The Pentagon released the names of 30 American servicemen who died when the Taliban shot down a Chinook helicopter last Saturday, the largest loss of life in a single day since the war began a decade ago. In addition to 22 Navy SEALs, three Air Force Special Ops members and five Army helicopter crewmen died, most in their 30s. A military dog was also killed. Special Operations Command officials had asked the names not be released for security reasons, but Defense Secretary Leon Panetta decided to go ahead publish their rank, name and hometown. Family members had already confirmed much of the dead, according to The New York Times.
