Family of decorated Airman Sean Harvell grieves, plans memorial in Long Beach next month

Sean Harvell was a man of uncommon bravery and humility who lived for his daughter despite struggling with PTSD and traumatic brain injury received in combat, a close friend said.

The decorated Long Beach war veteran, who drowned Tuesday in the waters off Alamitos Beach near his beachfront apartment, was one of just three airmen to receive two Silver Stars for action in combat, the military said Wednesday. Officials with the U.S. Air Force Special Tactics division said Harvell, a 33-year-old retired combat controller, eaed two Silver Stars, a Purple Heart and multiple Bronze Stars over several deployments. Only seven U.S. military service members overall have received two Silver Stars since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, according to the Air Force.

“Sean served his nation admirably, often in the face of insurmountable odds,” Col. Michael Flatten, 24th Special Operations Wing vice commander, said in a statement. “He was a fierce warrior on the battlefield, and an incredible brother to those who served alongside him. He was larger than life.”

The Los Angeles County Coroner will conduct an autopsy to determine an exact cause of death either today or Friday. Medical examiners will also conduct toxicology tests to determine whether alcohol or drugs were a factor, which can take several weeks.

Family grieves

Sean Harvell’s father, John Harvell lives, at Gold Star Manor, a 23-acre housing complex in West Long Beach for families of deceased military service members, but declined to comment Wednesday.

His mother, Jane Maher, a retired Long Beach Unified School District teacher, could not be reached Wednesday, but posted a message to Facebook, recounting details of her son’s death.

“It seemed he could do anything and was invincible,” she wrote. “He was a great American hero. He served our country for many years. And he kicked a lot of ass.”

She said she is working to arrange a funeral at Los Angeles National Cemetery and a wake to follow at Joe Jost’s in Long Beach on May 6.

Harvell’s younger brother, Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Harvell, 26, died Aug. 6, 2011 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, when a CH-47 Chinook helicopter he was in crashed after being hit with enemy fire from Taliban insurgents.

The brothers attended Millikan High School in the late 1990s, according to the school district. Andrew graduated from Millikan in 2002, but it was not clear Wednesday whether Sean also graduated from the same school.

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Harvell also has a sister, Analese Eder.

Hometown hero

Mike Murray, one of Harvell’s close friends in recent years and chairman of the U.S. Vets Advisory Council in Long Beach, said his friend was a loving father to his daughter — she was 6 or 7 years old, he said — and a humble man.

Murray first met Harvell about three years ago when then-Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDoell asked him to get Harvell to speak at a luncheon.

“I knew immediately that I was in the presence of someone [unique],” Murray said. “It’s so difficult to try to describe who Sean was. He was so many things.”

Physically, he said, Harvell was a large, intimidating presence, but he was also intelligent and unassuming. He read books on varied topics and never played up his military service.

Harvell and his daughter once met Cal State Long Beach volleyball coach Brian Gimmillaro and the women’s team, Murray said, recalling accompanying them on that outing. Harvell’s daughter met the players and Harvell was asked to speak about teamwork.

When it came to his combat exploits, Harvell told Murray he didn’t want anything mentioned of his awards or citations.

“He told me later that he didn’t want anyone to thank him for his service,” Murray said.

A fallen comrade

As a Special Tactics combat controller, Harvell received a variety of training: static line and military free-fall jumping, combat diving and joint terminal attack control conducting close air support strikes during combat.

He was medically retired after almost a decade of service, according to the Air Force. Previous reports referred to Harvell as a staff sergeant but he was promoted to the rank of technical sergeant prior to retirement.

After retiring, Harvell struggled with his transition into civilian life but was taking the right steps, said Murray, who confirmed Harvell’s diagnosis with PTSD and traumatic brain injury.

“He was doing everything he could to adjust to this environment,” Murray said. “It was clearly more comfortable for him to be in his [military] environment.”

Members of the Air Force’s Special Tactics community remembered Harvell’s resolve on the battlefield and in everyday life.

“He was easy to love because of what he gave back to those he cared about,” said retired Chief Master Sgt. John Thomas in a statement. “Loyal, fuy, fierce and courageous. He changed my life when I met him and his passing will change it again.”

The Special Tactics community is “absolutely committed to honoring Sean,” Flatten said.

“He was the epitome of service before self; he was the kind of airman who would readily sacrifice himself for his brother, his teammates and the mission. It’s a terrible loss to the Air Force and special operations community, and we will never forget what Andy and Sean gave in service to their country.”

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