David M. Tapper

Rank: Petty Officer First Class, U.S. Navy (SEAL)

Unit: Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Hometown: Atco, New Jersey

Born: August 16, 1971

Died: August 20, 2003, Killed in Action, Paktika Province, Afghanistan

Awards: Purple Heart, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation

Petty Officer First Class David M. Tapper was born on August 16, 1971, in the Atco section of Waterford Township, Camden County. He graduated from Edgewood Regional High School (now Winslow Township High School) in 1989 and enlisted in the Navy that November with the intention of becoming a SEAL. He graduated from SEAL training in San Diego in 1991 and spent 12 of his 13 years in the Navy as a SEAL. He was stationed at the Naval Amphibious Base in Little Creek, Virginia Beach. Tapper participated in the April 2003 rescue of wounded POW Jessica Lynch in Iraq, then helped recover the bodies of nine American soldiers buried near the Iraqi hospital where she was held. After returning from Iraq, he was sent to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He died on August 20, 2003, after his convoy encountered enemy forces near Orgun in Paktika Province, in eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border. He was 32 years old. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Tracey; their four children, Raimen, Vanessa, Talia and Jared; his mother, Judith, and her husband George Youngkin; his father, Ken, and his wife Dot; and sisters Judi Dowell, Ruth Berwick, Brenda Banes and Diana Hicks.

Navy SEAL David Tapper dies after attack in Afghanistan

A Navy SEAL originally from Waterford was killed in action in Afghanistan on Wednesday, the Defense Department confirmed.

David M. Tapper, 32, a Navy photographer’s mate first class petty officer, was wounded Wednesday after his convoy encountered enemy forces near Orgun, in Paktika Province in eastern Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border. The Navy commando died later that day at a hospital at Bagram Air Base near Kabul, Navy spokesman Lt. John Perkins said.

He leaves behind his wife, two sons and two daughters.

Tapper enlisted in November 1989 after graduating from Edgewood Regional High School in Atco. He graduated from SEAL training in San Diego in 1991. A man answering the phone at Tapper’s Virginia Beach, Va., residence Thursday evening declined to comment. “He joined the Navy with the intention of becoming a Navy SEAL,” said his sister, Ruth Fleming.

Tapper, a 13-year Navy SEAL veteran, was stationed at the Naval Amphibious Base in Little Creek, in Virginia Beach. He was in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Tapper received several awards and decorations, including the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and Meritorious Unit Commendation.

The Department of Defense announced today that Petty Officer First Class David M. Tapper, 32, of Camden County, New Jersey, died of wounds received in action August 20, 2003 in Afghanistan.

Often called upon to conduct the most harrowing missions, Tapper took part in the April rescue of wounded POW Jessica Lynch, then helped recover the bodies of nine American soldiers buried near the Iraqi hospital where she was held, according to friends and the Tapper family.

After serving in Iraq for two months, Tapper, a father of four, returned to Camden County for a visit during a six-week leave in early summer. Tapper, who had spent most of his 13-year naval career as a SEAL, was reluctant to return to the war zone. “He said it was too soon,” said a sister, who spoke for the family. “He wanted to stay with his children and spend more time with his family in Atco.”

But duty called again last month, this time sending him to Afghanistan, where an increasingly overlooked and vastly dangerous mission to rout the Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorists grinds on.

Tapper, 32, died there Wednesday while conducting combat operations in a lawless province near the Pakistani border — an area where the military believes the terrorists are operating. Friends here said Tapper was shot in the back during an ambush. He died later at a hospital at Bagram Air Base, the Navy said.

“David fought a good fight and accomplished his mission in life,” said the sister, who asked not to be identified by name. “We know that he is in Heaven and it was the Lord’s will to take him there.”

Tapper’s wife and four children live in Virginia Beach, Va., where his unit was stationed, but he has a large family in the Atco area, where he grew up and graduated from Edgewood High School in 1989.

The youngest of six children — and the only boy — Tapper was extremely close with his mother, Judi, an agent for Weichert Realtors, friends said. One sister died when she was young, they said.

“We grew up with him protecting his mother and sisters,” one sister said. “Then he grew up to protect his country.”

Services will be held for him in Atco and at Arlington National Cemetery, said the Rev. Joe Beggs, pastor of Atco United Presbyterian Church. Tapper grew up attending the Atco church. “He said he and everyone in his team could feel the prayers protecting them,” Beggs said. “He’s been an amazing hero for us.”

Tapper enlisted in the Navy after high school, in November 1989, with the intention of making the highly competitive SEAL teams, friends said. He graduated from SEAL training in San Diego in 1991. He met his wife, Tracy, in California. The couple had two boys and two girls, ages 3, 5, 8 and 11.

Tapper turned 32 on August 16, 2003, four days before the death that has left his family reeling.

“We got to spend quality time with him when he was home. He came down one weekend and then he surprised us and came down a second weekend,” the sister said. “He was a loving and dedicated father. He lived for his children and his wife.”

David M. Tapper, 32, an Atco native and Navy SEAL killed last week during a combat mission in Afghanistan, will be buried tomorrow with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

A memorial service is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. September 5 in the auditorium of Winslow Township High School, which was Edgewood High School when Mr. Tapper graduated in 1989. His family will receive visitors there starting at 6:30 p.m.

The Navy has planned a private memorial service for Mr. Tapper today at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he was stationed.

The husband and father of four died Aug. 20 after he was shot near Orgun in Paktika province. He was conducting combat operations in the lawless province, Navy officials said. He died at a hospital at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. His family said he had been shot in the back during an ambush.

Mr. Tapper, a high school wrestler, joined the Navy shortly after graduation. In 1991, he completed SEAL training in San Diego and spent 12 of his 13 years in the military with the SEALs, a special forces arm of the Navy.

He was listed as a photographer’s mate first class petty officer. He had received numerous awards and commendations, including the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

Mr. Tapper served in Afghanistan shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, and spent two months this year fighting in Iraq. Mr. Tapper took part in the rescue of wounded American POW Jessica Lynch from an Iraqi hospital, then helped recover the bodies of nine U.S. soldiers buried there, they said.

Mr. Tapper is survived by his wife, Tracey; their children, Raimen, Vanessa, Talia and Jared; his mother, Judith, and her husband, George Youngkin; his father, Ken, and his wife, Dot; grandparents Pete and Edith Claypoole; and sisters Judi Dowell, Ruth Berwick, Brenda Banes and Diana Hicks.

Donations to a fund for Mr. Tapper’s wife and children can be made to Atco United Presbyterian Church, 2259 Atco Ave., Atco, N.J. 08004. Checks should be made payable to the church, but marked for the Tapper Memorial Fund in the memo portion.