James Derek Lovelace of Crestview, Florida a prospective Navy SEAL who trained in Coronado, California.

Lovelace was born in Germany, and he dreamed of becoming a SEAL, according to a death announcement from Whitehurst Powell Funeral Home and Southern Heritage Crematory in his home town of Crestview, Florida.

He enjoyed any activity on the water and played baseball at Crestview High School and Faulkner State Community College in Alabama according to the death announcement. Lovelace joined the Navy and graduated basic training on Jan. 28, 2016, in Great Lakes, Illinois.

His awards and decorations include the National Defense Ribbon and Sharpshooter Pistol Qualification.

Death

Emergency responders were not able to revive James Lovelace when he was pulled out of the pool and transported to a civilian hospital after showing signs of troubled swimming, Naval Special Warfare Center spokesman Lt. Trevor Davids said. ^[1]

On July 6, 2016 several witnesses came forward and reported that the Navy instructors continued to push the 21-year-old into the water despite his blue appearance and inability to breathe.