Langlais, Louis James
Male
Verified Senior Chief Petty Officer Louis James Langlais, 44, of Santa Barbara, California, was a U.S. Navy SEAL assigned to Naval Special Warfare Development Group. He was killed in a hostile incident in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, on August 6, 2
Their Story
Senior Chief Petty Officer Louis James Langlais was a highly experienced U.S. Navy SEAL. He was a member of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, commonly known as SEAL Team Six, and had deployed on numerous combat operations during his career, including to Afghanistan, the Philippines, and the Horn of Africa.
Langlais was killed on August 6, 2011, when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter he was aboard was shot down by enemy fire in the Tangi Valley of Wardak Province, Afghanistan. The crash, which occurred during a nighttime mission to reinforce U.S. Army Rangers engaged in a firefight, resulted in the deaths of all 38 people on board, including 30 American service members and 8 Afghan commandos. It was the single deadliest incident for U.S. forces in the Afghanistan war.
The crash took place during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. By 2011, the conflict was characterized by counter-insurgency operations and direct action raids against Taliban and Haqqani network forces in eastern Afghanistan, where Wardak Province is located.
The loss was met with profound grief within the U.S. special operations community. Langlais and the other fallen service members were honored in a dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base. President Barack Obama addressed the nation, stating the crash was a reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices made by the men and women of the military.
Langlais's name is inscribed on the Navy SEAL Memorial at the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida. He is remembered by fellow SEALs as a dedicated and skilled operator who served through multiple combat deployments.
Explore Further
Louis James Langlais 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.
