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NATO death toll hits milestone

This undated photo provided Sept. 23, 2010 by the Department of Defense shows U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Jonah D. McClellan, 26, of Battle Ground, Wash. McClellan and four others from the 101st Airborne Divison were killed Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010, in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. (Department Of Defense)
Associated Press
This undated photo provided Sept. 23, 2010 by the Department of Defense shows U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Jonah D. McClellan, 26, of Battle Ground, Wash. McClellan and four others from the 101st Airborne Divison were killed Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010, in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. (Department Of Defense)

Kabul, Afghanistan – Nine NATO soldiers were killed Tuesday in a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan, military officials said, making 2010 the deadliest year for the U.S.-led international force in Afghanistan.

A Clark County, Wash., man said his son, Army Chief Warrant Officer Jonah McClellan, was among the victims of Tuesday’s crash. Rod McClellan told the Columbian newspaper that his 26-year-old son was a Blackhawk helicopter pilot with the 101st Airborne and grew up northeast of Battle Ground, Wash.

Tuesday’s crash raised the toll of NATO troops in Afghanistan so far this year to 529, according to a tally kept by icasualties.org. Last year 521 NATO troops died in Afghanistan.