THOMASVILLE, GA, US
U.S. Navy
SCPO, COMNAVSPECWARGRU TWO SPT ACT
03/22/2010, AYATALAH VILLAGE, AFGHANISTAN
Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO) David McLendon was raised in Thomasville, Georgia. After graduating from Thomas County Central High School in 1998, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.
David was a successful and dedicated naval non-commissioned officer, and quickly rose through Navy ranks. His awards include the Joint Service Commendation Medal; Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal; Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal; Navy Battle “E” Ribbon (two awards); Navy Good Conduct Medal (three awards); and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
In 2009, David was promoted to Senior Chief Petty Officer and served as a Navy cryptologic technician. He was also a Navy SEAL. During his twelve-year Naval career, he served at Norfolk, Virginia and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and the Joint Expeditionary Base at Little Creek, Virginia. While deployed to Afghanistan, he was one of nine service members tragically killed when their Army Blackhawk helicopter went down in the southern Afghanistan province of Zabul on Sept. 21, 2010.
David’s best friend recalled the time he washed his father’s red truck with Comet cleanser and the vehicle turned pink. It was David’s quick wit, and engaging sense of humor that attracted him to many, including his wife, a former Navy service member said his friend taught him to laugh, love, throw a curve ball and to sing and dance. He also noted that David’s Bright soul would have found it hilarious that TCCHS was closed to host his funeral.
He is survived by his wife and parents, his brother and sister, his nieces and nephews, and his paternal grandmother.
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