Russell, Michael Lynn
Male
Verified Sgt. 1st Class Michael Lynn Russell, 31, of Stafford, Virginia, was a U.S. Army soldier assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. He was killed in a helicopter crash during a combat mission in Asadaba
Their Story
Sgt. 1st Class Michael Lynn Russell was a flight engineer with the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, known as the 'Night Stalkers,' based at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. The unit specializes in flying helicopters for high-risk missions under the most demanding conditions. Russell's service included deployments to Afghanistan, the Philippines, and the Horn of Africa as part of the broader U.S. counterterrorism efforts following the September 11 attacks.
On June 28, 2005, Russell was aboard an MH-47D Chinook helicopter on a mission in the mountainous terrain near Asadabad in Kunar province, eastern Afghanistan. The area was a known focal point for insurgent activity. According to U.S. military reports, the helicopter was engaged by hostile fire during the operation.
The aircraft crashed, killing all eight U.S. service members on board. The Department of Defense stated the cause was enemy action. The incident represented one of the deadliest for U.S. forces in Afghanistan that year and occurred during a period of intensified combat operations in the region.
Russell was 31 years old at the time of his death. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. His death was recorded among the 2,356 American service members who died during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led mission in Afghanistan that began in October 2001.
The conflict in which he served, Operation Enduring Freedom, concluded in December 2014, though U.S. military involvement in Afghanistan continued under different mission names. Russell is memorialized at Arlington National Cemetery and by his regiment, which honors its fallen aviators.
Explore Further
Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S. military campaign in Afghanistan, concluded in December 2014 after 13 years. 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.
