Navy Cryptologist Killed in Action

Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) Michael J. Strange, 25, of Philadelphia, Pa. was killed in action on August 6, 2011 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter was shot down.  Twenty-nine other US men were killed.  

U.S. Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, the top commander in Afghanistan, told Pentagon reporters the mission was to stop Taliban fighters from fleeing in the Wardak province’s Tangi Valley.   “As this mission unfolded, we saw some significant success occurring on the objective itself, but there were elements that were escaping,” Gen. Allen said. “And in the course of their [the enemy element] attempt to depart the objective, we committed a force to contain that element from getting out....in the process of that, the aircraft was struck by an RPG and crashed.”

Rest in Peace CTR1(EXW) Strange...

From reports

http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=14728
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/10/fatal-seal-mission-was-not-a-rescue/