Dorrity, James Paul
Male
Verified U.S. Army Staff Sergeant James Paul Dorrity, 37, of Aurora, Colorado, was a member of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. He was killed in action on February 22, 2002, near Basilan Island, Philippines.
Their Story
Staff Sergeant James Paul Dorrity was a 37-year-old soldier from Aurora, Colorado, serving in the U.S. Army's elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). The unit, known as the 'Night Stalkers,' provides helicopter aviation support for special operations forces. Dorrity had deployed to multiple theaters, including Afghanistan, the Philippines, and the Horn of Africa, as part of his service.
On February 22, 2002, Dorrity was killed when the MH-47E Chinook helicopter he was aboard crashed into the Sulu Sea near Basilan Island in the southern Philippines. The helicopter was on a routine training mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom ? Philippines. According to U.S. military reports, the crash occurred at night in poor weather conditions. All ten U.S. service members on board were killed.
The crash occurred during the early phase of Operation Enduring Freedom ? Philippines, a distinct theater of the broader U.S.-led counterterrorism campaign. The mission, which began in 2002, involved U.S. military advisors assisting Philippine armed forces in combating the Abu Sayyaf Group, an Islamist militant organization with ties to al-Qaeda. The operation focused primarily on the southern islands of the Philippines.
The deaths of the ten soldiers marked the single largest loss of U.S. life in the Philippines since the Vietnam War era. The U.S. Department of Defense identified all personnel, and their remains were recovered. The incident was widely reported, highlighting the risks of the advisory mission in a complex, non-permissive environment.
Staff Sergeant Dorrity's name is inscribed on the Global War on Terrorism Memorial at the National Infantry Museum in Columbus, Georgia. He is remembered by his unit and community as a soldier who served in some of the most demanding aviation missions undertaken by the U.S. military.
Explore Further
Staff Sergeant Dorrity 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.
