GREEN BERETS Whitcher, David J.

[John Robertson]

• SURNAME

Whitcher​

• FORENAME

David J.​

• UNIT

7 SF Group (Company C,2 Bn)​

• RANK

Staff Sergeant​

• NUMBER

• DATE OF DEATH

2nd November 2016​

• AGE

30​

• GRAVESITE

New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, Boscawen, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, USA ​

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

born 04.07.1986, New London, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, USA​

father Horance Tilton Whitcher (1933-2015)​

wife Victoria​

son David J. Whitcher Jr.​

from Bradford,New Hampshire​

National Guard 2008​

served Afghanistan twice​

Regular Army 2013​

6 Engineer Bn (2 Engineer Brigade)​

1 SF Training Group (Company C,2 Bn) 2014-16​

graduated SF Qualification Course 2016​

7 SF Group​

award Army Commendation Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters​

died during dive training exercise off coast of Key West,Florida​

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Obituary:​

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Son of Horace "Bud" and Kathleen (Morrison) Whitcher​

Husband of Victoria​

Father of David J., Jr​

Siblings: Laurel Coronis (who predeceased him); Matthew, Danny, Michael, April Rebecca, and Ruth​

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From the Concord Monitor (16.11.16) obituary:​

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David grew up in Bradford. He knew from the age of six that he wanted to serve in the military, and that's just what he did, joining the Army after high school and gaining the Honor Grad Award in basic training 2004, serving two combat tours in Afghanistan and then achieving his dream of becoming a Special Forces soldier-Green Beret.​

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David enlisted in the New Hampshire National Guard in 2008 as a carpentry and masonry specialist. He earned many awards, the Army Commendation Medal (3rd award), Army Achievement Medal (4th award), Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. David was a student in the Combat Diver Qualification Course (CDQC) assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. He also earned an associates degree in criminal justice from NHTI in Concord in 2012.​

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In 2013 David came on active duty and was assigned to the 6th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Engineer Brigade, Fort Richardson, Alaska. During this time in Alaska, he volunteered for a humanitarian mission to Palau to rebuild roads, schools and hospitals. In 2014 David volunteered for Special Forces training. He graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Courses in 2016.​

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David was known best by those who were close to him as a free spirit. He enjoyed the outdoors and spending time with his friends and family. He was amazing at everything he did.​