5 American Service Members Die

In Southern Afghanistan, five American service members were killed, due to a coalition jet and it’s failing to ward off a Taliban attack; they mistakenly bombed the americans. They were killed on Monday night along with a Afghan soldier in the Zabul province. 

According to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the troops were conducting a security operation. The service members seemed to have come in contact with the enemy forces, and that’s when the casualties took place. 

A U.S. military official told CNN: 

“There is the possibility that fratricide may have been involved”, he said.

The NATO statement that was provided, provided similar information. 

Roghliwanai said the troops had already finished their military sweep that occurred at around 9pm on Monday, when the rocket fires started from the Taliban militants. 

The air support was then called in by the service members but as stated, they mistakenly bombed their counterparts also.

More investigation is being held currently, and the Department of Defense are the ones looking into what may happened.

A U.S. National Security Council Spokeswoman, Miss Caitlin Hayden, voiced her condolences:

“Our hearts are heavy over this loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the fallen.”

Unfortunately, occurrence such as this, isn’t very foreign in the Middle East. Since the beginning of the Afghan war, which began in October of 2001, over 2000 plus Americans have lost their lives. After the confirmation of these more recent numbers, those numbers will only rise.

Back in 2004, Pat Tillman, another service member,  became a hero when gave up a contract with the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals to join the Army’s Elite Rangers force, where he died after leading a counterattack.

After further investigation after his death, it was found that he was actually shot by one of his comrades.

Also, in April of 2002, four Canadian service members were killed, and a few others injured, after U.S. Air National Guard pilot dropped a 500 pound bomb on a group of troops that appeared to have been conducting a nighttime training exercise in southern Afghanistan.

It’s pretty obvious that these occurrences aren’t anything new, but is there a solution to decrease the deaths of members killing their own partners. Is more training necessary or is it inevitable? It’s hard to be a good judge when I have never been involved in the service and if going solely off of what I have heard from others, it is easy to understand that during combat of any sort, it can be pretty difficult to separate who is who. 

All of these deaths are very unfortunate, but very honorable due to their courage to be over in the Middle East to begin with. 

Though I wouldn’t encourage any of my loved ones to join the service, it is so admirable to know there are others in this country, willing to sacrifice their freedom to protect ours. 

My condolences and prayers go out to all the families who have lost their loved one, as I can only just start to imagine what it is like to have an official report the death of a loved one.

It’s so important to always keep these people in mind, as we can only imagine what they feel. We must also recognize them too, as heroes.