Trump pays respects to two killed in Afghanistan

(22 Nov 2019) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus127152



US President Donald Trump paid respects Thursday to a pair of Army officers who were killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan earlier this week.

The president and first lady Melania Trump, along with several senior aides, travelled to Delaware to meet with the families of Chief Warrant Officer 2 David C. Knadle, 33, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kirk T. Fuchigami Jr., 25, as they received the fallen soldiers’ remains.

Trump and the first lady were among a group of dignitaries, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley and National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien, who attended the roughly 12-minute ceremony and watched as six white-gloved members of the Army’s Old Guard carefully handled the flag-draped transfer cases holding the soldiers.

Trump and Milley saluted the soldiers, while the first lady and O’Brien stood with their hands over their hearts for the dignified transfer of remains.

Trump has said the responsibility of receiving the remains of fallen U.S. soldiers is “the toughest thing I have to do” as president.

Knadle, of Tarrant, Texas, and Fuchigami Jr., of Keaau, Hawaii, died Wednesday when their helicopter crashed as they provided security for troops on the ground in Logar Province in eastern Afghanistan.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for shooting down the helicopter, but the U.S. military has dismissed that as a false claim. The crash remains under investigation.

The crash brought the number of US deaths in Afghanistan this year to 19.

There also have been three non-combat deaths this year. More than 2,400 Americans have died in the nearly 18-year war.



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