David E. Van Camp – Captain, United States Army

U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
News Release
IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 575-11
July 02, 2011

DOD Identifies Army Casualties

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two soldiers who were supporting Operation New Dawn.

They died June 29, 2011 in Badrah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with indirect fire.  They were assigned to 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.

Killed were:

  • Captain David E. Van Camp, 29, of Wheeling, West Virginia; and
  • Specialist Robert G. Tenney Jr., 29, Warner Robins, Georgia

WHEELING, WestVirginia —  Friends of Captain David Van Camp are remembering him after he was killed earlier this week while serving in Iraq.
Ryan Butler and Matt Davis grew up Van Camp and the three friends attended Wheeling Park High School together. Butler and Davis said they couldn't believe the news when they heard of Van Camp's death.

“It's still shocking to me, The first person I called was Ryan, and I still can't believe it. It is really hard to deal with,” said Matt Davis.

Van Camp was a 2000 graduate of Wheeling Park High School and a decorated Army soldier. While serving, he received the Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.

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Van Camp's friends said they couldn't be more proud of him.

“He died doing something that he loved, something that was worth dying for, (is) what I believe. He is part of the reason why we can do the things we do today,” said Butler.

The Department of Defense said that Van Camp and two other soldiers were killed Wednesday when enemy forces attacked their unit with indirect fire in Badrah, Iraq.

Saturday, Van Camp's friends gathered at Patterson baseball field in Elm Grove. They said it is a place that has a lot of memories for them.

“He loved baseball, and it's ironic that it is the Beast of the East weekend, because we know that he would be here watching it with us,” said Butler.

Van Camp's body is being returned to the United States. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time. Family and friends told NEWS9 that Van Camp will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia once a funeral is held in the Ohio Valley.


Services for U.S. Army Captain David E. VanCamp, 29, are at noon July 30 at Kepner Funeral Home in Wheeling, with Pastor Dennis Arnold officiating. Interment is at 11 a.m. August 1, 2011 at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

David, born February 11, 1982, in Wheeling, was killed in action in support of Operation New Dawn on June 29 in Badrah, Iraq.

He was the commander of Grim Troop, 2ndSquadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, of Fort Hood, Texas.

David previously deployed to Iraq from December 2005 to August 2006 with 2ndSquadron, 4th Infantry Division, of Fort Carson, Colorado, where he sustained combat-related injuries.

His awards and decorations include a Bronze Service Medal, a Purple Heart, a Meritorious Service Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, Iraqi Campaign Medal with two combat service stars, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, a Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, a Combat Action Badge and a Parachutist Badge.

David graduated from Wheeling Park High School in 2000. He earned his commission as an armor officer from Marion Military Institute in Marion, Al., in 2002 and graduated from Marshall University in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

He enjoyed karaoke, golf and other outdoor activities.

David was the beloved husband of Chelsea (Graham) of Killeen; devoted son of Donald and Linda of Elm Grove; son-in-law of Suanne Graham of Wheeling; and brother of Donald of Delaware, Dennis of Cincinnati, Ohio and Daniel of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He also leaves behind numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Eddie and Ruth VanCamp of Wheeling and Russell and Norma Jean Coss of Martins Ferry, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the USO and American Red Cross.


WHEELING — U.S. Army Captain David VanCamp, a 2000 graduate of Wheeling Park High School, died Wednesday during a rocket attack in Iraq. He was 29.

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VanCamp, an Elm Grove native who had been stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, was commander of Company H, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. He died in a rocket attack that struck a U.S. base in southern Iraq that is located a few miles from the Iranian border, a U.S. military official said. The military official said the type of weapons used bore the hallmarks of a Shiite militia with strong links to Iran.

VANCAMP, DAVID E
CPT   US ARMY
IRAQ

  • DATE OF BIRTH: 02/11/1982
  • DATE OF DEATH: 06/29/2011
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 60  SITE 9713
    ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

devancamp-gravesite-photo-by-eileen-horan-august-2011-001

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