Petty Officer First Class David M. Tapper

Navy SEAL: Naval Special Warfare, Team THREE

Died: Aug. 20, 2003 in Paktika province, Afghanistan Age: 32

Navy SEAL David M. Tapper liked to tell friends and family that he had "salt water and sand in my veins," but on Aug. 20, 2003, only blood poured out from the gunshot wound in his back. He'd been on a secret mission along the border of Pakistan, pursuing the Taliban and al-Qaeda, when his Humvee was ambushed on two sides. He suffered his fatal wound in the ensuing firefight. After 13 years of covert combat, Tapper's training was finally complete.

"When he took his SEAL oath, he swore to die for our country," recalls his mother, Judi.

Born in Atco, N.J., Tapper was the only boy in a family of six girls. He quickly grew into the "man of the house," and developed a close relationship with his mother, with whom he often went scuba diving.

When he graduated from Edgewood High School in 1989, he immediately enlisted in the Navy, determined to become a SEAL. After graduating from Naval boot camp, he completed "A" School in Pensacola, Fla., and began his Underwater Demolition Training (UDT). Out of a class of 135, only 23 ultimately graduated. Thereafter, he was a frogman.

Because of the sensitive nature of Tapper's work, friends and family knew little about his missions. However, he managed to find spare time enough in 1991 to fall in love with Tracy, a beautiful Korean-American whom he described to his mother as "awesome." They soon married and had four children.

In early 2002, he served his first tour of duty in Afghanistan, and then played an active role in the March 2003 invasion of Iraq. While none of his team was hurt, he wrote that "we had to stand for many field memorials."

In a letter to his home church, Atco Presbyterian, Tapper proudly revealed—after getting authorization—that he was a member of the team that retrieved Jessica Lynch. In May 2003, he returned home on leave, but was abruptly remanded to Afghanistan.

"All he said to me was, 'Too soon, too soon,'" recalls Judi. As he pulled out of the driveway, Judi sobbed, but Tapper "always laughed at me when I cried."

Was It Worth It?

"My mind at night is a slide projection show," says Judi. "I see David through all the stages in his life, and I remember his hugs—the crush of his hugs. My grief is like ice in the sun: I can't control the meltdown, it just happens. I don't sleep much anymore.

"Was it worth it? I ask, 'Where would America be if it weren't for the soldiers? What if we did not have these patriots—the ones who care about us, our country and our families?'"