Two locally based SEALs, both decorated chief petty officers with deep military ties, were killed during combat Monday in Iraq.
Nathan Hardy and Michael E. Koch, both 29, were slain by small-arms fire during anti-insurgent operations, the Navy announced Tuesday.
Hardy, originally from Durham, N.H., is the grandson of two World War II veterans, according to his father, Steve Hardy. One grandfather served aboard PT-109 with John F. Kennedy, the young officer who would become president.
Koch, whose family is in State College, Pa., has a brother serving in Iraq, and both of his parents have worked as contractors in the Middle East.
Sixteen locally based SEALs have been killed during combat in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2002, according to data compiled by The Virginian-Pilot.
Nathan Hardy wanted to be a SEAL since he was in sixth grade, his father said Tuesday night in an interview at Hardy’s Virginia Beach home. He heard stories about his grandfather being rescued by Kennedy from the sinking patrol boat and set his sights on a Navy career.
“Nate was very proud of his Navy heritage,” Hardy said.
He was also a talented, aggressive soccer and lacrosse player at Oyster River High School, his father recalled.
“He probably got too many fouls,” Hardy said, and smiled. “As a midfielder, he was a good Navy SEAL.”
Hardy enlisted after high school, in November 1997 and, after boot camp, completed SEAL basic training in Coronado, Calif. He served his entire special warfare career on the East Coast. Hardy was awarded the Bronze Star and two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals. He was making his fourth deployment to Iraq.
The small high school attended by the three Hardy sons held a moment of silence on Tuesday, said principal Laura Rogers. Even though he graduated 10 years ago, she said, “people remember him. They are feeling the loss.”
Hardy was the youngest of three boys. The oldest, Josh, died of cancer when Nathan was in eighth grade. But Steve Hardy said he did not worry about his son’s dangerous job.
“We had lost one son. Our philosophy has been you live life to the fullest,” he said.
Hardy is survived by his wife, Mindy, and a 7-month-old son, Parker.
Koch leaves behind his parents, a brother, a sister, and a fiancee.
He also spent his entire special warfare career on the East Coast. He enlisted in July 1998 and entered SEAL training in January 1999. During his career, he received the Bronze Star, Joint Service Commendation Medal and three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.
Dee Brown, Koch’s aunt who lives in Williamsport, Pa., said the SEAL came from a family where military values run deep.
He and his sister were born on an Air Force base in Omaha, Neb., and his brother, Matthew, was born on another base in New Mexico.
Their mother, Jean, was on her way back from Afghanistan on Tuesday night, where she has an accounting job with a U.S. contractor. Their father, Donald, a 20-year Air Force veteran, returned from his job in Iraq about six weeks ago.
They had seen each other just a few weeks ago for Christmas.
“We were so fortunate that we were all able to be together,” Brown said.
The family is close, she said, so much so that while Koch was going through his SEAL training in 1999 his father camped out in the woods, trying to put himself through some of the same experiences his son was having.
Family outings might include jumping out of airplanes or going scuba diving, Brown said.
Koch didn’t like to talk about his military experiences, according to Brown, though she said it was obvious he loved what he was doing.
“He was humble,” she said. “He would prefer that we didn’t talk about it. He would just say, 'It’s my job.’”
Matthew Koch also is in the military serving in Iraq. He will accompany his brother’s body home.
Louis Hansen, (757) 446-2322, louis.hansen@pilotonline.com
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To: sylvias49038
To: sylvias49038
I wish there were more people like you who support their sons/daughters in the military unlike that ungrateful loud-mouth braggart of a mother of that Army guy that got killed a few years back doing what he VOLUNTARILY signed up for, KNEW what he was signing up for & doing what he LOVED! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!! I am also military brat (Grandpa-WWII, Mom & Dad-Navy) & my family knows full well what may happen & they still support me! One may not support the war over there… but for the love of God… support the soldiers!!!
2 more lives cut short... but they were doing what they loved!!!
It is a great loss of these 2 great individuals… for I have actually been deployed with one of these individuals & have worked among them for the last 7 years. My heart always drops upon hearing these reports, but they were doing what they had to & what they love to do! My deepest condolences to the family & friends of these two & also to all the others in the military past/present/future who have made the sacrifice for our great country!!!
Our sincere sympathy is with you all
As parents of a special ops sailor stationed at Virginia Beach, we are so saddened to see another loss of two young lifes. Please know we are greatful you raised sons who were willing to give their lives for the security we feel here in the U.S. Blessings to you all.
Fallen Seal
God Bless the families of these young men. A salute to all the military people and there families for the sacrifice they are making for us.
Jean Ann, you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers, we are so sorry for the deepest pain a parent can suffer.
Jm & Dm
I hate war & killing....
but my son has a job working with these guys. He is re-upping, which I was not happy about. He told me, "I love my job. I love it." A friend told me, "How many people can say that, that they love their job?" That was a light-bulb moment, as Oprah calls it, an actual lifting off my back of the worry-weight. No matter the politics, no matter the news, my son loves working with his co-workers, loves what he does, so I feel a really up-lifting, grateful feeling about that. I hope I can sustain that feeling if military people come to my front porch, & tell me my son is dead. I think I can, because he Loves His Job! I think both of these guys families would say the same thing. I am sad for the wives & children, because there's more involved, but, as a parent, I have to be proud, & console myself with the thought that they were doing what they wanted to do. No matter the politics or who is the president, or what my personal opinions might be.
To all citizens and political candidates alike
if these kids were yours, would the war in be THE top priority?
Heroes of the Republic
May the true heroes rest in peace.
Navy Seals Stand Tall for Freedom
My prayers are with the families of these two brave men. May God comfort and encourage them in this time of loss. It is because of fine dedicated men like Chief Koch and Chief Hardy that our nation stands strong in freedom. May their examples serve as a reminder to all of us that we enjoy freedom only because there are those who are willing to give their all to protect it. Their noble service and sacrifice will not be forgotten and serves to inspire others to answer the call to live beyond self.
Cheif Koch
Rest in peace Cheif.
SEALS
Fair winds and following seas! They died doing what they loved and protecting those they loved.
Navy Seals
I send my sincere condolences to the families of the two young men who lost their lives in Iraq. Like most people, I respect the intense training and dedication of our military men and women, especially Seals and Special Forces; but, I sure don't see what attacks someone to this job, espcially during a war, though of course that is when we need them most.
God Bless Our SEAL's
Two more SEAL's now take the "eternal watch"! May God bless you and hold you in "His" hands! Thank you for your unselfish service! My most deepest condolences to both families.
Thank You!
To the fallen SEALS, THANK YOU for your service! To their families, may you find peace in knowing that these young men paid the ultimate price for the cause of freedom. Bless you all.
Thankyou
Two lives that ended to short. God Bless their families and the SEALS.
Heros
My thoughts and prayers go out for the families of these two brave warriors. America is truly the "Home of the brave".