LANSING, MI – Gov. Rick Snyder ordered U.S. flags throughout the state to be lowered to half-staff in honor of U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer Heath M. Robinson, a Navy SEAL, on Friday, Sept. 23, at the request of the family. Flags should be returned to full-staff on Saturday, Sept. 24.
Robinson, 34, of Petoskey, was among 30 service members killed on Aug. 6 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Their helicopter was shot down by enemy forces in Afghanistan’s Wardak province.
“Our state and nation are deeply saddened by the loss of Chief Petty Officer Robinson and his fellow heroes,” Snyder said. “My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and community during this difficult time.”
Robinson was assigned to the East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare Unit. He enlisted in the Navy in January 1996 and completed Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL School in Coronado, Calif., in January 2000. He then served with two West Coast-based special warfare units from March 2000 to April 2004, and later served with four East Coast-based special warfare units beginning in April 2004.
Robinson’s decorations include four Bronze Star Medals, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, a Combat Action Ribbon, two Presidential Unit Citations, a Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, five Navy Good Conduct Medals, the Navy Fleet Marine Force Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, two Afghanistan Campaign Medals, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, six Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, the NATO Medal, the Navy Expert Rifleman Medal and the Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal.
When flown at half-staff or half-mast, the U. S. flag should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff or half-mast position. The flag should again be raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.
