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ByEmeryDalesioand Tamara Lush The Associated Press CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. Just four days before he was killed in a helicopter crash, Staff Sgt. Andrew Seif was awarded one of the mili- tary's highest honors for heroism, a commendation he earned for his efforts to save a mortally wounded friend in heavy gunfire in Afghanistan. Seif, 26, was given the Silver Star in a room full of his fellow Marines, walking arm in arm with his wife af- ter the ceremony. The boy who grew up playing sol- dier in his Michigan back- yard was hailed by one of his superiors, Maj. Gen. Jo- seph L. Osterman, as a self- less person who put himself in the line of fire so that Sgt. Justin Hansen wouldn't be left behind. He and Hansen came un- der heavy fire as they closed in on a bomb expert in Af- ghanistan. His comrade was wounded; Seif moved him to safety, treated his wounds and fired back. At the cer- emony, he deflected praise. "There are definitely some individuals out there who deserve (the medal) just as well," Seif said. "But it's an honor to accept it on the be- half of the unit and on behalf of the rest of the men." The young Marine's story emerged Friday when the Marines killed in the crash were publicly identified, some three days after the crash. The deceased had been students and hus- bands, officers and sons. Four were National Guard soldiers from Louisi- ana also were killed, though they have not been identi- fied. The Air Force said in a news release that a sal- vage barge was expected to arrive at the crash site by early Friday afternoon. The work to haul the shattered helicopter core from about 25 feet of water could take up to eight hours. During a Friday news conference at Camp LeJeune, Osterman — who is commander of Marine Corps special operations forces — said the Marines were flying offshore to prac- tice rappelling down ropes into the water and then making for land. He didn't know whether the Marines were planning to reach shore by swimming or in small rubber boats, but the same drill had been prac- ticed hours earlier during daylight, Osterman said. "They literally had done it hours before in daylight as part of the rehearsal for being able to do the night- time operations, which in- herently are more difficult," Osterman said. The teams of Marines and Army-piloted chop- pers made a judgment call on whether conditions were sufficient for the training mission to go ahead. Then when they were heading out to start the mission, they tried to abort after decid- ing it was too risky, Oster- man said. Training is part of be- ing ready for high risk op- erations. The seven Ma- rines were members of the same team who constantly trained and faced danger together, he said. Marine Special Opera- tions Command, or MAR- SOC, has seen its members honored for valor and suf- fering with 19 Silver Star medals, 7 Navy Crosses, 189 Purple Hearts and 207 Bronze Stars, Osterman said. "They really epitomized the silent warrior and the quiet professional that is really a hallmark of all the Marines here at MARSOC," Osterman said of the 2,500 MARSOC troops. He de- clined to cite specific in- stances of heroism or the missions accomplished by other Marines who were on the doomed chopper. Like other clandestine services, a private ceremony remembering the special operations Marines will be held in the coming weeks to help surviving family mem- bers close the page on their deaths. Jenna Kemp's husband, Kerry Kemp, was among the Marines killed. He was a "proud Marine, a loving husband and most won- derful father," with a child about to turn 1, said her sis- ter, Lora Waraksa of Port Washington, Wisconsin. MILITARY HELICOPTER Fa ll en Ma ri ne a wa rd ed S il ve r St ar days before deadly helicopter crash DEVONRAVIN—NORTHWESTFLORIDADAILYNEWS American flags stand in the median near the bridge entrance to Navarre Beach, Fla. By Jim Kuhnhenn and Josh Hoffner The Associated Press PHOENIX Amid persis- tent complaints about vet- erans' health care, Pres- ident Barack Obama ac- knowledged lingering weaknesses Friday in the federal government's re- sponse to the chronic de- lays and false waiting lists that triggered a national outcry over the Veterans Affairs health system last year. Obama said that while VA Secretary Robert Mc- Donald is "chipping away" at the problem, "what we do know is there is still more work to do." In his first trip to the Phoenix VA hospital whose practices sparked the scan- dal, Obama announced the creation of an advisory committee to recommend further steps the VA could take to improve veterans' access to health care. Obama met with vet- erans, VA employees and elected officials, includ- ing Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake, Arizona's two Republican senators. He said lawmakers spe- cifically raised questions about the slow pace of implementing a new law meant to increase health care choices for veterans. "The final issue I heard a lot about today," he said, "was the need to restore trust and confidence in the VA system. Trust is some- thing you can lose real quick." But the president added, "Every veteran I talked to today said that the actual care they re- ceived once in the system was outstanding." Other areas of concern, according to Obama: men- tal health and suicide pre- vention. Obama's visit came amid questions from law- makers who say veterans are still not benefiting from changes in the law that were meant to im- prove their access to care. A month ago, Obama drew criticism for traveling to Phoenix without stopping at the VA hospital. House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller, R-Fla., lamented that nearly a year after the scandal broke, the VA hasn't fired any Phoenix employ- ees for falsifying wait times for veterans