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Published August 09, 2011, 12:30 PM

Minnesota SEAL Killed in Afghanistan Crash Remembered as Focused Young Man

A Navy SEAL from Minnesota who was among 30 U.S. troops killed when their helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan is being remembered in his hometown as a young man who gave everything to his country.

By: Associated Press,

  • FILE - Soldiers Exit Chinook
    • image
    FILE - US soldiers from the 2nd Brigade, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division, secure the area after exiting a Chinook helicopter, Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan, in this Sunday, June 18, 2006 file photo. Insurgents shot down a U.S. military helicopter Saturday Aug. 6, 2011 similar to this one shown during fighting in eastern Afghanistan, killing 30 Americans, most of them belonging to the same elite Navy SEALs unit that killed Osama bin Laden, as well as seven Afghan commandos, U.S. officials said. It was the deadliest single loss for American forces in the decade-old war. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd, File)

CHISAGO CITY, Minn. (AP) — A Navy SEAL from Minnesota who was among 30 U.S. troops killed when their helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan is being remembered in his hometown as a young man who gave everything to his country.

Chisago Lakes High School Principal Dave Ertl says 24-year-old Nicholas Spehar of Chisago City was a star in academics and three sports who focused on getting things done. He says the determination Spehar showed in sports carried over to the SEALs.

His family has said little publicly. Younger brother Luke Spehar told the Star Tribune they learned of his death "a few days ago." That's been their only public confirmation of his death. They've declined comment to other news organizations.

Luke Spehar told the newspaper they don't want to talk until after his funeral.

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