(AP) — Families and friends of five Fort Riley soldiers killed in a December helicopter crash in Afghanistan are preparing to pay their respects at a memorial service on the northeast Kansas post.
The soldiers being honored at Thursday’s service were among six killed in the crash. A seventh soldier survived.
The Fort Riley soldiers who died were identified as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Randy L. Billings, of Heavener, Okla.; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joshua B. Silverman, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Sgt. Peter C. Bohler, of Willow Spring, N.C.; Sgt. 1st Class Omar W. Forde, of Marietta, Ga.; and Spc. Terry K.D. Gordon, of Shubuta, Miss.
Also killed was Staff Sgt. Jesse L. Williams, of Elkhart, Ind., who was based in Vilseck, Germany.