Navy Lt. Cmdr. Edward E. Jack

Died January 29, 2005 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom

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51, of Detroit; assigned to Commander, Destroyer Squadron 7, homeported in San Diego; died Jan. 29 of a non-combat-related incident aboard the amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard.

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Heart attack fells chaplain at sea

By Gidget Fuentes

Times staff writer

SAN DIEGO — Just weeks after participating in the Navy’s tsunami relief efforts in Indonesia, Lt. Cmdr. Edward E. Jack and the crew of the assault ship Bonhomme Richard were heading to their next mission in the Persian Gulf.

But a heart attack felled Jack, 51, a Navy chaplain assigned to the San Diego-based Destroyer Squadron 7, according to his family.

“His role was in comforting the sailors and Marines,” his wife, Jean Jack, told The Detroit News.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Murphy Canyon Chapel, which is located at 3200 Santo Road in San Diego.

“Chaplain Jack exemplified an unwavering commitment to Scripture and to service to the men and women of the sea services,” said Cmdr. Mark Steiner, a Lutheran chaplain with Amphibious Group 3 in San Diego and a longtime friend of Jack’s. “He will be dearly missed.”

In addition to his wife, Jack is survived by a daughter, Amanda Roggow; a son, Todd Jack; his mother, Barbara Jack; and two brothers and one sister.

The Bonhomme Richard is leading Expeditionary Strike Group 5, a San Diego-based force that includes the transport dock Duluth, dock landing ship Rushmore, cruiser Bunker Hill, guided-missile destroyer Milius and frigate Thach, and the embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Pendleton, Calif.