Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman, 27, of Ukiah, Calif., was assigned to a West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit. He died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. Petty Officer 1st Class Pittman joined the military after working two seasons for Cal Fire. Friends were surprised when he told them he wanted to become a SEAL. But no one doubted he could complete the training. Jesse made it known he wanted to become a SEAL during his second summer working as a seasonal firefighter for California's forestry department. He trained in his off-time with an ex-SEAL to prepare. He was a hard worker who shared a love of hotrods with his father and older brother, and he did odd jobs at an automotive repair shop in his hometown of Willits, Calif., to learn how to build and repair cars. Despite being a leader on his fire crew and having a good career ahead of him as a firefighter, Pittman made it clear becoming a SEAL was his passion. "He liked to be challenged, and I think that challenge is what drew him to both of those careers," his friend Chris Wilkes told the San Francisco Chronicle. "When he told me he wanted to be a Navy SEAL, I told him he had been watching too much TV. But he said, 'No, I can do that.'" He will be remembered by the Pittman family, and everyone who knew him, as a hero and a wonderful person. He will be sorely missed by his family, friends and fellow Navy SEALs. Jesse is survived by his parents, J. Terry and Ida Pittman; and two brothers, J. Terry and Corey S. Pittman. He also is survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins. His Uncle Mike was especially close to Jesse and his family.
He also has a memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.
He also has a memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman, 27, of Ukiah, Calif., was assigned to a West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit. He died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed. Petty Officer 1st Class Pittman joined the military after working two seasons for Cal Fire. Friends were surprised when he told them he wanted to become a SEAL. But no one doubted he could complete the training. Jesse made it known he wanted to become a SEAL during his second summer working as a seasonal firefighter for California's forestry department. He trained in his off-time with an ex-SEAL to prepare. He was a hard worker who shared a love of hotrods with his father and older brother, and he did odd jobs at an automotive repair shop in his hometown of Willits, Calif., to learn how to build and repair cars. Despite being a leader on his fire crew and having a good career ahead of him as a firefighter, Pittman made it clear becoming a SEAL was his passion. "He liked to be challenged, and I think that challenge is what drew him to both of those careers," his friend Chris Wilkes told the San Francisco Chronicle. "When he told me he wanted to be a Navy SEAL, I told him he had been watching too much TV. But he said, 'No, I can do that.'" He will be remembered by the Pittman family, and everyone who knew him, as a hero and a wonderful person. He will be sorely missed by his family, friends and fellow Navy SEALs. Jesse is survived by his parents, J. Terry and Ida Pittman; and two brothers, J. Terry and Corey S. Pittman. He also is survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins. His Uncle Mike was especially close to Jesse and his family.
He also has a memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.
He also has a memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.
