OAK HARBOR – The body of a sailor who was killed last week in Iraq came home Monday morning to a hero’s welcome at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.
His widow, Kari, of Oak Harbor, and other family members from Wisconsin were there when a chartered jet landed at Ault Field with the remains of Chief Petty Officer Patrick Wade, 38.
Wade and 1st Class Petty Officer Jeffrey Chaney, 36, of Omaha, Neb., were killed while attempting to disarm a bomb along a road near the town of Samarra in Salah Ad Din province.
In addition, a sailor who was with Wade and Chaney, all members of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11 based at Whidbey, was injured in the explosion. He was identified as Petty Officer 2nd Class David A. Hawxhurst.
In another part of Iraq, A Marine from Arlington, Lance Cpl. Shawn Starkovich, 20, also died last week in Iraq.
On Monday, Wade’s casket was removed from the airplane accompanied by a naval station honor guard and some 70 members of the ordnance disposal unit, who stood in ranks. There was a 21-gun salute, and taps was played before the casket was placed in a hearse.
Around 1,000 base military and civilian personnel lined Charles Porter Avenue on the base to show respect for Wade, base spokeswoman Kimberly Martin said. The Oak Harbor Lions Club lined parts of Highway 20 with American flags to honor Wade.
The hearse traveled along Highway 20 and wound up at Burley Funeral Chapel in preparation for Wade’s funeral at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
The funeral will be at First Reformed Church, 250 SW Third Ave., in Oak Harbor.
Family members said Wade’s body will be cremated, and relatives said they plan to sprinkle his ashes on Bear Lake near Iola, Wis., where he and other members of his family spent many hours fishing and canoeing.
Meanwhile, funeral arrangements have been made for Chaney.
Services are set for 11 a.m. July 30 at Bellevue Christian Center near Omaha, said his sister-in-law, April Chaney.
She said anyone who wants to write condolences can mail them to the family, 2628 S. 152nd Circle, Omaha, Neb. 68144.
The Marine from Arlington will be laid to rest Thursday at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., members of the Starkovich family said. He attended both Arlington and Marysville-Pilchuck high schools.
Starkovich died July 16 in Anbar province. Details of how he died have not been announced and are under investigation, the Marine Corps said.
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.
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