SEAL team 6 members lost

[The Annoyed Man]

I understand. It is such a bitter pill to have to swallow.

One of things I heard on the news just this morning while I was at the gym is that we may begin to see an increasing number of deaths in the special forces community because, as we begin to rotate regular (meaning "not spec ops") troops home and draw down our forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, special operations troops will be called on to shoulder an increasing share of the burden. With that increase in use, we'll see more killed among their ranks.

[Texas Dan Mosby]

...my heart aches...and my mind wonders if they were set up by one of our "allies"...or if it was a random shot.

Rotary-wing aircraft, and ground vehicles, are all confined to operating within the valleys created by the mountainous terrain in A-stan. No inside information is needed to provide early warning, as that information can be easily provided by observation posts at the valley entrances, who then relay information through radio or pre-arranged signals. Even if ground vehicles or helo's manage to "sneak" past an observation post and actually surprise a target, they still have to get OUT of the valley, which consists of basically having to take the exact same route back, because it is the ONLY route available. The enemy knows this and uses it to their advantage whenever possible.

This bird didn't go down due to any "inside information", because they don't NEED inside information to set up a defense. They already KNOW which direction helo's or ground vehicles will come from, and they prepare accordingly, based on the individual capabilities and goals of whatever faction it is being targeted.

These types of events are among the absolute worst, and it is a testament to the dedication, courage, and professionalism of our armed forces, that they will continue the mission despite the risk, fully knowing that this event was not the first, or the last, of its kind.

/respect

[bigmoney]

I can see that happening TAM. Sadly enough. I watched a segment from a news report(forget which one) that was discussing the unusual aspect of why seals were deployed to aid in a gunfight already in progress. I know they are trained for anything, but for guys who usually work in the shadows, it seems risky to insert them by helo in the middle of a firefight.

[E.Marquez]

I can see that happening TAM. Sadly enough. I watched a segment from a news report(forget which one) that was discussing the unusual aspect of why seals were deployed to aid in a gunfight already in progress. I know they are trained for anything, but for guys who usually work in the shadows, it seems risky to insert them by helo in the middle of a firefight.

They were doing what they do,,,, regardless of what you may have read that led you to understand it differently.

[Texas Dan Mosby]

I watched a segment from a news report(forget which one) that was discussing the unusual aspect of why seals were deployed to aid in a gunfight already in progress.

Unusual?

Not so much.

EVERY fighting organization plans for contingencies, including "issues" that may occur enroute to, on, and egress from a target. Fighting organizations often times don't have the luxury of being able to rely on outside organizations for immediate assistance if they get in a jam, due to the fact that they may have commitments of their own, and they may not have the dedicated assets required to get to the target site. There is nothing whatsoever unusual about an element having a force ready to assist their own if they get in a tight spot, and that appears to be the case here.

I know they are trained for anything, but for guys who usually work in the shadows, it seems risky to insert them by helo in the middle of a firefight.

EVERY insertion, regardless of type, is risky. However, when your boys are in a bind and counting on YOU for support, you go with what you got, when you can. The CH-47 offers the ability to go far, fast, and with more muldoons with guns than any other rotary wing platform in theater, important factors.

When it comes down to it, fighting organizations fight for each other first, and when your brothers are in a tight spot, you go regardless of risk because you KNOW they would do the same thing for you. That's the glue that holds a good fighting organization together.

There is nothing unusual about this incident, as tragic as it may be, and while it would be nice if this was the last time this type of event took place, it's not. It's just a matter of time. That's just the nature of the beast, and why our servicemembers deserve our sincere thanks and respect.

[bigmoney]

Thanks for the comments on that. Since I have no experience in the matter I can speculate all I want or I can listen to what others have to say. So what I know comes from the media( ) or from very few others. But it's all I have to get info from. So it's nice to get the views/info from others.
I knew a few army guys that never saw action but loved to "talk", and the only guy I knew that had seen action didn't talk much about it after being hit by an IED and lossing most of the muscle in his legs. I showed and told my appreciation to him by doing my job for him and the best that I could(jacked up his truck and made modifactions to it to his liking). And I know nobody where I am now, so you guys are where I get my info other than channel 2 news.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

The Seal Team 6 members that were lost in this recent chopper crash were a "QRF" Quick Reaction Force.

They were en route to assist a group of US Army Rangers who were in a bad spot and needed backup ASAP.

The Rangers managed to fight their way out of their bad situation, but the SEALS' help would have made it easier
to accomplish the mission.

One news report stated that the Seal Team 6 members lost on the chopper were not the same ones that had 86'd Osama.

SIA

[The Annoyed Man]

I was just recalling to myself that when we first got into Afghanistan, it was Special Forces personnel carrying the bulk of the combat activities until we were able to get enough regular ground personnel in country. All that the news story I heard the other morning was saying—and it makes perfect sense—was that as the regular ground forces get drawn down and rotated home without being replaced as part of the policy decisions reached in Washington DC, a larger and larger share of the combat activities will devolve to Special Forces units. They were the first in. They will likely be the last out. So just as in the beginning, they suffered the first military combat deaths in Afghanistan, it seems likely that they will also suffer the last. I wish there none to be suffered at all. These guys are the kind that would have so much to give in civilian life, by the sheer virtue of their intelligence, grit, determination, and physical skills—in short, all the things that made them special as military men. Not that they would owe more than they've already done. Far from it. I mean simply that people possessed of this kind of excellence in everything they do are a great blessing to everyone around them, regardless of what environment it takes place in. We need more people like that. They make the world better for having been in it.

BTW, here is a link to photos about the fallen, and short bios. It was very moving. http://www.wjla.com/pictures/2011/08/ph ... 7-451.html

[Hoosier Daddy]

One news report stated that the Seal Team 6 members lost on the chopper were not the same ones that had 86'd Osama.

If it was up to me, that would be the official story regardless of the truth.