Robert James Reeves – Chief Petty Officer (SEAL), United States Navy

by

U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
News Release

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 705-11
August 11, 2011

DOD Identifies Service Members Killed In CH-47 Crash

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of 30 servicemembers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.  They died August 6, 2011 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when their CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed.

The following sailors assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit were killed:

Lieutenant Commander (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall, 32, of Shreveport, Louisiana

Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis J. Langlais, 44, of Santa Barbara, California

Special Warfare Operator Senior Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Thomas A. Ratzlaff, 34, of Green Forest, Arkansas

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Senior Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Kraig M. Vickers 36, of Kokomo, Hawaii,

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Brian R. Bill, 31, of Stamford, Connecticut

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) John W. Faas, 31, of Minneapolis, Minnesota

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Kevin A. Houston, 35, of West Hyannisport, Massachusetts

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Matthew D. Mason, 37, of Kansas City, Missouri

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Stephen M. Mills, 35, of Fort Worth, Texas,

Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist/Diver) Nicholas H. Null, 30, of Washington, West Virginia

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves, 32, of Shreveport, Louisiana

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Heath M. Robinson, 34, of Detroit, Michigan

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Darrik C. Benson, 28, of Angwin, California

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Parachutist) Christopher G. Campbell, 36, of Jacksonville, North Carolina

Information Systems Technician Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Jared W. Day, 28, of Taylorsville, Utah,

Master-at-Arms Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) John Douangdara, 26, of South Sioux City, Nebraska

Cryptologist Technician (Collection) Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) Michael J. Strange, 25, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) Jon T. Tumilson, 35, of Rockford, Iowa,

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Aaron C. Vaughn, 30, of Stuart, Florida, and

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jason R. Workman, 32, of Blanding, Utah.

The following sailors assigned to a West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit were killed: 

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman, 27, of Ukiah, California, and

Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Nicholas P. Spehar, 24, of Saint Paul, Minnesota

The soldiers killed were: 

Chief Warrant Officer David R. Carter, 47, of Centennial, Colo.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), Aurora, Colorado

Chief Warrant Officer Bryan J. Nichols, 31, of Hays, Kan.  He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kansas

Staff Sgt. Patrick D. Hamburger, 30, of Lincoln, Neb.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), Grand Island, Nebraska

Sgt. Alexander J. Bennett, 24, of Tacoma, Wash.  He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kansas; and

Spc. Spencer C. Duncan, 21, of Olathe, Kan.  He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kansas

The airmen killed were: 

Tech. Sgt. John W. Brown, 33, of Tallahassee, Florida

Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Harvell, 26, of Long Beach, California; and

Tech. Sgt. Daniel L. Zerbe, 28, of York, Pennsylvania

All three airmen were assigned to the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, North Carolina

UPDATE:  August 12, 2011 — Sergeant Hamburger was posthumously promoted to Staff Sergeant.

Robert James Reeves bio
Special Warfare Operator, U.S. Navy
Naval Special Warfare Group TWO

Chief Petty Officer Reeves, 32, was a native of Shreveport, Louisiana. He enlisted in the United States Navy on August, 1998.

He graduated from Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois in November, 1998. Chief Reeves completed Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL School, Coronado California in December, 1999. He served on two West Coast based Special Warfare Units from February, 2000 to April, 2004. He served in two East Coast based Special Warfare Units from February, 2004 to August, 2011.

Chief Reeves’ awards include the Bronze Star Medal with ‘V’ for valor (4), Joint Service Commendation Medal with ‘V’ for valor, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with “V” for valor, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation (2), Navy Good Conduct Medal (3), National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy Expert Rifleman Medal, and Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal.

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana – Robert James Reeves, born August 2, 1979, was killed in action on August 5, 2011 fighting for his country as a United States Navy SEAL. Smart, funny, honorable, loyal, kind and generous, Rob was truly a special force in our lives. We are heartbroken to lose him too soon.

rjreeves-photo-001

Rob will be remembered as a big-hearted son, brother, friend and teammate who would do anything to support those close to him. His steadfast loyalty sent him to the sides of family members and friends at a moment’s notice, regardless of his own priorities. He was a rock of support and could always diffuse a tense situation, usually dissolving a somber room into one full of laughter. Rob’s quick wit, humor and sarcasm will be missed by all those who had the pleasure of laughing, usually at their own expenses, courtesy of Rob.

Rob had a quiet humility that kept him from touting his many achievements and talents (although his proud father usually made up for this). He approached every challenge in life with intense curiosity and an astounding determination to master his next chosen task, which he inevitably did. He had an insatiable appetite for learning new things, gaining the most of all life’s offerings and a genuine interest in making things better. His itch to experience life and continue learning took him around the world learning languages, mountain climbing, starting businesses, base jumping, negotiating, motorcycling, teaching, and flying. And these are just a few of his recent adventures.

For 13 years Rob served admirably in the United States Navy. He served tours of duty all across the world and among his many military commendations he was the recipient of four Bronze Stars. A dedicated soldier, he pursued his life’s work with passion and pride, and he shared that pride with his beloved teammates, family and friends.

Rob is preceded in death by his mother, Jo Sheryn Batliner Reeves, his grandfathers, Robert Vincent Batliner and James Otis Reeves, and his cousin Samuel Wyatt Stoothoff. He is survived by his father, James Weldon Reeves, his sister, Emily Reeves, and his grandmothers, Francis Stallcup Reeves and Jo Nell Batliner.

A memorial service will be held in Shreveport, Louisiana on August 13, 2011 at 11 AM in St. Mark’s Cathedral. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that you consider a donation to the Wounded Warrior (http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/) or the Navy SEAL Foundation (http://www.nswfoundation.org/) to support the families of Rob’s fallen teammates and the Navy SEAL communities.

Chief Reeves was buried at sea and there is an “In Memory of” stone for him in Arlington National Cemetery.

REEVES, ROBERT JAMES  

  • SOCS   US NAVY
  • AFGHANISTAN
  • DATE OF BIRTH: 08/02/1979
  • DATE OF DEATH: 08/06/2011
  • BURIED AT: SECTION MK  SITE 265
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

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