” As in Benghazi, we still don’t know the full story of the greatest single loss in Afghanistan and the largest SEAL loss ever — members of a renowned group outed by a loose-lipped vice president.
It’s not officially on the growing list of Obama administration scandals, but earlier this month families of Navy SEAL Team 6 members killed in a disastrous August 2011 shoot-down of a Chinook helicopter in Afghanistan gathered at the National Press Club asking for answers, calling for a congressional investigation and blaming their government for the tragedy, the indifference and the secrecy that followed.
Extortion 17 was the call sign of a special operations mission in Afghanistan on Aug. 6, 2011, that responded to an Army Ranger unit engaged in a firefight with the Taliban and in need of backup.
The Chinook helicopter carrying the rescue team was shot down by a Taliban-owned rocket-propelled grenade over the Wardak Province on Aug. 6, 2011, killing 38, including 30 Americans and 15 members of Navy SEAL Team 6, the unit that killed Osama bin Laden just three months prior.
The shoot-down was described at the time as a “lucky shot,” but the families of the dead SEALs believe that, like Benghazi, it was a pre-planned operation of revenge facilitated by a government that put them in harm’s way without adequate support and with a bull’s-eye painted on their backs.”
Be sure to visit the Extortion 17 website for information on the helicopter crew that perished along with the SEALs . They must not be forgotten .
CW2 Bryan Nichols – Pilot in Command.
CW4 David R. Carter – Pilot
(promoted posthumously to CW5)
SGT. Patrick “Hamby” Hamburger – Flight Engineer
(promoted posthumously to Staff Sergeant)
SPC Alexander “Mayhem” Bennett – Flight Engineer
(promoted posthumously to Sergeant)
SPC Spencer “Dunk” Duncan – Crew Chief.
May They Rest in Eternal Peace.
Also check out 31 Heroes a site dedicated to the memory of those lost that fateful night of August 6, 2011 and to raising money to support the widows and children of fallen soldiers via Travis Manion Foundation & Snowball Express
The Heroes
” On August 6th, 2011, 31 of America’s bravest warriors gave their lives in defense of our freedom. These men were sons, brothers, husbands, fathers, and friends. Not only do we thank them for their service and sacrifice, but we thank those that love them for the sacrifice they have made as well.”
Alexander J Bennett, Sgt.
Darrik C Benson, PO1 SEAL
Brian R Bill, CPO SEAL
John W Brown, Tech Sgt., USAF PJ
Christopher G. Campbell, PO1 SEAL
David R Carter, CWO4
Jared W Day, Information Systems Technician PO1
John “Jet Li” Douangdara, Master at Arms 1st Class
Spencer C Duncan, Spc.
John W Faas, CPO SEAL
Patrick D Hamburger, Staff Sgt.
Andrew W Harvell, Staff Sgt., USAF CCT
Kevin A Houston, CPO SEAL
Jonas B Kelsall, Lt CMDR SEAL
Louis “Lou” J Langlais, Master Chief SEAL
Matthew D Mason, CPO SEAL
Steven “Matt” M Mills, CPO SEAL
Bryan J Nichols, CWO2
Nicholas H Null, CPO EOD
Jesse D Pittman, PO1 SEAL
Thomas A Ratzlaff, Senior Chief SEAL
Robert J Reeves, CPO SEAL
Heath M Robinson, CPO SEAL
Nicholas P Spehar, PO2 SEAL
Michael J Strange, Cryptologist Technician PO1
Jon “JT” T Tumilson, PO1 SEAL
Aaron C Vaughn, PO1 SEAL
Kraig M Vickers, Senior Chief EOD
Jason R Workman, CPO SEAL
Daniel L Zerbe, Tech Sgt., USAF PJ
Bart, K-9
” The 31 Americans were not the only ones that died as heroes that day. We cannot forget the sacrifice of our Afghan comrades. Seven Afghan commandos and one Afghan interpreter were also killed in action and we cannot look past their sacrifice. They too are heroes and we thank them and honor them and their families.”
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