DOD Identifies Seven Army and Navy Casualties in a Helicopter Crash in Afghanistan
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DOD Identifies Army and Navy Casualties
The Department of Defense announced today the death of seven service members who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
They died Aug. 16 in a helicopter crash northeast of Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Killed were:
Chief Warrant Officer Brian D. Hornsby, 37, of Melbourne, Fla., assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii;
Chief Warrant Officer Suresh N. A. Krause, 29, of Cathedral City, Calif., assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii;
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Petty Officer Technician 1st Class Sean P. Carson, 32, of Des Moines, Wash., assigned to an explosive ordnance disposal mobile unit in San Diego;
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class Patrick D. Feeks, 28, of Edgewater, Md., assigned to a West Coast-based naval special warfare unit;
Sgt. Richard A. Essex, 23, of Kelseyville, Calif., assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii;
Sgt. Luis A. Oliver Galbreath, 41, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; and
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class David J. Warsen, 27, of Kentwood, Mich., assigned to a West Coast-based naval Special warfare unit.
For more information on Hornsby, Krause, Galbreath, and Essex contact the 25th Infantry Division Public Affairs at 808-655-4756 or 808-551-1722.
For more information on Feeks and Warsen, media may contact the Naval Special Warfare Group One public affairs office at 619-537-3184.
For more information on Carson, media may contact the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command public affairs office at 757-374-0995.
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| Brian D. Hornsby |
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Hornsby's awards and decorations include the Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal and the Senior Army Aviator Badge.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Hornsby joined the Army September 15, 1998 and became a UH-60 Pilot March 11, 2003.
This was Hornsby's second deployment. He was married with two children.
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| Suresh N. A. Krause |
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Krause joined the Army February 1, 2007 and became a UH-60 Pilot June 22, 2009.
This was Krause's second deployment.
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| Luis A. Oliver Galbreath |
Sergeant Oliver Galbreath joined the Army January 25, 2003 and became a UH-60 Helicopter Repairer December 4, 2003.
This was Oliver Galbreath's second deployment. He was married with three children.
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| Richard A. Essex |
Sergeant Essex joined the Army July 1st, 2008 and became a Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic November 23, 2008. This was Essex's second deployment.
"Our heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of our fallen heroes," said Maj. Gen. Kurt Fuller, commanding general, 25th Infantry Division. "Although the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade family has suffered a huge loss, they still continue their mission with the utmost courage and resolve."
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from grandhaventribune:
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| David J. Warsen |
Kent County Commissioner Harold Voorhees posted on his Facebook page that his grand-nephew David “Davey” Warsen was killed in Afghanistan.
“Our hearts are hurting,” Voorhees wrote.
Warsen, 27, grew up in the Grand Rapids area, was among seven Americans who died in a Black Hawk helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan on Aug. 16.
The Taliban has claimed responsibility for shooting down the chopper.
Warsen's fiancée, Karlyn Deveau, was notified of his death in San Diego, where they lived before his deployment. They were to get married Dec. 8, and he planned to return back to the states Oct. 1 when his deployment ended.
Warsen was one of two Oahu troops killed in the crash. Eleven total were killed in the crash. Seven were Americans.
Friends of the Warsen and the family are posting condolences on Facebook. According to Warsen's page, he was a graduate of East Kentwood High School and studied at Hope College and Aquinas College.
Adam Shumaker, a Grand Haven resident, helped spread the word about this tragic loss, and said it’s time for the people of West Michigan to get their flags ready.
“West Michigan loses another brave American Hero,” he wrote in a Facebook post Friday. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. Sailor down, Kickstands up.”
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from wtop:
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| Patrick D. Feeks |
Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Patrick D. Feeks of Edgewater was among seven Americans and four Afghans killed in the helicopter crash northeast of Kandahar, Afghanistan on Thursday.
The 28-year-old Feeks was one of two Navy SEALS to die in the crash; the other was Special Warfare Operator Second Class David J. Warsen of Kentwood, Mich. Both were assigned to a Special Warfare unit located in Coronado, Calif.
Capt. Collin P. Green, Naval Special Warfare Group One's commander, praised Feeks and Warsen in a statement as "great warriors, teammates and friends to many of us in the Naval Special Warfare community."
Feeks enlisted in the Navy in 2006, and then completed Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training and advance training. He had served with a West Coast-based SEAL unit since May 2008.
A Navy news release says his awards and decorations include the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He previously served in the Iraqi war.
He is survived by his parents, Thomas and Virginia, and by his wife, Emily.
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from komonews:
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| Sean P. Carson |
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Petty Officer Technician 1st Class Sean P. Carson died Aug. 16 in the crash northeast of Kandahar.
He was assigned to an explosive ordnance disposal mobile unit in San Diego.
Navy officials say Carson enlisted in May 1999 and graduated from boot camp at recruit training command in Great Lakes, Ill. in August 1999.
His awards and decorations include the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, Battle Efficiency Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
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