KTVN Channel 2 - Reno Tahoe News Weather, Video - Lovelock Prays for Petty Officer Sean Ward
Member Center:
A Navy helicopter went down in the waters off San Diego Tuesday. Three service members died, two others went missing, and among those on board was a local young man: 20-year old Sean Ward of Lovelock.
All five crew members aboard the helicopter were identified as:
. Lt. Cmdr. Eric J. Purvis, 37, of Poway, Calif.
- Lt. Allison M. Oubre, 27, of Slidell, La.
- Naval Air Crewman 1st Class Samuel "Grant" Kerslake, 41, of Hot Springs, Ark.
- Naval Air Crewman 2nd Class Aaron L. Clingman, 25, of Bend, Ore.
- Naval Air Crewman 3rd Class Sean M. Ward, 20, of Lovelock, Nev.
Sean used to live in Lovelock, and went to Pershing County High School. Petty Officer Third Class Ward knew just about everyone in Lovelock.
We spoke to his parents Thursday night, and they say not only are they grieving, but the community as well.
"I'm devastated. He was our world. My only son" Mike Ward, Sean's father says.
Mike Ward is in unbearable pain, after he got word his son, Sean, was aboard the HH-60 Seahawk helicopter that crashed off the coast of San Diego Tuesday night.
"There's a commander, chaplain and adjacent in dress whites, and at that instant I knew," Ward said.
The Seahawk was on a training exercise when it went down. Three bodies were recovered at sea. Mike thinks Sean was tethered to the back of the helicopter when it went down.
The navy confirms Sean was on that chopper, but not if he was one of the three bodies found. Two are still missing and presumed dead.
"Knowing if his remains have been found or recovered then I think we'd have some closure," Ward said.
Sean last talked to his parents on Mother's Day. He comes from a long line of servicemen in his family. His dad, Mike, served in the army and has helped other families cope with loss. But now he's on the receiving end, as this is the first military death in their family.
"He knew the risks and so did we. He picked something that he loved doing," Ward said.
And now neighbors and even people the Wards don't know are supporting them with food, hugs and tears.
American flags are flying at half-staff for the next several days in Lovelock.
"I'm proud to have known him and you know just been able to spend time with him," said Steve Cerini, a local teacher who knew Sean.
"He was a real life hero to the young kids in town. All the little kids just wanted to touch him because he was the quarterback," said Shauna Bake, a teacher at Pershing County High School. Sean played baseball, basketball and football in high school. He was even named MVP.
But he was also an honors student, loved by all.
"Honestly, the kind of kid every mom would want her daughter to marry," Bake says.
And now that their hero may be gone, they can only take things day-by-day.
"The world is worse now because he's gone," Ward says.
