Charles Keating IV
Charles Keating IV, graduated from Arcadia High in 2004[1] and went on to compete for the Cross Country team at Indiana University. After two athletic seasons, Keating IV joined the Navy SEALs and trained at the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in California.[2] He was deployed to the American-led intervention in Iraq, supporting Iraqi Kurdistan's Peshmerga forces in an advise and assist mission in a 30-man unit.
On May 3, 2016, Keating IV, a petty officer, first class, was killed by small arms fire during an ISIL assault on a Peshmerga position approximately 3 to 5 kilometers behind enemy lines, near the town of Tel Asqof, 28–30 km north of Mosul.[3] ISIL militants broke into the position using three truck bombs followed by bulldozers which cleared the wreckage away, the U.S. responded with fighter, bomber and drone carrying out 31 airstrikes; which killed 58 IS militants and destroyed 20 vehicles, stopping the attack.[4] Keating IV was part of a nearly 20-man QRF that was sent to rescue a dozen U.S. advisors and to assist the Peshmerga, during the battle the SEALs ran low on ammunition and Keating's machine gun malfunctioned so he went back to a nearby coalition vehicle to get a new weapon and additional ammunition. Keating, now armed with a sniper rifle, climbed on top of a building and began firing on the ISIS fighters. It was at this point that Keating was struck by enemy fire, he was medevac'd to a hospital where he was declared dead.[5][6][7][8] Arizona governor Doug Ducey ordered state flags be flown at half mast on May 4.[9] He was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his actions in a battle against about 100 ISIS fighters on March 4, 2016, in Syria.[5] The award was later upgraded to a Navy Cross, the US military's second highest award for valor.[10]
References[edit]
- ↑ "Arcadia High School's Charles Keating IV is in for a big day". azcentral. May 3, 2016.
- ↑ "Navy SEAL Killed in Iraq Identified as Former Track Star from Arizona". Military.com.
- ↑ "Navy SEAL killed by ISIS fire in Iraq identified". Navy Times. May 4, 2016. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
- ↑ "Inside the Battle With ISIS That Killed a US Navy SEAL". ABC news. May 4, 2016.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Revelation of March ISIS battle highlights risks for U.S. troops". CNN. June 20, 2016.
- ↑ "U.S. Navy SEAL killed in Iraq battle vs. ISIS". CBS. May 3, 2016.
- ↑ "US serviceman killed in Iraq as IS breaches Peshmerga lines". May 3, 2016.
- ↑ "Navy SEAL Charles Keating IV killed in Iraq after ISIS breaks through Peshmerga lines". CNN. May 3, 2016.
- ↑ "Governor Doug Ducey Orders The Lowering Of Flags For Navy SEAL Killed In Iraq". Office of the Arizona Governor.
- ↑ Sisson, Paul. "Navy upgrades valor medals for 17 special-operations troops". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
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