Politics & Government
Long Beach Serviceman Among Those Killed in Downed Copter
Air Force Sgt. Andrew W. Harvell died with 29 other Americans in the worst incident for U.S. forces in the Afghan war.
A Long Beach man was among the 30 U.S. military personnel killed Aug. 6 in the crash of a helicopter in Afghanistan. The Defense Department announced today that Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Harvell, 26, of Long Beach was among three airmen who died in Wardak province when the aircraft was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade fired by Taliban forces. The airmen were with the 24th Special Tactics Squadron based in Pope Field, N.C.
Eight Afghan soldiers also died in the incident. It was the deadliest for U.S. forces since the conflict began.
Mayor Bob Foster's office said that city facilities were flying the U.S. flag at half staff in Harvell's memory.
“My deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends of Staff Sergeant Andrew W. Harvell," Foster said in a statement. "On behalf of the City of Long Beach, we are sending our thoughts and prayers to them during this time of great sadness.”
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Earlier this week it was announced that , Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jonas Kelsall, the son of president and CEO of the Greater Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, John Kelsall. Lt. Kelsall was a member of the Navy SEALs.
On Wednesday, Gen. John Allen announced that coalition forces had killed the Taliban members responsible for shooting down the helicopter in Wardak. A separate NATO statement said that an airstrike Tuesday killed Taliban leader Mullah Mohibullah and the insurgent who "fired the shot associated with" the destruction of the helicopter.