Robert O'Neill, a former Navy SEAL who claims to have fired the shots that killed Osama bin Laden, says he doubted whether he himself would come home alive. Sign up and contribute to these living historical records of survival, recovery, and commemoration. Its unknown if the point man hit bin Laden, and if those shots killed him. "[12] In 2015, O'Neill and his family were allegedly threatened by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. O'Neill, who was a supporter of Trump,[17] responded with a series of tweets, including "It was not a body double. He stated that O'Neill found bin Laden "bleeding out on the floor, possibly already dead, after being shot in the chest and leg by the lead assaulter on the raid" and then proceeded to shoot him twice in the head. Hes a highly decorated 16-year veteran of the SEAL community with two Silver Stars, four Bronze Stars with valor, a Joint Service Commendation Medal with valor, and two Navy/Marine Corps Commendations with valor. Two different alumni of SEAL Team Six, the secretive group of highly trained warriors that killed Osama bin Laden three years ago, have been profiting off their role in the terror leaders death since leaving the military. There seem to be two compelling narratives of extraordinary heroism among the special operations forces in Abbottabad that day, and ONeills isnt one of them. Former Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill says he killed the world's most wanted man. Published Nov 7, 2014 10:36 PM EST. With ONeill and Bissonnette, We have two guys trying to be the hero of something that was such a team effort, the source told Task & Purpose. He described the heroic actions of other SEALs, including those of the point man, who tackled two women in the bedroom to create the diversion that allowed ONeill to get off his shots. The tale spread quickly across social media sites, but Empire News is one of many fake news sites responsible for the frequent hoodwinking of Facebook users. The first secret worth preserving are the identities of those who carry out such missions. He told Fox News that he and others . Today marks the fourth anniversary of bin Ladens death. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Robert O'Neill, the former SEAL identified in several news accounts as the "shooter" who fired the fatal shot to bin Laden's head at close range, now says "it doesn't matter" who did so. The two former SEALs give slightly different accounts of the mission. In that second I shot him, two times in the forehead, he said. The Navy SEAL responsible for killing Al Qaeda leader Usama bin Laden reflected on the impact of. According to the article, O'Neill made quick work of all five criminals: Butte Police Commissioner Bartholomew S. Harrington told members of the Associated Press in a brief press conference that the five men, part of a local street gang connected with the infamous Crips, were seeking to collect on a drug debt and invaded the wrong house, with the intended target just so happening to be the next door neighbor of O'Neill's. The encounter with bin Laden takes about 15 seconds, and only two men, ONeill and the point man, are in the room. Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Robert ONeill, a 38-year-old Montana native, was planning to reveal that he killed bin Laden in the May 2011 raid next week in interviews with Fox News and the Washington Post. Robert O'Neill, the Navy SEAL who shot Bin Laden, just landed a movie deal ", The site's disclaimer page notes Empire News "is a satirical and entertainment website.". )We cover the entire mission in detail and great specificity, both from the technical and human side. "Mr. O'Neill had just turned in for the night, but was awoken by a loud crash when his backdoor was abruptly kicked in. Anna Schecter is a senior producer in the NBC News Investigations Unit. The U.S. and members of its militarythousands of themkilled the 9/11 mastermind. Ever since participating in the Seal Team Six operation that changed the course of his life forever in 2011, O'Neill has transitioned fully into a public figure role. Robert O'Neill, who has publicly said he killed bin Laden in the 2011 raid ordered by former President Obama, pushed back on Trump in a series of tweets for promoting the conspiracy. The meeting was facilitated by a member of the New York congressional delegation who asked ONeill if he would donate his uniform to the museums collection. Peter Bergen - Did Robert O'Neill really kill bin Laden? CNN.com Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. Doesnt that seem odd to people? The shot gravely wounded al Qaeda's leader.. US Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill backs off claim that he was bin Laden But the disclosures may have legal consequences, and top officers at the Naval Special Warfare Command recently warned other SEALs to stop talking. Before the event, ONeill met with 9/11 family members in the Museums Foundation Hall, where the shirt he wore during the mission and other related artifacts are on display. But its ONeill who almost certainly was not the most heroic man on the raid, and may not have even fired the shots that killed bin Laden who now stands to garner all the credit. An illustrated diagram of Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbotabad, Pakistan. Richard Phillips from pirates off the coast of Somalia, an operation depicted in the 2013 movie Captain Phillips.. Talking out like this goes against the fabric of our community. But Mann cuts ONeill some slack: first of all, the