By Steve Shay and Patrick Robinson

While news of the July 23 death of Sealth High School class of 2003 graduate Petty Officer Jarod Newlove has captured headlines nationally, and has left questions unanswered about his initial disappearance and then shooting, back home his shaken West Seattle community has responded with empathy toward his wife, high school sweetheart, Kimberly, and their two young children, and extended family.

Kimberly Newlove told the West Seattle Herald Thursday, Aug. 19, that she would like to thank the community for its support. She also said she plans to attend the beginning of the fundraiser for her family to be held at Alki Crab and Fish at 1660 Harbor Avenue SW, next to the Water Taxi dock, 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. this Saturday, Aug. 21. The restaurant will contribute all proceeds from beer and wine sold to help the family of the fallen sailor.

“I have been very happy with the way the community has respected our family’s privacy and we are so amazed and grateful for all the support we have been getting from everybody,” said Kimberly, who works full time as an office manager for her father’s business.
Kimberly also wanted to clear up what she and other family members believe are some questions raised about her husband’s conduct just prior to his death. He had left his base at night with Petty Officer Justin McNeley, 30. Both would be found dead 60 miles from base in the Talaban-dominated Logar Province.

“I have heard some reports that they left in civilian clothes in a civilian vehicle, and without permission,” Kimberly said. “That is not true. You don’t just leave a base. They were in military clothes in an armored Toyota Land Cruiser. They were on a routine mission. I have no details about the mission.”

Some reports say the two soldiers took the wrong fork in a road, but specific details have not been released yet by NATO.

“ He loved cooking, and at one point he considered pursuing cooking in the Navy but decided to enlist back into the reserves as an IA (Individual Augmentee).

According to www.ia.navy.mil “In contrast to a Sailor that deploys with a ship, squadron or unit, a Sailor who leaves their assigned unit or command to deploy individually or with a small group is known as an Individual Augmentee (IA)… You will receive basic combat skills training. Basic combat skills training is conducted by Army Drill Instructors at an Army training site location that will be designated in your orders."

“As an Individual Augmentee that does not necessarily mean they will tell you (in advance) where you will go,” Kimberly said. “It could be anything from cooking to checking people into barracks. But I do know he was on a routine, non-combat mission and was never going to fight unless attacked.

“The military and Navy have been doing everything they can for my family,” Kimberly added, referring to their handling of her family’s tragedy. “They will only share details with us after they are checked. They need to keep everybody safe there. There are details they’ll never share with me because this could endanger the lives of other soldiers.”

“Kim has an amazing circle of friends as well as a very tight family and she is holding up well, with a lot of people holding her up when she can’t,” Carol Rusher told the West Seattle Herald. Carol is Kimberly’s aunt, her mother’s sister.

“The Navy has been awesome with communications,” added Rusher. “We got the news, I want to say Saturday, July 24, that Jarod was missing. We got news a couple days later that a body was recovered and it was not Jarod, and we had great hopes that he was still alive (…) They don’t tell us any detail unless it is triple-checked. There were lots of phone communications to us about details and questions and they drove down here from Everett for face to face communication when there was any news.”

Then the news came. Rusher explained, “I was there with Kim and the kids. The kids had just received a package from their father, a DVD and a book. In the video, Jarod was reading the book and the kids were reading along with him, like he was there. Then he proceeded to talk to the kids and Kim and tell them he loves them and we all said, ‘we love you too.' At that moment there was a knock at the door by the Navy with the news that Jarod was dead.

“This is a great loss,” said Rusher. “He touched a lot of lives. A lot of lives. “

In addition to Saturday’s fundraiser, other fundraisers may be in the works. The West Seattle Herald will provide updates. Kimberly Newlove told us that when you enter the military you understand that some financial benefits are received by the family of a fallen soldier, including some life insurance and VA benefits, but she pointed out that this does not replace a soldier’s lifelong earnings.

A website is available if you'd like to donate to help the Newlove family, here.

A video slideshow about Jarod has been produced that demonstrates the kind of man he was and how his family feels about his loss.
It can be viewed here.