Monroeville Navy SEAL Killed During Afghanistan Rescue
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) - The Pentagon says a Navy SEAL from Monroeville was killed during a rescue mission in Afghanistan that freed an American doctor abducted by the Taliban.
Petty Officer 1st Class Nicolas D. Checque, 28, died after being shot in the head Dec. 8, during the mission.
Checque was a member of SEAL Team Six, the same unit that killed Osama Bin Laden last year. However, it is unknown at this time if he participated in that mission.
However, he was among members of SEAL Team Six, which freed an American doctor who was abducted by the Taliban.
Officials in Afghanistan say Dr. Dilip Joseph of Colorado Springs, Colo., was rescued early Sunday in eastern Afghanistan.
The military says the adviser for Colorado Springs-based Morning Star Development was abducted last week and rescued after intelligence showed he was in imminent danger of injury or possible death.
Checque was a graduate of Norwin High School and was described by former classmates as being an extraordinary, driven young man.
"That was his plan. It wasn't college, it wasn't engineering. It was 'I'm interested in being in the military. I'm interested in living that lifestyle of serving my country.' That's what he wanted to do from when I first became friends with him on the wrestling team," Norwin High School Assistant Principal Michael Choby said.
Choby said he always knew Checque was special.
"Proud of where he went after being here and making an impact in the world and sad because we lost a great ambassador for Norwin," Choby said.
Former SEAL Lew Knopp was trained by the same men as Checque and said SEALs who serve their country are willing to die for it.
"We would have done the job for any American no matter what status level – doctor, street person. We would have been in there to save them had the enemy taken them and that's what went on there," Knopp said.
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