CH-47 Chinook Goes Down Claiming 7 Soldiers

The Department of Defense announced today the death of seven soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died Sept. 18 when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter they were in went down in the vicinity of Tallil, Iraq.

Killed were:

Chief Warrant Officer Corry A. Edwards, 38, of Kennedale, Texas, who was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation, 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, Texas Army National Guard, Grand Prairie, Texas.

Sgt. Daniel M. Eshbaugh, 43, of Norman, Okla., who was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation, 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, Oklahoma National Guard, Lexington, Okla.

Sgt. Anthony L. Mason, 37, of Springtown, Texas, who was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation, 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, Texas Army National Guard, Grand Prairie, Texas.

1st Sgt. Julio C. Ordonez, 54, of San Antonio, who was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation, 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, Texas Army National Guard, Grand Prairie, Texas.

Chief Warrant Officer Brady J. Rudolf, 37, of Oklahoma City, who was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation, 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, Oklahoma National Guard, Lexington, Okla.

Cpl. Michael E. Thompson, 23, of Harrah, Okla., who was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation, 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, Oklahoma National Guard, Lexington, Okla.

1st Lt. Robert Vallejo II, 28, of Richland Hills, Texas, who was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation, 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, Texas Army National Guard, Grand Prairie, Texas.

The incident is under investigation.