A Clark County soldier was among the victims of a helicopter crash that killed nine American troops Tuesday in a rugged section of southern Afghanistan.
Army Chief Warrant Officer Jonah McClellan grew up just northeast of Battle Ground. He leaves behind his wife, Nina, and their three small children.
He is the son of Rod and Leona McClellan.
His 26-year-old son was a Black Hawk helicopter pilot with the 101st Airborne, Rod McClellan said.
Jonah McClellan graduated from Battle Ground’s Summit View High School in 2002. He joined the Army in August 2003, his father said.
“He went in so he could learn to fly helicopters,” Rod McClellan said. “He loved it. He went to Afghanistan in March for his second one-year tour.”
According to The Associated Press, the cause of the crash was not immediately clear. NATO said there were no reports of enemy fire in the early morning hours in the Daychopan district of Zabul province, where the crash took place.
A spokesman for the provincial governor said, “The investigation is still going on, but the military told us that the helicopter crashed due to technical problems.”
Most helicopter crashes in the country have been accidents caused by maintenance problems or factors such as dust, according to the AP.
A Taliban spokesman told The Associated Press by telephone that insurgents shot down the helicopter, but the AP noted that the Taliban often exaggerate their claims and sometimes take credit for accidents. Lacking shoulder-fired missiles and other anti-aircraft weapons, the Taliban rely mostly on machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades to fire at aircraft during takeoffs and landings.
The coalition would not disclose the helicopter’s mission. Aircraft are used extensively in Afghanistan by both NATO and the Afghan government forces to transport and supply troops because the terrain is mountainous and roads are few and primitive.
According to Columbian files, McClellan is at least the 20th soldier, Marine or civilian contractor with local ties who have been killed in the war on terror since 2003.
The crash was called the deadliest such incident in four years for coalition forces. According to the AP, at least 524 U.S. and NATO forces have been killed in Afghanistan so far this year, surpassing the 504 killed last year. This year has been the deadliest for international forces since the war began in 2001.
