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- The People Behind The Sacrifice
Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class David J. Warsen
Died August 16, 2012 Serving During Operation Enduring Freedom
27, of Kentwood, Mich.; 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.; Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Patrick D. Feeks, 28, of Edgewater, Md.; Army Sgt. Richard A. Essex, 23, of Kelseyville, Calif.; Army Sgt. Luis A. Oliver Galbreath, 41, of San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Brian D. Hornsby, 37, of Melbourne, Fla.
Bikers escort remains of SEAL dead in Afghanistan
The Associated Press
GAINES TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A parade of motorcycles has provided an escort as thousands of people turned out in western Michigan to greet the arrival of the remains of a Navy SEAL killed in Afghanistan.
Twenty-seven-year-old Petty Officer David J. Warsen of Kentwood was among seven Americans and four Afghans killed in a Black Hawk helicopter crash northeast of Kandahar on Aug. 16.
He was a special warfare operator based in California.
Mlive.com said a plane carrying Warsen's body landed at 12:50 p.m. Monday at Gerald Ford International Airport, and about 150 Patriot Guard riders escorted his hearse to Stroo Funeral Home. It's in Kent County's Gaines Township, near Grand Rapids.
Warsen was an East Kentwood High School graduate. His funeral is at 11 a.m. Thursday at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville. Visitation is 1-7 p.m. Wednesday at the church.
Flags lowered for SEAL killed in Afghanistan crash
The Associated Press
GRANDVILLE, Mich. — Gov. Rick Snyder has ordered U.S. flags lowered in honor of a Navy SEAL who was among 11 people killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan.
The order is in effect for Thursday, the same day as a funeral for 27-year-old Petty Officer David J. Warsen of Kentwood. The service is at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, near Grand Rapids.
Warsen died Aug. 16 along with six other Americans and four Afghans when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed northeast of Kandahar.
Warsen was a special warfare operator based in California. He was an East Kentwood High School graduate.
Navy SEAL killed in Aug. honored in West Michigan
The Associated Press
KENTWOOD, Mich. — A 27-year-old U.S. Navy SEAL who was among 11 people killed in an August helicopter crash in Afghanistan has been honored at a West Michigan hockey game.
Flags lined the sidewalk leading to the Kentwood Ice Arena on Wednesday night as the East Kentwood High School hockey team honored Petty Officer David J. Warsen and all military members.
The East Kentwood High graduate died Aug. 16 along with six other Americans and four Afghans when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed northeast of Kandahar.
Before the game started, MLive.com reports an honor guard was present and East Kentwood High School's Varsity Voices sang the national anthem.
Warsen's family also was presented a plaque. Proceeds from items sold or raffled at the game went to the Warsen Family Foundation.