Chief Petty Officer Matt Mills, 36, died over the weekend in Afghanistan when his helicopter was hit by enemy fire.
The helicopter attack was one of the deadliest against the U.S. in the war, killing 30 service members, NPR reports.
Mills' cousin, JB Abbott toldMy Fox Austin about the relationship the Seal had with his work.
"He was very dedicated to the work he did. He was very proud to be a SEAL. He loved his brothers very deeply. I think in his passing he probably wouldn't have preferred it any other way," said JB Abbott, Mills' cousin.
Mills served in the military for 14 years.
His sister, Ashley Mills, said serving in the military was a family tradition, KXAN reports .
"I loved what he did," said Ashley Mills, who last heard from her brother via phone last week. "He told me he couldn't believe he was able to do what he was doing for a living because he loved it so much."
Mills was the father of three children, ages 18, 13 and one. He will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.