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Raleigh Man's Brother Among Those Feared Dead In Afghan Helicopter Crash

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Mike Russell
RALEIGH, N.C. — Army staff Sgt. Mike Russell is believed to be among 17 who died on board a U.S. Chinook helicopter that crashed in the Afghan mountains. Russell's brother, Lee, lives in Raleigh.

"I told him to be careful. I told him to be safe and that we're proud of him and we'll see him when he got back," said Lee Russell, Mike's brother.

Lee, himself, understood the risks. He joined the Navy at the age of 19. His younger brother had to wait two years before he could join the Army.

"We'd play war games in the woods when we were kids, and we always liked that stuff," he said. "We were all very proud of him."

The Taliban is claiming responsibility. The chopper was bringing in reinforcements to a group of commandos who called for help and still have not been found.

Mike Russell is survived by his wife and two daughters.

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