Ayala, David
Male
Verified Chief Warrant Officer David Ayala, 24, of New York, New York, was a U.S. Army Reserve soldier killed in action on April 6, 2005, in Ghazni, Afghanistan.
Their Story
Chief Warrant Officer David Ayala was a 24-year-old soldier from New York City. He served with Company F, 1st Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, part of Task Force Wings under Combined Joint Task Force-76. His unit was based in Giebelstadt, Germany, and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
On April 6, 2005, Ayala was killed when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed near Ghazni, Afghanistan. According to U.S. military reports, the helicopter went down in poor weather conditions. The crash also killed the other 15 U.S. service members and three U.S. government contractors on board. The Department of Defense stated there was no indication of hostile fire.
Ayala's death occurred during a period of escalating violence in Afghanistan. By 2005, insurgent forces had regrouped, and the use of improvised explosive devices was increasing. U.S. and coalition forces were engaged in extensive counter-insurgency and reconstruction operations across the country's eastern and southern provinces.
Ayala was posthumously promoted from Warrant Officer to Chief Warrant Officer. He was survived by his mother and other family members in New York. A memorial service was held in his honor.
He is memorialized on the Afghanistan War Memorial at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City. His name is also inscribed on Panel 9E, Line 112 of the Afghanistan Campaign Memorial at the National Infantry Museum in Georgia.
Explore Further
David Ayala was killed during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001?2014). The conflict concluded in December 2014. See the full roster of those killed in this conflict.
Among those documented in the same conflict: Andrews, Evander Earl, Edmunds, Jonn Joseph, Stonesifer, Kristofor Tif, Davis, Bryant Leroy.
