Plaque

The memorial features an inscribed granite marker dedicated to U.S. Army Sergeant Kenneth Ross, a CH-47 crew member who died in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. The inscription is superimposed on images of two CH-47 helicopters, alongside unit patches from OEF VI.

SGT Ross deployed with A Company, 7th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, 11th Aviation Brigade, V Corps to Afghanistan for OEF VI. A helicopter mechanic volunteering as a CH-47 door gunner on his last mission, SGT Ross was killed when his CH-47 helicopter (#90-00200), callsign MUSTANG 22, was struck by RPG fire and crashed while returning from operations southwest of Deh Chopan in Zabul Province, Afghanistan. This aircraft was the lead aircraft in a flight of seven inserting Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force (CJSOTF) forces for Operation HAZARBUZ to hunt for suspected Taliban fighters in the area.

Other CH-47 MUSTANG 22 aircrew members also killed during this operation included the following personnel from D Company, 113th Aviation Regiment, Nevada and Oregon Army National Guard:

- Pilot - CW3 John Michael Flynn (Nevada Army National Guard)

- Co-Pilot - WO1 Adrian Bovee Stump (Oregon Army National Guard)

- Flight Engineer - SSG Tane Travis Baum (Oregon Army National Guard)

- Crew Member - SGT Patrick Dana Stewart (Nevada Army National Guard)

Sources of information: aviation-safety.net, www.latimes.com

Source of photos: LTC (Ret) Lee Fennema

SOME GAVE ALL

MUSTANG 22

KENNETH GRANT ROSS

BORN 15 OCTOBER 1980

TAKEN 25 SEPTEMBER 2005

"WHAT IS THE WORD OF THE DAY?"