Navy Seal, Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) John Douangdara, 26, of South Sioux City, Neb. a dog handler, was killed on 8/6/11 along with his K9 Bart. They were in a Chinook helicopter and had rushed to the mountainous area to help a US army ranger unit under fire from insurgents. The team of reinforcements had completed the mission, subduing the attackers who had the rangers pinned down, and were departing in their Chinook helicopter when the aircraft was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. The brave American troops Killed In Action were brought back to the U.S. on August 10, 2011 and embraced by the families and President Obama. He was a very dedicated K9 handler and participated in many training seminars held around the U.S. He enlisted in the United States Navy in February 2003. After graduating Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill., in April 2003, he reported to his initial service school training at Norfolk. Upon completion of his initial training, he reported to Naval Air Station Sigonella Security Detachment, Sicily in June 2003. In August 2006, he reported to Public/Ordnance Safety Security Force, New London, Groton, Conn. He then reported to his East Coast based SEAL Team in January 2008. He was the lead dog handler for the elite Seal Team Six, the same elite unit that killed Osama bin Laden. Petty Officer Douangdara’s awards include the Bronze Star with “V” device, Joint Service Commendation Medal with “V” Device, Army Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (3), Rifle Marksmanship Medal, and the Pistol Marksmanship Medal. John Douangdara was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on 8/26/11. A John Douangdara Memorial Statue, a bronze half life-sized statue of him and his combat dog Bart was sculpted by Susan Bahary and was unveiled on Memorial Day 5/27/13 at the fifty five acre Siouxland Freedom Park in South Sioux City, Nebraska. Memorial donations may be sent to John Douangdara Memorial Fund at the Siouxland Federal Credit Union, 3000 Plaza Drive, South Sioux City, NE 68776.
Other Navy Seals killed in the Chinook helicopter with him were Petty Officer 1st Class Derek C. Benson, 28, of Angwin, Calif., Chief Petty Officer Brian R. Bill, 31, of Stamford, Conn., Petty Officer 1st Class (Parachutist) Christopher G. Campbell, 36, of Jacksonville, N.C., Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Jared W. Day, 28, of Taylorsville, Utah, Chief Petty Officer John W. Faas, 31, of Minneapolis, Minn., Chief Petty Officer Kevin A. Houston, 35, of West Hyannisport, Mass., Lt. Cmdr. Jonas B. Kelsall, 32, of Shreveport, La., Master Chief Petty Officer Lou J. Langlais, 44, of Santa Barbara, Calif., Chief Petty Officer Matt D. Mason, 37, of Kansas City, Mo., Chief Petty Officer Stephen M. Mills, 35, of Fort Worth, Texas, Petty Officer 1st Class Jesse D. Pittman, 27, of Ukiah, Calif., Senior Chief Petty Officer Tommy A. Ratzlaff, 34, of Green Forest, Ark., Chief Petty Officer Robert J. Reeves, 32, of Shreveport, La., Chief Petty Officer Heath M. Robinson, 34, of Detroit, Mich., Petty Officer 2nd Class Nick P. Spehar, 24, of Saint Paul, Minn., Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) Michael J. Strange, 25, of Philadelphia, Pa., Petty Officer 1st Class (Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) Jon T. Tumilson, 35, of Rockford, Iowa , Petty Officer 1st Class Arron C. Vaughn, 30, of Stuart, Fla., and Petty Officer 1st Class Jason R. Workman, 32, of Blanding, Utah. Members of the Army killed in the Chinook helicopter were Sgt. Alexander J. Bennett, 24, of Tacoma, Wash, Chief Warrant Officer David R. Carter, 47, of Centennial, Colo, Spc. Spencer C. Duncan, 21, of Olathe, Kan., Patrick D. Hamburger, 30, of Lincoln, Neb., Chief Warrant Officer Bryan J. Nichols, 31, of Hays, Kan. Members of the Air Force killed in the were Tech. Sgt. John W. Brown, 33, of Tallahassee, Fla., Staff Sgt. Andy W. Harvell, 26, of Long Beach, Calif., and Tech. Sgt. Dan I. Zerbe, 28, of York, Pa. Members of the Navy EOD killed in the Chinook helicopter were Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist/Diver) Nick H. Null, 30, of Washington, W.Va. , and Senior Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Kraig M. Vickers, 36, of Kokomo, Hawaii.
