Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Senior Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Kraig M. Vickers 36, of Kokomo, Hawaii was assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit. He died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed.

CPO Vickers was born on August 11, 1974 in Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii. He graduated from Maui High School in 1992.

Senior Chief Vickers enlisted in the Navy on June 12, 1996. On January 28, 1997 he completed basic training and reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, graduating from Photographers Mate “A” School three months later. On July 1, 1997 he entered Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training at Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City, Florida. After a year of some of the most physically and academically challenging training within the military, Senior Chief Vickers graduated from Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal as a Basic EOD Technician. On February 15, 2005, Senior Chief Vickers began a rigorous selection process and training with Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG), a special duty assignment. Eleven months after beginning this extremely demanding training program, he was selected as an NSWDG EOD Operator and assigned to TACDEVRON THREE where he completed numerous deployments around the world in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

Senior Chief Vickers was a highly decorated combat veteran with numerous awards including the Silver Star, four Bronze Star Medals with “V” Device, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal with “V” Device, two Purple Heart Medals, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, two Combat Action Ribbons, Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and numerous other personal and unit decorations. He leaves behind his wife and their three children.

His wife, Nani, honored him by participating in the 2014 Survivor Summit Expedition in Lima, Peru.