Former Charles County Man Killed in Iraq


WASHINGTON (Feb. 11, 2008)—The Department of Defense last week announced the death of Chief Petty Officer Michael E. Koch, 29, of State College, Pa., formerly of La Plata. Koch was killed in Iraq on Monday, Feb. 4 from wounds suffered from small arms fire during combat operations in Iraq.

Koch was assigned to a Navy SEAL team based in Norfolk, Virginia.

The DoD reported that another SEAL, Chief Petty Officer Nathan H. Hardy, 29, of Durham, N.H., was also killed.

Koch graduated from Maurice J. McDonough High School in Pomfret, Charles County, in 1996.

According to his obituary, his awards and decorations include two Bronze Stars with Valor, Purple Heart, Joint Service Commendation Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medals, three Good Conduct medals, two National Defense Service medals, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, five Sea Service deployment ribbons, NATO Medal, and the Expert Rifle Medal, Expert Pistol Medal.

RELATED INFORMATION:

Navy SEAL, Formerly of Md., Killed, Washington Post, Feb. 11, 2008
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/10/AR2008021002355.html

Obituary for Michael E. Koch

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