Eddy Furlani grew up in Gilbertsville, PA and graduated High School from Boyertown, PA in June of 2000. In mid July that same year he left for Navy Bootcamp with the single purpose of becoming a Navy SEAL. In 2003 he achieved the first step toward that goal as a proud member of BUD/S Graduating Class 245. After completing SEAL Qualification Training (SQT) in 2004, he officially became a Navy SEAL.
He joined SEAL Team SEVEN on deployment to the Southern Philippines and Iraq. He and the rest of his CHARLIE Platoon conducted both personal security operations for Iraq’s Vice President, taking part in action combat missions out of Al Anbar Providence’s Habbaniyah Iraq, and later spent 3 years as a sniper instructor at Naval Special Warfare’s Advance Training Command where he qualified SEALs as snipers and assessed new precision weapons systems.
He was also a teacher for advanced urban and open terrain tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP’s) to already combat proven snipers. Among Eddy’s personal awards are a Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal with Combat “V” and a second Navy Achievement Medal. In addition, Eddy and his Team conducted 58 direct action combat operations and captured Iraq’s #3 High Value Individual. His actions on and off the battlefield have unquestionably saved the lives of many teammates as well as those of innocent non combatants.
Eddy left active duty in 2012 having lived the life of a combat decorated Frogman he had always dreamed of all those years before. As the proud father of three beautiful children: Dexter, Zelma and Loki and husband to an amazing lady: Andrea, many of his fondest moments were found in the time he shared with his young family. ** Throughout the years of Eddy’s service; he developed Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). He was 3 days away from starting a long-term treatment program when he took his own life on July 19, 2017. Eddy was my closest guy friend of 13 years.
The Edward P. Furlani Tadpole Foundation was founded just a few days after his memorial service. Eddy (Navy SEAL Frogman) often referred to his kids as “tadpoles”; and so the Tadpole Foundation was launched; with it’s single purpose to stop Veteran Suicide.
