{"product_id":"extortion-17-rucking-tough-exclusive","title":"Extortion 17 Memorial- Rucking Tough Exclusive","description":"\u003ch1\u003eEXTORTION 17 MEMORIAL RUCK\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAugust 6, 2011 — Honoring the Fallen\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\"They Answered the Call.\"\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the early morning hours of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAugust 6, 2011\u003c\/strong\u003e, a U.S. Army CH-47D Chinook helicopter, call sign\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExtortion 17\u003c\/strong\u003e, lifted off into the darkness of Afghanistan's Tangi Valley carrying a quick reaction force supporting Army Rangers engaged in combat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the helicopter slowed to insert the force near the objective, Taliban fighters hidden in nearby buildings launched rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs). One struck the Chinook, causing it to crash. There were no survivors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe loss of Extortion 17 claimed\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e38 lives\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e30 American servicemembers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e7 Afghan Commandos\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 Afghan interpreter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt remains the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003esingle deadliest loss of American personnel in one incident during Operation Enduring Freedom\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003egreatest single loss in the history of U.S. Naval Special Warfare.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile many remember Extortion 17 because members of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU) were aboard, this mission represented every branch of America's Special Operations community working together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Americans aboard included Navy SEALs, explosive ordnance disposal technicians, intelligence specialists, Army aviators, Air Force Combat Controllers, Pararescuemen, and support personnel—each answering the call without hesitation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTheir mission was simple: Protect fellow Americans already engaged with the enemy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey never returned home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy We Ruck\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery mile represents commitment. Every step represents sacrifice. Every drop of sweat reminds us that freedom has always required ordinary men and women willing to do extraordinary things for people they may never meet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis memorial ruck is not about politics. It is not about controversy. It is about remembering 30 Americans, 7 Afghan partners, and one interpreter who boarded a helicopter knowing the risks—and flew anyway.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey answered the call.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMay we never forget their courage, their service, or their sacrifice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNever Forgotten.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExtortion 17\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAugust 6, 2011\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Fallen Americans\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eU.S. Navy\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLt. Cmdr. Jonas B. Kelsall\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMCPO Louis J. Langlais\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSCPO Thomas A. Ratzlaff\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSCPO Kraig M. Vickers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCPO Brian R. Bill\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCPO John W. Faas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCPO Kevin A. Houston\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCPO Matthew D. Mason\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCPO Stephen M. Mills\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCPO Nicholas H. Null\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCPO Robert J. Reeves\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCPO Heath M. Robinson\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePO1 Darrik C. Benson\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePO1 Christopher G. Campbell\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePO1 Jared W. Day\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePO1 John Douangdara\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePO1 Michael J. Strange\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePO1 Jon T. Tumilson\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePO1 Aaron C. Vaughn\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePO1 Jason R. Workman\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePO1 Jesse D. Pittman\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePO2 Nicholas P. Spehar\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eU.S. Army\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCW5 David R. Carter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCW2 Bryan J. Nichols\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSSG Patrick D. Hamburger\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSgt. Alexander J. Bennett\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSPC Spencer C. Duncan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eU.S. Air Force\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTSgt John W. Brown\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSSgt Andrew W. Harvell\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTSgt Daniel L. Zerbe\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlso lost was\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMilitary Working Dog Bart\u003c\/strong\u003e, serving beside his handler, Petty Officer First Class John Douangdara.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rucking Tough","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49337019826403,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0762\/0119\/7795\/files\/patch-extortion-17.jpg?v=1782853594","url":"https:\/\/ruckingtough.com\/products\/extortion-17-rucking-tough-exclusive","provider":"Rucking Tough","version":"1.0","type":"link"}