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Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher S. Frost
Died March 4, 2008 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom
24, of Waukesha, Wis.; assigned to 377th Air Base Wing, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.; killed March 4 near Bayji, Iraq, in an Iraqi Army Mi-17 helicopter crash. The circumstances surrounding the crash are under investigation.
Wisconsin airman killed in helicopter crash in Iraq
The Associated Press
WAUKESHA, Wis. — An airman from Wisconsin who was deployed to support security forces in Iraq died along with seven Iraqi air force members in a helicopter crash, military officials said March 5.
Staff Sgt. Christopher S. Frost, 24, of Waukesha, died March 4 near Bayji, Iraq, when the Iraqi army Mi-17 helicopter crashed, the Department of Defense said.
Frost was assigned to the 377th Air Base Wing out of Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. He worked with the base’s public affairs office.
The other seven people on board were members of the Iraqi air force, according to a statement issued by Kirtland. There were no survivors.
The circumstances surrounding the accident remained under investigation, but the statement said the crash occurred in a dust storm.
Frost had been deployed in Iraq since September. His role was to support a command team responsible for organizing and training Iraqi security forces.
A six-year veteran of the Air Force, Frost had been stationed at the Kirtland base since July 2005.
Frost’s grandmother, reached by telephone at home March 5, told The Associated Press it was too early for her to discuss her grandson’s death.
“It’s just too difficult,” Mary Frost said. “It just makes me feel worse than I already do.”
An uncle of Christopher Frost also said the family would have no immediate comment.
Officials at Kirtland said Frost will be missed, and they are planning a memorial service for him.
“Staff Sergeant Frost was motivated by the work he was doing in Iraq. He was excited about the opportunity he had to cover the story of the Iraqi air force,” said Kirtland installation commander Col. Robert Suminbsy.