Three American soldiers were killed in afghanistan on the last few days of August which was the deadliest month yet for American forces in Afghanistan, resulting with 69 soldiers killed include a local Marine. The number tops July 2010, which was previously the deadliest single month for the U.S. military since the September 11 ,2001 terrorist attacks and subsequent invasion of Afghanistan. The death toll includes LCpl Travis M. Nelson, a local marine who died August 18 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Survived by his family in Bratt, Nelson was laid to rest last Friday in Atmore. Almost half of the deaths came August 6 as a Chinook helicopter was shot down, killing 30 American soldiers, many of which were elite Navy SEALS.