Godspeed & Farewell: CW2 Kyle E. Jackson

After having served four years in the Marine Corps, Kyle Jackson had returned to the civilian lifestyle where he worked as an assistant manager at a local Little Caesar's Pizza. After that, he worked in the construction field where he installed metal roofs and, for a time, worked as a part of the family's cabinet-making business. That all changed September 11, 2001. Kyle decided to rejoin the military in mid-January of 2002. This time however, as an enlisted soldier in the Army. He completed OCS (Officer Candidate School) and moved on to flight school as a Chief Warrant Officer in 2003.

January 13, 2006, changed it all. According to DoD and CENTCOM reports (and a tidbit from Reuters), CW2 Jackson and CW3 Carver were conducting a combat air patrol in conjunction with another OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter. While attempting to provide cover for Iraqi security forces, CW3 Carver and CW2 Jackson's Kiowa came under significant enemy small arms fire. The second Kiowa provided air cover while units from the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team and other Iraqi police responded to the downed helicopter and secured the crash site. The crew members were retrieved.

Both soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y.

The last time Jackson's wife and children saw him was on October 13. They all flew to New York to see him for one day.

Godspeed CW2 Jackson. Thank you for your service, sir.

Crispy


Sources and for more info:
CENTCOM Release: 06-01-10C
DoD Release: No. 040-06
Herald Tribune Article 1, Article 2
Reuters UK

UPDATE: 1900 23JAN2006:

I failed to mention in the original post why I decided to write about CW2 Jackson. He was the first casualty from my home area. His sacrifice struck close to home for me.