Navy SEAL Jason D. Lewis, a Brookfield native and special
warfare operator first class, was killed in combat July 6, 2007 in Baghdad. He
was 30 years old, and left a wife and three children in Virginia.
A 30-year-old Navy SEAL who was a Brookfield native was killed Friday by an
improvised explosive device during a combat mission in Baghdad, military
officials confirmed on Saturday.
Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Jason D. Lewis was one of three sailors
killed by the bomb. Naval officials would not release any more details on how or
where Lewis was killed or what the sailors were doing when the bomb exploded,
citing security concerns
Lewis is survived by his wife, Donna, and three children who
live in Virginia Beach, Va. Donna Lewis is also from Brookfield.
A woman who answered the phone at the Brookfield home of Donna Lewis' parents,
John and Doris Tyransky, Saturday evening said the family was referring all
questions to the Navy and would not have a comment on the death.
Lewis is the 40th active duty service member with ties to Connecticut to have
been killed in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001. He is the second from Brookfield
to die in Iraq. Marine Lance Cpl. John T. Schmidt III, 21, died in March 2005
from injuries suffered during a firefight near Fallujah.
The other sailors killed on the mission with Lewis Friday were Steven P.
Daugherty, 28, of California and Robert R. McRill, 42, of Florida.
``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,'' 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 February 1997, Lewis entered Basic Underwater
Demolition/SEAL training in Coronado, Calif.
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.
It was unclear if this was his first tour of duty in Iraq.
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.
Contact Dave Altimari at daltimari@courant.com.