Tacoma soldier among 30 killed in Afghanistan crash
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TACOMA, Wash. - A 23-year-old Army Specialist from Tacoma was among the 30 American service members killed when their helicopter was shot down over Afghanistan Saturday.
Alexander Bennett was part of the crew who had rushed to help Army Rangers who had come under fire.
Bennett attended Foss High School and loved cars and the military, a family friend told KOMO News. Jessica Hall said Bennett wanted to make a career of the military.
"I never met somebody that loved to do something as much as he did," Hall said.
She says Alex was always smiling, or joking.
"He was so selfless," she said. "He would give you the shirt off his back, he was a really great guy."
Edward Tuck shared a passion for cars with Alex. So often, the two were found under the hood of a Honda talking about life, and Alex's military ambitions.
"He wanted to be a pilot," Tuck said.
And Bennett was on his way. After a tour in Iraq, he moved to the Kansas City area last year, and was a Chinook flight mechanic in the Army Reserve. Then it was on to Afghanistan.
"He died doing exactly what he loved," Hall said.
She says he loved fighting for his country, even into that final mission.
"Alex was a hero," she said.
A current and a former U.S. official said the Americans included 22 SEALs, three Air Force members and a dog handler and his dog. The crash was deadliest single loss for U.S. forces in the decade-long war.
All but two of the SEALs were from SEAL Team 6, the unit that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan last May, officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information. None of the SEALs killed in the crash took part in the bin Laden mission.
Eight Taliban fighters were also killed in the battle, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement.
Alexander Bennett was part of the crew who had rushed to help Army Rangers who had come under fire.
Bennett attended Foss High School and loved cars and the military, a family friend told KOMO News. Jessica Hall said Bennett wanted to make a career of the military.
"I never met somebody that loved to do something as much as he did," Hall said.
She says Alex was always smiling, or joking.
"He was so selfless," she said. "He would give you the shirt off his back, he was a really great guy."
Edward Tuck shared a passion for cars with Alex. So often, the two were found under the hood of a Honda talking about life, and Alex's military ambitions.
"He wanted to be a pilot," Tuck said.
And Bennett was on his way. After a tour in Iraq, he moved to the Kansas City area last year, and was a Chinook flight mechanic in the Army Reserve. Then it was on to Afghanistan.
"He died doing exactly what he loved," Hall said.
She says he loved fighting for his country, even into that final mission.
"Alex was a hero," she said.
A current and a former U.S. official said the Americans included 22 SEALs, three Air Force members and a dog handler and his dog. The crash was deadliest single loss for U.S. forces in the decade-long war.
All but two of the SEALs were from SEAL Team 6, the unit that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan last May, officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information. None of the SEALs killed in the crash took part in the bin Laden mission.
Eight Taliban fighters were also killed in the battle, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement.
