SOC Eric Shellenberger passed away after experiencing an underwater emergency off Bremerton:
During an SDV training dive in the very early morning hours Thursday, Shellenberger encountered difficulties in the water and signaled for an emergency ascent. Upon reaching the surface, he was non-responsive and rescue breathing was administered.
Shellenberger was taken to Keyport pier where regional emergency medical technicians continued rescue efforts. He was then transported to Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Keyport where heroic advanced life saving efforts (including advanced cardiac life support and treatment in the recompression chamber) continued without success.
“This is a heart-wrenching loss for us and, most assuredly, the Shellenberger family,” said Adm. Edward Winters III, commander, Naval Special Warfare Command. “The strength of our small, close-knit community is in our exceptional personnel. Eric was one such individual. He bravely and willingly accepted the risks inherent in training for and carrying out special operations mission. I extend my deepest sympathy to Eric’s family and friends. Please know he will not be forgotten.”
Just 36 years old, and a veteran of seven combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Rising to the challenge of being on of the country’s elite special operators can be hazardous to your health even when nobody’s shooting at you.
Damned shame.
The average citizen has no idea, no concept, no feel whatsoever, for the routine dangers that surround much normal training for combat operations that goes on daily in every branch of the services, let alone for special ops types. But on second thought, perhaps one of the reasons the DoD doesn’t attempt to lionize and publicize these daily small acts of “mini-heroism” and professionalism that such routine tng entails is that they’re afraid that the mother’s of America might not let their sons enlist if they really knew…so perhaps best the public not know quite all the gory details.
As a friend of my cousin cautioned him to be safe as he was entering pilot tng in WWII by saying to be sure to “fly low and slow.” LOL, perhaps some things ARE best left to the imagination, and filed under the heading of “a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing.”
Geez. Bad cycle – two Marine Super-Cobra pilots died in San Diego this week also. Damned sad.
What Virgil X says seems to be right – maybe it’s better the public doesn’t know about exactly what the training entails for a lot of reasons including worried Moms.
All those serving are special and precious to their families and to this country. We all owe them a great debt.
Gieven how little respect the Dems give them, it’s clear at least half the country is not worthy of such men. Too many of the rest just don’t care.
Fair winds and following seas, forever and ever, Chief. Amen.
RIP
Fair winds Chief.
My prayers for all who love him.
Rest in Peace, Eric. Rest in Peace.
RIP, Chief…..See you at the Fidlers Green.
Calm winds
A62 out
R.I.P. to ALL the Brave who had died protecting our freedoms. Thank You! North Penn class of 1992
The following was posted today at the navyseals.com forum dedicated to fallen warriors:
Hello, I was on the rifle team that burried Cheif Shellenberger today and I must say that was the most emotional funeral I have ever been to. Seventy plus SEAL/s showed up today and everyone stamped there trident into his casket, then the SEAL/s lined the road and one called out Eric Shellenberger and without missing a beat all seventy yelled out HOO YAH Eric Shellenberger and everyone there lost it. Being at that funeral today made me even more proud to wear the uniform and also me realize how close the SEAL community is. RIP Chief.