Fort Campbell holds memorial service for fallen soldiers

Associated Press WriterFORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) -- Eight members of an elite Army special operations regiment who died in a helicopter crash were remembered Tuesday as American heroes who followed their unit's motto: "Night Stalkers don't quit."

"They represented all that was good in life and the tremendous cost of enduring our freedom," Maj. Dean Heithamp, acting commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, said at the morning service.

On a stage, dark green flight helmets with night vision goggles attached sat on top of assault rifles next to black combat boots in honor of each soldier. The soldiers' dog tags were attacked to the rifles. Below, was a portrait of each soldier.

A 21-gun salute followed the ceremony at Fort Campbell.

The 160th, based at Fort Campbell, is an elite group trained to drop special forces commandoes behind enemy lines. The members are trained to operate 30 feet above water using night vision goggles. The 160th is featured in the new film "Black Hawk Down."

The eight soldiers died when their helicopter crashed Friday off Negros island in the southern Philippines. The soldiers were part of a 660-member American force training Philippine soldiers to fight Muslim extremist guerrillas.

Two Air Force para-rescuemen, assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Group based at Kadena Air Base in Japan, also died in the crash.

Three of the bodies have been recovered.

The Night Stalkers lost in the crash were Maj. Curtis D. Feistner, 34; Capt. Bartt D. Owens, 30; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jody L. Egnor, 32; Staff Sgt. James P. Dorrity, 37; Staff Sgt. Kerry W. Frith, 37; Staff Sgt. Bruce A. Rushforth Jr., 35; Sgt. Jeremy D. Foshee, 25; and Spc. Thomas F. Allison, 22.