A decorated, veteran Navy SEAL, originally from Cohasset, died Sunday during military free-fall training in Arizona.
 Michael T. Ernest Photo Credit: USNI News | Navy officials told USNI News the incident happened when Chief Special Warfare Operator Michael T. Ernst was participating in parachute training at an airfield northwest of Tucson. Ernst, who was assigned to an East Coast-based naval special warfare unit, was taken to Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix and was pronounced dead shortly after 2 p.m. |
Ernst enlisted in the Navy in August 2009 and, after completing special-operations training, joined his first operational naval special warfare unit in 2012.
Ernst received numerous commendations throughout his career including the Joint Commendation Medal (with Combat Device), Army Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 awards), Army Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (3 awards), and the NATO Medal.
He also received a Silver Star, the nation’s third-highest for valor in combat.
The fatal accident remains under investigation with Navy officials saying it is the first parachuting mishap in nearly six years to claim the life of a Navy SEAL.
