Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Patrick D. Feeks

Died August 16, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom

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28, of Edgewater, Md.; assigned to a West Coast-based naval special warfare unit; died Aug. 16 in a Black Hawk helicopter crash northeast of Kandahar, Afghanistan. Also killed were Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Suresh N. A. Krause, 29, of Cathedral City, Calif.; Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 1st Class Sean P. Carson, 32, of Des Moines, Wash.; Army Sgt. Richard A. Essex, 23, of Kelseyville, Calif.; Army Sgt. Luis A. Oliver Galbreath, 41, of San Juan, Puerto Rico; Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Brian D. Hornsby, 37, of Melbourne, Fla.; and Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class David J. Warsen, 27, of Kentwood, Mich.

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Navy SEAL from Maryland dies in Afghanistan air crash

The Associated Press

BALTIMORE — A Navy SEAL from Maryland was among those killed last week when a U.S. military helicopter crashed during a firefight with insurgents in a remote area of southern Afghanistan, Pentagon officials said.

Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Patrick D. Feeks of Edgewater was among seven Americans and four Afghans killed in the helicopter crash northeast of Kandahar, Afghanistan, on Thursday.

The 28-year-old Feeks was one of two Navy SEALS to die in the crash; the other was Special Warfare Operator Second Class David J. Warsen of Kentwood, Mich. Both were assigned to a Special Warfare unit in Coronado, Calif.

Capt. Collin P. Green, Naval Special Warfare Group One's commander, praised Feeks and Warsen in a statement as "great warriors, teammates and friends to many of us in the Naval Special Warfare community."

Feeks enlisted in the Navy in 2006, and then completed Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training and advance training. He had served with a West Coast-based SEAL unit since May 2008.

A Navy news release said his awards and decorations include the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He previously served in the Iraqi war.

Surviving are his parents, Thomas and Virginia, and his wife, Emily.

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Navy SEAL to be laid to rest at Arlington

The Associated Press

EDGEWATER, Md. — A Navy SEAL from Maryland who was killed when a U.S. military helicopter crashed during a firefight with insurgents in southern Afghanistan will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Patrick D. Feeks of Edgewater was among seven Americans and four Afghans killed in the helicopter crash northeast of Kandahar, Afghanistan on Aug. 16.

A viewing will be held for the 28-year-old Feeks at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home in Edgewater on Tuesday. A funeral service will be held at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday at Fort Myer Memorial Chapel near Arlington National Cemetery, where Feeks will be laid to rest.

Surviving Feeks are his parents and his wife.

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Flags in Md. at half-staff in honor of Navy SEAL

The Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Flags in Maryland are being flown at half-staff in honor of a Navy SEAL from Edgewater who died in Afghanistan and who will be buried at Arlington.

Flags are being flown at half-staff in honor of Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class Patrick D. Feeks. The 28-year-old will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on Wednesday.

Feeks died Aug. 16 in Afghanistan. He was killed when a U.S. military helicopter crashed during a firefight with insurgents in southern Afghanistan. He was among seven Americans and four Afghans killed in the crash.