Former Theodore Roosevelt sailor dies years after being wounded in combat

By Stephanie Lee

A Navy sailor who became a quadriplegic as a result of an accident aboard the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt died this week of complications from his injuries.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel R. Verbeke, 25, of Exton, Pa., died at 3:15 a.m. Monday in Paoli Memorial Hospital in Pennsylvania. He had suffered from a traumatic brain injury since December 2005, when he was injured while performing emergency repairs to one of the arresting wires on the carrier, said his father, Robert Verbeke.

The accident left him unable to move his limbs, eat or drink. He had re-learned to utter short words such as "hi," "yeah" and "all right," his father said. Recently he told his sister, "I love you."

Verbeke grew up in Chester County, Pa., and enlisted in the Navy in June 2004. He served for 15 months aboard the Roosevelt as an aviation boatswain's mate, responsible for the aircraft arresting gear.

Verbeke's father said that while he was in the hospital, he enjoyed visits from his daughter, Savanna, now 3. Family members described Verbeke as an avid fan of classic rock, movies and the Philadelphia Phillies. He had been looking forward to attending his first baseball game since his injury on July 27, against the Atlanta Braves, Verbeke's father said.

Verbeke's honors include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

After the accident, Verbeke was treated at military hospitals in Kuwait, Iraq; Germany; Bethesda, Md.; and Richmond.

His progress significantly improved once he entered private care at Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital, his father said.

At a Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs hearing in March, Robert Verbeke testified that his son had received inadequate care at various medical centers run by the Department of Veterans Affairs. He said a VA official had recommended his son be placed in a dementia ward.

"The VA is still worrying more about cost than they are about proper amount of care to these guys," Robert Verbeke said Friday. "Maybe what we have done will enable someone else to come home sooner with the type of care they need versus what they're being told."

Stephanie Lee, (757) 446-2628, stephanie.lee@pilotonline.com