Wash. Soldier Dies In Iraq In Fight Against ISIS

SPOKANE, WA - The soldier who died Monday in a helicopter crash in Iraq has been identified as Chief Warrant Officer Taylor J. Galvin, 34, of Spokane. The helicopter crash happened in Sinjar, a city in northern Iraq near the Syria border.

Galvin's helicopter crash happened late Sunday night while he was on a counter-terrorism mission. The crash was likely not related to enemy fire, according to the Army Times.

Galvin was a member of the special forces Night Stalkers team based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The Night Stalkers is a helicopter support group created in the 1980s after a hostage crisis in Tehran, Iran. Galvin had been deployed nine times in Iraq and Afghanistan. On his most recent deployment, he was supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, which is fighting the Islamic State.

Image courtesy Department of Defense