All Members of the 160th "Night Stalkers"

The four American soldiers killed Thursday when their MH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crashed in Afghanistan were all members of the Army's elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment based at Fort Campbell, (KY)-- the "Night Stalkers."

The Army identifies the men as Chief Warrant Officer Mark S. O'Steen, 43, of Alabama; Chief Warrant Officer Thomas J. Gibbons, 31, of Maryland; Staff Sgt. Daniel L. Kisling Jr., 31, of Missouri; and Sgt. Gregory M. Frampton, 37, of California.

"These men gave their lives in the defense of freedom, doing what they loved most, flying with the 160th," Lt. Col. Emmett Shaffer, deputy commander of the 160th, said Friday. "I ask for your prayers, both for those we have lost, and those who continue our mission."

No Indication Of Hostile Fire

The chopper went down on a training range near the Bagram Air Base at approximately 7:05 PM, local time. Shaffer said there was absolutely no evidence that the helicopter had been felled by enemy fire. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

The four military fatalities on board bring to 13 the number of "Night Stalkers" killed in foreign operations since America's war on terror began, Sept. 11, 2001. Eight died Feb. 22, 2002, when their helicopter crashed into the sea during a joint training exercise in the Philippines. A ninth "Night Stalker" was killed along with seven other American soldiers March 4, 2002, when their helicopter was attacked during combat operations in Afghanistan.

At least five military helicopters have crashed or suffered "hard landings" in Afghanistan since military operations began there in Dec., 2001. Two Army Rangers and two Marines have been killed in the crashes. At least 11 other soldiers were injured.

A Soldier's Story

SSgt. Kisling, was the Blackhawk's crew chief, according to a report by KOLR-TV News in Springfield, (MO). A resident of Neosho, Kisling was an eight-year veteran of the Army. The television station reports he was married to his high school sweetheart, Georgia, for 14 years. The couple had three children, now 13, 10 and 3 years old.

His mother-in-law, Heidi McNeill, of Neosho, said, "We thought he was wonderful. He was a good father, a good husband. He loved the Army."

FMI: www.army.mil