John Weston Faas

Chief Special Warfare Operator,

United States Navy

Chief Petty Officer

Age 31, Of Virginia Beach, Virginia

Born & Raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Lost with other Navy SEALs and U.S. service members during a helicopter crash in Afghanistan on Saturday, August 6. John graduated from Minnehaha Academy in 1998 where he was co-valedictorian of his class. He was also captain and quarterback of the football team. John spent many years practicing the martial arts and had a Black Belt in Tae Kwan Do at 12 years of age. He is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Dorothy and Joe Faas and his maternal grandparents Jane and Donald Shafer. He is survived by his parents, Gretchen and Robert Faas of Minneapolis; his uncles Dan Faas and Mike Faas and his wife Carol Faas; his cousins Michael Robert Faas and Simone Faas; his aunts Kathryn Shafer, Martha Shafer Gabbert and her husband John Gabbert; his uncle Mark Shafer and his wife Ginger Shafer; and his cousins Laura Gabbert, Anne Gabbert, and Nels Shafer. After graduating Recruit Training Command at Great Lakes, Illinois, he attended his initial service school training at Great Lakes, Illinois until November 1999. He then attended Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training at Coronado, CA in April 2000. Upon completion of BUD/S, he reported to his East coast based SEAL Team in July 2001. John’s career as a Navy SEAL operator and Chief Petty Officer included many medals and commendations including the Bronze Star Medal with ‘V’ device for valor (3), Joint Service Commendation Medal with ‘V’ device for valor, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon (2), Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal (2), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (3), Iraq Campaign Medal (3), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (3), Rifle Marksmanship Medal and the Pistol Marksmanship Medal. To his teammates, John was a warrior, a leader, a friend, and a true brother. Funeral Service will be Monday, August 22, 12:00 noon at Fort Snelling Chapel, Historic Fort Rd., with visitation Sunday, August 21, 6:30 to 8:00 pm at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 956 Forest St., St. Paul. Interment Fort Snelling National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to: The "Naval Special Warfare Foundation" which supports the families & children of the fallen:http://nswfoundation.org/don ate.htm or "The John Faas Scholarship Memorial Fund" at Minnehaha Academy, Advancement Office, 3100 West River Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55406:

http://advancement.minn ehahaacademy.net/page.aspx?pid=360.