Navy SEAL, Formerly of Md., Killed

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."