Defense

DoD releases names of casualties

The Department of Defense has released the names of those who died when their Black Hawk UH-60 went down Tuesday during a mission. Five U.S. soldiers based at F...

Federal News Radio Custom Media@WTOPWFEDcustom

December 20, 2013 10:26 am

< a min read

The Department of Defense has released the names of those who died when their Black Hawk UH-60 went down Tuesday during a mission. Five U.S. soldiers based at Fort Riley, Kan., and one based in Europe were killed in a helicopter crash this week in southern Afghanistan, Army officials said Thursday. The five Fort Riley soldiers were identified as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Randy L. Billings, 34, of Heavener, Okla.; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joshua B. Silverman, 35, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Sgt. Peter C. Bohler, 29, of Willow Spring, N.C.; Sgt. 1st Class Omar W. Forde, 28, of Marietta, Ga.; and Spc. Terry K.D. Gordon, 22, of Shubuta, Miss. A sixth soldier, based in Vilseck, Germany, was identified as Staff Sgt. Jesse L. Williams, 30, of Elkhart, Ind. One soldier survived the crash.