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Stumble2 from Nellis AFB die in Afghanistan helicopter crash
Published Thursday, June 10, 2010 | 4:41 p.m.
Updated Thursday, June 10, 2010 | 5:56 p.m.
Two Nellis Air Force Base airmen were killed and three were wounded in a helicopter crash Wednesday in southeastern Afghanistan.
They were deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and were responsible for casualty evacuation, authorities said. The five Nellis airmen were in an HH-60G Pavehawk helicopter when it crashed. Two airmen from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona also were killed.
The cause of the crash is under investigation and other details weren't available Thursday.
The Nellis airmen were identified as 1st Lt. Joel C. Gentz, 25, of Grass Lake, Mich., assigned to the 58th Rescue Squadron, and Staff Sgt. David C. Smith, 26, of Eight Mile, Ala., assigned to the 66th Rescue Squadron.
Gentz was on his first deployment with more than 50 hours of combat time. Smith had seen numerous deployments in support of missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, Lt. Col. James McElhenney said in releasing a statement from Nellis.
Also killed were Tech. Sgt. Michael P. Flores, 31, of San Antonio, Texas, and Senior Airman Benjamin D. White, 24, of Erwin, Tenn., assigned to the 48th Rescue Squad at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
Flores was on his eighth deployment as a pararescueman and had previously been stationed at Nellis. White served in the Air Force for almost four years and was on his first deployment.
The wounded airmen are assigned to the 66th RQS from Nellis Air Force Base. They are being treated at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. The extent of their injuries isn't known.
Officials won’t release the names of the wounded airmen because of the ongoing investigation.
The airmen were assigned to the to the 563rd Rescue Group, a separate unit of the 23rd Wing.
Nellis will hold a memorial service next week.
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Time to stop supporting the corrupt Afghan government, and pull the troops out. I thought they were going to get Bin Laden.
My heartfelt sorrow goes out to the families of both airmen.........
Condolences to the families, and I really think it's time we get outta there. That miserable piece of earth is not worth one more drop of American blood.
It is always a sad day when a dedicated soldier loses their life fighting to help others gain freedom - rest in peace. The families should be proud that their children were attempting to bring safety to those living in a hostile environment.
Condolences to the families of these brave soldiers. RIP.
In my opinion, the US needs to end this senseless war and take care of home... this country has many, many problems of their own; on their own soil that need attention, such as: the homeless, proverty, lack of equality and opportunities for minorities (jobs), racism, crime, drug and alchol addictions, mental health care, education, etc...
Why don't we strive/fight for freedom and peace here in America when many here suffer.
mprevilon :
I totally agree with you on this.
Wasn't too many years ago Americans supplied funding to the Afghan rebels for land-to-air missiles for the purposes of shooting down invading Russian helicopters -- how ironic that death notices once received by Russian families are now being delivered to families in America instead.
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The problem is that these families who lose their young men are just as bereaved as the families whose only homes are homeless shelters.
These are not the reasons that these young men lost their lives. No one in America should be living in homeless shelters that have young children. The given factors are that some persons cannot cope with taking care of themselves in daily living and need a shelter to live in. However, women and children do not need to be living in shelters and exposed to the lack of a stable school life and a stable home environment. Once that occurs, then some John steals away whatever is in the home so then the cycle of being homeless begins again. Johns can be women, too.
Starbeams...go take your medication.What the hell was all that about..nothing,that's what.Has nothing to do with the loss of life of these young people,show a little respect for their loss.I am so against this so called war.Knowing these very young men and women are lossing their lifes for what? They never had a chance to live their lives. I feel so badly when I read these articles.I guess I'm still feeling it from the Viet Nam days.