R.I.P. Staff Sgt. Keith R. Bishop

Name: Army Staff Sgt. Keith R. Bishop

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Age: 28

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From: Medford, N.Y.

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Assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C..

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Incident: Army Staff Sgt. Keith R. Bishop died Oct. 26 of wounds suffered when the MH-47 helicopter he was aboard crashed in Darreh-ye Bum, Afghanistan. Also killed were Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael P. Montgomery, Sgt. 1st Class David E. Metzger, Staff Sgt. Keith R. Bishop, Chief Warrant Officer Niall Lyons, Staff Sgt. Shawn H. McNabb, Sgt. Josue E. Hernandez Chavez and Sgt. Nickolas A. Mueller.

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Died: October 26, 2009

(Taken from www.wavy.com) NORTH CAROLINA - Staff Sgt. Keith R. Bishop, 28, died on Oct. 26, when the helicopter he was aboard crashed while conducting a combat mission in the Afghan city of Darreh-Ye Bum, Afghanistan while serving with Company B, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).

He deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom July 2009 as a member of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan. This was his second deployment in support of the War on Terror.

Bishop a native of Medford, N.Y., enlisted into the U.S. Army in April 2003 as an Infantryman. He was assigned to 1st Bn., 506th Infantry Regiment, Camp Grieves, Korea. He later served with 1st Bn., 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division before deciding to pursue the goal of becoming a Special Forces Soldier in 2007 by attending the Special Forces Selection and Assessment. He completed the Special Forces Qualification Course Oct. 2008 and earned the coveted "Green Beret" as a Special Forces weapons sergeant. He was then assigned to 3rd Bn., 7th SFG (A).

Bishop's military education includes the Warrior Leader’s Course, Basic NCO Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course, Basic Airborne Course, Air Assault Course and Special Forces Qualification Course.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal for Valor, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Air Assault Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Special Forces Tab.

Bishop is survived by his wife Margaret of Flager Beach, Fla. and parents Robert and Suzan Bishop, of Carlisle Penn.