At the top of the June 11 column was an item on the death of four airmen in an HH-60G rescue helicopter crash in southeastern Afghanistan. Killed in the June 9 crash were: 1st Lt. Joel C. Gentz, 25, of Grass Lake, Mich., assigned to the 58th Rescue Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev.; TSgt. Michael P. Flores, 31, of San Antonio, 48th RQS, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.; SSgt. David C. Smith, 26, of Eight Mile, Ala., 66th RQS, Nellis; and SrA. Benjamin D. White, 24, of Erwin, Tenn., 48th RQS, Davis-Monthan. Gentz and White were on their first combat deployments, while Flores and Smith had previously served in the war theater, the Las Vegas Sun reported June 10, citing Nellis officials. Three additional airmen assigned to the 66th RQS were injured in the crash. (See Arizona Daily Star report and Detroit Free Press report.)
President Donald Trump signed legislation reopening the federal government late Nov. 12, ending the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The move sets the stage for tens of thousands of defense civilians to return to work and guarantees troops will be paid in a few days’ time.
