After an unusual delay, the Pentagon released the names today of the 30 American servicemen killed Saturday when their Chinook helicopter was apparently hit by a rocket-propelled grenade and crashed in Afghanistan.

It was the deadliest attack on U.S. forces in the decade-long war in the country.

Twenty-five of the Americans killed were special operations forces, and five were Army aircrew members, the Pentagon said. Seven Afghan commandos and an Afghan interpreter also were killed. Also killed was Maui resident Kraig Vickers, a Navy explosives expert.

The release of names, ranks, ages, hometowns and units of those who die or are killed in combat zones is standard practice by the Pentagon.

By law, no casualty information on deceased military may be released to the media or the general public until 24 hours after notifying next of kin. However, many of the deceased service members’ families spoke to media outlets about their losses shortly after the crash. 

According to the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta decided to identify the servicemen after considering security concerns raised by U.S. Special Operations Command.

“Secretary Panetta never intended not to release the names,” the story quoted Pentagon spokesman Marine Corps Col. Dave Lapan as saying. “Due to the unique circumstances surrounding the incident — including the high number of special operations forces who were killed — the secretary of defense decided to honor requests by senior commanders for additional time to fully review the possible implications of the release for the victims and their families.”

Panetta all along intended to release the names of those killed, Lapan said. “It was incumbent upon others to convince him otherwise, and that didn’t happen,” he said.

Today, the Pentagon released the following casualty information:

>> Navy sailors assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit who were killed:

Lt. Cmdr. (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall, 32, of Shreveport, La., 

Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis J. Langlais, 44, of Santa Barbara, Calif., 

Special Warfare Operator Senior Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Thomas A. Ratzlaff, 34, of Green Forest, Ark., 

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Senior Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Kraig M. Vickers 36, of Kokomo, Hawaii,  

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Brian R. Bill, 31, of Stamford, Conn.,

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) John W. Faas, 31, of Minneapolis, Minn., 

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Kevin A. Houston, 35, of West Hyannisport, Mass., 

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Matthew D. Mason, 37, of Kansas City, Mo.,

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Stephen M. Mills, 35, of Fort Worth, Texas, 

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist/Diver) Nicholas H. Null, 30, of Washington, W.Va., 

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves, 32, of Shreveport, La., 

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Heath M. Robinson, 34, of Detroit, Mich., 

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Darrik C. Benson, 28, of Angwin, Calif. 

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Parachutist) Christopher G. Campbell, 36, of Jacksonville, N.C., 

Information Systems Technician Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Jared W. Day, 28, of Taylorsville, Utah, 

Master-at-Arms Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) John Douangdara, 26, of South Sioux City, Neb., 

Cryptologist Technician (Collection) Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) Michael J. Strange, 25, of Philadelphia, Pa., 

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) Jon T. Tumilson, 35, of Rockford, Iowa, 

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Aaron C. Vaughn, 30, of Stuart, Fla., and 

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jason R. Workman, 32, of Blanding, Utah. 

>> The following sailors assigned to a West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit were killed: 

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman, 27, of Ukiah, Calif., and 

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Nicholas P. Spehar, 24, of Saint Paul, Minn. 

>> The Army soldiers killed were: 

Chief Warrant Officer David R. Carter, 47, of Centennial, Colo. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), Aurora, Colo.;

Chief Warrant Officer Bryan J. Nichols, 31, of Hays, Kan. He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kan.; 

Sgt. Patrick D. Hamburger, 30, of Lincoln, Neb. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), Grand Island, Neb.; 

Sgt. Alexander J. Bennett, 24, of Tacoma, Wash. He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kan.; and

Spc. Spencer C. Duncan, 21, of Olathe, Kan. He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kan. 

>> The Air Force airmen killed were: 

Tech. Sgt. John W. Brown, 33, of Tallahassee, Fla.; 

Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Harvell, 26, of Long Beach, Calif.; and 

Tech. Sgt. Daniel L. Zerbe, 28, of York, Pa. 

All three airmen were assigned to the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, N.C.