Family remembers Navy corpsman killed by Afghan recruit

A Navy corpsman from Colorado Springs was killed Friday when an Afghan police recruit shot and killed him.

Petty Officer 1st Class Darrel Enos, 36, was on his seventh tour of duty, according to family.

“We were supposed to hang out in a couple weeks when he got home,” said Enos’ twin brother Dale Enos.

Enos was the youngest of eight kids and a graduate of Mitchell High School. Family said he was a father of four and step-father of two who loved animals and was passionate about his military service.

“He loved being in the Navy, he loved being a corpsman,” said Dale. “He saved a lot of peoples’ lives over there.”

“I’m very proud of what he’s done,” said sister Annie Hovenic. “He’s been in there since high school, so that’s what he chose to do.”

Enos’ brother-in law Alan Hovenic said Enos didn’t feel good about his seventh tour overseas.

“He said there was someone out there who had a bullet for him,” said Hovenic.

That bullet came from an Afghan police officer Enos had trained. The recruit murdered Enos and another trainer, Staff Sgt. Gregory Copes, 36. Family said it happened at the recruit’s graduation ceremony.

“They’re over there trying to help them,” said Dale. “And they turned on him.”

Insider attacks have now killed 40 coalition troops this year alone.

Enos was assigned to 3d Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command. After 16 years in the Navy, Enos was getting close to retirement.

“It never entered my mind that he would never come home, because he always came home,” said his sister, Toni Enos.

There will be a service for Enos on Friday at Camp Lejeune where he was stationed in North Carolina. Family said they plan to scatter his ashes over the Grand Canyon, which is what Enos had requested.