SPC Terry K.D. Gordon died Dec. 17, 2013, Co. E, 1st Sqdn., 6th Cav Regt., 1st CAB

FORT RILEY, Kan. – Five Soldiers assigned to the 1st Infantry Division’s 1st Combat Aviation Brigade died in a UH-60 Black Hawk crash Dec. 17 in southern Afghanistan. The cause of the incident is under investigation.

“We offer our heartfelt condolences to the Families and friends of these ‘Big Red One’ Soldiers,” Maj. Gen. Paul E. Funk II, 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley commanding general, said. “We stand ready to support them and I urge our community and the nation, while remembering their sacrifices this holiday season, to do the same.”

Killed were:

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Randy L. Billings, 34, Heavener, Okla., of Company B, 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joshua B. Silverman, 35, Scottsdale, Ariz., of Company B, 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

Sgt. 1st Class Omar W. Forde, 28, Marietta, Ga., of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

Sgt. Peter C. Bohler, 29, Willow Spring, N.C., of Company B, 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

Spc. Terry K.D. Gordon, 22, Shubuta, Miss., of Company E, 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.

Also killed was Staff Sgt. Jesse L. Williams, 30, Elkhart, Ind., of the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.

To date, 209 Fort Riley Soldiers, Airmen and Sailors have died while serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.

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