March 4, 2002

i need to know their names.

Eight Killed as U.S. Helicopters
Hit by Enemy Fire.

U.S. Servicemen Die Attempting
to Rescue Fellow Soldier.

Monday, March 4, 2002; 6:18 PM

US MH-47 Chinook helicopter like the one that Pentagon officials say crashed during a combat operation in Afghanistan late Sunday.

Eight U.S. servicemen died today in Afghanistan in two helicopter incidents in heavy fighting south of Gardez that began when one of the aircraft was attempting to insert forces on the battlefield, defense officials said.

The helicopter bringing in troops was hit by a rocket propelled grenade that may or may not have detonated. As the helicopter quickly lifted off after being hit, one of the soldiers on board fell out and is now presumed dead. The helicopter then flew to a spot a little over a mile away and landed. It was subsequently determined to be unsafe to fly.

In an attempt to rescue the soldier who fell, a second helicopter arrived and was hit by either machine gun fire or rocket propelled grenades and crashed, killing seven, Quigley said.

Defense officials at the Pentagon said as many as 10 other soldiers aboard the second helicopter were either injured in the crash or wounded by fire on the ground. Quigley said the wounded were rescued.

The eight killed in the two helicopter incidents brought to nine the number of U.S. soldiers killed since the largest ground engagement of the war in Afghanistan involving U.S. ground forces began on Saturday morning.

The U.S. servicemen killed have officers in route to their family's homes to notifiy them of this tradgic news.

Mothers and Fathers across America watch from windows and weep.

march 5, 2002. morning dawned.
here are the names.

THE NAMES

Neil Roberts, the soldier who fell.

i need to know their names.