US Navy CPO Nicholas Checque: Navy Cross Recipient

On December 8, 2012, Navy SEAL Nicolas Checque was part of a Joint Task Force sent to do the impossible: rescue an American hostage being held by a heavily armed Taliban force in Afghanistan.

When a Taliban guard spotted the approaching rescue team and ran to alert the others, Petty Officer Checque didn’t hesitate. He instinctively pursued the guard, knowing every second could mean life or death for the hostage.

With the enemy fully alerted and danger imminent, Checque charged through the doorway into the heart of the compound. Engaged at point-blank range, he was mortally wounded, but his courageous action disrupted the enemy response, allowing his team to reach the hostage and complete the mission.

For his unmatched bravery and selfless sacrifice, Petty Officer Nicolas Checque was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross, our nation’s second-highest combat decoration.

Navy Cross Citation:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Petty Officer First Class (SEAL) Nicolas D. Checque, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Hostage Rescue Force Team Member for a Joint Task Force on 8 December 2012 in Support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. The team infiltrated an enemy stronghold to rescue an American hostage from a well-armed and determined Taliban guard force. After aerial surveillance reported an active guard on the target compound, Chief Petty Officer Checque skillfully maneuvered and led the primary assault force toward the target building. In the final steps of the assault, a guard in the courtyard identified the approaching rescue force, and darted into the building. Chief Petty Officer Checque instinctively pursued and engaged a guard who peered from a doorway. Realizing the Taliban guards had been alerted and the hostage’s life was in imminent danger, Chief Petty Officer Checque unhesitatingly sprinted to the door and made entry. He was engaged by the enemy at close range and mortally wounded, but his bravery and unhesitant commitment in pursuit of the target was pivotal in saving the American hostage and the ultimate success of the overall mission. By his undaunted courage, bold initiative, and complete dedication to duty, Chief Petty Officer Checque reflected the highest credit upon himself and the military service.

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Photos Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

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