Marine Cpl. Aaron L. Seal

Remember Our Heroes

Marine Cpl. Aaron L. Seal, 23, of Elkhart, Ind.

Died Oct. 1 while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve's 6th Engineer Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, Sound Bend, Ind.

Aaron L. Seal, 23, of Elkhart, passed away on Sunday, October 1, 2006, in Iraq while serving his country in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Aaron was born on November 8, 1982, in Elkhart to David L. and Lori (Seal) Dunn.

Aaron is survived by his parents, David and Lori Dunn of Elkhart; his girlfriend, Krystal Snyder of Elkhart; two sisters, Valerie Seal and Natasha Seal of Elkhart; and four nieces, Breanna, Kayla, Madison, Leia. Also surviving, his paternal grandfather, Elwood Dunn of Elkhart and paternal grandparents, Glenn and Patricia Sharp of Osceola.

Aaron graduated from Elkhart Memorial High School, class of 2001. He was a Marine Reservist for 3½ years in Company B of South Bend. He enjoyed spending time outdoors and hunting and fishing with his father. Growing up, he enjoyed playing baseball at Cleveland Little League. He always made time for family and friends. He was a leader at everything he did and always gave 110%. Aaron always thought of the other person and what he could do for them. He was proud to serve his country. He will be remembered and loved by all who knew him.

Cpl. Aaron Seal, 23, of Elkhart, was killed Sunday while serving with a South Bend-based Marine Reserve engineering company.

Seal, a 2001 graduate of Elkhart Memorial High School, deployed for Iraq a month ago, said Maj. Celeste Ross, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Marine Reserves.

Relatives and friends were stunned by the news but recalled Seal's warm personality.

"He was a great guy. He would do anything for anybody," said Krystal Snyder, Seal's girlfriend, who was mourning Monday with family members at the home of Seal's parents. "He always put himself second."

Seal worked in production at LaGrange's Dutch Housing and enlisted about three years ago. He was the first death in the unit, which recently began a seven-month tour.

Snyder said Seal was eager to serve in Iraq.

"I think after being in for three years, he was a little upset he hadn't gone yet," she said. "He told me, 'I didn't sign up for one weekend a month and two weeks a year. I signed up there to get out there and do it.' "

Marine Cpl. Aaron L. Seal was killed in action on 10/01/06.