NEW BERLIN, IL, US
U. S. Army
SSG, HHC, 6TH BN, 101ST COMBAT AVIATION BDE, FORT CAMPBELL, KY
09/21/2010, QALAT, AFGHANISTANPORT ORCHARD, WA, US
Army Staff Sergeant Joshua David Powell died on September 21, 2010 in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crash in Qalat, Afghanistan while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom as part of the International Security Assistance Force. Joshua was among nine NATO service members and two civilians who were killed or injured during the improvised explosive device attack on their helicopter. Five of the soldiers were assigned to 101st Airborne Division’s 101st Combat Aviation Brigade. The other casualties were U.S. sailors. Staff Sgt. Powell assigned to the 6th Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Joshua Powell was a UH-60 Black Hawk crew chief assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 6th Battalion. The 101st CAB deployed in March to support NATO forces in southern Afghanistan. The crash was the worst in Afghanistan in four years.
Sergeant Powell was from Berlin, Illinois and had been in the Army for eight years. He joined the Illinois Army National Guard in 2003, the same year he graduated from Pleasant Plains High School, where he played varsity soccer for four years. This was his fifth tour of duty, and this time he had volunteered. He was a career military man and the life of the party. He loved teasing all of his nieces, nephews and cousins. He’d talk to anybody, nearly anytime, but didn’t need to be the star of the show. He was not the publicity type. He was there for others and ready to share with them their good and their bad times. Taking care of his own people was a huge priority to him
It was well known that Joshua, or “Bubby J.”, loved his country and loved what he was doing. He had the strong support of friends and family for his military service. That support was kept strong by a bond of family members who lived in three houses right next to each other. When Joshua was home on leave, he’d hunt and fish on their property, just like he did when he was growing up. His family would like to think a part of twenty eight year old Joshua Powell will always be there.