Copter crash kills 2 from S.C. (in Mosul - 12/11)

[Ripley]

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/10391974.htm

U.S. chopper hits second on ground, killing guardsmen from McEntire

By CHUCK CRUMBO

Staff Writer

Two S.C. National Guard soldiers were killed in the nighttime crash Thursday of two U.S. helicopters at an airfield near Mosul, Iraq.

First Lt. Andrew C. Shields of Campobello and Chief Warrant Officer Patrick D. Leach of Rock Hill died in the crash, which happened about 7:30 p.m. Iraqi time.

Four other soldiers were injured in the crash but later returned to duty, a spokesman for the U.S. Central Command said.

Shields, 25, had been in the Guard for five years and is survived by his mother, father, brother and sister.

Leach, 39, was an 18-year veteran of the Guard. He is survived by his wife and five children.

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Of course that helicopter couldn't have been shot down now could it?

[acmavm]

1. Shot down? Now what would ever give you that idea? They're slmost

NEVER shot down, they're just operated by bad helicopter drivers.

This is just so depressing. These guys should be home with their families, not dead in a foreign country for no reason other than corruption, greed, incompetence, and lies.