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Subscribe to RSSSix United States Marines were killed when their helicopter went down in Southern Afghanistan. An investigation is under way, but U.S. military officials say there was no evidence of enemy activity in the area. NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports.
Updated at 3:33 a.m. ET: A helicopter crash in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan killed six U.S. Marines, the NATO military command in Kabul told NBC News early Friday.
Officials said there were no signs of enemy activity in the area at time of the crash.
The Marines have a substantial presence in Helmand province.
"We are still in the process of gathering more information on the incident," an official told Reuters.
It is the worst crash since last August when 30 soldiers, including 22 elite Navy SEAL commandos, died when their helicopter came down in eastern Afghanistan.
The Helmand helicopter crash occurred on the same day seven civilians were killed outside a crowded gate at Kandahar Air Field, a sprawling base for U.S. and NATO operations, after a suicide attacker set off a vehicle laden with explosives. The Taliban claimed responsibility, saying they were targeting a NATO convoy.
On Wednesday, 13 civilians, including three Afghan policemen, were killed when a suicide attacker blew himself up in a bazaar in Helmand province. At least 22 others were wounded in the blast in Kajaki district.
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NBC News, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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RIP.....
......
They should investigate all the Razing that goes around the mechanics unit inside the Marine Corps, if here in US they are considered the worst hazing unit, i can imagine there...in general... Hope the families of those who die find comfort in God.
Six more lives put to death by this country. WAKE UP AMERICA we cannot and will not change Afganistan nor will we change those people. We are not fighting a people, we are fighting a way of life that is controled by religon. Bring our troops home before one more soldier gives his life for a lost cause. Time to turn inward to our own country, there is much that needs to be done right here. Iran is not our concern let the locals take care of that problem
If we had a draft this crap would not be happening ... bring the troops home now
This is very disheartening, and it makes me very sad every time I read stories like this. Thank you the brave men and women who put their lives on the line everyday for the man and woman to the left and right of them.
How many more must die for this worthless campaign
As long as the corporate and governing elite's Ivy League kids don't have to go, it can go on to the tune of 30 trillion in debt or higher. The so-called Defense Dept. is the USA's largest employer and corporate money trough.
Did I read that Afghanistan is going to sell their oil to China? Highest bidder....
AFG doesn't have oil. Silver, yes. Oil NO!!!
Too, bad six underpayed mercinaries lost thier lives. They died in a desolit land for corp. greed and profit. Kids signing up to serve thier country today, aren't doing it for altuistic reasons, 99.9% are in it for colledge funds, which makes them suckers. 9/11 was B.S.. I said so Then and I say so now. And Thank you President Obahama for pulling us back from the war games with Isreal and not falling into the trap of Yahoo, who planned to attack Iran to provke a crisis and entangle us in an other war.
I can't for the life of me understand the thinking behind some of the comments about how these people are fighting for our freedoms. while our government is @!$%#ting and wiping thier ass with our Constitution and that is dems as well as reps.. The unpatriot "Patriot Act" is one specicicaly sec. 802, but what I really find disturbing is H.R. 3166 coming down the pike. So what did these poor dumb@!$%#ers die for?
Buckle up the big dip is yet to come.
My sincere sympathy to the families of our fallen soldiers. This afgan war is insane and the american people do not want it to continue. It is going on for 11yrs. It is serving no purpose and nothing will ever change in Afganistan. This is Wash D.C.'s war and it continues because the republicans never met a war they did not like, and Obama (who sent an additional 17,000 soldiers over there and a few months later shazzam a nobel peace prize for waging war) is a democrat and the democrats developed a herd mentality. So Wash D.C.'s war goes on and to hell with the american people. This is truly the arrogance of government.
Let the pilots fly without all stuff on their head so they can see to the sides and there would be alot less crashes.
