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Last updated on Wednesday, May 4, 2016
(BLOOMINGTON) - A former Indiana University track athlete and Navy SEAL was killed Tuesday morning in an ISIS attack while serving in Iraq.
Charlie Keating IV, 31, of Paradise Valley, AZ, attended IU from 2004 to 2006, and he competed for the track and cross country teams.
Keating attended the Naval Academy and he became a Navy SEAL based out of Coronado, California, according to the Associated Press.
Keating's former cross country coach, Robert Chapman, offered his condolences and said no one was really surprised when Charlie left IU to enlist and try to become a SEAL.
"You could tell he was a guy who wanted to be the best and find out what he was made of, and serving as special operations forces for his country embodied that," said Chapman.
IU's head track and field coach Ron Helmer issued the following statement on Keating.
"From all accounts, Charles Keating was a great kid and a privilege to coach. On behalf of Indiana Track and Field, my condolences go out to the entire Keating family. He paid the ultimate sacrifice defending his country, and for that we are eternally grateful."
"Mr. Keating is the third American service member to be killed in direct combat in our nation's fight against ISIS. His death is a tragic reminder of the daily sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform - fighting evil and extremism on the front lines to protect freedom and democracy at home and throughout the world," said Arizona Governor Doug Ducey.
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