Slain Coronado-Based Navy SEAL Returns Home, Posthumously Promoted

Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Keating IV died May 10 while fending off an ISIS attack in Iraq

The U.S. Navy SEAL killed last week in Iraq will be posthumously promoted, the Navy announced Wednesday as his body returned to Coronado, California. 

Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Keating IV died May 3 about 14 miles north of Mosul in an attack launched by 125 ISIS fighters, Pentagon officials said. He was part of a small force sent to fend off the attack.

Keating’s body arrived at the Naval Air Station at Naval Base Coronado at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The Navy announced that Keating will be posthumously promoted to Chief Petty Officer.

Keating lived in Coronado with his wife, Brooke, and her family. The two married before he deployed, the family told NBC 7.

Members of the Navy, close friends, and residents lined the streets hearse carrying the body of fallen Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Keating IV made its way to the mortuary.

His family and fellow SEALs rode close behind, surrounded by Patriot Riders on motorcycles, most of whom were veterans.

"These guys put themselves in harm’s way much farther than any other human being in the United States," said U.S. Marine veteran Jay Dee.

Before heading over the Coronado Bridge, the riders joined Keating’s family inside the base for a short ceremony.

"If we can just show our support to them and the troops and the wounded warrior that is going home, then we hope that has some soothing effect on the family and on the fellow members of their SEAL Team One," said U.S. Marine veteran Jim Reid.

Keating’s mother, Krista Keating-Joseph, told NBC 7 San Diego her son wished to be buried as close as possible to Coronado Amphibious Naval Base. Keating wanted to be near his SEAL Team One, she said, instead of in Arlington National Cemetery.

A private memorial will take place Thursday for his family and members of the SEAL community.

A processional following Keating’s funeral service Friday will go through C Street and proceed down 6th Avenue, over the Coronado Bridge to Rosecrans National Cemetery. 

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