Navy SEAL loved
his kin and job

Navy SEAL Petty Officer 2nd Class James Erik Suh's childhood dream was to become a veterinarian.

To pay respects Condolences for Petty Officer 2nd Class James Erik Suh can be sent to his father, Solomon Suh, at 94-1457 Waipio Uka St., Apartment O-106, Waipahu, HI 96797; or to his sister Claudia Suh Bown at 845 Rose Drive, Benicia, CA 94510.

Later, he would push that dream aside to become a member of the elite Navy group.

"James exuded passion and pride in being part of an elite group of men who defied the limits of human physical and mental endurance," his sister Claudia Suh Bown said. "He was always a protector of his family and friends and became equally committed to defending and protecting our country."

Her 28-year-old brother, known to loved ones as Sung Gap Suh, was one of three special forces members based in Pearl Harbor who were killed last week when their Chinook helicopter was gunned down in Afghanistan.

Senior Chief Petty Officer Daniel Healy, 36, of Exeter, N.H., and Petty Officer Eric Shane Patton, 22, of Boulder City, Nev., were also killed in the crash. A total of 16 special forces members died.

Suh was born on March 2, 1977, in Chicago and grew up in Deerfield Beach, Fla.

He graduated from Deerfield Beach High School in 1995 where he excelled in academics and was a star athlete of his swim and tennis teams. At the University of Florida, he received a bachelor's degree in statistics in 1999. Soon after, he enlisted with the Navy.

"Those who knew him knew James had immense pride in two things: his close-knit family, including 11 cousins who were like his siblings, and his job as a U.S. Navy SEAL," Bown said in written statement.

Bown arrived in Honolulu from California three days ago. Their father, Solomon Suh, lives in Waipio Gentry.

James Suh was easy to love and someone who would go out of his way to make outsiders feel included, she said.

"He was a rare combination of strength, intelligence, humor and compassion," Bown added.

A funeral service for Suh will be held at the Forest Lawn Mortuary and Cemetery in Hollywood Hills, Calif. Details are pending.

There were few details on the other members of the team, but retired Army Col. Dick Rankin of Hawaii Kai said he was close to Healy and considered him part of the family.

"He was a real warm, loving father," Rankin said. "He was just the kind of guy who would do everything for anybody."