Family recalls local sailor killed in Iraq

'He loved the Navy. He loved everything about it,' mother says


By AARON AUPPERLEE, staff writer    July 9, 2007 - 5:37PM
BARSTOW — His 10-year high school reunion was next month, and his mother, Lydia, said he was considering coming home from Iraq for it.

Tragically, Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Phillip Daugherty, 28, will not make it back. Daugherty and two other sailors, Petty Officer 1st Class Jason Dale Lewis, a SEAL, 30, of Brookfield, Conn., and Petty Officer 1st Class Robert Richard McRill, 42, of Lake Placid, Fla., were killed on Friday by an improvised explosive device in Baghdad, according to a recently released Naval report.

All three were assigned to the Naval Special Warfare Group Two, a Virginia Beach, Va.-based Navy SEAL group. It was Daugherty’s second tour of duty in Iraq.

Daugherty graduated from Barstow High School in 1997. When he earned student of the month honors in June, 1997, he had a 3.5 grade-point average and told the Desert Dispatch he planned to attend Barstow Community College for two years and then enter the Air Force. After making the honor role at BCC and graduating in 1999 with an associates in liberal studies, Daugherty enlisted in the Navy.

“He wanted to see the world and he did,” Lydia said. “He loved the Navy. He loved everything about it. He was just proud to do his job.”

Daugherty traveled to ports in the Persian Gulf, the Mediterranean Sea and in Europe during his service on the USS Oscar Austin, Lydia said. In 2004, he transferred to Norfolk, Va., and in 2007 began working with elite Navy SEAL teams as a cryptologic technician. Lt. David Luckett, a spokesman for Naval Special Warfare Group Two, said Daugherty provided critical intelligence support to troops on the ground in Iraq. He said SEAL teams conduct several combat missions every week against foreign insurgents, and sailors like Daugherty worked side-by-side with them.

“They truly are enablers,” Luckett said of combat support sailors like Daugherty and McRill. Due to the sensitivity of Daugherty’s work, Luckett could not reveal exactly what sort of intelligence support he provided.

Daugherty’s commander, Capt. Chaz Heron, called the three sailors “patriots in the truest sense,” in the report.

Lydia said Daugherty enjoyed serving with the SEALs, and he was highly respected by his fellow sailors. Daugherty’s three siblings, all currently enlisted or former military, also spoke highly of their brother.

“I couldn’t be more proud of him,” sister Kristine said. “He was courageous and committed to what he did.”

Kristine served in the Army from October 1994 to July 2002. Daugherty’s two brothers, Richard and Robert, are both in the Air Force. Richard is a staff sergeant, and Robert is a captain.
Daugherty is survived by his parents, Tom and Lydia, his three siblings, and his 5-year-old son. Lydia declined to provide Daugherty’s son’s name.

His awards include the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Combat Action ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Navy ‘E’ ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment ribbon and Good Conduct Medal.

Lydia said he will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. She asked that the Desert Dispatch not publish a photograph of her son.

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4123 or aaron_aupperlee@link.freedom.com
http://www.desertdispatch.com/news/daugherty_972___article.html/lydia_navy.html


Navy SEAL & Two Combat Support Sailors Killed in Iraq

Navy SEAL and Two Combat Support Sailors Killed in Iraq

 

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - 

Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Jason D. Lewis (SEAL), 30, of Brookfield, Conn.; Cryptologic Technician 1st Class Steven P. Daugherty, 28, of Barstow, Calif.; and Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Robert R. McRill, 42, of Lake Placid, Fla. were killed by an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Baghdad July 6, 2007.

 

"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 Two. "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 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 BasicAirborneSchool, Fort Benning, Ga., before being assigned to a West Coast-based SEAL team in October 1997. He reported to the NavalSpecialWarfareCenter, 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. 

 

Daugherty enlisted in the Navy Aug. 9, 1999, and graduated from Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill., 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, FortMeade. He served at Naval Security Group Activity, Norfolk, Va., 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 March 5, 1991, and graduated from Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill., in May before reporting to NavalAirTechnicalTrainingCenter. He then spent three years at Naval Air Station Dallas, and reported to the DefensePhotoSchool in Pensacola, Fla. 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), home-ported in Norfolk, Va., 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 Two. 

 

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.

 

All media queries regarding this incident should be directed to the Naval Special Warfare Group Two Public Affairs Officer Lt. David Luckett, office: 757-462-2282,  cell: 757-620-3109. For more information on Naval Special Warfare visit the website: www.seal.navy.mil.

 

-- NSWG2 --

 


California Governor Schwarzenegger Issues Statement on Death of Barstow Sailor: Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Phillip Daugherty

Wed, 07/11/2007 - 11:06 —

07/10/2007 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today released the following statement regarding the death of Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Phillip Daugherty, of Barstow, CA:

“Maria and I want to convey our sympathy to the family of Petty Officer First Class Steven Daugherty during this difficult time. Steven answered the call of military service and his commitment to his country and his fellow servicemen and women will not be forgotten. Our prayers go out to his family and friends.”

Daugherty, 28, died July 6 as a result of enemy action while conducting combat operations in Baghdad, Iraq. Daugherty was assigned to the currently deployed east coast-base Navy SEAL Team, Norfolk, VA.

In honor of Petty Officer 1st Class Daugherty, Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff.

Source: California Governor
http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/48726747_california_california_governor_schwarzenegger_issues_statement_death_barstow_sailor_petty_o