Fallen Fort Riley Soldiers To Be Honored

Fort Riley is planning a tribute this week to five soldiers who were killed in Afghanistan a week before Christmas.

According to the Army post, a memorial ceremony for the five soldiers assigned to the 1st Infantry Division’s 1st Combat Aviation Brigade who died in a UH-60 Black Hawk crash Dec. 17 in southern Afghanistan is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday at Fort Riley’s Morris Hill Chapel. The ceremony is an opportunity for fellow Soldiers and Families of the fallen to honor them and recognize their sacrifice.

Those Soldiers to be honored at the memorial ceremony are:

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Randy L. Billings, 34, Oklahoma, of Company B, 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st CAB, 1st Inf. Div., Fort Riley, Kan.

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joshua B. Silverman, 35, Arizona, of Co. B, 3rd AHB, 1st Avn. Regt., 1st CAB, 1st Inf. Div., Fort Riley, Kan.

Sgt. 1st Class Omar W. Forde, 28, Marietta, Ga., of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st CAB, 1st Inf. Div., Fort Riley, Kan.

Sgt. Peter C. Bohler, 29, Willow Spring, N.C., of Co. B, 3rd AHB, 1st Avn. Regt., 1st CAB, 1st Inf. Div., Fort Riley, Kan.

Spc. Terry K.D. Gordon, 22, Shubuta, Miss., of Company E, 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 1st CAB, 1st Inf. Div., Fort Riley, Kan.

Back on December 17th a U.S. Army Black Hawk UH-60 helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan. The crash left six American service members dead. Another person on board was injured, but survived. An official initially said the helicopter had experienced engine failure, but later said it wasn’t clear whether that was the case.