Fallen troops' bodies on way home after crash

KABUL, Afghanistan - International military forces worked on Monday to recover every last piece of a Chinook helicopter that crashed over the weekend, killing 30 American troops, seven Afghan soldiers and an Afghan interpreter, NATO said.

Plans were in place for the fallen U.S. troops' bodies to be flown home to American soil on Tuesday morning aboard a military plane destined for Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

The technical repatriation of the troops' remains was to take place at the U.S. Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan later Monday, a military source tells CBS News.

German Brig. Gen. Carsten Jacobson, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition, told reporters that troops had secured the crash site in a rugged area of eastern Wardak province and nobody was being allowed in or out of the area while the investigation was ongoing.

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Jacobson said the coalition still had not yet determined the exact cause of the crash, but some officials have said the heavy and lumbering transport helicopter was apparently shot down. Officials said the helicopter was hit as it was flying in and approaching the area.

"We are still investigating this incident so we have no picture of what was the cause for the incident. That is what the investigation is basically all about," Jacobson said.

The helicopter was ferrying a group of U.S. Navy SEALs to reinforce a group of U.S. Army Rangers who were under fire. It remains unclear if the Rangers and SEALs were taking part in a night raid to capture or kill an insurgent leader.

It was deadliest single incident for U.S. forces in the decade-long war.

CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports the Chinook was hit by what is believed to have been a rocket propelled grenade after rushing to assist Army Rangers who called for help after hitting the compound of a local Taliban leader.

Of the 30 Americans aboard, Martin reports that 22 were members of the Special Operations Navy Seal Team Six - the same unit that killed Osama bin Laden.

The other eight were Army and Air Force personnel.

U.S. defense officials have not officially released the names of those killed, but Martin reports word has been spreading as the friends and family mourn their losses.

Families of 22 fallen Navy SEALs come forward

Many of the fallen troops were still in their 20s and 30s - some of them with young children.

Martin reports that a change of command ceremony planned for Monday at SEAL headquarters in Miami was to go ahead, but it would take on a distinctly different air from the original plans, becoming a solemn occasion rather than a celebration.

Meanwhile, another NATO helicopter made a hard landing Monday in eastern Paktia province, the U.S.-led coalition said. It did not report any casualties and said the cause of the hard landing was under investigation. The coalition said there was no enemy activity in the area at the time.

The helicopter was a CH-47 of the same type that crashed on Saturday. It was flying in to pick up special operations troops, but apparently suffered a mechanical failure and crash-landed, an officer in the war zone said. He could not be named because he was not authorized to comment publicly. The crew was rescued by the troops.

The fatal crash on Saturday highlights the risks confronting the U.S.-led coalition as it looks to rely more on special operations forces while reducing the overall number of troops in Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

[TERRORALERT]

What do you mean tragedy! It was just a birthday present for planet apes president! That's all! Fells good to flip hamburgers and hip hop atop of good news...makes you feel vibrant and energized....YES , WE CAN...YES , WE CAN...WE WILL WIN IN WAR ON TERROR(30 whities or what are terrorist will never come back alive...thank you lord....oohhhyeahhhh). Visit

ARIZONA = UTOYA = "AFTERLIFE" CASH & $$ FLASH MOB! http://stateofterror.blogs?pot.com/ or http://stateofterror.wordp?ress.com/ <==LEARN TRUTH WHY OUR PEOPLE ARE DYEING OVERSEAS...FOR WHOM

OBAMA = STALIN = BUSH or USA = SOVIET UNION" http://avsecbostjan.blogsp?ot.com/ or http://avsecbostjan.wordpr?ess.com/ or

Idiot whitie is fighting war on terrorism in Afghanistan and who knows where else, just to come home and be pronounced as terrorist(turned in Timothy, jobless, homeless or even worse if it gets any worse at all...YOU SEE, YESSSS WE CAN...YESSS, WE CAN...GABY OPENED HER EYES NOW...THIS IS WAR ON TERROR AND FREE HEALTH CARE AMERICA).

WAKE UP PEOPLE...WAKE UP BEFORE IT GETS ALL TO LATE ON PLANET APES !!! TEARS WON'T DO YOU ANY GOOD AS BUSH STATED..."THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE PAID FOR" !!! God bless you all

[noloyalisti]

I wonder if this was fraticide as happened to Pat Tillman and is being covered up by the military. And remember: Sport the Troops.

[vanwahlgren]

This are our best sailors. They are doing what soldiers usually do. God bless them.

[noloyalisti]

Doing what soldiers do fighting for the profits of giant corporations. Dying for the billionaire masters.

[cindydream]

Now they know EXACTLY how the Iraqi & Afghani Goat Hearders & Fava Bean Farmer's wives feel.....

[brnfream]

They should stop off at WH on their way back to thier loved ones. Mabey Obama and the Congress would like to have some time with them and then ask themselves if the pile of rocks filled with scum and terrorists is worth the price.

[USMC-Mom]

Praying for all the families. God Bless you with His comfort, love and healing. Thank you for sharing your loved ones with us nd for their and your Sacrifice.

[Brokennews]

Rest in peace Gentlemen!!

And thank you!

[jose_z1]

Should the media be posting the names of the Navy Seals and their relatives?
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And if this was the pentagon releasing this information, shame on them too!! They should know better!!
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This is information that the Taliban would love to have..
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.
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[rafaeldrc]

Strange how the press and military always want to put a personal twist to stories they deem tragic. The facts is that soldiers are killers, the same as those they seek to kill. It's all a matter of who kills first and survives.

Afghan mothers grieve as deeply as American mothers and wives when their loved one returns only to be buried.

I'd like to read stories of mothers, wives and children of Taliban soldiers killed protecting their homeland. How do they cope without a bread winner, no insurance or benefits. Their relationship with the fallen becoming just a memory, one that becomes more bitter with time.

As a nation we've done enough damage against our fellow mankind for the rest of the century.

Long live the next superpower and may they be far wiser than we.

[bobw101]

I would have to agree with you, these guys are nothing more than professional killers. Live by the sword die by the sword.

[nfission]

We can no longer afford to be at war. Bring the troops home. The Russians couldn't beat them and neither can we. Get our troops out of the armpit of the world and bring them back to America where they belong.