See how you can watch the full episode of “For the Record” here.
--
August 6, 2011 marked one of the most tragic days in the United States war in Afghanistan. On that day, the Taliban shot down a Chinook helicopter in Afghanistan’s Wardak Province, killing 30 American soldiers, including 17 members of the elite Navy SEAL Team Six -- the same unit that killed Osama bin Laden just three months before.
It was the largest loss of American life in a single day since the war began.
Brian Bill, John Douangdara, Kevin Houston, Jonas Kelsall, Jon Tumilson, Michael Strange, Stephen M. Mills and Jason Workman, members of SEAL Team 6, were among the 30 Americans killed when an RPG fired by Taliban insurgents downed their Chinook helicopter on August 6, 2011. (Photo via U.S. News)
On Thursday at 8:00 ET, TheBlaze TV's investigative program For The Record takes an "unflinching" look at how tactical errors and potential military mismanagement of special forces operations factored into the tragedy.
"Could it have been prevented?" host Laurie Dhue asks at the show's open. "Or with the strict rules of engagement and restrictions put on U.S. combat personnel -- was an incident like this bound to happen?"
One of the questions asked: why had there been a more than 600% increase in Special Forces missions between August 2009 and August 2011, when the number of men in their ranks can only increase by a few percent each year? What are the ramifications?
Lieutenant General Jerry Boykin, former commanding general of U.S. Army Special Forces and head of Joint Special Operations Command, is one of the experts to weigh in on the issues surrounding the tragedy.
Amid the investigation, viewers will hear from the victims’ families as the extraordinary character of the fallen heroes is celebrated.
The loved ones of Aaron Vaughn and John Douangdara, respectively, speak about the upbringing that led their brave relatives to the life they chose, whether it was a life on the farm or fleeing Laos as refugees and "embracing the American dream" in the United States.
They also speak about the last time they saw their loved ones, and what questions remain.
See a preview of the episode, titled "Fallen Angel":
The full episode of For the Record, along with many other live streaming shows and thousands of hours of on-demand content, is available on just about any digital device. Get it all with a FREE TRIAL.
–
[related]
