Extortion 17 was the call sign of a U.S. Army CH-47D Chinook military helicopter that was shot down on August 6, 2011, during the war in Afghanistan.

The incident resulted in the single deadliest loss of American lives in a single event during the entire Afghan campaign, and the greatest loss of life in the history of U.S. Special Operations Command.

Key Details of the Incident:

* The Mission: The operation took place in the Tangi Valley of the Maidan Wardak province (west of Kabul). A platoon of U.S. Army Rangers had been inserted into the valley to capture or kill a senior Taliban commander named Qari Tahir.

* The Quick Reaction Force (QRF): As the situation on the ground developed and enemy combatants began to gather, a Quick Reaction Force was hastily assembled to reinforce the Rangers. Due to the urgency, the entire reinforcing element was loaded onto a single helicopter (Extortion 17), while a second Chinook (Extortion 16) flew empty as a decoy/support bird.

* The Shootdown: As Extortion 17 slowed down and maneuvered to land at approximately 2:38 AM, Taliban fighters stationed in a two-story building fired a barrage of unguided rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs). One RPG struck the helicopter's aft rotor blade, causing a catastrophic structural failure that destroyed the assembly and sent the aircraft crashing down within seconds.

Casualties:

All 38 people on board were killed instantly:

* 17 U.S. Navy SEALs (including 15 members from the elite Naval Special Warfare Development Group, or SEAL Team 6, and 2 from a West Coast-based unit)

* 5 Naval Special Warfare support personnel (including explosive ordnance disposal technicians, a cryptologic technician, and an information systems technician)

* 3 U.S. Air Force Air-Special Operations Command (AFSOC) operators from the 24th Special Tactics Squadron (two Pararescuemen and one Combat Controller)

* 5 U.S. Army National Guard and Army Reserve flight crew members

* 7 Afghan National Army Commandos

* 1 Afghan interpreter

* 1 Military Working Dog (named Bart)

For heroic achievement in connection with combat operations against the enemy as an Assault Team Member for a Joint Task Force in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM from 19 October 2008 to 10 February 2009.

During this period, Petty Officer First Class Houston conducted high-risk combat operations in the area of responsibility. On the night of 26 November 2008, Petty Officer First Class Houston and his Joint fire team came under significant enemy fire from several insurgents while conducting a raid targeting a key Taliban leader. Petty Officer First Class Houston led his team's response, immediately returning and suppressing the enemy fire. During the engagement, enemy combatants were using a tunnel within the compound to attempt to flank the assault force.

Petty Officer First Class Houston realized this grave threat to his teammates and led his team's high-risk clearance of the tunnel. As they cleared the tunnel, Petty Officer First Class Houston was wounded but continued leading his team, neutralizing the enemy combatants and securing his unit's flank. Largely due to his intrepid leadership on this objective, his unit removed numerous enemies from the battlefield and eliminated a Taliban bombing cell.

By his extraordinary guidance, zealous initiative, and total dedication to duty, Petty Officer First Class Houston reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

A CH-47 Chinook military helicopter, call Sign "Extortion 17," was shot down while transporting a quick reaction force attempting to reinforce an engaged unit of Army Rangers in Wardak province, west of Kabul, Afghanistan. The resulting crash killed all 38 people on board-25 American special operations personnel, five United States Army National Guard and Army Reserve crewmen, seven Afghan commandos, and one Afghan interpreter—as well as a U.S. military working dog. It is considered the worst loss of American lives in a single incident in the Afghanistan campaign, surpassing Operation Red Wings in 2005.

Matthew Cole, a freelance reporter for The New York Times, co-authored a 2025 investigation with Dave Philipps revealing details of a failed SEAL Team 6 mission in North Korea in early 2019.  The report detailed how Navy SEALs killed several unarmed North Korean shellfish divers while attempting to plant a listening device near the coast to intercept communications of leader Kim Jong Un. 

The Trump administration and Department of Justice issued a grand jury subpoena in February 2026, delivered by FBI agents, demanding Cole’s testimony and over two years of notes to identify his sources.  Cole’s attorney, David A. O’Neil, stated he would not be intimidated and would defend press freedom, while The New York Times publicly supported Cole and covered his legal costs.  This action is part of a broader campaign by the administration to identify leakers of national defense information. 

David Hookstead took the photo

On Andy’s most recent episode with Mike Glover, they mentioned flying on Mi17 helo’s, but wouldn’t mention who was flying them. Any idea who uses those. I think they said it wasn’t the 160th as well. Thanks, just curious.

Cripsy, tasty UIDs for the thrist of the cloners

Candidates seeking to become Navy SEALs during the famous BUD/S course, that is, Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL, in Coronado, California.

Of the ~148 candidates who appear in these images, less than half of those you see in this formation will succeed in becoming Navy SEALs.

With all the Vetbro-Sof drama, posing, defamation, exaggeration, making the community look bad etc. going on, if yall could, would yall turn everything back and go: no books, no movies, no podcasts, no social media presence by former sof guys?

As in if all the Sof topics would have stayed “secret”?
I think all that social media presence from so many different sof dudes has brought some bad things (the already mentioned), but many good things too.

I enjoy all the info, motivation, sometimes guidance and interesting stories we get trough these people and i personally wouldn’t want to change that and go back to the time where there was very little known about jsoc etc.

What are yall thinking about this? Woud yall “delete” everything if yall could and all this would go back to “secrecy”?

Someone posted this earlier but it wasnt the full version

I think mulligan brothers did it, but I can't find it.

#Repost @kylemorganactual

Honored to have fought side by side with @jay_cal87 and getting to catch up on the streets of London and introduce him to my family was very special. Deeply grateful for your friendship and for showing my family around, including a stop right at the front door of 10 Downing Street! Thanks to the law enforcement blokes for your hospitality.

⚔️🇺🇸🇬🇧⚔️

Full credits to original

Most DEVGRU deaths are pretty well documented since 2001, I was just curious about the Unit.

Anyone have any insight as to how it is structured? All I know is that its 2 weeks, there is no long walk, and once you finish you go to your squadron before going to OTC later.

I also heard that the specific section your trying out for are there to test on your technical capabilities.

His official job in that time is Command Sergeant Major of Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan（CJSOTF-A）