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SAN DIEGO -
U.S. Navy officials confirmed Tuesday that Petty Officer Justin McNeley, son of an Encinitas deputy fire marshal, was killed in a firefight with the Taliban last week in Afghanistan.
Navy officials said McNeley and fellow sailor Jarod Newlove were seen driving into a Taliban-held area. The Taliban have said they killed one of the two men in a firefight and captured the other.
George McNeley, the sailor's father, and his family traveled to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware Tuesday night to retrieve his body.
The McNeley family released the following statement:
"In our time of sadness and mourning we remember Justin as a loving father, son, brother and friend. He is our hero. We wish to thank the United States Military and Justin's Chain of Command for the support they have shown us. We greatly appreciate the public concern and support that has been demonstrated towards our family, but trust that our privacy and Justin's memory will be respected during our time of grief. Our thoughts, prayers and support go out to the family of Jarod Newlove in their time of need."
As funeral arrangements are prepared, the same motorcycle group that threw McNeley a going away party in May of last year said they will escort his body to his funeral.
A member of the Patriot Guard Riders motorcycle group which helped organize the going-away event in Arizona called McNeley "insightful" and "charismatic." Richard Tromba said he hoped his group will have the honor of escorting his body.
Colorado state Rep. Jim Kerr told The Denver Post McNeley was his wife's nephew and had been expected to return next month.
Anyone wishing to help the McNeley family can send a donation to:
San Diego Firefighters Credit Union
4926 La Cuenta Drive
San Diego, CA 92124
Account #4958 Suffix B
Navy officials said McNeley and fellow sailor Jarod Newlove were seen driving into a Taliban-held area. The Taliban have said they killed one of the two men in a firefight and captured the other.
George McNeley, the sailor's father, and his family traveled to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware Tuesday night to retrieve his body.
The McNeley family released the following statement:
"In our time of sadness and mourning we remember Justin as a loving father, son, brother and friend. He is our hero. We wish to thank the United States Military and Justin's Chain of Command for the support they have shown us. We greatly appreciate the public concern and support that has been demonstrated towards our family, but trust that our privacy and Justin's memory will be respected during our time of grief. Our thoughts, prayers and support go out to the family of Jarod Newlove in their time of need."
As funeral arrangements are prepared, the same motorcycle group that threw McNeley a going away party in May of last year said they will escort his body to his funeral.
A member of the Patriot Guard Riders motorcycle group which helped organize the going-away event in Arizona called McNeley "insightful" and "charismatic." Richard Tromba said he hoped his group will have the honor of escorting his body.
Colorado state Rep. Jim Kerr told The Denver Post McNeley was his wife's nephew and had been expected to return next month.
Anyone wishing to help the McNeley family can send a donation to:
San Diego Firefighters Credit Union
4926 La Cuenta Drive
San Diego, CA 92124
Account #4958 Suffix B
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