the treason committed against Extortion 17 and our nation. May I live to see justice fully served.

[LucyT]

In remembrance ... today marks the 5th anniversary of the shoot down of Extortion 17. On August 6, 2011, the U.S. Navy SEALs and the Special Ops community suffered a huge loss when their CH-47 Chinook was shot down in Afghanistan.

[HippyLoggerBiker]

Not Forgotten

Extortion 17 3hr video
Press Club May 9, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqtJrJ40Cio

Regards,
HLB

[PGalt]

OUTSTANDING post OwenKellogg. Thank YOU. Thanks very much for the ping, LucyT. HOORAY Brian Bill Foundation

Condolences to family and friends of America’s finest.

love

(prayers)

WOW

[OwenKellogg]

In remembrance...

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice.

God bless the USA.