8/9/2011 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- President Barack Obama and military leaders paid their respects at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware Aug. 9 during the dignified transfer of remains of service members killed in an Aug. 6 helicopter crash in Afghanistan.
Two Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft carried the remains to Dover.
An investigation is under way to determine the facts surrounding the deaths of 30 U.S. service members and eight Afghans when their CH-47 Chinook helicopter went down in Afghanistan's Wardak province. Five of the U.S. casualties were aircrew members, and 25 were members of the U.S. Special Operations Command.
Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta was in attendance at Dover today, along with Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife, Deborah; and Michael G. Vickers, undersecretary of defense for intelligence.
Representing the services were Navy Secretary Ray E. Mabus, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick D. West; Army Secretary John M. McHugh and Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli; and Air Force Undersecretary Erin C. Conaton, Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Philip M. Breedlove and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy.
Comments
8/11/2011 2:15:06 PM ET The DOD asked the family members as part of their next-of-kin notification if they wanted media coverage and 19 of 30 said no. So no media photographers were allowed, including DOD Public Affairs, except for a White House photographer. This calls serious doubt into question of whether President Obama was there out of respect or for a photo-op.
Maj, SWA
8/11/2011 11:26:55 AM ET Sad loss for the USA. Condolences to the families of these Warriors. They gave their lives so others can live in freedom and liberty. As a nation, the decision for closure on this war is now, not 2014. It is time to bring OEF activity to a close! It is long overdue.
Paul, Texas
8/9/2011 9:54:28 PM ET We need more people with the sense of reason shown by Kim. The people make the country what it is, not the politicans. But great leadership is also needed and we do not have it today. God bless our troops for putting country above themselves.
Gary, Delaware
8/9/2011 3:37:09 PM ET Shedding tears for the lost troops. Some of them have returned home today, home to the country they made the ultimate sacrifice for. I hope the government honors them by putting a stop to the political finger pointing. By returning pride to our country. By raising the country back up from this economic embarrassment. If not, their deaths would be in vain. We the people of the United States of America are the reason this country is so strong and we are determined to make this country great once more. It is Not the politicians. Prayers go out to all of the military families, especially those who have lost love ones.