My son is a chinook pilot and yes they are cumbersum but they are also needed,would you beleive that helmet cost $ 11,000
My brother is a Marine in Helmand. I last heard from him 2 days ago saying he was heading out on a mission. This has got me sh*ting bricks now. No calls from any strange numbers yet.
Surv, I hope all you get is good news. I don't wish to offend, but I'll pray for your brothers safety.
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No matter what BS you like to spread about how ourcountry is in ruins and how it's Obama's fault EVERYTHING happens, we should all be thankful we live where we live.
Sure America has a lot of problems, but we are still a pretty awesome group...try to remember those who are denied any rights and freedoms...who live under tyrants and dictators...who have to worry day to day that some radical dumb-ass may come along and kill someone because his or her warped mind believes it is their calling.
Here's another thought...let's try, if only for a bit, to actually suppport our country and it's troops...to try and stop the hate mongering that goes on and on, the bigotry and the racism...to try and help each other when we need it.
The politics is so screwed up because no one wants to look at the person...all they see is a party...kind of backwards, don't ya think?
Sohow 'bout those that can only spew venom when it comes to being nice for a change, either shut up or go away. You should give thanks to all our military...they do things you and I can never do.
For that alone, they deserve our respect and our support.
Many of us are thankful for where we live, we would be even more thankful after Obama leaves.
Praying for you, Serv
ever try to land a fixed wing on a mountain top? that's why we need them. RIP to all who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Now let's get out.
God damn it!!! This isn't a war of attrition. It isn't about who can lose the most men. We have to constantly be ahead of the power curve, thinking out-side the box and working through issues that we might not normally experience. THAT'S HOW WE WIN!!! My heart cries for our loss.
Hope they can recover the bodies before the Afghanies piss on their corpses!
Heli ' kop ter <n> - a mismatched collection of poor fitting parts surrounding an oil leak, flying in loose formation...
I'm so sorry, disrespectful...wrong place for that ^ ...couldn't resist. (I fly both fixed and rotary)
RIP Marines. Never forgotten.
I hate this...Karzai snubs us openly and calls us "invaders"...even as he takes our billions in aid, and our young warriors keep dying. Bring our warriors home...bring our jobs back and stop outsourcing...every overpaid bribe-taking slimy millionaire Congressman should be shot....along with their Wall St. puppet masters, the ones pulling the strings behind the scenes. Grrr. </soapbox>
You left out made by the lowest bidder.
I'm with Chuckler. Americans are so stupid they actually believe their own propagamda about being the greatest country on earth. The ONLY thing America is best at is killing other people.
..and what country do *you* live in, brave soul? /sarcasm
Up yours, Dallas. Bet you feel all safe and cozy sitting in front of your computer screen spewing crap about our bravest, and best. Believe me, you won't find many friends here.
I can't believe you actually have 4 others supporting your trash. I'm sure one is from you.
Maybe you and Chuckie should go overseas and find someone who would actually welcome you...seeing as how you both hate it here...
My deepest condolances and I will say a prayer now for you, your unit and your familys.
Hey Chuckler I will proudly piss in your stupid mouth. God Bless these brave American Heros that gave their lives serving this great nation and defending pieces of crap like you!
Kinky......but I guess everybody has their own fetishes.........(I still say peeing on dead marines is bad.......and by the way, I'm a veteran...)
We freed the slaves in Iraq and Afghanistan (a bitter sardonic mocking), so why don't they gratefully go blow themselves up in Iran. Now, they wipe their asses with gold ingots, and eat-out in exotic restuaraunts every night, and send their children to the best private schools in the Provence. I'm glad our Government knows what it's doing!
a "crash" sure... we hear of far too many apparent crashes. don't believe our intelligence service reports on these. could be but this could be downed by enemy fire possibly?
RaggaH banned, really cheap dead-soldier-trolling.
Semper Fi - R.I.P.
It's time to bring our troops home. Their lives are worth more than the mess in Afghanistan. Afghanistan hasn't changed in 1,000 years and will not likely change in the next 1,000.
Semper fi