ARLINGTON, Va. - Senior members of the Colorado National Guard recently visited Arlington National Cemetery as a way to pay their respects, and remember, two Soldiers with the Colorado Army National Guard who died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan as part of one of the deadliest days in the history of Operation Enduring Freedom.
The crash, which occurred in August, 2011, after insurgents hit the aircraft with a rocket propelled grenade, took the lives of Chief Warrant Officer 5 Dave Carter, pilot, and Army Staff Sgt. Patrick Hamburger, flight engineer, both members of the Colorado Army Guard as well as19 members of the Navy's Seal Team 6, several Air Force para-rescue jumpers and members of an Afghan special operations team.
Friends and leadership of the Colorado Guard surrounded the grave marker at Arlington that simply read Extortion 17, the call sign of the CH-47 Chinook helicopter, and laid a wreath and other personal mementos at the base of the marker while sharing stories and remembering the fallen.
"We called him "Twitchy" because he was always drinking coffee," said Army Lt. Col. Joshua Day, referring to Carter. "And, as a true American, he changed with the times and went to the energy drink."
Day placed a can of Carter's favorite energy drink and a framed photo of the downed pilot at the marker as a way to remember his friend who he flew with for years.
"He was one of those people who would light up a room," said Day. "You didn't even have to go and speak with him. You'd see him from across the room and his smile would make everything better no matter what you were doing. He was the guy you'd look for both professionally and personally just to say "Hi" and your day always got a little better."
And though it's been close to two years since the crash., the fallen and their families are still in the minds of many.
"There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about (them) and (their) family," said Air Force Maj. Gen. H. Michael Edwards, adjutant general of the Colorado Guard. "(They're) in my prayers every day and I worry about them and I think about them. I know how much we miss (them) and I can only imagine how much they do."
Though despite the sadness, Arlington cemetery proved a fitting location.
"When you die a warrior's death you should be in a warrior's cemetery and Arlington is definitely that," said Army Brig. Gen. Dana Capazzelo, assistant adjutant general for Army with the Colorado National Guard. "I think it's the right and proper area to be honored."