Fort Riley officials are confirming that five soldiers assigned to the 1st Infantry Division’s 1st Combat Aviation Brigade died in a UH-60 Black Hawk crash Dec. 17 in southern Afghanistan.  The cause of the incident is under investigation.

“We offer our heartfelt condolences to the Families and friends of these ‘Big Red One Soldiers,” Maj. Gen. Paul E. Funk II , 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley commanding general, said. “We stand ready to support them and I urge our community and the nation, while remembering their sacrifices this holiday season, to do the same.”

Those who were killed have been identified as:

–Chief Warrant Officer 2 Randy Billings, 34, Oklahoma, of Company B, 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st CAB, 1st Inf. Division., Fort Riley

–Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joshua B. Silverman, 35, Arizona, of Co. B, 3rd AHB, 1st Avn. Regt., 1st CZAB, 1st Inf. Div., Fort Riley

–Sgt. 1st Class Oar W. Forde, 28, Marietta, Ga., of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st CAB, 1st Inf. Div. , Fort Riley

–Sgt. Peter C. Bohler, 29, Willow Spring, N.C. , of Co. B, 3rd AHB, 1st Avn. Regt., 1st CAB, 1st Inf. Div. , Fort Riley

–Spc, Terry K.D. Gordon, 22, Shubuta, Miss. , of Company E, 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 1st CAB, 1st Inf. Div., Fort Riley.

Also killed was Staff Sgt. Jesse Williams of the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.