Air Force Captain From Ventura County Among Those Killed in Military Plane Crash in Afghanistan

The transport plane carrying Jonathan J. Golden, 33, of Camarillo went down 80 miles east of Kabul on Friday.

An air force captain from Ventura County was identified as one of 13 killed in Afghanistan when a transport plane went down, according to a statement released by the United States Department of Defense.

The transport plane carrying Jonathan J. Golden, 33, of Camarillo went down 80 miles east of Kabul on Friday.

Golden's brother, Jeff Golden, described his little brother as "the backbone of the family."

Jeff Golden was last in contact with his brother on Sept. 25, the one year anniversary of Jeff Golden's wife's death, when his brother texted him to check-in.

"I'm just gonna miss my little brother," he said. "I'm gonna miss those selfless text messages. I'm gonna miss him being such a humble person."

The five other U.S. soldiers killed in the crash were Capt. Jordan B. Pierson, 28, of Abilene, Texas; Staff Sgt. Ryan D. Hammond, 26, of Moundsville, West Virginia; Senior Airman Quinn L. Johnson-Harris, 21, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Senior Airman Nathan C. Sartain, 29, of Pensacola, Florida; and Airman 1st Class Kacey E. Ruiz, 21, of McDonough, Georgia.

Five civilian contractors, who were passengers, and two Afghan civilians were also killed.

The cause of the crash was under investigation.

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