Always Remember the Fallen Published Jan. 19, 2011 By Navy Lt. Lonnie Griffith, Officer in Charge Center for Information Dominance Det. GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- -- Navy Senior Chief Cryptologic Technician (Collection) David B. McLendon 30, was one of nine killed when the Army Blackhawk helicopter they were traveling on in support of a special operations mission went down in the southern Afghanistan province of Zabul on Sept. 21, 2010. Senior Chief McLendon graduated the Navy Analysis and Reporting Course at Goodfellow in April 2010. Raised in Thomasville, Ga., Senior Chief McLendon was a 1998 graduate of Thomas County Central High School and entered the Navy soon after graduation, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. He quickly rose through the ranks and obtained the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer in 2009. He was a Navy cryptologic technician who was trained at Pensacola, Fla., and Ft. Huachuca, Ariz., and was a graduate of Excelsior College. During his 12-year Navy career he served at various commands in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and Norfolk, Va. His most recent command was Naval Special Warfare, Support Activity 2 at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, Va. Senior Chief McLendon is survived by his wife in Virginia Beach and his parents of Thomasville, Ga. He is also survived by his brother and sister from Macon, Ga.; and his paternal grandmother in Thomasville, as well as nephews and nieces. His fellow servicemembers remember his as a dedicated Navy professional with a quick wit and an engaging sense of humor. He loved fishing, the Atlanta Falcons and the Atlanta Braves. Senior Chief McLendon was devoted to his wife of eight years and enjoyed spending time with her walking the beaches of Virginia Beach searching for sea glass. He was loved by many, especially his wife, and will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing and serving with him.