government made it clear, shortly after bin Ladens death, that SEAL Team 6 was responsible (To me, thats the bigger problem, Mann says). In the Esquire piece, ONeill said that he joined the Navy SEALs all those years ago after a girl dumped him when he was 19. O'Neill is also the founder of an organization called Special Operators Transition Foundation, which according to their Instagram, "assists SOF veterans with the successful transition into their next great careers.". Did Robert O'Neill really kill bin Laden? - New America Students ages 16 and up can volunteer at the 9/11 Memorial Museum this summer as either a visitor services volunteer or a retail greeter. Matt Bissonnette doesnt appear at all in this telling. Then they moved bin Ladens wives and children away from the house before boarding their helicopter for a sprint across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, just ahead of approaching Pakistani fighter planes. items of the navigation menu have some associated content which may provide additional information of interest. Peter Bergen. This was a means proof of concept, were going to be able to do this, and were not coming back., Killing bin Laden: A foot and a half in front of me was Osama bin Laden. His account did not match the story that ONeill was telling Esquire magazine around the same time. ONeill said he glanced up at the screen and then at bin Ladens body bag. He has been traveling the country giving paid motivational speeches on the unspoken understanding that hes the man who killed bin Laden. Among previous hoaxes unleashed by the site are a yarn about welfare recipients being given free cars, a claim that the state of Colorado has legalized meth, and a widely-shared story about a pending "snowmageddon. "Like a lot of guys that are still there now, I stop getting adrenaline when people are shooting, and I knew that that could lead to complacency because if I am not afraid of, that I might wind up doing something stupid thinking that I can't get hurt," O'Neill said. Two Special Operations. ONeill then told a detailed story from his perspective about killing bin Laden and answered questions from an audience consisting of first responders, 9/11 family members, veterans and 9/11 survivors. Then Bissonnette took too much credit for his role, Mann believes. "I think it's a difficult secret to keep," O'Neill said. When he isn't hosting public speaking events, O'Neill is an accomplished author who has penned the likes of books such as The Operator and The Way Forward. O'Neill claimed that he and another unnamed member of SEAL Team Six cornered bin Laden, and that after the other SEAL fired and missed, O'Neill killed the terrorist leader with shots to the head. Bin Laden is dead as a result of a decade of tireless work from countless faceless members of the military, intelligence, and diplomatic communities. Bissonnette, who left the Navy in April 2012, was the first SEAL from the bin Laden mission to cut a business deal based on his participation. Were going now, were going to do this for the person I always bring up is the single mom that went to work on Tuesday morning and then decided its better to jump to her death than burn alive. I dont want him to be afraid. ONeills involvement in the 2011 bin Laden raid capped a career that had already been extraordinary, by any measure. SEAL Who Shot Bin Laden Says He'd Just Need 9 Guys to Save Americans in An earlier version of this article appeared in March 2013. The first details the pilots with the Armys 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment who flew the specially outfitted Blackhawk helicopters used on the raid, one of which lost thrust hovering above the compound in the moments before insertion. A critical (tenet) of our Ethos is I do not advertise the nature of my work, nor seek recognition for my actions., We do not abide willful or selfish disregard for our core values in return for public notoriety and financial gain., The letter closes by reminding the teammates that classified information is protected by law, and warns that We will actively seek judicial consequences for members who willfully violate the law.. "[14], As of August2020[update], the federal government of the United States had neither confirmed nor denied O'Neill's claims,[15] though Rear Admiral Brian L. Losey and Force Master Chief Michael Magaraci did encourage all SEALs to abide by their code of silence, saying, "At Naval Special Warfare's core is the SEAL ethos [] A critical tenant [sic] of our ethos is 'I do not advertise the nature of my work, nor seek recognition for my actions.' Our ethos is a life-long commitment and obligation, both in and out of the service. U.S. Service Members in Iraq Reported Chemical Exposure, The Secret History of the Shadow Campaign That Saved the 2020 Election, 2023 TIME USA, LLC. O'Neill made headlines yet again for hitting back at former President Donald Trump when the latter retweeted a post claiming that Osama bin Laden hadn't actually been killed in Operation Neptune Spear, according to Politico. August 21, 2020 / 10:17 AM / CBS News The former Navy SEAL who claims he's the one who killed Osama bin Laden during a 2011 raid tweeted on Thursday that he was banned from Delta Air Lines. Robert O'Neill, who claims to be the one who actually shot and killed Bin Laden during the raid in 2011, posted a series of tweets attacking the president and those who believe the. All Rights Reserved. But the former SEALs released his name in protest of his decision to come forward. Sources dispute