NEWS

Indiana soldier among 6 dead in Afghanistan crash

Associated Press
@ap
A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter prepares to land April 9, 2013, near the scene of a helicopter crash during a recovery operation in the Pachir Wa Agam district of Nangarhar province.

ELKHART, Ind. – A northern Indiana soldier who was among six U.S. service members killed after a helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan was on his third deployment overseas, his mother said.

Army Staff Sgt. Jesse Lee Williams, 30, of Elkhart, was aboard a Black Hawk transport helicopter with five other soldiers at the time of the crash Tuesday, Debbie Bussard Passerallo said. All six soldiers died in the crash.

The 2003 Elkhart Central High School graduate had joined the military to work on computers and left on Father's Day to go to Germany, his mother told The Elkhart Truth. From there, he was deployed to Afghanistan.

"He was big and strong," Passerallo told the newspaper. "He didn't let things get him down. When he was a friend, he was a friend forever."

He was promoted to staff sergeant about two weeks ago, she said.

"He loved it," said Amanda Caldwell, the mother of Williams' 6-year-old daughter, Madison. "He didn't want to do anything else."

Passerallo and Caldwell said Williams enjoyed spending time with his daughter.

"They would go to the beach; they would go to the zoo; he would take her to the bounce houses; and they would go out to the park," Passerallo said. "He was very active with her."

Two U.S. defense officials speaking on condition of anonymity have told The Associated Press that one person on board the Black Hawk UH-60 was injured and survived.

A statement issued by the NATO international military coalition said the crash was under investigation and that there was no insurgent activity in the area at the time of the crash.

Gov. Mike Pence said Thursday that Hoosiers everywhere are mourning the soldier's loss.

Pence said that "it is with deep sadness" that he learned of Williams' death. He says, "Jesse Lee Williams is an American hero whose service and sacrifice will never be forgotten by the people of this state and nation."

It's not clear yet when Williams' funeral will be held.

Williams was based in Vilseck, Germany.

The Army confirmed Thursday that the soldiers died when their Black Hawk UH-60 went down Tuesday during a mission. One soldier survived the crash.

The five Fort Riley soldiers were identified as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Randy L. Billings, 34, of Heavener, Okla.; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joshua B. Silverman, 35, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Sgt. Peter C. Bohler, 29, of Willow Spring, N.C.; Sgt. 1st Class Omar W. Forde, 28, of Marietta, Ga.; and Spc. Terry K.D. Gordon, 22, of Shubuta, Miss.

"The loss of six U.S. troops in a helicopter crash on Tuesday is a heartbreaking reminder of the sacrifices" the men and women serving in Afghanistan continue to make, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Thursday during a Pentagon press conference that covered a range of issues. "And our thoughts and prayers go out to their families."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.