Navy Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Louis Langlais

Died August 6, 2011 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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44, of Santa Barbara, Calif.; assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team; died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter in which he was riding was shot down.

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Senior Chief Special Warefare Operator (SEAL) Louis J. Langlais, 44, of Santa Barbara, Calif., enlisted in June 1986, the Navy said.

After graduating Recruit Training Command at San Diego, California in September, 1986, Langlais was assigned from 1986 to 1989 to the now-decommissioned frigate Wadsworth.

He graduated from Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training at Coronado, Calif., in October 1989, when he reported to his West Coast-based SEAL team. He was a member of the Navy Parachute Team from 1997 to 2000. He joined his East Coast-based SEAL team in 2000.

Langlais’ decorations include four Bronze Stars with Combat ‘V’ device for valor; two Joint Service Commendation Medals, one with Combat ‘V’ device for valor; three Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals; three Combat Action Ribbons; Presidential Unit Citation; seven Good Conduct Medals; National Defense Service Medal; two Southwest Asia Service Medals; three Afghanistan Campaign Medals; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; seven Sea Service Deployment Ribbons; Rifle Marksmanship Medal and Pistol Marksmanship Medal.