Anniversary of Extortion 17 shoot down.

[Andy in NH]

On August 6, 2011, insurgents shot down a Chinook transport helicopter in Afghanistan, killing all 38 people on board.

• 23 US Navy SEALs
• 2 United States Air Force Pararescuemen
• 1 United States Air Force Combat Control Team member
• One pilot and two crewmen of the United States Army Reserve
• One pilot and one crewman of the United States Army National Guard
• Seven members of the Afghan National Security Forces
• One Afghan interpreter
• A U.S. military working dog

It was the deadliest day for special operations in U.S. military history.

RIP.
Fair winds and following seas!

• 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) Darrik 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

 

[dustoff22]

I'd forgotten that perhaps because it was such a gruesome loss. May they all rest in peace. So devastating.

 

[snax]

Didn't the afghanis they were working with sell them out?

 

[Andy in NH]

Another somber anniversary.

Fair winds and following seas.

 

[FPrice]

 

[appraiser]

John Douangdara was born on December 29, 1984, in Sioux City, Iowa. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on February 15, 2002, and went on active duty to begin basic training on February 4, 2003. Douangdara completed basic training at NTC Great Lakes, Illinois, in April 2003, and then attended Master-at-Arms training at Hampton Roads, Virginia, from April to June 2003. His first assignment was as a Master-at-Arms at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, from June 2003 to July 2006, and during this time he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from August to November 2005. Petty Officer Douangdara next served as a Master-at-Arms at Submarine Base New London, Connecticut, from August 2006 to January 2008, followed by service as a Combat Assault Dog Handler with Naval Special Warfare Development Group at Dam Neck, Virginia, from January 2008 until he was killed in action with his Military Working Dog, Bart, aboard the CH-47 Chinook helicopter "Extortion 17" in Afghanistan on August 6, 2011. During this time he deployed to Afghanistan in 2008-2009, 2010, and 2011. John Douangdara was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.