Another Chinook down in Afghanistan

The news of the Chinook which crashed this morning in Afghanistan woke me from my post-R&R reverie. Although I received an email from the FRG stating that the helicopter was not from my boyfriend’s unit, I was also soothed by the knowledge that he was still in transit returning after mid-tour leave. My relief is someone else’s heartache. I can’t help but feel weepy, because the reality of the dangers of my boyfriend’s job are suddenly shoved in front of my face once again.

In the seven months his unit has been in Afghanistan there have been 5 Chinook crashes: three deadly with no survivors, and two with no serious injuries. In the meantime, I can only remember of hearing of one Chinook crashing in Iraq, a Blackwater Securities Chinook downed by ground fire. Flying conditions in Afghanistan are deadlier for helicopters than Iraq, the high elevation and sudden unforeseeable sand storms are proving deadlier factors than enemy fire.

My thoughts are with the families going through the emotional rollercoaster of casualty notification.