Operation Iraqi Freedom, Fallen Heroes, Iraq War 03/19/03

Jason Dale Lewis

Brookfield, Connecticut

July 6, 2007

Age Military Rank Unit/Location
30 Navy PO 1st

East Coast-based SEAL team

 Killed as a result of enemy action while conducting combat operations in the vicinity of Baghdad, Iraq.

CHIEF PETTY OFFICER JASON DALE LEWIS
Lewis enlisted in the Navy July 22, 1996, and graduated from Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill., in November. In February 1997, Lewis entered Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training in Coronado, Calif. Following graduation from BUD/S, Lewis completed advanced SEAL training courses including parachute training at Basic Airborne School, Fort Benning, Ga., before being assigned to a West Coast-based SEAL team in October 1997. He reported to the Naval Special Warfare Center, Coronado, Calif., in March 2004, and transferred to an East Coast-based SEAL team in January 2006. Lewis' awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy 'E' ribbon, Good Conduct Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service ribbon, Expert Rifleman Medal and Expert Pistol Shot Medal. Lewis is survived by his wife and three children.
From US Navy navy.mil 07/09/07

Navy SEAL and Two Combat Support Sailors Killed in Iraq
Story Number: NNS070709-08Release Date: 7/9/2007 3:52:00 PM

From Naval Special Warfare Group 2 Public Affairs
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Three Sailors died July 6 as a result of enemy action while conducting combat operations in the vicinity of Baghdad, Iraq.

Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Jason Dale Lewis (SEAL), 30, of Brookfield, Conn.; Cryptologic Technician 1st Class Steven Phillip Daugherty, 28, of Barstow, Calif.; and Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Robert Richard McRill, 42, of Lake Placid, Fla. were killed by an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

"Petty Officers Lewis, Daugherty and McRill were patriots in the truest sense. Our hearts and prayers go out to their families, friends, and teammates during this very difficult time. They had a combined 34 years of dedicated service to our country. Their sacrifices and commitment will live on in each of us as we continue to fight the global war on terrorism," said Capt. Chaz Heron, commander, Naval Special Warfare Group 2. "These Sailors embodied the Navy core values of honor, courage, and commitment, time and again in training and on the battlefield. The Naval Special Warfare family will miss them and will ensure they are never forgotten."

Lewis enlisted in the Navy on July 22, 1996, and graduated from Recruit Training Command at Great Lakes in November. In February 1997, Lewis entered Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training in Coronado, Calif. 

Following graduation from BUD/S, Lewis completed advanced SEAL training courses including parachute training at Basic Airborne School, Fort Benning, Ga., before being assigned to a West Coast-based SEAL team in October 1997. He reported to the Naval Special Warfare Center at Coronado in March 2004 and transferred to an East Coast-based SEAL team in January 2006.

Lewis' awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy "E' ribbon, Good Conduct Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service ribbon, Expert Rifleman Medal and Expert Pistol Shot Medal. 

Lewis is survived by his wife and three children. 

Daugherty enlisted in the Navy on Aug. 9, 1999, and graduated from Recruit Training Command in October. Daugherty attended Naval Intelligence Training, Pensacola, Fla., in 2000, before reporting to USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79). In 2003, he reported to Naval Technical Training Center Detachment, Fort Meade. He served at Naval Security Group Activity in Norfolk from March 2004 to February 2007 before transferring to the Navy Information Operation Command Tactical Communications System Special Warfare.

Daugherty's awards include the Joint Service Achievement Medal, Combat Action ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Navy 'E' ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment ribbon and Good Conduct Medal (2 awards). He was a qualified Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist.

Daugherty is survived by his son and parents.

McRill enlisted in the Navy on March 5, 1991, and graduated from Recruit Training Command in May before reporting to Naval Air Technical Training Center. He then spent three years at Naval Air Station Dallas and reported to the Defense Photo School in Pensacola. McRill was aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) from June to November of 1995, had a brief tour at Visual Support Unit, Oceana, Va., before serving aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), homeported in Norfolk, from November 1996 to January 2002. He reported to another aircraft carrier, USS Eisenhower (CVN 69), also home-ported in Norfolk, where he was promoted to first class petty officer. He was then assigned to Naval Expeditionary Combat Command Detachment, Combat Camera Atlantic from February 2004 to April 2007 when he arrived at Naval Special Warfare Group 2. 

McRill's awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards), Navy 'E' Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal (4 awards), Kosovo Campaign Medal, NATO Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment ribbon (3 awards), Rifleman (Marksman) ribbon and Pistol Shot (Marksman) ribbon. He was a qualified Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist and Enlisted Air Warfare Specialist.

McRill is survived by his wife and three children.

For more information on Naval Special Warfare, visit the web site www.seal.navy.mil.
Funeral services set for sailor killed in Iraq

The Associated Press

BROOKFIELD, Conn. — Funeral services are July 14 for a Brookfield sailor killed last week in Iraq.

Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Dale Lewis, 30, a member of the elite Navy SEAL unit, died July 6 when a homemade bomb detonated under the Humvee in which he was riding, military officials said.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. July 14 at the First Assembly of God Church in Brookfield. Associate pastor the Rev. Mark Cernero, a longtime acquaintance, is expected to take part in the service. Lewis was 4 years old when Cernero first met him.

“He grew up to be an outstanding young man and a real patriot,” Cernero said. “I am very saddened by his departure. How do you replace people like that?”

Burial with full military honors will follow in Center Cemetery, New Milford.

Lewis joined the Navy in 1996 and graduated the following year from basic SEAL training. He was based at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base in Virginia. Lewis lived in Virginia Beach with his wife, Donna, also from Brookfield, and their three children.

On Monday, Gov. M. Jodi Rell, a Brookfield resident, ordered all state and U.S. flags lowered to half-staff.

“He is a hero, not just to us in Brookfield, but to our entire state and our entire country,” Rell said in a statement. “His sacrifice on behalf of all of us will never be forgotten.”

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