Remembering fallen service members

link U.S. Air Force photo: Staff Sgt. Alexxis Pons Abascal

Members from 26th Special Tactics Squadron race to push sleighs across the fitness center track Aug. 6 at Cannon Air Force Base. The Air Commandos were memorializing the sacrifices of those who lost their lives aboard Extortion 17 during a Monster Mash organized by an airman in the squadron.

Members from 26th Special Tactics Squadron memorialized the sacrifices of those who lost their lives aboard Extortion 17 on Aug. 6 during a Monster Mash.

The event coincided with the third anniversary of U.S. Boeing CH-47 Chinook, call sign Extortion 17, being shot down by enemy fire during troop transportation of Army Rangers in the Wardak province of Afghanistan on Aug. 6, 2011.

The crashed claimed the lives of 39 people — 17 members of the elite Navy SEALS, five Naval Special Warfare personnel in support of the SEALS, three Air Force Special Operations Command troops, an Army helicopter crew of five, seven Afghan commandos and one Afghan interpreter, as well as a military working dog. The event has been considered one of the worst single-loss casualties in military life during the Afghanistan campaign.

The Monster Mash consisted of a ruck march, sled sprint, swim relay, tire flips and several other physically demanding tasks that left many 26 STS members short of breath, but full of pride.

“Today we gather to pay tribute to our fallen brothers in arms,” stated a member of the 26 STS. “We remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice; we will honor the sacrifice they made in blood with our sweat.”