Defense Department Starts Investiugation Of Helicopter Shot Down

The Defense Department has begun its investigation into last weekend's shoot-down of a helicopter filled with special operations soldiers. General James Mattis, head of U.S. Central Command, has appointed Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Colt, deputy commander of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky., to lead the investigation. Investigators believe the helicopter, which was transporting reinforcements, was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. But they want to know why the troops were called in, and whether the chopper was on a dangerous flight path. Thirty Americans and eight Afghans died. A military dog was also killed.