User:Harro5/Reich

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Major Steve Reich (May 22, 1971 — June 28, 2005) was a U.S. Army officer who died while flying a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Asadabad, Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Reich attended the United States Military Academy, graduating in 1994. He was a starting pitcher for the Army's Division I baseball team, played for USA Baseball in the 1993 World University Games (he carried the U.S. flag at the opening ceremony), and was believed to have been talented enough to have played Major League Baseball. Graduating West Point required him to serve at least five years on active duty in the Army, all but ruling out a professional baseball career - he had played some games for Baltimore Orioles minor league teams. Reich became a career Army officer, electing to stay in the Army after completing his five years of compulsory service. He rose to the rank of Major, and undertook three tours of duty in Afghanistan in the "Night Stalkers" 160th Special Operations Aviation Unit as a company commander.

On June 28, 2005, Reich was flying a CH-47 Chinook helicopter to deliver special operations forces to fight militants in an Afghan mountain range. The helicopter was shot down by a rocket propelled grenade fired by militants from the ground, killing all 16 soldiers onboard. Reich's hometown of Washington, Connecticut held a commemorative service for him on July 4, and he will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

[edit] Military awards

Major Reich's personal decorations were:

[edit] External links