SSG Bruce A. Rushforth, Jr.

22 February 2002, Philippines

160th SOAR

A Massachusetts native, Staff Sergeant Bruce A. Rushforth, Jr. was killed on 22 February 2002 in an MH-47 helicopter crash at sea, near Mindanao, in the Southern Philippines.

Rushforth enlisted in the Army in 1990 as an Observation-Scout Helicopter Crew Chief. After completing training, he joined the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California. In 1993, he served in 2nd Squadron, 1st Aviation Regiment, Katterbach, Germany. After completing Green Platoon in 1996, he was assigned as a Section Chief to 2nd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

SSG Rushforth joined Company E, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Republic of Korea, as a Flight Engineer in 2001, and was supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM-PHILIPPINES at the time of his death.