On this day seven years ago a Chinook helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan. Its call sign was Extortion 17. It carried 17 SEALs, three Operations Support troops, two Explosive Ordnance Disposal, three Air Force Special Operators, five Army Air Crew, eight Afghans and a War Dog named Bart. Tragically, all lives were lost. These were some of the most highly trained and battle-seasoned warriors in the U.S. Military.

Fair winds and following seas.

Amen. I'll just add their names because these heroes deserve to be known to every American.

SGT Alexander J. Bennett
SPC Spencer Duncan
CWO Bryan J. Nichols
CWO David R. Carter
SSG Patrick D. Hamburger
TSgt John W. Brown
SSgt Andrew W. Harvell
TSgt Daniel L. Zerbe
PO1 (SEAL) Darrick C. Benson
CPO (SEAL) Brian R. Bill
PO1 (SEAL) Christopher G. Campbell
PO1 Jared W. Day
PO1 John Douangdara & Navy SEAL Dog “Bart”
CPO (SEAL) John W. Faas
CPO (SEAL) Kevin A. Houston
Lt. Cmdr. (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall
MCPO (SEAL) Louis J. Langlais
CPO (SEAL) Matthew D. Mason
CPO (SEAL) Stephen M. Mills
CPO Nicholas H. Null
PO1 (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman
SCPO (SEAL) Thomas A. Ratzlaff
CPO (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves
CPO (SEAL) Heath M. Robinson
PO2 (SEAL) Nicholas P. Spehar
PO1 Michael J. Strange
PO1 (SEAL) Jon T. Tumilson
PO1 (SEAL) Aaron C. Vaughn
SCPO Kraig M. Vickers
PO1 (SEAL) Jason R. Workman

Take a moment today and raise a glass to these men.

Thanks for the reminder Spunk.

Gone but not forgotten

Thanks for the reminder. Gone but not forgotten. God bless all of our troops be they past/ present/ or future. ............ drill sgt.

May God bless these men and their families.

God Bless all of them and their families......

Till Valhalla

Just went by John and Bart’s statue a few minutes ago. RIP all of you.

A debt that can never be repaid, god bless

God Bless these Brave Men.

That was a rough day...RIP

Always without words…

(Do appreciate the Valhalla reference)

I hear about some of the names on that list from various podcast guests. I get the impression some of them walked on water in their ability, character, etc.

I still recall hearing of this event and just standing there, trying to process the loss.

You are not forgotten, gentlemen.

SGT Alexander J. Bennett
SPC Spencer Duncan
CWO Bryan J. Nichols
CWO David R. Carter
SSG Patrick D. Hamburger
TSgt John W. Brown
SSgt Andrew W. Harvell
TSgt Daniel L. Zerbe
PO1 (SEAL) Darrick C. Benson
CPO (SEAL) Brian R. Bill
PO1 (SEAL) Christopher G. Campbell
PO1 Jared W. Day
PO1 John Douangdara & Navy SEAL Dog “Bart”
CPO (SEAL) John W. Faas
CPO (SEAL) Kevin A. Houston
Lt. Cmdr. (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall
MCPO (SEAL) Louis J. Langlais
CPO (SEAL) Matthew D. Mason
CPO (SEAL) Stephen M. Mills
CPO Nicholas H. Null
PO1 (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman
SCPO (SEAL) Thomas A. Ratzlaff
CPO (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves
CPO (SEAL) Heath M. Robinson
PO2 (SEAL) Nicholas P. Spehar
PO1 Michael J. Strange
PO1 (SEAL) Jon T. Tumilson
PO1 (SEAL) Aaron C. Vaughn
SCPO Kraig M. Vickers
PO1 (SEAL) Jason R. Workman

This is a pure tribute thread, so I’m resisting the temptation to delve into the changes in ROE that followed, or Congressional testimony, and just say say, God Bless all of you, and I hope each passing day makes it a little bit easier for family and friends left behind.

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
This is a pure tribute thread, so I’m resisting the temptation to delve into the changes in ROE that followed, or Congressional testimony, and just say say, God Bless all of you, and I hope each passing day makes it a little bit easier for family and friends left behind.

I think that’s a good choice, but I for one would be very interested to read a separate thread on the topic.

Shawn Ryan is doing a podcast with a bunch of fellow SEALs and DEVGRU guys on this tragedy.

Check it out on YT, Shawn Ryan show.

A colossal lose of serious talent that left a gap in that team that couldn’t be made up in short order. A few of those operators participated in the Bin Laden raid.

ANY tragedy involving our men and women in arms really saddens me. This one was/is just...dunno.

May they rest in peace and may God welcome each one into His kingdom with open arms.