Navy SEAL Remembered

Petty Officer 1st Class Neil Roberts of Woodland, Calif. and six other Americans were killed Monday after U.S. helicopters assaulting al Qaeda and Taliban fighters were hit by enemy fire in eastern Afghanistan.

The following is a statement from a family member of Roberts and an excerpt from a letter that he wrote home to his wife in case he never made it home:

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Neil. To so many Neil is a hero, but he is more than that to us -- he was a husband, a father, and a friend. We are very proud of his commitment to his country. As we move through these dark days, we find strength in our family and friends. We want to thank everyone for the outpouring of support from our community and our nation.

He loved his family deeply and he loved being a SEAL. He loved his country and would want everyone to know that this is how he would have wanted to go. He made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that everyone who calls himself or herself an American truly has all the privileges of living in the greatest country in the world.

Neil's love for his family and friends was evident at all times. He could lift your spirits instantly with a quirky quote or a catchy phrase or when he flashed that great smile of his. Neil would want everyone to remember him as a loving husband and father, a loving son and brother, a true friend and warrior who never once questioned his commitment to his family or his country.

Neil says it best in a letter he left to his wife:

'I consider myself blessed with the best things a man could ever hope for. My childhood is something I'll always treasure. My family is the reason I'm the person I am today. They supported and cared for me in the best way possible.

The Navy, although I sacrificed personal freedom and many other things, I got just as much as I gave. My time in the Teams was special. For all the times I was cold, wet, tired, sore, scared, hungry and
angry, I had a blast.

The bad was balanced equally with the good. All the times spent in the company of my teammates was when I felt the closest to the men I had the privilege to work with. I loved being a SEAL. If I died doing something for the Teams, then I died doing what made me happy. Very few people have the luxury of that.'

We also want to extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the other fallen heroes. As we mourn our loved one, we grieve for their loss as well."