Kabul , Afghanistan ( CNN ) -- The U.S. Defense Department on Monday identified the SEAL killed during a successful raid to free a captive doctor in Afghanistan . Petty Officer 1st Class Nicolas D. Checque , 28 , of Monroeville , Pennsylvania , died Saturday during the effort to free Dr. Dilip Joseph , the Navy said . NATO commanders believed Joseph was in imminent danger from his captors when the raid took place . While the Defense Department announcement said only that Checque belonged to an `` East Coast-based Special Warfare Unit , '' a U.S. official said the man was a member of the Navy 's Special Warfare Development Group , more commonly known as SEAL Team Six . The elite unit is the same one that took part in the raid that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden . The official did n't know if the SEAL who died was involved in that operation . `` 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 , '' President Barack Obama said of the slain SEAL before his identity was made public . Armed men kidnapped Joseph and two other staff members for the international aid group Morning Star on Wednesday as they returned from a rural medical clinic in eastern Kabul province . Tribal leader Malik Samad and district chief Muhammad Haqbeen told CNN that Joseph and an Afghan doctor were abducted near the village of Jegdalek in the Sarobi district , just outside Kabul . The International Security Assistance Force said Taliban insurgents kidnapped the men . Samad and Haqbeen identified the kidnappers as smugglers . Morning Star said negotiations began `` almost immediately '' with the captors and went on sporadically into Saturday night , when two of the three were released . The Afghan doctor 's family paid $ 12,000 to the smugglers , Haqbeen and Samad said . Morning Star denied paying any `` ransom , money or other consideration '' to win the release of its staffers , and the raid to free Joseph came 11 hours later after the other two were released . U.S. officials provided few details about the rescue effort , but Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said the SEALs `` knew they were putting their lives on the line to free a fellow American from the enemy 's grip . '' Checque joined the Navy in 2002 after graduating from high school , according to a brief service record provided by the Defense Department . After attending recruit training in Illinois and advanced training in Virginia , he entered the SEAL program in April 2003 . He was assigned to his first SEAL unit in August 2004 , and transferred to a second unit , presumably SEAL Team Six , in September 2008 . He received the Bronze Star and several other awards during his 10-year Naval career . His former high school superiors and classmates at Norwin High School in North Huntington , Pennsylvania , remembered him as diligent and enthused about joining the military . `` He worked hard everyday and never complained , '' his former wrestling coach Rich Ginther told CNN affiliate WPXI . `` I remember his senior year him basically telling us what he was training for , and it was to get in special forces . '' The current vice principal , who graduated two classes ahead of Checque , called him a role model for the current students . `` It 's scary to hear these kind of stories that come out , '' said Micheal Choby , `` but I 'm going to testament to the kind of man Nick built himself to be for these kids who are here aspiring to be in the military . '' Former classmate Stefanie Stewart told CNN she sat next to Checque on the school bus almost every day . `` He always knew he wanted to go into the military , '' she said . `` He was a very driven individual , had a very keen sense of mind . A strong-minded person . But underneath that , you could tell he had a good heart . '' The rescued doctor has worked with Morning Star for three years . He serves as its medical adviser , and travels frequently to Afghanistan , the agency said . Morning Star did not release the identities of the other two men , citing safety concerns . Joseph is expected to return home to Colorado Springs , Colorado , within a few days , after medical examinations and debriefings , the agency sad . On Sunday , his family extended condolences to the slain sailor 's family . `` We are incredibly grateful for the multiple agencies of the U.S. government that have supported us in this difficult time , and especially the quick response by our military and partner allies to rescue Dilip , '' the family said . `` They showed great heroism and professionalism . '' Despite the kidnappings of Joseph and its two other staffers , Morning Star reiterated its `` commitment to continue its work '' in Afghanistan . Read more : Low-key general thrust into spotlight as he takes over Afghanistan command . Read more : U.S. has work cut out to make sure Afghan forces are combat ready . Read more : Karzai says assassination try planned in Pakistan . CNN 's Barbara Starr , Maria Ebrahimji , Deborah Doft , Dugal McConnell and Greg Botelho contributed to this report .
NEW : High School classmates say Checque always knew he wanted to join the military . He was a good student and had been accepted into ROTC at his high school in New York City, but when 9/11 happened, he decided not to go because of what it meant for him as Dr. Dilip Joseph was among three abducted while returning from a rural clinic , officials say . Two local Afghan leaders say smugglers were responsible ; ISAF blames the Taliban .