[RetiredArmy]

I learned today that the Blackhawk down in Iraq last week contained the Judge Advocate General of the Army (JAG) Corp Sergeant Major Gilmore and the Corp Warrant Officer, CW5 Swartworth. I am retired Army and spent the last 17 years of my career in the JAG Corps. I never met CW5 Swartworth, but had met SGM Gilmore. Tomorrow is Veterans Day. I will remember these two patriots special tomorrow. Along with all the other great Patriots in Harms Way.

[everyvotecounts]

Prayers for their families and God bless them for their service to our country.

[Atlas Sneezed]

I hope the lawyer bashers that infested the LA courthouse shooting threads think twice before chiming in here.

[Old Sarge]

Respect for the dead.

[davidosborne]

prayers for their families

[eyespysomething]

Heartfelt prayers for them and their families.





So is THE Judge Advocate General the highest JAG? Are there JAG's below THE one? Thanks from a curious FReeper.

[petitfour]

Prayers for their families.

What does the JAG do? (I am military ignorant. I could guess, but often I guess wrong.)

[areafiftyone]

God bless them and prayers for their families. Also, God Bless you for serving our country. :-(

[Midwestguy]

My prayers and condolences to the families of these brave Americans. To see their backgrounds go to JAG Leadership Hopefully, I managed to post the link correctly.

[Chummy]

Please accept our condolences and prayers for SGM Gilmore and CW5 Swartworth.

Here's to them, for certain, and here's to all of our fellow citizens who served and those who continue to serve that each of us may continue to enjoy the liberty we do each day. The people of our nation owes a debt of gratitude to our veterans that can never truly and fully be paid.

God bless you.

[MediaMole]

Were these two who were lost effectively the head Warrant officer and head Sergeant of the JAG?

I'm very concerned that we have some significant moles in the new Iraqi police forces. It is very suspicious that the terrorists were able to target these helicopters with high-ranking members of the JAG as well as attacking the floors Wolfowitz was staying on in the Al Rasheed hotel (they hit above and below) and bombing the UN at a time when a delegation of US senators was originally supposed to be meeting with the head of the UN delegation in Iraq.

[berserker]

Bernard Mayo discusses Sunday, Nov. 9, 2003, in his Litchfield, Maine, home, the death of his daughter, Army Chief Warrant Officer Sharon Swartworth. Swartworth, a 26-year Army veteran, died Friday, Nov. 7, 2003, in a Black Hawk helicopter crash in Iraq. An investigation was under way to determine what caused the crash, but several officers believed the Black Hawk was shot down by insurgents. (AP Photo/Kennebec Journal, Andy Molloy)

[nicmarlo]

May they rest in peace. May God comfort their families and friends.

[TexKat]

DoD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of five soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Mark D. Vasquez, 35, of Port Huron, Mich., was killed on Nov. 8, 2003, in Fallujah, Iraq. Vasquez was in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle that was struck by an improvised explosive device . The soldier died of his injuries. Vasquez was assigned to 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, based in Fort Riley, Kan.

A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was shot down Nov. 7, 2003, in Tikrit, Iraq. The Black Hawk was shot down by unknown enemy ordnance. Killed were:

Chief Warrant Officer (CW5) Sharon T. Swartworth [female], 43, of Virginia. Swartworth was the regimental warrant officer for the Judge Advocate General Office, based at Headquarters Department of the Army, Pentagon.

Chief Warrant Officer (CW3) Kyran E. Kennedy, 43, of Boston, Mass.

Staff Sgt. Paul M. Neff II, 30, of Fort Mill, S.C.

Sgt. Scott C. Rose, 30, of Fayetteville, N.C.

Kennedy, Neff and Rose were assigned to 5th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), based in Fort Campbell, Ky.

There were six soldiers killed in action aboard the Black Hawk helicopter. Two soldiers' names are still pending next-of-kin notification.

11/10/03

A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter went down on Nov. 7 in Tikrit, Iraq. There were six soldiers killed in action on board the helicopter. The names of four soldiers killed in the incident were previously announced on Nov. 9. Also killed were:

Capt. Benedict J. Smith, 29, of Monroe City, Mo. Smith was assigned to 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Command Sergeant Major Cornell W. Gilmore I, 45, of Baltimore, Md. Gilmore was assigned to the Judge Advocate General Office, Headquarters Department of the Army, Pentagon

These incidents are under investigation.

[RetiredArmy]

One other thing that I have learned today also is that the SGM and Warrant were in one Blackhawk and General Romig and two full bird JAG colonels were in another Blackhawk flying with them. It just happened to be theirs that was struck.

[Salvation]

Prayers for their families and God bless them for their service to our country.

[Lazamataz]

Present.... ARMS!

[nanihawaii]

I met Sharon on 24 August 2003 on the airplane from St. Louis, MO to Honolulu, HI. We sat next to each other on the 8-hour non-stop flight and had a glorious time from before the airplane left the ground until it landed. We were looking forward to knowing each other once she finished her commitment at the Pentagon and moved to Hawaii. She told me about her life, her family, the events leading up to her husband's transfer and the family move to Hawaii, about her husband and how happy she was to have found such a good man, her delight with her extraordinarily bright son (with examples), and so much more. I was stunned to see her picture and name in the paper and have such a sense of loss. This with only knowing her for 8 hours and a few telephone calls after that flight. Truly, this is a deep and tragic loss and my heart goes out to all of her family and friends. To the family and friends of CW5 Sharon T. Swartworth, my deepest condolences, with aloha.

[RickRDJ]

I knew CW5 Swartworth very well, she was a great friend and mentor. I miss her a lot.