A Medford native died along with seven other U.S. military personnel when a Chinook helicopter transporting troops crashed in the predawn hours Sunday in southeastern Afghanistan.
Fourteen others were injured in the crash, which was the deadliest single incident this year for U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan and the first U.S. military helicopter crash involving multiple fatalities since May 2006, The Associated Press reported.
Army Chief Warrant Officer Hershel Daniel McCants Jr., 35, known as J.R. or Danny by friends and family, was among the dead, said his aunt, Sandy Finneran of North Bend. The Army hasn't released the names of those killed in the crash.
Born in Medford, McCants was the Chinook's co-pilot. He joined the Army in Phoenix, Ariz., before finishing high school. He excelled in the military, where he served as a medic, became a pilot and worked with Army Special Forces, family members said.
Although McCants moved away from Medford as a toddler, his extended family, which homesteaded on Evans Creek near Rogue River, has deep roots in Southern Oregon, Finneran said.
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The Chinook helicopter, which had 22 U.S. military personnel on board, reported an unexplained loss of power shortly before it plunged to the ground in Zabul province, which lies between the Afghan capital, Kabul, and the southern city of Kandahar, the AP reported.
The New York Times and international media outlets are reporting that the Taliban has claimed responsibility for shooting down the helicopter, but U.S. military officials are denying the claim.
Finneran said she worried about her nephew's safety when he was flying in helicopters, but he reassured her that even in an emergency, there were ways to set the aircraft down safely.
"He would have done everything to save everyone," she said, noting that the crash had more survivors than dead.
McCants was always prepared for any situation, toting a first-aid kit and ropes on family outings to the Oregon Dunes, she said.
"He was one of those kids that schools don't accommodate very well," Finneran said. "He was very smart, but he didn't like sitting around in school."
He completed his education in the military, winning a general's award in boot camp. He started building bridges with an Army engineering company, but then trained as a medic and served on a Blackhawk helicopter. He ultimately became a pilot and had been on several tours of duty in Afghanistan as part of a special operations aviation regiment based in Fort Campbell, Ky., she said.
His wife, Shannon, 11-year-old son Trevor and baby daughter live in Kentucky. His mother, Goldie Murphy, lives in Mesa, Ariz.
Finneran's daughter, Angela, an English major at Southern Oregon University, recalled how McCants wore his Green Beret uniform to her high school graduation in 2003.
"He didn't have to do that, but he was so proud of me and proud of his country," Angela Finneran said.
Sandy Finneran said McCants regularly reassured worried relatives that life is inherently dangerous, but he was doing important work.
"He said, 'If I don't make it back, know that I was doing what I love. It's my job,' " she recounted.
Reach reporter Anita Burke at 776-4485 or aburke@mailtribune.com.
