President Donald Trump deviated from his normal schedule to make an unannounced – and largely secret – stop at Delaware’s Dover Air Base to honor the first U.S. combat military member to die under his White House watch – Chief Special Warfare Operator William “Ryan” Owens, a 36-year-old serving with the Navy SEALs.
Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, accompanied.
Owens, from Peoria, Illinois, was killed during a raid in Yemen at an al-Qaeda compound. More than a half a dozen terror suspects were also killed during the operation.
Trump’s travels to Dover were kept secret.
From the Associated Press:
“The president and his daughter, Ivanka, departed the White House in the presidential helicopter with their destination unannounced. A small group of journalists traveled with Trump on the condition that the visit was not reported until his arrival.
“Marine One landed at Dover shortly before a C-17 believed to be carrying Owens’ remains touched down. The president met with Owens’ family during a two-hour visit to the base. The sailor’s family had requested that Trump’s visit and the return of Owens’ remains be private.”
The raid, which AP said had been planned by the previous Barack Obama administration but authorized by Trump, also resulted in the injury of three other U.S. servicemembers and the death of eight civilians, including the daughter, age 8, of radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, who himself was killed during a drone strike in 2011.
Owens, who joined the Navy in 1998, had a stellar record.
He was awarded two Bronze stars, a Joint Service Commendation and an Afghanistan Campaign Medal, among other military honors.
Navy Special Command put out a statement shortly after his death, calling Owens a “devote father, a true professional and a wonderful husband.”
And Trump’s reaction to the somber occasion?
He tweeted, a day later: “Attending Chief Ryan Owens’ Dignified Transfer yesterday with my daughter Ivanka was my great honor. To a great and brave man – thank you!”