seeking care. He said efforts to hold em- ployees accountable at this facility "have been repeat- edly botched." "It's becoming quite ev- ident that this adminis- tration is either unwilling or unable to take account- ability at VA seriously," Miller said in a statement. Yet in advance of the visit, the White House de- fended the VA's actions to correct problems. Obama also announced the creation of an advisory committee to address ways to improve the VA's service to veterans. The commit- tee will consist of repre- sentatives from the private sector, veterans' organiza- tions, government, health sciences and academics. The Phoenix VA Medi- cal Center prompted the scrutiny last year follow- ing reports that dozens of veterans died while await- ing treatment at the hos- pital. The ensuing scan- dal prompted the ouster of VA Secretary Eric Shin- seki. The agency's Phoenix director, Sharon Helman, also lost her job. HEALTH CARE At P ho en ix V A, Ob am a says more to do for vets Tehama Country Real Estate This Week Saletotakeplacefromthepremises Red Bluff • 260 Gurnsey Drive 3bd,2ba,1561sf Sale Date: Saturday, March 28 th at 12pm For a free brochure call 800-260-5846 www.auctionservicesintl.com Onsite Real Estate Auction BANK OWNED! Lori Slade Lic# 01042134 Barbara Dancel Lic# 01870814 530-529-2700•314WashingtonSt,RedBluff,CA96080 www.TehamaCountyRealEstate.com AWESOME, ALMOST NEW, 3/2 WITH NEW CARPET AND PAINT, all appliances and home warranty included. Gas f/p, covered patio, new sod, RV storage area, GREAT master suite with sider to backyard. $229K 2 BUILDING LOT'S in Wilcox area. Located on private cul-de-sac, one is 1.74 ac. and other is 1.86 ac. Electricity on the property, pads cut and ready for your custom home. Priced at $45K and $55K.� 45 ACRE RANCH, beautiful setting with great potential. 2600 s.f. home, barn, corrals, fairly level acres and some heavily treed acres. Seller says a portion was irrigated in the past, no system in place at this time. $395K RE/MAX American Dream Robert Thayer, Owner / Realtor 1704 Solano St, Corning CA, 96021 Callmeat(530)515-3367 for any information on any listing, or listing your own home/business/property. Email rthayer@remax.net License # 01486553 ServingallofTehamaCounty,NorthernGlennCounty&SouthernShasta 1075 sq. ft. 2 bed 1 bath home in Richfield on 0.91 acre..................... Pending 19.5 Acres in the Thomes Creek Subdivision, power along the road....$74,000 15.3 acres with community water and septic, several outbuildings, Owner may carry................................................................................... Pending 1778 sq. ft. 3 bed 2.5 bath on 0.17 acre lot built in 1987.....................$229,000 1344 sq. ft. 3 bed 2 bath manufactured home on 2.2 acres with shop$175,000 3 bed 2 bath 1620 sq. ft. home on 0.24 acre with central heat and air....SOLD! 32 Oak tree covered acres with 1300 sq. ft. home, salt water pool, smoke house, seasonal creek, Deer, Turkeys..................................................$260,000 2393 sq. ft. 4 bed 2 bath corner lot, two car garage with in ground pool....... SOLD! 160 acres with hunting cabin and small year round spring..................$199,900 3 bed 2 bath 1296 sq. ft. home on 10 acres with detached shop........$250,000 2677 sq. ft. 3 bed 2 bath on 5 acres in Richfield..................................$340,000 1476 sq.ft. 2 bed 2 bath home built in 1996. Home has 9 1 /2 ft. ceilings, ceiling fans in all rooms, oak kitchen cabinets, claw foot tub in second bath, two car detached garage with side shop. Property has 5 pastures, barn 1 / 60'x60' with 7 14'x16' stalls, feed room and 80 ton hay storage in center of barn. Barn 2 / 36'x50' 7-12'x12' stalls and feed room, barn 3 / 20x30. Barn 4 / 14'x28', three small shelters 12'x12', barn 5 / 26'x24', 12'x14' shed, tack and bunk house with bathroom, two round pens one 50' and the other is 32', 80'x60' arena. $ 649,000 1367 sq. ft. 3 bed 2 bath home on corner lot.......................................$169,000 2005 1458 sq. ft. 3 bed 2 bath home with covered concrete patio....... Pending 1367 sq. ft. 3/2 on corner lot with solar. $169,000 RE/MAX American Dream 1704SolanoSt. Corning, CA. 96021 (530) 824-8100 Serving all of Serving all of T ehama County, Tehama County, N orthern Northern G lenn County Glenn County & Southern Shasta & Southern Shasta Corning Adult & Family Park 1 BD / 1 BA 2 BD/1 BA From $9,900 OWC Space Rent $350-$360 a month (530) 824-1500 WESTERN REAL ESTATE MINCH PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 760MainSt.•530-527-5514 Commercial Properties For Sale: • 13545 Saint Marys Ave. (Orlease)................................................................40,000sq/ft • 728 Rio St. 1/4 Acre Parcel (Raredowntownriverfrontlot) Now Reduced $89,500 • 22660 Antelope Blvd........................................................ From 5,600 to 18,240 sq/ft • 519 Jefferson St. (vacantcommerciallot)......................................................9,775sq/ft Commercial Properties For Lease: • 230 S. Main St.(FormerInsuranceOffice)............................................................1,150 sq/ft • 836 Washington Street #A (FormerCardShop).................................................500 sq/ft • 750 Main Street (Retail/Professional).....................................................................1,825 sq/ft • 731-741 Main Street (Upstairs)............................................................various size suites • 345 Pine Street (Professional/Office)...................................................................... 1,100 sq/ft • 22660 Antelope Blvd......................................................... From 5,600 to 18,240 sq/ft South Main Street strip center several suites available | NEWS | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2015 4 B