U.S. copter down in Iraq; 13 aboard dead

AP ^ | January 20 2007

[jmc1969]

A U.S. helicopter went down northeast of Baghdad, killing all 13 people aboard, the military said Saturday.

[airborne]

Prayers for the fallen.

[Cate]

Heartfelt prayers for the families of these brave souls.

[Fierce Allegiance]

Thank God for the brave people who put themselves in harms way to protect us. May they rest in peace.

[SE Mom]

Oh no.

Godspeed..

[flynmudd]

Dear God be with our fallen heroes. Wrap them in your arms and give them peace in their hearts. Amen.

[Mo1]

sending prayers

[AntiGuv]

[SolidWood]

God Bless them.

[umgud]

I am sorrowed at every loss, but 13 really hurts. Prayers up.

[vimto]

Respect and prayers for their loved ones, from the UK.

[wastoute]

Prayers

[Ramcat]

Rest in peace brave soldiers.
Prayers for your families.

[ellery]

Prayers for our heroes and families.

[bray]

Prayers for these brave soldiers and their families. Lord comfort them.

[armymarinemom]

Prayers.

[Pentagon Leatherneck]

Crap. Godspeed, men and women.

TC

[sodpoodle]

May they be honored in death as they honored us with their lives.

[jazusamo]

May God Bless them and their families.

[sargunner]

RIP to our warriors and prayers for their families.

[shadeaud]

News like this truly hurts my heart. The media will just announce this tragedy after its' glee about clinton's decision to toss her HAT pantsuit into the mix for '08

[AdvisorB]

[Gunny P]

ewige Gebete für gefallen...
ahhuuggah!

[livius]

Oh no. Prayers for them and their families.

[bnelson44]

BAGHDAD (AP) - A U.S. helicopter went down Saturday northeast of Baghdad, killing all 13 people on board, the military said.

Emergency coalition forces secured the site, the military said in a brief statement, adding the incident was under investigation.

The helicopter was carrying 13 passengers and crew members and all were killed, it said. The identities of the service members were being withheld pending notification of relatives.

The military said the crash occurred northeast of Baghdad but gave no other specifics. The statement also did not include the customary comment that the aircraft had not been shot down, indicating it may have been brought down by insurgent fighters.

The roiling and extremely violence Diyala Province sits northeast of Baghdad, where U.S. and Iraqi forces have been battling Sunni insurgents and Shiite militia forces around the city of Baqouba for months.

The deaths highlighted a major danger for U.S. forces in Iraq, where the military relies heavily on air travel to transport troops and ferry officials and journalists to remote locations and to avoid the dangers of roadside bombs planted by insurgents.

The worst U.S. aircraft accident since the war began in March 2003, was on Jan 26, 2005 when a marine transport helicopter crashed during sandstorms in Iraq's western desert killing 31 troops. Thirty marines and one U.S. sailor were killed in the crash, the most American troops to die in a single incident in Iraq.

Three U.S. aircraft also went down in a span of two weeks late last year, including a U.S. air force fighter jet that crashed in a field in the volatile Anbar province on Nov. 27, killing the pilot, whose body has yet to be found.

A Sea Knight helicopter carrying 16 U.S. troops also went down in a lake in Anbar on Dec. 3, killing four, and a marine helicopter made a hard landing on Dec. 11, injuring 18.

http://www.breitbart.com/news/na/cp_w012032A.xml.html

[maquiladora]

If this has shot down by an Iranian supplied SAM....

[repubmom]

Prayers for the families of these brave soldiers...my heart is breaking...

[MARKUSPRIME]

RIP brave warriors.

[cll]

Any word on type of helicopter and major command would be appreciated. I've got buddies out there.

[HelloooClareece]

Prayers to those who love them. May their rest find them peace.

[fishergirl]

Prayers and more prayers for our brave soldiers. This is just awful.

[mystery-ak]

Sigh...13 souls....

[Eepsy]

Was this Army, Air Force, or Marines? I've got a brother over there and really want to know.

[bnelson44]

Aircraft went down near Baghdad
Saturday, 20 January 2007
Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070120-11
Jan. 20, 2007

Aircraft went down near Baghdad
Multi-National Corps – Iraq PAO

BAGHDAD – A US forces helicopter went down northeast of Baghdad this afternoon.

Emergency Coalition Forces responded and secured the scene.

Thirteen passengers and crewmembers were aboard the aircraft and all were killed.

The names of the servicemembers are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
This incident is under investigation.

-30-

[mtbopfuyn]

Prayers.

[RetiredArmy]

Just damn. My heart is broken.

[RetiredArmy]

I agree with your half-masked flag. I think I am just going to keep mine at half-masked all the time in honor of all the troops that have died, and those that are yet to come, unfortunately

[mystery-ak]

News is sketchy right now....I'll keep your brother in my prayers.......

[mad_as_he$$]

Nothing on CentCom yet. I put in calls and emails. I'll let you know as soon as I get word. If you want Frmail me with the GENERAL units your buddies are in. We might ping Allergra to see if there is any info in country.

[mad_as_he$$]

Het looks like PR origined Camp Vistory. No whether they were the unit the guys were from or whether they were the rescues base isn't clear yet.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Eepsy, you know how tough this time is now; this is a time of concern for my family, too. I have a step-niece whose husband is a chopper pilot over there. She is beside herself with anxiety right now. They have two kids, young ones.

Obviously we should pray for the families of all the fallen; please remember those who are awaiting word--ask for God's Spirit to visit them and prepare them for the news...and for peace from Heaven. I might ask for prayers for my step-niece and her family. Please.

Humbly,
rd.

[4yearlurker]

My heart sinks when I read news like this.

God love our fallen!

[Spunky]

May they rest in peace. Prayers going up for their families.

[mystery-ak]

I went through this in 03-04 when hubby was over there in a Chinook unit....they indeed lost one of their Chinooks and 22 souls in Nov of 03....hubby is set to return in June.....have faith and pray.....it's rough sitting at home and waiting...I know.

[Unrepentant VN Vet]

Sorry Army, but my flag's staying at the top of the staff.

These troops should be honored, as should they all.

There's more than enough d*** false mourning going on in the traitorous DBM already. I won't give those sorry POS the satisfaction of seeing a tear, even if my heart breaks.

[mtbopfuyn]

Hugs to your niece.

[SolidWood]

You have my prayers. God Bless you and yours.

[NRA2BFree]

Oh no! God Bless them for their service. Prayers go out for their loved ones! May God comfort them and give them strength in the difficult days ahead.

[bnelson44]

One of us should probably mention to be careful about rumors. Until official word comes down the FRGs will be flying with rumors.

[SE Mom]

Prayers for your family..