US troops killed in Afghanistan and Africa

Read entire article HERE.

" Silk, 25, died June 21 after a hard landing in a helicopter near Gaza Ridge, Afghanistan.

...Air Force Staff Sgt. David C. Smith
Whether you knew him as "Smitty," "Stuntman," "Cazzie" or any other nickname, David Smith was the guy who could be counted on as a rescuer.
In grade school, his mother said, he stood up for a buddy who was being teased because he had learning disabilities. As a helicopter flight engineer, he was trying to save soldiers who had been wounded in Afghanistan's Helmand province when the chopper crashed, killing him.

...White, 24, of Erwin, Tenn., was killed June 9 in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. He was assigned to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. He graduated from Science Hill High School in 2004 and spent a few semesters at East Tennessee State University before enlisting in 2006.
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Note: Helicopters are essential - loss of helicopters at increasing rates reminds me of the last guys that tried to control afghanistan - and what helped spell out their doom.