Orem High graduate and Navy officer killed in Afghanistan

OREM — The Navy is mourning former Orem resident and sailor Lt. Jeffrey Ammon, 37, who died Tuesday as a result of injuries sustained from an improvised explosive device in the Aband District of Afghanistan.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out Lt. Ammon's family and to our Navy Region Northwest family during this very difficult time," Rear Adm. James A. Symonds, commander of Navy Region Northwest, said in a statement.

"All of Jeff's uniformed and civilian coworkers are touched by the loss of this brave man," he continued. "He was a professional who was extremely dedicated to his family, his shipmates and our nation. He will be greatly missed."

After graduating from Orem High School in 1988, Ammon joined the Navy and became a trained submarine officer.

While in Afghanistan, Ammon was serving as an individual augmentee, which means he volunteered to go where he could be most useful — be it land or water.

He ended up working with micro-loans as a member of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Ghazni, Afghanistan.

Ammon had been in Afghanistan for 14 months when he was killed, having just extended his tour to continue helping the people fix their buildings, restock shelves and hire new employees.

He is survived by a wife and two children.

"He's an extremely smart individual to say the least," said Sean Hughes, Navy spokesman. "He's on a nuclear submarine, and he's an engineer who knows how to make it work."

Based on Ammon's special skill set, service record and adaptability, he was picked to work on the economic rebuilding, Hughes said.

"When he went over, he fit in wherever his talents lay," Hughes said. "He was doing good things."

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