Jewish Soldier Among KIAs in Afghanistan Helicopter Crash

24265189_BG1Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joshua B. Silverman was recently identified as one of the pilots killed in the Blackhawk that went down in southern Afghanistan this past Tuesday. According to reports,Silverman was a graduate of the former Solomon Schechter Day School in St. Louis.

A memorial service is planned for 8 a.m. Friday (Dec. 20) at the Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School (which was the result of a merger in 2012 of Solomon Schechter Day School and Saul Mirowitz Day School-Reform Jewish Academy). Head of School Cheryl Mayaan said flags will fly at half mast in Silverman’s memory and members of the community are welcome to share stories about him.

The crash is still under investigation by the Army, but NBC News is reporting that the helicopter’s seven-man crew came under heavy enemy gunfire and by the time a rescue team was deployed, six of the crew members had been killed, with only one surviving with serious injuries.

I’ve added CWO2 Silverman to our yarzheit list. May his memory be a blessing as well as the memory of ALL lost in this recent tragedy.