Navy SEAL from Bucks dies in diving exercise

A Navy SEAL from upper Bucks County who survived seven tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and made a career of executing some of the military's most dangerous missions died Thursday during a diving exercise in Washington state.

Eric F. Shellenberger, who lived in Milford Township, near Pennsburg in Montgomery County, experienced problems during a training dive and signaled for emergency ascent, but could not be revived, according to Navy officials.

Shellenberger, 36, was a Special Warfare Operator with an elite unit of the Navy SEALS that uses a mini-submarine designed to conduct covert missions in enemy waters.

Shellenberger grew up in Lansdale and attended North Penn High School before his family moved outside Pennsburg.

He enlisted in the Navy in 1999 after spending eight years in the Marines.

''Eric will be dearly missed,'' his family -- which includes his fiance, two brothers, his father, mother and stepfather -- said in a written statement issued by the military. ''We always considered him to be a true hero, and he will be in our hearts forever. We love him and will cherish his memory. He will never be forgotten.''

A Navy spokesman with the family Saturday said Shellenberger was not

responsive when he surfaced in the waters near Bremerton, Wash.

The incident is under investigation.

Shellenberger was assigned to the SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One in Pearl City, Hawaii, according to Navy spokesman Scott Williams.

It's the only team in the military that operates a mini-submarine used by the Navy to sneak into enemy waters for missions such as collecting intelligence and planting explosives on enemy ships.

In some cases, Shellenberger and his unit were asked to swim from the submersible and go ashore on missions that Williams said are too sensitive to discuss.

When not in the water, Shellenberger was among a team of SEALS assigned to missions to locate and eliminate ''high-value'' targets and terrorist leaders, including serving as Assault Team Leader in Ramadi, Iraq, during the ''Sunni Awakening'' in 2006-07, Williams said.

''This is a heart-wrenching loss for us and, most assuredly, the Shellenberger family,'' said Adm. Edward Winters III, commander, Naval Special Warfare Command. ''The strength of our small, close-knit community is in our exceptional personnel. Eric was one such individual. He bravely and willingly accepted the risks inherent in training for and carrying out special operations missions. I extend my deepest sympathy to Eric's family and friends. Please know he will not be forgotten.''

When not deployed, Shellenberger had been stationed in Pearl City since September 2005.

''He was a true hero, a great American, a great SEAL. Having him under my command twice as a platoon commander and task unit commander was truly a blessing,'' said Lt. Cmdr. Robert Byford, executive officer of Shellenberger's unit. ''Our country is diminished with Eric's passing, and I have lost a true, lifelong friend. He will be sorely missed by all his teammates and anyone whose life he touched.''

The Navy said funeral services had not yet been arranged Saturday.