Reich, Stephen Charles
Male
Verified Major Stephen Charles Reich, 34, of Savannah, Georgia, was a U.S. Army officer serving with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. He was killed in a helicopter crash during a combat mission near Asadabad, Afghanistan, on June 28,
Their Story
Stephen Charles Reich was born on May 22, 1971, and grew up in Washington, Connecticut. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1993, where he was a standout baseball player, drafted by the Baltimore Orioles. He chose a military career, becoming an Army aviator and rising to the rank of major. He served with the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), known as the "Night Stalkers," based at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia.
On June 28, 2005, Major Reich was the pilot of an MH-47D Chinook helicopter, call name "Turbine 33," on a mission to insert a team of U.S. Navy SEALs in the mountains near Asadabad, Kunar Province. The helicopter was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade while attempting to land in a hostile area. The aircraft crashed, killing all 16 personnel on board: eight SEALs and eight Army aircrew, including Reich.
This incident occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001 following the September 11 attacks. The mission on June 28, 2005, was part of Operation Red Wings, a counter-insurgency effort targeting Taliban and al-Qaeda forces in the mountainous Kunar Province.
The crash of Turbine 33 resulted in the single largest loss of life for U.S. special operations forces in the Afghanistan war up to that date. The incident was widely reported and prompted a significant military investigation. The bodies of the service members were recovered, and a memorial service was held at Bagram Air Base.
Major Reich was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal. He is remembered by his unit and fellow West Point graduates for his leadership and skill. A baseball field at West Point and a sports complex in his hometown of Washington, Connecticut, were named in his honor.
Explore Further
Major Reich was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
