Navy Master-at-Arms Seaman Apprentice Joshua D. Seitz

Died December 25, 2008 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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19, of Pensacola, Fla.; assigned to Naval Security Force, Naval Support Activity Bahrain; died Dec. 26 in Manama, Bahrain.

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‘Funny’ memories help family cope with loss

The Associated Press

Lt. Commander Silvio Barbosa said Joshua D. Seitz’s family was coping with his loss by remembering the funny times.

“Amongst the tears there is joy because they are telling stories about Joshua, and every story is funny,” Barbosa said.

“He was a comedian if he was at a party, he could turn it around with his humor. He was like Jerry Seinfeld.”

Seitz, 19, of Sinking Springs, Pa., died Dec. 26 of injuries suffered in a crash between a patrol boat he was on and a barge moored in port in Manama, Bahrain. He graduated high school in 2007 and was assigned to Bahrain.

“I played music with him, had classes with him and we talked quite a bit — he was a really cool kid,” Dan Butler said. “He was always happy, really cheerful and very popular. He was friends with everyone.”

Butler also remembers Seitz’s fun side.

“He was a comedian. He always had a quick joke, and he was also a prankster,” said Butler. “But he was very intelligent.”

He is survived by his parents, Lon and Diane.