Army Specialist Brandon D. Gordon

Remember Our Heroes

Army Specialist Brandon D. Gordon, 21, of Naples, Fl.

Spc. Gordon was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Fort Campbell, Ky.; died Feb. 18, 2007 in southeastern Afghanistan when the Chinook helicopter he was in crashed. Also killed were Chief Warrant Officer 3 Hershel D. McCants Jr., Chief Warrant Officer 3 John A. Quinlan, Sgt. Adam A. Wilkinson, Spc. Travis R. Vaughn, Pfc. Ryan C. Garbs, Pfc. Kristofer D. S. Thomas and Air Force Tech. Sgt. Scott E. Duffman.

Army soldier from Naples killed in Afghanistan helicopter crash
Associated Press

A U.S. Army soldier from Naples died in the weekend crash of a military helicopter in Afghanistan, authorities said.

Spc. Brandon D. Gordon, 21, and seven other soldiers died Sunday when the Chinook helicopter they were in crashed after reporting an unexplained loss of power and engine failure in the Shahjoi district of Zabul province in southeastern Afghanistan, according to the Department of Defense.

Gordon, who attended Lely High School for his freshman and sophomore years, was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Fort Campbell, Ky. He joined the Army in October 2003 as a Chinook helicopter repairer, the Department of Defense said in a news release.

The military said the Chinook was carrying 22 U.S. service members when it crashed about 50 yards from the main highway between Kabul and Kandahar.

Fourteen others were wounded in the crash when the helicopter reportedly had a sudden, unexplained loss of power and control before crashing, authorities said.

Gordon completed initial training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina and advanced individual training at Fort Eustis, Va. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment, Camp Humphries, South Korea. He arrived at the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment in May 2005 and completed the regiment’s “Green Platoon” course, an initial selection and training requirement prior to an initial selection and training requirement prior to assignment.

He then went on to serve as a helicopter maintenance team member and crew member, the news release said.

His awards and decorations include the Air Medal for Valor, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Combat Action badge and Aviation Crewmember badge. He was posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

He is survived by his father, Gene Gordon; mother, Terri Gordon; and brothers Bryan, Bradley and Cole, who live in Naples.

Army Specialist Brandon D. Gordon was killed in action on 02/18/07.