Update: The Department of Defense has now identified the 6 soldiers who died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan on Dec. 17th.
The victims were:
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Randy L. Billings, 34, of Heavener, Okla.,
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joshua B. Silverman, 35, of Scottsdale, Ariz., and
Sgt. Peter C. Bohler, 29, of Willow Spring, N.C.
They were assigned to the 3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
Sgt. 1st Class Omar W. Forde, 28, of Marietta, Ga., assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
Staff Sgt. Jesse L. Williams, 30, of Elkhart, Ind., assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.
Spc. Terry K. D. Gordon, 22, of Shubuta, Miss., assigned to 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
(CNN) - Six U.S. troops were killed Tuesday in a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan after what appears to be an engine failure, a U.S. defense official said. There was one survivor in the crash.
There was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the crash, according to NATO, and the U.S. defense official said early reports indicate the helicopter's engine failed.
The troops were members of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force.
