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 NEWS
 Guard mourns 7 Soldiers killed in helicopter crash in Iraq By SGT S. Patrick McCollum, U.S. Army
                National Guard Bureau
 ARLINGTON, Va. - Seven members of the Army National Guard lost their lives on Sept. 18 after their CH-47 Chinook crashed near Tallil, Iraq. The incident was the worst U.S. helicopter crash in Iraq since Aug. 22, 2007, when a Blackhawk helicopter crash killed 14 Soldiers, 10 National Guard, in the northern part of the country. The Guardmembers were from Oklahoma and Texas, and all attached to the 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation, 36th Combat Aviation Brigade based in Grand Prairie, Texas. They had arrived in Kuwait on Aug. 24 and were en route in an aerial convoy to Logistics Support Area Anaconda in Balad to join their unit when the incident happened. Oklahoma lost three Guardmembers: Cpl. Michael E. Thompson, 23, of Harrah, Okla.; Chief Warrant Officer Brady J. Rudolf, 37, of Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Sgt. Daniel M. Esbaugh, 43, of Norman, Okla. Texas lost Chief Warrant Officer Corry A. Edwards, 38, of Kennedale, Texas; Sgt. Anthony L. Mason, 37, of Springtown, Texas; First Sgt. Julio C. Ordonez, 54, of San Antonio; and 1st Lt. Robert Vallejo II, 28, of Richland Hills, Texas. Vallejo was posthumously promoted to captain, Edwards was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 2, Mason was promoted to staff sergeant, and Ordonez was promoted to sergeant major. The 149th Aviation is composed of around 200 Texas and Oklahoma National Guard members. The unit is part of the 36th CAB and has around 2,700 members from 44 states with a mission of providing attack capability, moving troops and cargo, giving air support to convoy operations and many other operational support missions. Guardmembers from around the country mourned their loss. "Words cannot express my sorrow at the loss of these fine Citizen-Soldiers," said LTG H Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau. "I respect the sacrifice of all the men and women of the Armed Forces who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. I extend my gratitude and condolences to these Guard families in this time of grief." Adjutants general from the respective states also expressed their grief. "Our hearts, thoughts, prayers and support go out to their families, friends and fellow Soldiers during this difficult time," said Maj. Gen Harry M. Wyatt III, adjutant general of Oklahoma. "As we grieve with so many in our community over this extremely unfortunate news, our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of these Citizen-Soldiers," said Maj. Gen. Charles G. Rodriguez, adjutant general of Texas. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
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