On February 22, 2002, an US Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (160 SOAR) MH-47 Chinook crashed while ferrying United States Special Forces and supplies in the Philippines, from Zamboanga City to Basilan Island, killing Master Sergeant William McDaniel II and Staff Sergeant Juan Ridout, both of whom were pararescuemen (PJs) attached to the 320th Special Tactics Squadron (320 STS).The helicopter and crew was supporting United States efforts to train and advise the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the Global War on Terror.
Before McDaniel became a PJ in 1997, he served as an F-117 Nighthawk crew chief during Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. He would later go on to deploy for multiple rotations in support of Operations NORTHERN and SOUTHERN WATCH, and in 2001 earned the 320 STS's Pararecueman of the Year Award.