Charles “Charlie” H. Keating IV

Fallen Hero’s Hometown and State: Pheonix, AZ

Branch of Service: United States Navy

Rank: CPO

A 2004 graduate of Arcadia High School in Phoenix Keating was a champion cross country runner. He received a running scholarship at Indiana University. Keating left Indiana University after two years and enlisted in the Navy in February 2007 where he became a SEAL upon completing BUD/S training in 2008.

He served multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan where he earned numerous awards and decorations including a Bronze Star with Combat “V” device. Charlie was part of a force sent in to rescue a team of U.S. military advisers who had come under attack by over 100 ISIS fighters located north of Mosul in Iraq.

Keating died from injuries received during the battle. Posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his recent heroic action in March of this year, Keating was also promoted to the rank of chief petty officer. His Coronado-based SEAL Team 1 said in a statement that Keating, who was killed in a gunbattle with Islamic State fighters on May 3, “was an excellent special warfare operator, who worked tirelessly as both a breacher and sniper, and even served as a leading petty officer for the training of all West Coast SEAL snipers. “He was a dedicated and professional SEAL, a true warrior,” the group said. “To say that we will miss Charlie is of course an understatement. But the legacy he leaves behind, for his fellow SEALs and for those who knew him, is unmistakable. He died bravely, doing what he loved, and what he believed in. He set an example for the rest of us to follow.” “He also received a Purple Heart and Combat Action Ribbon for what he did the day he was killed”

Age: 31

Date of Death: May 03, 2016