PO1 David M. Tapper grew up in Atco, NJ, with his mother, father and five sisters. According to his mom, Judith, David was the protector of the household and an adventurous spirit. He loved sports, SCUBA diving with his mom in the Caribbean and sky diving. He was independent, organized, athletic and well-liked by his classmates and wrestling teammates at Edgewoood High School where he graduated. David, who always dreamed of becoming a SEAL, joined the Navy right out of high school in 1989. Selected for BUDS training, David went to Coronado after boot camp before serving with SEAL Team Three and SEAL team Six. He was deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, before he was KIA during his final tour in Afghanistan. “Since he was 14, David wanted to become a Navy SEAL,” said his mom. “His dreams were fulfilled.” David is remembered by his wife, Tracy, his four children, Ramin, Vanessa, Talia and Jared, his mom, Judith, his father, Kenneth and his sisters Judi, Ruth, Brenda, and Diana. His sister, Joyce, is deceased.
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BU2 Miguel A. Ortiz "Mikey" entered the Navy and joined the Seabees in Aug 2004 as a Builder and made deployments to Okinawa, Japan, Iraq and his final deployment was to Romania and Bulgaria. He and his friends made the best of their deployments by engaging with local villagers both young and old. What his friends told me about Mikey after he passed away in Jul '08 was that Mikey always had a smile on his face no matter what. He was always willing to help his friends out. Mikey was living life to its fullest by making the best of the adventures he went on with his friends and family. He wasn't afraid to try new things, snowboarding, skating, dirt biking, 4 wheeling, etc. His friends shared so many pictures of their adventures and so grateful they captured so many amazing memories together. Mikey never met a stranger; he was so kind to everyone. His laugh was contagious. He is missed.
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Johnathan K. Goffred was born in Virginia Beach, VA, and grew up in both Virginia and Kentucky. He attended Greenwood High School before joining the Marines in 2002. As a boy, Johnathan wanted to be a police officer. Johnathan’s mother recalls flying kites and having treasure hunts with her son on Kill Devil Hills and Ocracoke Island in the Outer Banks. He loved the water and enjoyed boogie boarding and surfing and also loved to play the guitar. He is remembered by his mother Angelique Goffred Martin and his stepfather Vernon Martin Jr.
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LTJG Alfred H. Suhr began his tour on February 15, 1969, in Dinh Tuong Province, South Vietnam. He was willing to fly for the Seawolves to support his military family and because of his deep love of flying. He was the son of Emma and Alfred Suhr, immigrants who raised their family on a large farm in Missouri with his sister, Wilma Anne. He married Carolyn R. Kearley on December 31, 1966, and became the father of twin daughters, Christine and Kimberley, on May 15, 1968. Known for his giving nature, kindness, and zest for life, LTJG Suhr lived each day to the fullest. He is sorely missed and forever loved.
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LT Valerie Cappelaere Delaney served as an EA-6B Prowler pilot in Electronic Attack Squadron 129 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, WA. She was a 2009 graduate of the Naval Academy who majored in Aerospace Engineering. She was instrumental in Navy Women’s Lacrosse rising from a club sport to an NCAA Division I competitive team.
Valerie began her flight training at NAS Pensacola, FL, then at NAS Corpus Christi, TX, where she flew the T-34C Turbo-Mentor. She continued on to NAS Meridian, MS, flying the T-45 Goshawk. Val earned her Wings of Gold in February of 2012, becoming a Navy jet pilot! She married fellow USNA classmate and Navy Growler pilot, Sean Delaney. They made their home in Anacortes, WA, where they enjoyed the outdoors.
Valerie was conducting a low-level flight training mission in eastern Washington state, when the jet she was piloting crashed, leaving no survivors. She was just 26 years old. Val is remembered as a person of great integrity, strong faith, and an unyielding compassion for all those she met. She faced all challenges with enthusiasm and her motto, Adapt and Overcome!
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Joseph Clark Schwedler, known by his family and friends as Clark or often “Clarkie,” was killed near Fallujah, Iraq on April 6, 2007. Clark grew up in Crystal Falls, a small town in Michigan's rural Upper Peninsula. He was the oldest son of C. Joseph and Susan Schwedler and beloved brother of Tom and sister Kate. He is missed greatly by his parents, siblings, tight-knit extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins, and the many friends he made during his life in Crystal Falls, while at school at Michigan State University, and while serving in the Navy. Schwedler graduated from Forest Park High School in 1997. He then spent a year working and skiing in Telluride, Colorado before heading to college at Michigan State University. Inspired by the events of 9/11, Schwedler enlisted in the Navy in March 2002 and graduated from BUDS training with Class 246 in 2003. He was then assigned to SEAL Team Four in Virginia Beach and was deployed to Iraq twice where he participated in over 100 combat missions. Schwedler’s military honors include the Bronze Star Medal with "V" for Valor, the Purple Heart, and Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with "V" for Valor. Clark was a natural leader who always looked for opportunities to be kind, build community, and to help others do their best. His memory lives on in the hearts of all those who knew him.
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