On May 3, 2016, near the town of Tel Skuf, Iraq, more than 100 ISIS fighters launched a massive surprise assault using armored vehicles and suicide vehicle bombs. Charles Keating IV, affectionately known to his teammates as "Chuck Heavy," was part of a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) sent to reinforce a team of U.S. military advisors pinned down by the attack.
As local partner forces withdrew under overwhelming enemy pressure, the Navy SEALs stood their ground. Chuck led from the front, repeatedly exposing himself to intense enemy fire from a rooftop to deliver precision sniper fire and direct rocket strikes against the advancing enemy.
His fearless actions helped turn the tide during the grueling 14-hour battle, eliminating numerous enemy fighters and helping save the lives of his fellow SEALs before he was mortally wounded.
Those who were with him remembered that even in his final moments, he remained true to the warrior they knew. For his extraordinary heroism and selfless sacrifice, Charles Keating IV was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, the nation's second-highest military decoration for valor.
His teammates gave him the nickname "Chuck Heavy" because he lived every aspect of life at full intensity whether surfing, competing in athletics, training, or standing in the most dangerous place on the battlefield to protect his brothers.
Please share this tribute to honor the memory of a courageous American warrior and help keep the legacy of "Chuck Heavy" alive. Long live the Brotherhood.