Army Capt. David E. Van Camp, 29, of Wheeling, W.Va.
Capt. Van Camp was assigned to 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas; died June 29, 2011 in Badrah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with indirect fire. Also killed was Army Spc. Robert G. Tenney Jr.
WHEELING, W.Va. -- Friends of Capt. David Van Camp are remembering him after he was killed earlier this week while serving in Iraq.
Ryan Butler and Matt Davis grew up Van Camp and the three friends attended Wheeling Park High School together. Butler and Davis said they couldn't believe the news when they heard of Van Camp's death.
"It's still shocking to me, The first person I called was Ryan, and I still can't believe it. It is really hard to deal with," said Matt Davis.
Van Camp was a 2000 graduate of Wheeling Park High School and a decorated Army soldier. While serving, he received the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.
Van Camp's friends said they couldn't be more proud of him.
"He died doing something that he loved, something that was worth dying for, (is) what I believe. He is part of the reason why we can do the things we do today," said Butler.
The Department of Defense said that Van Camp and two other soldiers were killed Wednesday when enemy forces attacked their unit with indirect fire in Badrah, Iraq.
Saturday, Van Camp's friends gathered at Patterson baseball field in Elm Grove. They said it is a place that has a lot of memories for them.
"He loved baseball, and it's ironic that it is the Beast of the East weekend, because we know that he would be here watching it with us," said Butler.
Van Camp's body is being returned to the United States. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time. Family and friends told NEWS9 that Van Camp will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia once a funeral is held in the Ohio Valley.
Army Capt. David E. Van Camp was killed in action on 6/29/11.
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