O'steen, Mark Steven

Mark Steven O'steen was a 43-year-old Chief Warrant Officer 3 from Ozark, Alabama. He served in Company D, 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The 160th SOAR, known as the 'Night Stalkers,' provides helicopter aviation support for special operations forces.

On January 30, 2003, O'steen died in Bagram, Afghanistan. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, he was killed when the MH-60L Black Hawk helicopter he was piloting crashed during a training mission. The crash occurred in clear weather, and an investigation reportedly found no evidence of hostile fire.

O'steen's death occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan that began in October 2001. By early 2003, major combat operations against the Taliban government had concluded, but U.S. and coalition forces remained engaged in security and counter-insurgency missions across the country.

O'steen was one of four soldiers killed in the crash. The other service members were identified as Chief Warrant Officer 3 John D. Smith, Staff Sergeant Paul M. Heltzel, and Sergeant Michael L. Tosto. The Department of Defense announced the casualties on February 1, 2003.

O'steen's name is inscribed on the Afghanistan Campaign Memorial at Fort Campbell and on the Memorial Wall at the U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command headquarters. He is also listed on the Afghanistan War casualty roster maintained by the Defense Casualty Analysis System.

Mark O'steen 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.

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