Top Pentagon Officials Condole Gen Rawat’s Death; Know What They Said

New Delhi: Top Pentagon officials — Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin III, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen Mark Milley and Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby — have condoled the tragic death of India’s first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat in an IAF chopper crash.

Lloyd J Austin III, Secretary of Defense

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Rawat family and the families of the other victims of the crash. We are deeply saddened by this loss.”

“I and the Department extend our deepest condolences to the Rawat family, the Indian military, and the people of India after the tragic passing of Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash.”

“General Rawat left an indelible mark on the course of the US-India defense partnership and was at the center of the Indian Armed Forces’ transformation into a more jointly integrated warfighting organization.”

Gen Mark Milley, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of General Bipin Rawat, the Indian Chief of Defence Staff, his wife, and eleven others who died in a tragic helicopter crash. As India’s first chief of defence, he made a lasting impact on the Indian military and reinforced our strong military-to-military relationship between the US and India.”

“Hollyanne (Gen Milley’s wife) and I spent time with Gen Rawat and his wife, Dr Madhulika Rawat, during their visit to the US in September. We feel this loss deeply, we are thankful to have met them, and we feel grateful for their life of service.”

John Kirby, Pentagon Press Secretary

“Our deepest condolences to the Rawat family, the Indian military, and the people of India after the tragic death of Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash… and the families of the other victims of the crash.”

(All pictures from Twitter)