Image courtesy: Staff Sgt. Joseph SwaffordMoments ago, the Department of Defense released the names of the 30 American heroes killed on August 6 in the Wardak province, Afghanistan, helicopter crash.
While the list of these names appears below, every patriotic American knows that this is not simply a collection of names. The list represents life; not only because these heroes fully dedicated themselves to their country, but because they saved countless lives during their stellar military careers.
We will never forget them.
Lt. Cmdr. (SEAL) Jonas Kelsall, 32, Shreveport, Louisiana
Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis Langlais, 44, Santa Barbara, California
Special Warfare Operator Senior Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Thomas Ratzlaff, 34, Green Forest, Arkansas
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Senior Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Kraig Vickers, 36, Kokomo, Hawaii
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Brian Bill, 31, Stamford, Connecticut
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) John Faas, 31, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Kevin Houston, 35, West Hyannisport, Massachusetts
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Matthew Mason, 37, Kansas City, Missouri
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Stephen Mills, 35, Fort Worth, Texas
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist/Diver) Nicholas Null, 30, Washington, West Virginia
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Robert Reeves, 32, Shreveport, Louisiana
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Heath Robinson, 34, Detroit, Michigan
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Darrik Benson, 28, Angwin, California
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Parachutist) Christopher Campbell, 36, Jacksonville, North Carolina
Information Systems Technician Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Jared Day, 28, Taylorsville, Utah
Master-at-Arms Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) John Douangdara, 26, South Sioux City, Nebraska
Cryptologist Technician (Collection) Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) Michael Strange, 25, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) Jon Tumilson, 35, Rockford, Iowa
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Aaron Vaughn, 30, Stuart, Florida
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jason Workman, 32, Blanding, Utah
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jesse Pittman, 27, Ukiah, California
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Nicholas Spehar, 24, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Chief Warrant Officer David Carter, 47, Centennial, Colorado
Chief Warrant Officer Bryan Nichols, 31, Hays, Kansas
Sgt. Patrick Hamburger, 30, Lincoln, Nebraska
Sgt. Alexander Bennett, 24, Tacoma, Washington
Spc. Spencer Duncan, 21, Olathe, Kansas
Tech. Sgt. John Brown, 33, Tallahassee, Florida
Staff Sgt. Andrew Harvell, 26, Long Beach, California
Tech. Sgt. Daniel Zerbe, 28, York, Pennsylvania
File image courtesy: Senior Chief Petty Officer Robert Fluegel
I raise a glass in honor of these American heroes. Their memories will live forever here on earth, their love of country will be example for generations to come and their sacrifice has earned them a place in Heaven.
ReplyDeleteThe Northwood Gratitude and Honor Memorial in Irvine, CA lists by name every fallen American heroes from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is the only memorial in the country that does this - and has since 2003. The names of all of these brave service men will be unveiled in a ceremony on Veterans Day. To learn more see www.NorthwoodMemorial.com.
ReplyDeleteTheir service and sacrifice will be remembered and honored.