US releases names of 30 troops killed in chopper crash

The Pentagon on Thursday released the names of the 30 US troops killed in an attack on a US helicopter in Afghanistan last week, despite earlier objections from the special operations commander.

The secretive US Special Operations Command had argued against identifying most of those aboard the chopper on grounds that the details could potentially put fellow troops and their families at risk, officials said.

But Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in the end rejected the request and approved divulging the names, in keeping with Pentagon practise. Under US law, the names of the SEALs are not classified, unlike those of Central Intelligence Agency officers.

The Defense Department's statement clarified reports about how many Navy SEAL commandos were killed in the crash, saying 17 SEALs had died while five other Navy sailors assigned to the SEAL unit were killed.

Officials had said previously that the dead included 22 of the Navy's elite Sea, Air and Land teams.

The dead included three Air Force special operations forces and the five-man Army crew of the Chinook helicopter.

A total of 38 people died when the CH-47 was shot down in the eastern province of Wardak, including seven Afghan troops and an interpreter.

The attack represented the most deadly incident for US and NATO forces since the war in Afghanistan began in 2001.

The Pentagon's press release did not confirm if any of the SEALs were part of the unit credited with the night raid that killed Osama bin Laden, known as "Team Six" or the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group.

The release only said 15 of the 17 sailors were assigned to an "East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit." Team Six is based in Virginia.

The highly-trained SEALs who died ranged in age from 24 to 44 years old.

Navy ship dedicated to fallen SEAL

Ship named to honor fallen Navy SEAL

 Under clear, blue skies, a ship dedicated to fallen Medal of Honor recipient and Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy was christened Saturday by his mother, Maureen, at Bath Iron Works shipyard in Maine.

"I feel not only Michael's presence, but that ship embodies the spirits of Michael and his teammates said Murphy.

Following tradition, Murphy's mother cracked a bottle of champagne against the hull of the USS Michael Murphy.

"Happy Birthday, son!" Murphy's mom said on what would have been her son's 35th birthday. His life was cut short in the mountains of Afghanistan in 2005.

Dr. Josh Appel, an Air Force Reserve flight surgeon, helped retrieve Murphy's body after a firefight that claimed the lives of 18 other troops, including 2 SEALs from Murphy's team.

Appel called the christening "a symbolic gesture that brings Michael's spirit into the ship."

Murphy's team -- on a mission to go after a Taliban leader -- was ambushed when the troops were outnumbered by Taliban fighters. Murphy was honored for his courage by running into a clearing to call for help despite exposing himself to enemy fire. He was hit with two bullets in his back, but continued to seek help on the call. His final words to his command belied the deadly attack under way: "Thank you," he said.

"We can never repay, but must never ever forget," said Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, in front of more than 2,000 people at the shipyard.

The ship's dedication comes during a week of honors for Navy SEALs. Members of the elite special ops force killed Osama bin Laden during a 38-minute operation early Monday in Pakistan.

"You're going to have good days. You're going to have bad days," Rear Adm. Garry Bonelli told reporters. "What we're trying to do is defend freedom and follow out the president's orders. That's what we're all about."

The destroyer will be moved to a dry dock for several months while workers put the final touches on it. The lettering on the stern of the ship doesn't need any more work. It says, "Michael Murphy," but among its admirers, it's already being called "the Murph."