Freedom is not free.  Once again we are reminded of the costs.  According to the Associated Press, an army helicopter crashed during a training exercise.  The helicopter flew out of Eglin Air Force Base.

The helicopter – a UH-60 Black Hawk from the Army National Guard – was reported missing around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, and search-and-rescue crews found debris around 2 a.m., said Andy Bourland, spokesman for Eglin Air Force Base, outside Pensacola.

“At this time all are missing,” Bourland said.

Eleven people were on the helicopter: 4 Marines and 4 Army National Guard.  Names will not be released until their next of kin have been notified.  It should be noted for any social justice warriors that  the missing CHOSE to join the military, chose to do a risky and difficult job and that the risk was a known one.

Local law enforcement agencies vehicles were gathering Wednesday at the crash scene, near a remote swath of beach between Pensacola and Destin. The beach is owned by the military and is used for test missions.

The map below helps show approximately where the helicopter went down.

Base officials said the Marines are part of a Camp Lejeune, North Carolina-based special operations group. The soldiers were from a Hammond, Louisiana-based National Guard unit. Names of those involved were not immediately released, pending notification of next of kin, Bourland said.

In an instant 11 families just had their lives changed. Prayers for the families and friends for strength and comfort no matter what the outcome may be. And please do not make this about some idiotic political cause or some meme.  This is about Marines and Soldiers training to protect and serve.  And about someone doing a difficult and thankless job.  Not about a personal agenda.