Troops Give their Lives on Memorial Day

Two International Security Assistance Force [ISAF] troops were killed in one of two helicopter crashes Monday in eastern Afghanistan, officials said. 

The first helicopter crash, during a routine operation, did not result in any fatalities, said ISAF spokesman Capt. Justin Brockhoff. Two died in the second crash.

Zabiullah Mujahid [Taliban spokesman] said in an e-mail that the two helicopters in question were shot down and 36 soldiers died, but ISAF said there were no reports of enemy activity in the area where the crashes occurred.

A third ISAF service member also died Monday in an insurgent attack in southern Afghanistan.  No further details were released on the attack or the crashes other than after the first crash, those on board the chopper were taken to a NATO facility for evaluation.

The crash did not harm civilians or damage property, ISAF said.