NewsChannel 3 has confirmed an Associated Press report that most, if not all, of the Navy SEALs who died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan late last night belong to locally based SEAL Team Six, formally known as Naval Special Warfare Development Group, or DEV GRU. They are based in Dam Neck.The crash is the biggest single loss of SEAL life since World War II. A similar crash in 2005 that killed 16 SEALS, including several from Virginia Beach, was the deadliest such incident until today.
The Associated Press reports the SEALs, along with a SEAL dog, members of the Air Force and the U.S. and Afghan armies, were participating in a raid of a house occupied by Taliban fighters.
At some point, the Chinook helicopter carrying 31 people including a civilian interpreter, crashed. All onboard died. A Taliban spokesman said insurgents shot down the helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade. U.S. officials have not yet confirmed that, although some did say the helicopter went down during a firefight.
President Barack Obama said Saturday that the deaths of Americans in the crash are a reminder of the "extraordinary" price the U.S. military is paying in the decade-long Afghan war.
U.S. officials believe that none of those who died in the crash had participated in the bin Laden raid, although they were from the same unit that carried out that mission, two officials told The Associated Press. They spoke about matters of military security on condition of anonymity.
Obama, who learned of the incident at Camp David, issued a statement saying his thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those who perished. The White House had no comment about the details of who died or what happened.
U.S. officials believe that none of those who died in the crash had participated in the bin Laden raid, although they were from the same unit that carried out that mission, two officials told The Associated Press. They spoke about matters of military security on condition of anonymity.
Obama, who learned of the incident at Camp David, issued a statement saying his thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those who perished. The White House had no comment about the details of who died or what happened.
Their deaths are a reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices made by the men and women of our military and their families, including all who have served in Afghanistan," the president said. "We will draw inspiration from their lives, and continue the work of securing our country and standing up for the values that they embodied."
Obama said he also mourned the loss of seven Afghans "who died alongside our troops in pursuit of a more peaceful and hopeful future for their country."
National security adviser Tom Donilon first notified Obama of the incident shortly after 8 p.m. EDT Friday. The president spoke again to Donilon later Friday night and received a paper briefing both that evening and Saturday morning.
The Secretary of Defense released the following statement on the crash Saturday morning:
"I am deeply saddened by the loss of many outstanding Americans in uniform and of their Afghan counterparts earlier today in Afghanistan. Their courage was exemplary, as was their determination to make this a safer world for their countries and for their fellow citizens. We will stay the course to complete that mission, for which they and all who have served and lost their lives in Afghanistan have made the ultimate sacrifice. They and their families are in my thoughts, in my prayers and in my heart."
Source; http://www.wtkr.com/news/wtkr-seal-crash-update,0,772662.story?fe
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