Military archbishop remembers ‘valiant’ servicemen killed in helicopter crash

Washington D.C., Aug 9, 2011 / 15:53 pm

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services expressed his “heartfelt condolences” to the family and friends of the “valiant” service members killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan.

“Their death is one more reminder of the terrible tragedy of war and its toll on all people. No person of good will is left unmoved by this loss,” he said in an Aug. 8 statement addressed to the family and friends of the U.S. servicemen and of the Afghani citizens who died.

“As we pray for the repose of their souls and the consolation of their families, we also raise our hearts and minds to Almighty God and beg for the elusive gift of peace on earth and harmony among all people,” Archbishop Broglio said.

Thirty U.S. troops, seven Afghan commandos and an Afghan interpreter died in the Tangi Valley on Aug. 6 when a Taliban insurgent shot down their helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade. Many of the Americans were members of the Navy’s SEAL Team Six, the elite unite that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

None of the SEALs killed in the crash took part in the bin Laden mission, the Associated Press reported.

Archbishop Broglio expressed his condolences on behalf of his archdiocese’s auxiliary bishops, its clergy and the 1.5 million Catholics in the U.S. Armed Forces.