SEAL Team 6 member killed in Afghan rescue identified; Obama lauds special ops forces

Updated at 6:54 p.m. Eastern

WASHINGTON A member of the same elite U.S. special operations team that killed Osama bin Laden was himself killed during a weekend rescue mission in Afghanistan to free an American doctor abducted by the Taliban. CBS News National Security correspondent David Martin reports the member of SEAL Team 6 killed in the rescue mission has been identified as 28-year-old Petty Officer First Class Nicolas Checque of Monroeville, Pa. Checque had been a SEAL for eight years and served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

On Saturday night, SEAL Team 6 conducted a helicopter assault on a mountain hideout 50 miles from the Pakistani border to rescue Dr. Dilip Joseph, who was captured outside Kabul five days ago, Martin reports. In the resulting firefight, Checque was killed by a single gunshot to the head. Seven of the Taliban, who were armed with machine guns, rocket propelled grenade launchers and AK-47s, were also killed.

President Obama praised the special forces on Sunday, saying the mission was characteristic of U.S. troops' "extraordinary courage, skill and patriotism."

Dr. Dilip Joseph

A spokesman for U.S. forces in Afghanistan said Dr. Joseph, of Colorado Springs, Colo., was rescued early Sunday, local time, in eastern Afghanistan. Joseph, a medical adviser for Colorado Springs-based Morning Star Development, was rescued after intelligence showed he was in imminent danger of injury or possible death, according to the U.S. military.

U.S. officials told Martin the Taliban demanded a ransom of $100,000, money Morning Star Development didn't have. The Taliban released the two Afghans captured along with the doctor, but kept Joseph and were heading south toward Pakistan.

The two Afghans released apparently told the American military Joseph was being abused by his captors with slaps to the head. The reported mistreatment and the fact that Joseph would soon disappear into Pakistan convinced Gen. John Allen, the commander in Afghanistan, to order the rescue mission.

"He gave his life for his fellow Americans, and he and his teammates remind us once more of the selfless service that allows our nation to stay strong, safe and free," Mr. Obama said of the fallen American service member in a statement.

In a separate statement Sunday, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said, "In this fallen hero, and all of our special operators, Americans see the highest ideals of citizenship, sacrifice and service upheld."

Morning Star, a relief group that helps rebuild communities in Afghanistan, said in a statement that Joseph was uninjured and would probably return home in a few days. The group also said two of his co-workers were freed by their captors about 11 hours before the rescue, after hours of negotiations were conducted over three days.

Morning Star said the three workers were abducted by a group of armed men while returning from a visit to one of the organization's rural medical clinics in eastern Kabul province. The group said the three workers were taken into mountains about 50 miles from the Pakistan border.

The relief group said it would not reveal the identity of the other two men because they live and work in the region. The group said it did not pay ransom to obtain their release.

Morning Star praised those who helped get their workers back unharmed, singling out "courageous members of the U.S. military who successfully rescued Mr. Joseph as they risked their own lives doing so."

The group also offered thanks to local Afghan elders and local leaders "who made visits and appeals to the captors advocating for the release of the hostages."

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"This was a combined operation of U.S. and Afghan forces," said 1st Lt. Joseph Alonso, a spokesman for U.S. forces in Afghanistan. "Information was collected through multiple intelligence sources, which allowed Afghan and coalition forces to identify the location of Joseph and the criminals responsible for his captivity."

Gen. John Allen, the top commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said the joint force planned, rehearsed and successfully conducted the operation.

"Thanks to them, Dr. Joseph will soon be rejoining his family and loved ones," Allen said.

[ogden4life]

I personaily think the doctor should have been left it was his choice to go there and he knew the dangers of going there but yet we decide to risk others peoples lifes for someone that was not even in harm??

[ogden4life]

I personaily think the doctor should have been left it was his choice to go there and he knew the dangers of going there but yet we decide to risk others peoples lifes for someone that was not even in harm??

[TimeToEvolve]

The entire purpose of the military has become to "defend the interests"of Wall Street multi-national corporations. Smedley Butler pointed this out well in the 1930's (he actually stopped the Wall Street conspiracy to take out Roosevelt). And it has gotten much, much more blatant now.

It's a shame we buy into this patriotic propaganda so well. It causes massive death and destruction while they go laughing all the way to the (offshore) bank.

[Gloria_M_Godwin]

God bless. "Step forward now, Navy Seal, you've borne your burdens well. Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets, you've done your time in Hell." Prayers for his family.

[TimeToEvolve]

Let's also pray for the Wall Street greedy war profiteers who were actually responsible for this in the first place. The CEOs will all burn in hell. As they should.

[lewisbower]

The SEALs have training ($$$$$$). The SEALS have equipment ($$$$$) the SEALS have airborne and sea backup and pickup ($$$$). The Marines have a rifle and their boots. This may be why they only give the SEALs little jobs. Save the real fighting for soldiers.The SEALs have the front page. The Corps has 200 years of pride and victory. Hey, I thought SEALs were supposed to plant bombs on boats. What is the Navy doing on land?

[mld1979]

"This may be why they only give the SEALs little jobs"

Like taking out bin-Laden?

Oops, your jealousy is showing.

And your ignorance: "Hey, I thought SEALs were supposed to plant bombs on boats. What is the Navy doing on land?"

SEAL = SEa, Air, Land. As in all areas in which SEALs are trained to operate.

You clearly know little-to-nothing about SEALs

[ogden4life]

Are you kidding me do you know what you are talking about before you speak???? NAVY SEALS are trained to come in unnoticed threw water if they have to navy has more then one purpose!

[MrLiterally]

God Bless this serviceman and his family.

[PJ2011]

My heart goes out to all the military families who have loss their hero's.

Yes, they are all hero's. I agree with some of the previous comments.

This is easy. GET OUT, nothing is appreciated in these countries. War
is all they know.

[DontTredOnMe]

Stop invading countries and we will not have nonsense like this. Very simple.

[signseeker1717]

The troops in Afghanistan will be out by 2014, maybe sooner. And that will be it for "invasions". Now that Bush's invasions are past tense, it's doubtful "we" will be invading any more countries; the current President has shown no similar inclination (in fact the OPPOSITE).

[Rick_Carter1]

I wish they had paid the ransom and then hit the Taliban site. They might have even been able to recover the money. But even if they didn't recover the money they would still have come out ahead. Even back in 1972, my military training (I was U.S. Army SF) was probably worth over a half a million dollars. They need to start learning how to use money as an unconventional weapon just like U.S. Army Special Forces does. My sincere condolences to the family of this brave warrior. May he never be forgotten by those he died to protect. - RC

[signseeker1717]

Paying ransom is essentially rewarding the criminals, and encourages MORE kidnapping. For example, nations who paid ransoms to Somali pirates continued to be targeted. But when the US sent in special ops to rescue hostages and kill the kidnappers, they backed off.

[ONEGOLDBAR]

God bless all our military! They serve for our freedom!