Virginia Tech graduate killed in Afghanistan helicopter crash

A Virginia Tech graduate was one of four Americans killed Monday in the collision of two helicopters in Afghanistan.

U.S. Marine Capt. David Seth Mitchell, 30, was the fourth member of Tech’s Corps of Cadets Class of 2001 to die since graduation and the eighth former Tech student killed while in military service since 2003.

Mitchell, of Loveland, Ohio, was among 14 Americans killed in separate helicopter crashes Monday, the deadliest day for the U.S. in Afghanistan in more than four years.

The Tech Corps of Cadets Regiment held a moment of silence for Mitchell at formation Tuesday morning. Later, the Marine Raiders Company placed a memorial wreath at the Virginia Tech War Memorial in Mitchell’s honor.

Mitchell, a native of Charlotte, N.C., graduated from Tech with a degree in English. He was assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367, based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.

In an e-mail to Tech, Maj. Christopher M. Chown, a 1996 alumnus, said that Mitchell was one of six Hokies in the unit, whose tail letters are Victor Tango, or VT.

The three other 2001 Corps of Cadets alumni who have died in military service are Army Lt. Jeffrey J. Kaylor and Army Lt. Timothy E. Price, who were killed in Iraq; and Navy Lt. Nick Brantley, whose helicopter went down off the North Carolina coast during night training operations.

Army Spc. Nicholas C. Mason, who would have graduated in 2006, was killed in 2004 while on a military leave of absence from Tech.

Other Tech alumni who have died in action are Army Staff Sgt. Nathaniel J. Nyren, Marine Cpl. Christopher L. Weaver and Army Staff Sgt. Jesse Clowers.