Washington Post story quoting Rob O'Neill, a former SEAL, as the one to have fired the fatal shot that hit Al-Qaida leader. His tale comes nearly two years after a colleague, Matt Bissonnette, also a former member of SEAL Team 6, wrote a book, No Easy Day, about the raid under the pen name Mark Owen. Robert O'Neill, the Navy SEAL Team 6 operator who fired the shots that killed Osama Bin Laden during the May 2011 Abbottabad, Pakistan raid, recently signed a movie deal with Universal. Both violated non-disclosure agreements they signed as members of the Navys most elite special-operations force. In the Esquire version of the raid, ONeill is second in the stack. O'Neill shot to fame, notoriety, and controversy for claiming to be the sole shooter who killed bin Laden. ONeill is never named in the story, but hes called the Shooter. The first line says, The man who shot and killed Osama bin Laden sat in a wicker chair in my backyard. (Three retired members of SEAL Team Six have confirmed to NBC News that ONeill is the shooter in the Esquire article.). The second story of heroism surrounds the point man on the raid: The unnamed SEAL who led the stack up the stairs, a stack of SEALs that likely included ONeill and Bissonnette. But the former . So he launched a career as a motivational speaker. However, his claims about killing Osama bin Laden have been met with some controversy. Tall and athletic with boyish features and reddish-blond hair, ONeill became a SEAL in 1996 at age 20, and was eventually promoted to elite SEAL Team Six. This material may not be reproduced without permission. All Rights Reserved. Ex-Navy SEAL who claimed he killed Osama bin Laden banned from Delta Comment below! SUBSCRIBE TO ED'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL NOW https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIpr---- CONNECT WITH ED MYLETT ON SOCIAL MEDIA: YOUTUBE | https://www.edmylett.com/youtube INSTAGRAM | https://www.edmylett.com/instagram FACEBOOK | https://www.edmylett.com/facebook LINKEDIN | https://www.edmylett.com/linkedin TWITTER | https://www.edmylett.com/twitter WEBSITE | https://www.EdMylett.com----#EdMylett # #Motivation Former Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill Recalls the Night He Killed Osama bin Laden Its hard for me to take when I've been reading books my whole life about former special operations warriors, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines. Claim: Bin Laden shooter Rob O'Neill was targeted in a home invasion gone awry. [16], On October 14, 2020, US President Donald Trump re-tweeted an unfounded conspiracy theory that suggested Osama bin Laden was still alive and a body double was shot. Rob ONeill, meanwhile, is the unnamed shooter who was credited in numerous magazine articles with firing the fatal shots, and according to two SEAL sources will be presented again as the shooter in a Fox News interview that airs later this month. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Navy SEAL who killed bin Laden floats run for office. The Intercept said that both O'Neill's and Bissonnette's accountings of the mission "contain multiple self-serving falsehoods. Robert O'Neill, SEAL in Osama Bin Laden Raid, Says He - NBC News I think it was apparent that we had done it. [7] O'Neill claimed in 2014 that he left the military because he no longer felt "adrenaline when people are shooting, and I knew that that could lead to complacency because if I am not afraid of, that I might wind up doing something stupid thinking that I can't get hurt". ", "Osama bin Laden shooter ID'd ahead of Fox interview", "Another ex-commando says he shot bin Laden", "Former Navy SEAL Rob O'Neill joins FOX News", "Osama Bin Laden killing: US Navy Seals row over shooting", "Delta Bans Purported Bin Laden Killer for Not Wearing a Mask", "Butte residents discuss Rob O'Neill DUI arrest", "Famed Navy SEAL pushes back after Trump amplifies baseless bin Laden conspiracy theory", "Navy SEAL Attacks Trump for Tweeting QAnon bin Laden Body Double Conspiracy: 'I Know Who I Killed', "He oversaw the bin Laden raid. Former Team Six member Matt Bissonnette, who wrote a bestseller under a pseudonym about shooting bin Laden, is about to publish his second book about being a Navy SEAL. As word of ONeills impending public victory lap began to leak out, SEAL leaders issued a memo trying to explain why it was wrong. The Man Who Killed Bin Laden | Robert O'Neill - YouTube U.S. Navy SEAL Team Members Dispute Who Actually Killed Osama Bin Laden But we also live in a very dangerous world where military secrets need to be preserved for the safety of our military personnel and, ultimately, the safety of those they protect.. Born in Butte, Montana, on 10 April 1976,[1] Robert J. O'Neill[2] is the son of Tom O'Neill, Jim and Diane Johnson, and the brother of Tom O'Neill. [12] In 2015, he became a contributor to the cable news channel Fox News,[11] though had left the company by August 2021, instead appearing on competitor Newsmax TV that October. The U.S. and members of its militarythousands of themkilled the 9/11 mastermind.. "[10], During his enlistment, O'Neill received two Silver Stars, four Bronze Star Medals,[8] a Joint Service Commendation Medal (with "V" device), three Presidential Unit Citations, and two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals (with "V" device). Example: [Collected via e-mail, December 2014]. "I would rather that didn't happen Everything that I've done so far has been done with them in mind, with respect for the Pentagon and the Department of Defense