Joseph C. Schwedler

Petty Officer Second Class, United States Navy

May 1, 1979 – April 6, 2007
Age – 27
Crystal Falls, MI

Operation Iraqi Freedom
Navy Seal Team Four Virginia Beach, VA

Killed while conducting combat operations in the Al Anbar Province, Iraq

Petty Officer 2nd Class Joseph C. Schwedler of Crystal Falls, Mich., graduated from Forest Park High School in 1997 and attended Michigan State University before becoming a Navy SEAL. He joined the Navy in 2002.

After basic training at the Great Lakes Naval Station, he completed his training in San Diego and was assigned to SEAL Team FOUR in Virginia Beach, Va. He was a dedicated member of the SEALs and reenlisted in the Navy while in Iraq during his first tour of duty there in 2005. He returned to Iraq in October 2006 and had been scheduled to return to the U.S. later this month.

Joseph participated in many high school activities, including football, basketball, and track. He was active in student council and served as senior class president. While at Michigan State, Schwedler was a member of the rowing team. He was an avid outdoors man who enjoyed hunting, skiing and camping.. His SEAL Team was deployed to Iraq in late 2006. His awards and decorations include the Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment ribbon.