Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph A. McSween

Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph Adam McSween, 26, of Valdosta, GA, formerly of York, NE, died April 6th from enemy action while conducting combat operations near Kirkuk, Iraq. Adam was assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11, a highly trained unit who has expertise in identifying explosive materials and rendering them safe.

Adam was born August 11, 1980 to Bob McSween and Florence McSween-Elkins in Georgia. He attended Valdosta High School and graduated from Georgia Christian High School. From there, he set out to York, NE where he would attend York College on a track scholarship and later graduated in 2001 with his Associates degree. There, Adam met and fell in love with his wife Erin (Hammitt), while they were students. Adam was a member of the Oak Harbor Church of Christ in Oak Harbor, WA.

Adam leaves behind his wife Erin and two daughters, Lilly (5) and Gwyneth (2). Also surviving are his parents; two brothers: Robert and Kyle; and one sister Angela.

Military funeral services were held April 17th at 10:30 a.m. at the City Auditorium in York with full military gravesides services following at Greenwood Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to York College.

John 15:13 (NIV) “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

Petty Officer McSween received the Bronze Star with “V” (Combat Distinguished Device), Purple Heart and Combat Action Ribbon.