SEAL killed in Afghanistan identified

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- A U.S. Navy SEAL killed in a weekend rescue mission in Afghanistan was identified Monday as Petty Officer 1st Class Nicolas Checque of Monroeville, Pa.

Checque, 28, died of a single gunshot wound to the head during the rescue Sunday of Dr. Dilip Joseph of Colorado Springs from the Taliban, CBS reported.

Seven Taliban also were killed in the operation.

Joseph had been abducted by Taliban insurgents Wednesday while driving to a rural medical clinic with two Afghans in the vicinity of Sarobi District of Kabul province. The other two were freed shortly before the rescue effort, following days of negotiations, CBS said. Joseph was expected to return to his family shortly.

Checque was a member of SEAL Team 6, the unit involved in the killing of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.