SFC Michael L. Russell

28 June 2005, Afghanistan

160th SOAR

A native of Stafford, Virginia, Sergeant First Class Michael L. Russell died 28 June 2005 when his MH-47 Chinook was downed by a rocket propelled grenade near Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

Russell enlisted in the Army as a Heavy Lift Helicopter Repairer in October 1991, and was assigned to Barbers Point, Hawaii. In 1996, he completed Green Platoon and was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia.

SFC Russell was serving as a Flight Engineer in 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, at the time of his death.