2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, out of Fort Drum, NY
He served in the Gulf War in 1991 and was on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan taking part in Operation Mountain Resolve. He was onboard an MH-53 Pave Low helicopter conducting combat operations for 'Operation Mountain Resolve' when it crashed nine miles east of Bagram Air Base. A compressor problem caused one of the two engines on the Pave Low to stall, leaving it with one engine operating and too much weight to carry in the thin mountain air. The pilots attempted to jettison the auxiliary tanks without success and then the other engine stalled while an emergency landing was being attempted. With all power lost, the helicopter fell from an altitude of about 200 feet onto an uneven river bank, rolled over and burst into flames. Eight people survived the crash. Among his military awards and decorations were two Bronze Star Medals and the Purple Heart.
He was predeceased by his father, Walter R Albert. He was survived by his mother, Germaine Deschaine Albert; three brothers; four sisters; a sister-in-law; three brothers-in-law; two aunts; an uncle; and several nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.
Five of the servicemen killed in the crash are included in the group burial of comingled remains: Maj Steven Plumhoff USAF, SSgt Thomas Walkup Jr USAF, TSgt Howard Walters USAF, TSgt William Kerwood USAF, and SGM Phillip Albert USA. Interment for the group burial was held on January 21, 2004.
Funeral services for his hometown burial were held on Tuesday, December 9, 2003, at Funk Funeral Home, Bristol, CT, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St Ann Catholic Church, and interment with military honors in St Joseph Cemetery, Bristol, CT.
2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, out of Fort Drum, NY
He served in the Gulf War in 1991 and was on his second tour of duty in Afghanistan taking part in Operation Mountain Resolve. He was onboard an MH-53 Pave Low helicopter conducting combat operations for 'Operation Mountain Resolve' when it crashed nine miles east of Bagram Air Base. A compressor problem caused one of the two engines on the Pave Low to stall, leaving it with one engine operating and too much weight to carry in the thin mountain air. The pilots attempted to jettison the auxiliary tanks without success and then the other engine stalled while an emergency landing was being attempted. With all power lost, the helicopter fell from an altitude of about 200 feet onto an uneven river bank, rolled over and burst into flames. Eight people survived the crash. Among his military awards and decorations were two Bronze Star Medals and the Purple Heart.
He was predeceased by his father, Walter R Albert. He was survived by his mother, Germaine Deschaine Albert; three brothers; four sisters; a sister-in-law; three brothers-in-law; two aunts; an uncle; and several nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.
Five of the servicemen killed in the crash are included in the group burial of comingled remains: Maj Steven Plumhoff USAF, SSgt Thomas Walkup Jr USAF, TSgt Howard Walters USAF, TSgt William Kerwood USAF, and SGM Phillip Albert USA. Interment for the group burial was held on January 21, 2004.
Funeral services for his hometown burial were held on Tuesday, December 9, 2003, at Funk Funeral Home, Bristol, CT, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St Ann Catholic Church, and interment with military honors in St Joseph Cemetery, Bristol, CT.