EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — On September 4, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration unveiled and dedicated a new memorial in honor of 10 foreign-deployed advisory and support team (FAST) members – three DEA special agents and seven U.S. military personnel – whose lives were lost in a helicopter crash in western Afghanistan in 2009.
One of those honored in the display is DEA Special Agent Forrest N. Leamon, who served in the El Paso Field Division starting in 2003.
Following the Taliban’s attack on the United States on September 11, 2001, the DEA formed FAST to combat heroin production in Afghanistan, which was in part funding the activities of this terrorist organization.
In partnership with the DEA’s Kabul Country Office (KCO), U.S. Special Operations Forces, Allied Special Operations Forces, and their counterparts, FAST conducted several operations leading to record-breaking seizures of drugs, chemicals, weapons, and explosive devices.
This team was also responsible for successfully dismantling several heroin production labs, effectively depriving revenue from the Taliban. The most notable FAST missions were:
- Operation Albatross in the Red Desert, which resulted in the seizure and destruction of 286 tons of hashish, and
- Operation Siege Engine, which resulted in the seizure and destruction of 18 tons of opium, 72 tons of poppy seed, 200 kilograms of heroin, 90 kilograms of morphine, precursor chemicals, explosives, and materials to construct improvised explosive devices.
Following a successful joint counter-narcotics mission in western Afghanistan on October 26, 2009, a U.S. military helicopter crashed, killing three DEA special agents and seven U.S. military personnel.
Sixteen years later, and one week before this year’s remembrance of September 11 attacks, DEA hosted family, friends, and colleagues – including members from FAST, KCO, the military and Special Agent Leamon’s family – as well as leadership from the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Defense for an unveiling and dedication ceremony for the DEA Museum’s newest memorial.
The FAST KCO Memorial honors the ten brave heroes lost in that helicopter crash, including DEA Special Agent Forrest N. Leamon (FAST), Special Agent Chad L. Michael (FAST), and Special Agent Michael E. Weston (KCO). Also honored from the 7th Special Forces Group, SFC David E. Metzger and SSG Keith R. Bishop; from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, CW4 Michael P. Montgomery, CW3 Niall D. Lyons, SSG Shawn H. McNabb, SGT Josue E. Hernandez-Chavez, and SGT Nickolas A. Mueller.
Special Agent Leamon’s 15-year-old son joined DEA Administrator Terrance Cole to unveil the memorial in front of the more than 200 guests.
This dedication ceremony held deep personal meaning for Administrator Cole, who proudly served in the Kabul Country Office when it was first established.
The FAST KCO Memorial will be prominently displayed alongside the DEA’s 9/11 Memorial in the lobby of DEA Headquarters.
Included in the memorial are artifacts recovered from the site, which were enshrined in a shadowbox by surviving FAST members, including Special Agent Michael’s MK 48, Special Agent Leamon’s M6, and the U.S. Marine Corps dog tag worn by Special Agent Weston.
In addition, visitors can see a FAST uniform, tactical gear, and other related artifacts.
For those unable to visit the memorial, the history of FAST is available for viewing at DEAMuseum.org.
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