Welcome to this week's installment where all the member bloggers of "Wednesdays Hero", found in my sidebar and theirs collectively honor many of the real hero's found in this country who's names and bio's have been provided to us for these humble tributes by blogroll creators Indian Chris @ Right Wing and Right Minded along with HooahWife.Many of our soldiers are those that have paid the ultimate price for this country, protecting it both at home and abroad from the many threats we face from our enemies wishing us and them harm, and some are not.
In either case they are the real American heroes of today and we now both salute and offer our prayers to both them and their loved ones. To join us if you wish to please start by reading the post below.
Navy Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL)
Michael E. Koch29 years old from State College, Pennsylvania
East Coast-based SEAL team
February 4, 2008"There are only approximately 2,500 SEALs in the Navy and they really are a brotherhood," said Naval Special Warfare spokesman Lt. David Luckett. "This is another unfortunate reminder of the risks and sacrifices these amazing warriors and their families make on a daily basis."
Koch leaves behind his parents and a fiancee. He enlisted in July 1998 and entered SEAL training in January 1999, according to The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk. He received the Bronze Star, Joint Service Commendation Medal and three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.
Navy SEAL Michael E. Koch died Feb. 4 after being wounded by small-arms fire during combat operations in Iraq alongside fellow SEAL Nathan Hardy, who was profiled last week
By N.C. Aizenman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, February 11, 2008; B03
Chief Petty Officer Michael E. Koch, 29, a graduate of Charles County schools and former resident of La Plata, was one of two Navy SEALs based in Virginia Beach killed in Iraq last week.
Koch and Chief Petty Officer Nathan H. Hardy of Durham, N.H., died Feb. 4 of wounds suffered from small-arms fire during a combat operation, according to Navy officials.
Born on Offut Air Force Base in Omaha, Neb., where his father was stationed, Koch moved frequently as a child because of his father's assignments. He graduated from Maurice J. McDonough High School in Pomfret in 1996.
For the next year and a half, Koch attended Penn State University. He left to enlist in the Navy in 1998 and entered SEAL training in 1999. Joining the elite Special Forces unit was always his goal, said his father, Donald Koch.
"That's why he went into the Navy -- to try out for the SEALs," Koch said. "He was very humble and quiet but fabulous at what he did."
During his career, Koch was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor, a Joint Service Commendation Medal and, three times, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. His father said Koch will be receiving posthumously a second Bronze Star with Valor.
Koch's commitment to military service appeared to run in the family. His brother, Matthew Koch, served in the Navy for four years, and works as a private contractor in Iraq. He flew back with Michael's body. Koch's father has also worked as a contractor in Iraq and Afghanistan since retiring from the Air Force. And his mother has an accounting job with a U.S. contractor in Afghanistan.
"We as a military family supported Mike in everything he did," Donald Koch said. "But as they say, freedom isn't free. It was a noble and honorable death, and we view it that way and support what the military is doing and what President Bush is trying to get done in this war on terror."
Koch is also survived by a sister and a fiancee. His father declined to discuss further details of his life or death in deference to his son's deep sense of privacy.
"His wishes would have been that it should be kept within the SEAL community and within the family unit," he said. "He did not want to be publicized and his personal life put out for public knowledge. That's just not the type of person that he was."
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived
This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
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