Fox 10 News, Fox 5 News, and KGUN9 have announced that Navy Seal Charlie Keating IV was killed in action on Tuesday during an intense and extremely heavy firefight in northern Iraq. Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook told Fox 5 that the young Keating was an advisor to Kurdish Peshmerga forces.
“Islamic State fighters shot and killed a Navy SEAL during an “extremely heavy, extremely intense” firefight with U.S. forces and Kurdish Peshmerga troops in northern Iraq Tuesday, military officials and a trainer who witnessed the fighting,” told Fox News.
Charlie was born into a family with a rich history in the sport of swimming. Charlie grew up in the Phoenix area where he swam and attended Arcadia High School. Charlie’s father, Charlie Keating III (CIII), was a member of the 1976 U.S. Olympic team where he finished fifth in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke. CIII has been inducted into both the St. Xavier Hall of Fame (2006) and Indiana University Hall of Fame.
His grandfather, Charles Keating Jr. was also a swimmer, participating at the collegiate level where he won the national title in the men’s 200-yard breaststroke in 1946. The elder Keating was a long-time supporter of the sport of swimming, donating money and helping St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati to build a competition pool: Keating Aquatic Center. Keating was a fundamental developer of the Cincinnati Marlins swim club, which produced six swimmers on the 1980 U.S. Olympic team roster, and later the Phoenix Swim Club, where his grandson (and Keating IV cousin) Gary Hall Jr. practiced.
Swimming World extends their condolences to the entire Keating family.
Erin Nicole thought you’d like to see this
Thanks girl. So sad for his family and loved ones and swimming community. Such a tragic loss
Prayers for the Keating family
Prayers the Charlie Keating IV and for his family left behind and the swimming family he was part! R.I.P.
Prayers to the family
My deepest condolences to the entire Keating family and to all of Charlie’s friends.
Prayers for the family! RIP
Well, it doesn’t exactly fit Swimming World’s narrative, but Grandpa Keating was best known for his role in the savings and loan scandal of the late 1980s. That’s not something I’d leave out when speaking about the Keating family.
Completely inappropriate comment at a time like this. Condolences to the Keating family and all Charlie’s friends.
I didn’t create his legacy. I just said what it was.
@bill V -and you’re best known for being an A$$! Get a life and be thankful this young man made the ultimate sacrifice for you so you can sit behind you computer and enjoy your meaningless life
Oh dear, you really have no idea.
Bill V. Is a douchebag. His contribution to our country is using EBT to buy lots of twinkies. I would write more but I need to go back to work to pay for his free stuff.
It’s a little early in the day to be so incoherent. I’d watch that if I were you.
Thank you for making the ultimate sacrifice to protect the USA and the world Charlie Keating. You will never be forgotten.
He died doing something very honorable. It’s a testament to our sport the values and work ethic it instills in us, that drive us to do our best and help others. Rip
Sad, our prayers are with the family. Thank you Charlie for your bravery and service.
RIP and prayers for the family!
Rest easy, brother.
RIP. Prayers to the family
Rest easy Brother.. we have the watch..
RIP brother.
Prayers to his family
Oh no!
Sending prayers
So sad! Prayers!
Rest easy chuck
Prayers
??????
RIP
Gail Collins
Wow. I saw that a Navy seal was killed today but I didn’t know it was him. ?
RIP?????
Peace
To Krista and the entire Keating family, our prayers and thoughts are with you. We fondly remember the track days with Charlie. God bless and give you peace.
RIP
Rest in Peace with your Grandfather whom with you is known and thanked for so much more in life.
The swimming community has produced many Seals, I still miss Bill Earley. I have been fortunate to know 5 of the SEAL community, every one was amazingly intelligent, modest in their heroics. All had been struck by bullets from the enemies of the United States. I don’t think Bill V. would ever know what that is like. I did not know Charlie Keating IV , but I am thankful that he was raised by his family with the best of American values.
Prayers the Charlie Keating IV and for his family left behind and the swimming family he was part! R.I.P
Thank you, C-IV.
Thank you also for your comments, Wayne. Athletes are too often tied into recognition as heroes just for performing well in athletics. Seals, who pass in the line of duty such as CIV, are clearly to be appreciated as heroes for their honorable service.
Great athletes who have also committed to protecting others in the most dangerous circumstances, such as C-IV did, can be truly recognized as figures to be most highly respected in life, with sports simply being part of their life tapestry. Let me apologize in advance to any left out by my error, but among those still with us who performed at sports highest levels and thereafter served as Seals and are worthy of continuing appreciation from our country and especially from our sport, are:
Mike Troy, Gold medals in 200 Butterfly and 4×200 Free Relay, Rome, 1960
Larsen Jensen, 2004 Athens 1500 Silver, 2008 Beijing 400 Free Bronze, (still holds Am Record)
Well said, Dunc1952. The IU Track (former) student-athletes (as well as the adult children of IU’s former baseball coach, the youngest was very close to C-IV) let me know C-IV also has a younger brother who is a Seal, as well. While it amazes me that one family has two Seals, it doesn’t surprise me that it’s the Keatings. C-IV and his brother may or may not have been swimmers, but they are children and nephews of US (Swimming) Olympians (and IU swimmers), so I do hope our swimming community will continue to be supportive of the Keatings and Halls during this tragic time.
My comment was about the family, which was portrayed as only part of what it really is. Let’s not leave out the important details. The family is not as admirable as some would like us to think.
Thank you Wayne, Amy, Vaile, John, Renee and Yasmine … Charlie IV is a way better person than most of us could ever hope to be … fighting for and dying for our country … IMO there is no greater calling or accomplishment in life (including winning an Olympic gold medal), other than serving God. I hope Charlie is now with his grandfather, who like all of us, made mistakes. Obviously, Charlie was able to rise above what was probably a fairly traumatic childhood. The Keating and Hall families have meant so much to me personally, but also to our sport. Charlie IV was a much admired and loved Track student-athlete at Indiana University, his father’s and uncle’s (Gary Hall) alma mater. The postings of his college friends and teammates on Facebook last night and this morning are wonderful tributes to a friend that they lost way too early in life. I appreciate the positive comments above from the swimming community. The negative commenters can GTH. I will try to focus on the good and keep Charlie’s family and friends in my thoughts and prayers. Jennifer Hooker Brinegar
Well said Jennifer.
Prayers to the family.
So sad news 🙁
Condolences to the Keating Family.
Charlie Keating II gave my father (Paul) his first coaching job with the Cincinnati Marlins which started his career and gave our entire family a great life all thanks to Grandpa Charlie. My family is so grateful for the numerous kindnesses your family extended to ours and he remembers fondly coaching CIII. My heart breaks for your entire family and all of the many friends who are dealing with this loss. Thank you for your service and ultimate sacrifice CIV-I extend this thanks to CIV’s new bride as well. God Bless and keep you all and offer you some comfort and protection in this difficult time. As for the comments about Charlie Keating II, he made a mistake and paid for it-his penance is over according to our justice system. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone and judge not lest ye be judged. This article and the responses were created for condolences and appreciation for CIV’s service and sacrifice-it doesn’t seem like an appropriate place for criticism of any kind. That’s kind of like kicking someone when they’re already down which says more about the person criticizing than it does about the man being criticized-just my opinion. Honor our armed forces for the sacrifice both they and their families make everyday for our freedoms. God Bless them all!