NEW CENTURY — Three Kansas City-area members of the New Century-based Army Reserve helicopter unit were among 30 Americans killed when their Chinook helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan west of Kabul on Saturday. Spencer Duncan of Olathe, Alexander Bennett of Gardner and Bryan Nichols of Kansas City were on the helicopter flying a group of Navy SEAL and Afghan commandos, and an Afghan civilian interpreter to the site of a battle between Taliban and U.S. Army Rangers when it was shot down. It was the worst loss of American lives in the Afghan war.
Monday, Aug. 8, 7 a.m.
