| Iraq - Afghanistan War 2003 - Ongoing |
CWO David Ayala US Army
David Ayala died in Ghazni, Afghanistan, in service to
his country, when the CH-47 helicopter he was on
crashed on April 6, 2005. He was assigned to the 5th
Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, 12th Aviation
Brigade, Giebelstadt, Germany. He died at the age of
24 and is interred at Calverton National Cemetary.
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18 Bodies Recovered from Afghanistan Crash Site
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, April 9, 2005 – Recovery crews have removed the
bodies of all 18 victims from the wreckage of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter
that crashed in Afghanistan April 6, Combined Forces Command
Afghanistan officials reported today.
The bodies were taken to Bagram Air Base in the Afghan capital of
Kabul, and will be flown to Dover Air Force Base, Del., for positive
identification, officials said.
The helicopter had flown out of Bagram on a supply and transport
mission to southern Afghanistan. It was returning to Bagram when it
crashed in severe weather near Ghazni.
A U.S. Army’s Combat Readiness Center investigation team from Fort
Rucker, Ala., will investigate the crash.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of those
involved in the crash,” said Navy Lt. Cindy Moore, a CFC-A
spokeswoman. “They gave their lives to a purpose greater than
themselves, and for that reason we were honored to serve with them
and call them our comrades.”
Fifteen of the crash victims were U.S. military personnel, and three were
civilians working for the military as contractors. “We are still fulfilling a
combat mission in Afghanistan, and we mourn the loss of any member of
our team,” Moore said. “The best way to honor the memory of our fallen
comrades is to continue the mission they came to Afghanistan to fulfill.”
Moore expressed gratitude to the Afghan people near the crash site.
“We are very grateful to the people of Ghazni,” she said. “They were
quick to notify coalition forces of the helicopter crash. They provided
additional security and assisted with the recovery of remains from the
crash site.”
At a Kabul news conference today, Moore briefed reporters on several
recent coalition humanitarian medical evacuation missions conducted for
Afghan citizens.
Two children were taken to a hospital in Jalalabad with burns, Moore
said. A 3-year-old child was taken to a coalition base near Orgun-e for
an infection on his hand, and because of the treatment he received he
will continue to have the use of his right hand, Moore said.
Another boy was taken to Kandahar Airfield after a cow kicked him in the
head, Moore said, and he was reported to be in stable condition. An 18-
month-old boy suffered third-degree burns to both feet when an oil lamp
spilled in his home. He was taken first to the coalition base at Asadabad
and then to Bagram for treatment. “A quick response saved his feet,”
Moore said. This week, she added, coalition forces conducted 18
medical evacuations of Afghan citizens. In other news, the Gardez
provisional reconstruction team bought more than 9,000 fruit trees and
flood relief items for villages in Paktia province. The growth of these
trees will depend on the governor’s program to get the local children
involved in caring for the trees, Moore said.
In Sharona, coalition medical personnel conducted a medical assistance
visit, treating hundreds of children for worms. The PRT also continues
flood relief operations in Tarin Kowt and Lashkar Gah, Moore said.
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, April 9, 2005 – Recovery crews have removed the
bodies of all 18 victims from the wreckage of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter
that crashed in Afghanistan April 6, Combined Forces Command
Afghanistan officials reported today.
The bodies were taken to Bagram Air Base in the Afghan capital of
Kabul, and will be flown to Dover Air Force Base, Del., for positive
identification, officials said.
The helicopter had flown out of Bagram on a supply and transport
mission to southern Afghanistan. It was returning to Bagram when it
crashed in severe weather near Ghazni.
A U.S. Army’s Combat Readiness Center investigation team from Fort
Rucker, Ala., will investigate the crash.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of those
involved in the crash,” said Navy Lt. Cindy Moore, a CFC-A
spokeswoman. “They gave their lives to a purpose greater than
themselves, and for that reason we were honored to serve with them
and call them our comrades.”
Fifteen of the crash victims were U.S. military personnel, and three were
civilians working for the military as contractors. “We are still fulfilling a
combat mission in Afghanistan, and we mourn the loss of any member of
our team,” Moore said. “The best way to honor the memory of our fallen
comrades is to continue the mission they came to Afghanistan to fulfill.”
Moore expressed gratitude to the Afghan people near the crash site.
“We are very grateful to the people of Ghazni,” she said. “They were
quick to notify coalition forces of the helicopter crash. They provided
additional security and assisted with the recovery of remains from the
crash site.”
At a Kabul news conference today, Moore briefed reporters on several
recent coalition humanitarian medical evacuation missions conducted for
Afghan citizens.
Two children were taken to a hospital in Jalalabad with burns, Moore
said. A 3-year-old child was taken to a coalition base near Orgun-e for
an infection on his hand, and because of the treatment he received he
will continue to have the use of his right hand, Moore said.
Another boy was taken to Kandahar Airfield after a cow kicked him in the
head, Moore said, and he was reported to be in stable condition. An 18-
month-old boy suffered third-degree burns to both feet when an oil lamp
spilled in his home. He was taken first to the coalition base at Asadabad
and then to Bagram for treatment. “A quick response saved his feet,”
Moore said. This week, she added, coalition forces conducted 18
medical evacuations of Afghan citizens. In other news, the Gardez
provisional reconstruction team bought more than 9,000 fruit trees and
flood relief items for villages in Paktia province. The growth of these
trees will depend on the governor’s program to get the local children
involved in caring for the trees, Moore said.
In Sharona, coalition medical personnel conducted a medical assistance
visit, treating hundreds of children for worms. The PRT also continues
flood relief operations in Tarin Kowt and Lashkar Gah, Moore said.
American Legion Post 50 SAL 50 New York USA