Michigan keeps on giving

Sailors die in Afghanistan

Two highly decorated Navy SEALs died Thursday night from injuries sustained in fierce fighting against insurgents in Afghanistan, according to the Navy.

Senior Chief Petty Officer John Marcum, 34, and Petty Officer First Class Jason Freiwald, 30, died in a battle with heavily armed militants, the Navy said.

Marcum, a native of Flushing, Michigan, had received four Bronze Star medals, among numerous decorations. He joined the service in August 1991. After basic training, he attended the Navy and Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center at Dam Neck. He then went to basic SEAL training, and took his first permanent post with SEAL Team 2 at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base.

Marcum began training for the Naval Special Warfare Development Group in March, 2000. He had deployed numerous times.

Among his many citations, Freiwald, a native of Utica, Michigan, was a Bronze Star recipient. Tuesday, he was to have been promoted to chief petty officer.