FORT CARSON, Colo. -- In another grim blow to this hard-hit Army post, military officials confirmed on Friday that four Fort Carson soldiers were among the nine soldiers killed when their helicopter went down in Iraq this week.

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Spc. Michael A. Diraimondo, 22, of Simi Valley, Calif.; Spc. Christopher A. Golby, 26, of Johnstown, Pa.; Chief Warrant Officer Ian D. Manuel, 23, of Florida; Chief Warrant Officer Philip A. Johnson, Jr., 31, of Alabama,; were all assigned to the 571st Medical Company (Air Ambulance) based at Fort Carson, military officials said.

Diraimondo's father, Anthony, said his son was in Iraq since April 12. He joined the Army to train as a medic and planned to work as a paramedic when he left the military, his father said.

"He was at the peak of his life," the elder Diraimondo said Friday. "We was like a sponge with knowledge. He had such a great, great attitude and felt so good about himself. I take some comfort that he died with the highest self-confidence in himself."

Golby's family declined to comment.

The military also identified as victims Sgt. 1st Class Gregory B. Hicks, 35, of Duff, Tenn., and Spc. Nathaniel H. Johnson, 22, of Augusta, Ga. Hicks was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, based at Fort Hood, Texas. Johnson was assigned to Company D (Aviation), 82nd Support Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, N.C.

The Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopter, which was clearly marked with a Red Cross, went down near Fallujah -- a stronghold of anti-American insurgency. Witnesses said a rocket had struck the UH-60 chopper in the tail before it went down --killing everyone aboard.

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News of the crash swept across Fort Carson and nearby Colorado Springs late Thursday, bringing an all-too-familiar fear and anger.

"I don't understand shooting down a medevac helicopter," said Tim Fonseca, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 101 in Colorado Springs and a veteran of conflicts in Korea and Vietnam. "In Vietnam, they didn't play by the rules, but I don't know of one case where they shot down a medevac."

Sgt. Gary Qualls, a public affairs officer, said, "The saddest thing about this is we're pretty close to going home" as part of the looming troop-rotating plan. "They made it this far."

Fort Carson has already lost 38 soldiers since the war in Iraq began last March, including four who died when a Chinook helicopter was shot down near Fallujah on Nov. 2.

One of the survivors of that attack, Staff Sgt. Aurelio Dudley, was among 18 soldiers honored with a Purple Heart or Bronze Star at Fort Carson on Friday. He said he was devastated by the latest news. "It's like a flashback," said Dudley, who almost had to have his right arm removed because wounds from the crash. "I feel for the families. I know what my family went through."

Maj. Jay Jacobs told those at the ceremony, "The Army lost a helicopter yesterday in Iraq. Let us mourn the loss of these great soldiers."

The crash shadowed a memorial held to honor one of Fort Carson's dead. Staff Sgt. Stephen A. Bertolino, 41, of El Cajon, Calif., was killed when his cargo truck came under enemy fire on Nov. 29.

Bertolino, a member of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, was remembered as a loving, cheery man by at least 300 soldiers who jammed inside the Soldiers' Memorial Chapel. Comrades said the aviation mechanic and father of four was serving on a security detail.

"He was volunteering when he died," 1st Lt. Derek Bothern said. "He was an aircraft electrician, not a security guard. ... He died trying to help people."

Bertolino's wife, Susan, has said he always wanted to serve in the military, following in the footsteps of his father and his grandfather. Bertolino, who was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Meritorious Service Medal, was buried last month with full military honors at Oak Hill Memorial Park.

The sprawling Army post has sent 12,000 troops to Iraq, its largest deployment since World War II.

The troop rotation plan announced on Thursday means that 130,000 troops from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, the Army's 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg, N.C., the 1st Armored Division from Germany; the 4th Infantry Division from Fort Hood; and the 101st Airborne Division from Fort Campbell, Ky.; will be sent home. The war-weary soldiers will be replaced with 118,000 troops who will be people better-equipped and better-trained for the next phase of the war effort, including a larger contingent of military police and civil-affairs troops, military officials said.

Additional Resource:

Press Release From Defense Department