This week, Warrior of the Week is dedicated not to a single warrior, but to the men whose lives were lost aboard Extortion 17—one of the darkest days in the history of the United States special operations community.

On the night of August 5–6, 2011, American and Afghan forces were conducting operations in Afghanistan’s Tangi Valley, Wardak Province. A U.S. Army CH-47D Chinook, call sign Extortion 17, was dispatched carrying a quick-reaction force to reinforce Rangers engaged with enemy fighters on the ground.

As the Chinook approached its landing zone in the early hours of August 6, it was struck by enemy fire and crashed. All 38 personnel aboard were killed, along with a U.S. military working dog. Among the fallen were 30 American service members—including 17 Navy SEALs, 15 of whom were members of Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU)—alongside Army aviators and aircrew and Air Force Special Tactics personnel. Seven Afghan commandos and an Afghan interpreter were also killed.

For the Naval Special Warfare community, the loss was unprecedented. Extortion 17 remains the largest single loss of American life during the war in Afghanistan and the deadliest single incident in the history of U.S. Naval Special Warfare.

But Extortion 17 should never be remembered simply as a number.

They were SEALs, aviators, aircrewmen, Combat Controllers, Pararescuemen, soldiers, Afghan commandos, a civilian Afghan interpreter, and a military working dog. They were teammates who boarded an aircraft because Americans and allied forces were in contact and needed them. They answered that call knowing the risks inherent in their profession.

The Americans lost aboard Extortion 17 were:

United States Navy

1. Lieutenant Commander (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall, 32, of Shreveport, Louisiana
2. Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis J. Langlais, 44, of Santa Barbara, California
3. Special Warfare Operator Senior Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Thomas A. Ratziaff, 34, of Green Forest, Arkansas
4. Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Senior Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Kraig M. Vickers, 36, of Kokomo, Hawaii
5. Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Brian R. Bill, 31, of Stamford, Connecticut, 31, of Minneapolis, Minnesota
6. Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Kevin A. Houston, 35, of West Hyannisport, Massachusetts
7. Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Matthew D. Mason, 37, of Kansas City, Missouri
8. Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Stephen M. Mills, 35, of Fort Worth, Texas
9. Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist/Diver) Nicholas H. Null, 30, of Washington, West Virginia
10. Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves, 32, of Shreveport, Louisiana
11. Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Heath M. Robinson, 34, of Detroit, Michigan
12. Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Darrik C. Benson, 28, of Angwin, California
13. Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Parachutist) Christopher G. Campbell, 36, of Jacksonville, North Carolina
14. Information Systems Technician Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Jared W. Day, 28, of Taylorsville, Utah
15. Master-at-Arms Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) John Douangdara, 26, of South Sioux City, Nebraska
16. Cryptologic Technician (Collection) Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) Michael J. Strange, 25, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
17. Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) Jon T. Tumilson, 35, of Rockford, Iowa
18. Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Aaron C. Vaughn, 30, of Stuart, Florida
19. Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jason R. Workman, 32, of Blanding, Utah
20. Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman, 27, of Ukiah, California
21. Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Nicholas P. Spehar, 24, of Saint Paul, Minnesota

United States Army

1. Chief Warrant Officer David R. Carter, 47, of Centennial, Colorado. Assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), Aurora, Colorado
2. Chief Warrant Officer Bryan J. Nichols, 31, of Hays, Kansas. Assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kansas
3. Staff Sgt. Patrick D. Hamburger, 30, of Lincoln, Nebraska. Assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), Grand Island, Nebraska
4. Sgt. Alexander J. Bennett, 24, of Tacoma, Washington. Assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kansas
5. Spc. Spencer C. Duncan, 21, of Olathe, Kansas. Assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kansas

United States Air Force

1. Tech. Sgt. John W. Brown, 33, of Tallahassee, Florida
2. Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Harvell, 26, of Long Beach, California
3. Tech. Sgt. Daniel L. Zerbe, 28, of York, Pennsylvania

Military Working Dog

1. Military Working Dog Bart — U.S. Navy

Alongside them were seven Afghan commandos and a civilian Afghan interpreter.

Fifteen years later, the legacy of Extortion 17 remains deeply embedded within the Special Operations community. Their sacrifice is a reminder that behind every call sign, every aircraft, and every mission are men willing to move toward danger when their teammates need them.

This week, we remember the crew and passengers of Extortion 17 not solely for how they died, but for how they lived and served: quietly, professionally, and beside their brothers.

August 6, 2011.

Extortion 17.

They answered the call. They gave all.

Never Forgotten.

More Information:

The NAVY SEAL Museum

Smithsonian