VETTER-ROBERT

DIED  WHILE  UNDERGOING  SEAL  TRAINING

Robert Philip Vetter was a Navy Special Warfare Seal and deployed over eight times to war zones from Panama’s drug wars to Kuwait freedom and operation Iraqi Freedom.  He had a perfect good conduct award rate and received awards for above and beyond acts of duty and special missions, and was an instructor at the Naval Special Warfare Center, Coronado, California.  On February 19, 2004, he was exercising on a Coronado beach doing push-ups after a four-mile run when he was seen to collapse.  CPR was begun immediately and after twice restarting his heart he was transported to a local community hospital.  Here he remained unresponsive in a deep coma and on February 29 was removed from mechanical life support at the request of his family.  He expired several hours later, and cause of death was determined to be cardiorespiratory failure.  He was survived by his wife and infant daughter.

NAVY AND MARINE CORPS COMMENDATION MEDAL CITATION

The Secretary of the Navy has awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal to Boatswains Mate First Class (SWCC/SW) Robert P. Vetter, United States Navy, for meritorious service while serving as high risk  instructor at Naval Special Warfare Center from October 1999 to January 2004.  Displaying exceptional leadership, he expertly instructed over 360 Navy officers and enlisted students in basic special warfare combat crewman skills and was instrumental in the development of the crewman qualification training course of instruction.  Additionally, as divisional expert in physical training and qualified master fitness trainer, he assisted in the development and implementation of a physical conditioning program for over 500 prospective students resulting in an unprecedented 30% reduction in overall student attrition.  Petty officer Vetter’s professionalism and devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)