Jason Richard Freiwald

Special Operator Chief, Navy Seal, United States Navy

December 20, 1977 – September 11, 2008
Age – 30
Armada, MI

Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom
Naval Special Warfare Development Group, Dam Neck, VA

Died from injuries sustained during a battle with heavily armed militants

Jason Freiwald was temporarily forward deployed from his assignment at Naval Special Warfare Development Group, Dam Neck, Virginia.

Jason Freiwald was born Dec. 20, 1977 in Utica, Michigan. He was a 1996 graduate of Armada High School, the married father of one daughter, and when he died, one brother was a Navy SEAL, another training to become one and a third who was in college. He enlisted in the Navy on April 25, 1996 and reported to Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill., on November 5, 1996. After completing basic training he graduated from the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center, Dam Neck, Va., before reporting to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training at Coronado, Calif. Upon graduating from BUD/S, Freiwald completed Basic Airborne School in Ft. Benning, Georgia.

He then reported to his first permanent duty station at SEAL Team 5 at Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, Calif. He served at SEAL Team 5 for two years before transferring to SEAL Team 3 in Coronado. While at SEAL Teams 5 and 3 he completed numerous qualifications to prepare him for combat, including sniper training, Arabic, and tactical rock climbing, to name only a few. Freiwald also distinguished himself during multiple combat deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In March 2005 Freiwald transferred from SEAL Team 3 and began the demanding selection and training program at NSWDG. Freiwald completed the arduous training and received orders to Naval Special Warfare Tactical Development and Evaluation Squadron 2.

Freiwald is a highly-decorated SEAL combat veteran including the Bronze Star medal with combat “V” distinguishing device; Joint Service Commendation Medal with combat “V” distinguishing device; two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medal with combat “V” distinguishing device; the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal; Combat Action ribbon, and numerous personal, unit and campaign medals.

Jason was dedicated warrior; a man who believed in fighting for his country.