Note: This article has been shared with permission from Ian Urtnowski, owner of URT Clothing company and who was a close friend of fallen SEAL Charles Keating IV (Chuck Heavy). Besides a few photos, it has not been edited.
ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECTS OF URT OVER THE YEARS WAS NOT COMING OUT AND SAYING WHAT A HUGE, DRIVING FORCE CHARLIE KEATING IV WAS TO US. HE FULLY EMBODIED NOT ONLY ALL THE IDEALS THAT DEFINE AND SHAPE URT, BUT ALSO TOOK US TO PLACES WE NEVER COULD HAVE THOUGHT POSSIBLE. LIVING IN OUR HOMETOWN OF CORONADO WE ALL SHARE A LOVE OF THE OCEAN THAT SURROUNDS US, AND CHARLIE WAS RIGHT THERE, SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER WITH US, EVERY HOT SUMMER DAY ON A SURFBOARD OR CHILLY WINTER MORNING IN A WETSUIT WITH A SPEAR GUN.
THERE’S ANOTHER SET OF IDEALS THAT CHARLIE EMBODIED HOWEVER THAT WE COULD NEVER TRULY UNDERSTAND. CORONADO IS HOME TO SOME OF THE MOST DEDICATED AND CAPABLE MEN OUR PROUD NATION HAS TO OFFER IN THE TEAMS OF THE UNITED STATES’ NAVY SEALS. THESE MEN ARE WILLING TO TO GO TO EXTRAORDINARY LENGTHS AND ENDURE LOGIC-DEFYING CIRCUMSTANCES TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS. IT’S AN ASPECT OF CHARLIE’S LIFE THAT WHILE WE KNEW EXISTED, WE ALSO KNEW THAT ONLY THOSE WHO EARNED THE RIGHT TO SERVE SHOULDER TO SHOULDER ALONGSIDE HIM COULD FULLY COMPREHEND AND APPRECIATE. AND WHILE HE MEANT THE WORLD TO ALL OF US WHO KNEW HIM IN CORONADO, ONLY NOW THROUGH RECENT EVENTS ARE WE GIVEN A TASTE OF WHAT HE MEANT TO THE UNSUNG HEROES OF CORONADO IN THE NAVY SEALS. WE’RE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THAT NOT ONLY DID CHUCK TAKE URT WITH HIM THROUGH HIS DAY TO DAY LIFE IN CORONADO, BUT ALONG ON HIS DEPLOYMENTS ABROAD AS HE SERVED OUR COUNTRY TO AN EXTENT FEW WILL EVER BE PRIVILEGED ENOUGH TO KNOW.
IT’S NOW, AS WE STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY, THAT WE REMEMBER HIM AND CELEBRATE WHAT HE WAS IN OUR LIVES. AT THE REQUEST OF CHARLIE KEATING THE IV’S FAMILY, WE’VE OPENED A PRE-ORDER ON A RUN OF SHIRTS THAT WERE RECENTLY HANDED OUT FREE OF CHARGE TO THOSE IN ATTENDANCE OF HIS MEMORIAL SERVICE.
PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF EVERY SHIRT WILL BE GOING TOWARDS OUR FRIENDS AT ONE MORE WAVE SURF CORP, A CHARITY WHO’S GOAL IT IS TO TO PROVIDE OCEAN THERAPY TO COMBAT VETERANS WHO HAVE BEEN INJURED WHILE SERVING OUR COUNTRY.
