SEAL Who Died During Training Remembered as Quiet Patriot

Hundreds of people gathered at Arlington National Cemetery yesterday to bid farewell to a Navy SEAL who served nearly two decades and multiple tours in Afghanistan and Iraq before he was killed in an accident this month.

Senior Chief Petty Officer Thomas J. Valentine, 37, of Ham Lake, Minn., died in an accident while conducting parachute training operations in Casa Grande, Ariz., on Feb. 13, the Navy reported. The accident is under investigation.

Mourners bundled up against bitterly cold winds as Valentine's flag-draped coffin was carried to his grave site in Section 60 of the cemetery. A Navy chaplain, identified by cemetery officials as Lt. Timothy Springer, spoke of how they were gathered to celebrate Valentine's life.

"I don't know the why, I don't know the how," he said. "But I do know the who. Tom was a warrior. Day in, day out, he fought valiantly."

Springer said that Valentine, a special operations technician, was a quiet man and a patriot and that it was fitting that he was honored at Arlington. "Rest in peace, Tom," he said.

Folded flags were presented to Valentine's widow, Christina, and his father, Jack Valentine.

"Senior Chief Valentine was one of the finest SEALs I have ever known," Capt. Scott Moore, commander, Naval Special Warfare Development group, said in a news release. "He served our country with valor during multiple tours to Afghanistan and Iraq.

"A role model, mentor and incredible leader, Tom epitomized what we as SEALs strive for, a complete commitment to excellence."

Valentine enlisted in the Navy in 1989 and entered SEAL training the following January. In November 1990, he reported to an East Coast-based SEAL team and served with such teams for the remainder of his career. He is survived by a son and a daughter.

He had been awarded dozens of military awards and honors, including three Bronze Stars for valor, multiple commendation medals and a number of good conduct medals.

"This is a stark reminder that what these warriors do on a daily basis is very dangerous, both on and off of the battlefield," Lt. David Luckett, a Naval Special Warfare spokesman, said in the statement. "It's incredibly important for them to train like they're going to fight to ensure success on the battlefield. This premise demands potentially dangerous training evolutions."

On the online guest book Legacy.com, mourners described Valentine as "a good friend," "one of the nicest guys I have ever known" and "a really great guy, dad, husband, son, brother, friend, and hero."

Two people spoke of his kindness, as a man who had once seen their dog in trouble and "ran right over to help." Another talked about how the Valentines reached out to new neighbors, even helping to build their daughter's crib. "Tom was such a wonderful and loving dad who displayed such devotion to his family," one person wrote. "Tom was simply a great guy," said another, calling him loving, compassionate and funny.

"Tom inspired me in many ways, and many of the dreams hatched with youthful energy have stuck with me," wrote another, who considered Valentine a best friend in their youth. "He was quite simply one of the best people I have known."