Explosive Ordnance Disposal 1st Class (Diver) Joseph A. McSween, 26, of Valdosta, Ga.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal 1st Class McSween was assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit 11, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.; died April 6 from enemy action while conducting combat operations near Kirkuk, Iraq. Also killed were Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal (Diver) Gregory J. Billiter and Explosive Ordnance Disposal 2nd Class (Diver) Curtis R. Hall.
KETV -- YORK, Neb. -- A 26-year-old Georgia sailor killed Friday in Iraq met his wife at York College, and that's where he'll be buried, according to York College president Wayne Baker, who said he spoke to PFC Joseph McSween's wife.
The Pentagon said McSween and two soldiers were killed in combat near Kirkuk in northern Iraq. Details of how the three were killed were not disclosed. They were specialists in identifying explosive materials and disarming them.
McSween graduated from York College in 2003. Steddon Sikes, of the school's public relations office, said McSween was a likable guy.
"His big smile, mixed with his southern charm, made it easy to be around him," Sikes said.
Friends said McSween's leadership stood out at an early age. Home video shows him helping other kids over a climbing wall.
"He was so friendly," said friend Trent Hinton. "Always had that smile. Everyone remembers and talks about his laugh."
Hinton was on the York College track team with McSween, and said he remembers the day his friend decided to join the Navy.
"One day he just decided he wanted to be part of the military and he started training for it," Hinton said.
Hinton said York College became a life-changing experience for McSween. He met his Iowa-born wife, Erin, there. The couple moved first to San Diego then to Washington.
"They have a lot of friends here, and this is where a lot of their friendships were made," Hinton said of York.
Friends said that before McSween left for Iraq, he told his wife that if anything happened to him he wanted to be buried -- not in his hometown in Georgia -- but instead in York where the couple called home.
"It amazed me," said Baker. "I didn't know Adam had so taken the York campus and community in his mind and heart that he would call it home."
Baker said the whole town is touched by McSween's love for the community.
"The city of York will give him a hometown hero's welcome. There will be flags on every street," Baker said.
McSween leaves behind two daughters, ages 5 and 2.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal 1st Class (Diver) Joseph A. McSween was killed in action on 04/06/07.
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