Navy Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves

Remember Our Heroes

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

Navy Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Reeves was assigned to an East Coast-based SEAL team; died Aug. 6, 2011 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when the CH-47 Chinook helicopter in which he was riding was shot down.

Died with childhood friend in helo crash
Staff and wire reports

Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves and Lt. Cmdr. Jonas Kelsall had been childhood friends in Shreveport, La., where they played soccer together and graduated from Caddo Magnet High School, Kelsall’s father, John, told The Times of Shreveport and KLSA-TV..

Both joined the military after graduation, though the 32-year-old Reeves spent a year at Louisiana State University first, his father, Jim Reeves, told The Times.

Reeves became a SEAL in 1999 and served on SEAL Team 6, his father said.

His decorations include include four Bronze Star Medals with ‘V’ device for valor, Joint Service Commendation Medal with ‘V’ device for valor, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with ‘V’ device for valor, Combat Action Ribbon, two Presidential Unit Citations, three Navy Good Conduct Medals, 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.

John Reeves placed several American flags outside his home and his neighbors joined in, many decorating their homes in red, white and blue in support of the families.

“He was always very gregarious, a star soccer and lacrosse player in high school,” his father, James W. Reeves, said. “It had never been obvious to me that he was going to choose a military career. It is very difficult to make it on these Seal teams. But that was where he knew he needed to be.”

James Reeves also said that his son was an extremely determined man and had “Never Quit” written on his combat helmet.

At a service for Chief Reeves, Navy SEAL Commander Bill Mahoney read a prepared statement from the family. “While we are overcome with grief from Robert’s tragic loss, we will never forget the love he had for his family, friends, the United States Navy and his Navy SEAL brothers. This past week has been the hardest we have ever had to endure. But words cannot express how grateful we are for the outpouring of support from the Shreveport community. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you.”

The tributes paid to Reeves by the men who had served with him recalled his pranks that he would play on them, but he was every step of the way, the brave guy that would step forward and say “Let me do it. I’ll go.”

Navy Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves was killed in action on 8/6/11.