A Florida mother is mourning her son, who was killed in a battle with ISIS.
Charles Keating IV, 31, died Tuesday after his vehicle was hit by a rocket in northern Iraq.
U.S. military officials said Keating was trying to save a group of military advisers who had gotten caught in a gunfight with ISIS fighters near Mosul.
The Arizona native was a Navy SEAL on his third tour in Iraq. He had also done a tour in Afghanistan.
Charles Keating IV, 31, died Tuesday after his vehicle was hit by a rocket in northern Iraq.
U.S. military officials said Keating was trying to save a group of military advisers who had gotten caught in a gunfight with ISIS fighters near Mosul.
The Arizona native was a Navy SEAL on his third tour in Iraq. He had also done a tour in Afghanistan.
Krista Joseph said her son was due to come home in August and be married in November.
"I talked to him the day before (he died) on FaceTime," Joseph added. "(I) got to see him, thank God."
"I talked to him the day before (he died) on FaceTime," Joseph added. "(I) got to see him, thank God."
Keating was a decorated combat veteran, but to his loved ones, he was just Charlie, a fun-loving and outgoing son and brother whom they loved dearly.
“I am so proud of my boy,” Joseph told WJAX.
She said that he had wanted to be a Navy SEAL since he was a little boy.
"This was what he wanted to do," Joseph said. "He was a hero. Hopefully, he'll be remembered."
Dr. Ron Joseph said his stepson was always willing to help his fellow man, especially in combat.
"Probably the worst thing you ever want to see is four Navy guys standing at your front door with their grim faces on," Ron Joseph said.
Keating entered the military in 2007 after going to Indiana University, where he ran cross country and track. He won a Bronze Star for valor after rescuing fellow SEALs from an ambush.
Keating's death is the third in Iraq since the American military redeployed there in 2014.
He leaves behind four siblings, including a brother who is also a Navy SEAL.
"This was what he wanted to do," Joseph said. "He was a hero. Hopefully, he'll be remembered."
Dr. Ron Joseph said his stepson was always willing to help his fellow man, especially in combat.
"Probably the worst thing you ever want to see is four Navy guys standing at your front door with their grim faces on," Ron Joseph said.
Keating entered the military in 2007 after going to Indiana University, where he ran cross country and track. He won a Bronze Star for valor after rescuing fellow SEALs from an ambush.
Keating's death is the third in Iraq since the American military redeployed there in 2014.
He leaves behind four siblings, including a brother who is also a Navy SEAL.
Jacksonville, Fla. — WJAX contributed to this report.
Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/7QOJU3BNCJERBNKJC5LWTBYFLU.png)