and what they're doing," he said. His second book, No Hero, comes out next week. BREAKING:Actor Julian Sands confirmed dead after going missing months ago in California mountains. He had a cap on and didnt appear to be hit.. This time, he's telling. Whatever he says, he says. Robert O'Neill initially wasn't slated to be part of team that would raid compound Khalid literally looks back around the edge of the hall. Thank you Mr. During what he described as a highly emotional exchange, ONeill decided spontaneously to talk about how bin Laden died. What they did to put that helo down was remarkable, the source said. SEAL who says he shot bin Laden details lead-up to raid | CNN Politics On his official website, he provides a wealth of information about his professional life, including how to book him for speaking events, keep up with news in his life, and even shop a line of merchandise that he has created. "Everyone was proud. At Naval Special Warfares core is the SEAL Ethos, said the letter, signed by Rear Adm. Brian Losey and Master Chief Michael Magaraci. He attempted to appeal the company's decision to their CEO and has maintained that he isn't anti-mask. He has served with the Post's investigative and national security teams, and writes about the Middle East, terrorism and weapons proliferation. He is not, however, being investigated by the Pentagon. Former Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill said in an interview with The Washington Post that he was the one who fired the final shot to kill Osama bin Laden in 2011. A former U.S. Navy SEAL and special warfare operator, O'Neill claims to have fired the shot(s) that killed Osama bin Laden during the raid on his Abbottabad compound on May 1, 2011. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Just then, President Obama appeared on a television screen. Details of the bin Laden raid were classified as well as the identities of SEAL Team 6, known only by those at the top. What part of this video resonated with you the most? And he shoots him, Bissonnette told 60 Minutes in a 2012 interview. He insisted on doing this anonymously to honor his unit, however the incredible interest in this story made this difficult, said Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.). The former Navy SEAL who says he shot and killed Osama bin Laden describes the scene before the raid. The 24 Navy SEALs who executed the raid were sworn to secrecy, part of the lifelong pledge taken by all members of the elite force. The film was released in February 2012 and capitalized on the bin Laden raid publicity. He also acknowledges that at least two other SEALS, including Bissonnette, fired shots. O'Neill's controversial step of revealing his identity and role in the historic mission were overshadowed by a former teammate who leaked O'Neill's identity last week, angry over O'Neill's intent to talk. So I picked him up, put him with the wife. The Navy SEAL Who Shot Bin Laden Thinks His Life Is in Danger - Insider However, the former commander of SEAL Team Six said in 2014 that O'Neill had not played a "singular role" on either mission, adding that "ONeill's specific role on any of these missions is irrelevant because everything we do is as a team. Magazines, Digital Why Robert O'Neill and Navy Seals Are Supposed to Keep Quiet - TIME 1 best-seller. The Pentagon told CBS News they are listening to what O'Neill is saying publicly and monitoring it. "I'm not trying to make this about me.". The first SEAL in the stack, the point man, sees a tall man stick his head out of the bedroom door on the third floor. I didnt think I would survive, the former Navy SEAL said. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com. Task & Purpose spoke with a member of the SEAL community under the condition of anonymity who said that SEALs and many in the special operations community are pissed that ONeill is now stepping up to claim the spotlight. Magazines, Revealed: The Navy SEAL Who Killed bin Laden, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Why Navy SEALs Are Supposed to Keep Their Mouths Shut. O'Neill married in March 2004,[3] and has at least two children, though he and his spouse were legally separated by February 2013. "[18] That same month, CNN published an interview with retired Admiral William H. McRaven; the former flag officer who oversaw Neptune Spear responded to the claims mentioning that "Rob O'Neill, the SEAL that, in fact, shot bin Laden". He chose to leave the military after more than 16 years of service. "Thank you Mr. President. In late 2014, in the run-up to credited Fox News[8] and Washington Post stories on the same topic, O'Neill's name was leaked by other former special forces personnel who were protesting his violation of "a code of silence that forbids them from publicly taking credit for their actions." In going public, ONeill joins fellow Team Sixer Matt Bissonnette who wrote an unauthorized best-selling book about the raid called No Easy Day, under a fake name. There was bin Laden, standing there. Upon his discharge from the Navy on 24 August 2012 (after 16.6 years), O'Neill was still assigned to SEAL Team Six at Virginia Beach, Virginia and had six months and 15 days of sea service to his credit. Robert J. O'Neill is a former United States Navy sailor. Forty. Former Navy SEAL Who Wrote Bin Laden Raid Book Under Investigation, The 25 Defining Works of the Black Renaissance, 2023 TIME USA, LLC. ONeill began talking to writer Phil Bronstein as early as March 2012, while still a SEAL. He fires at least one shot. By many accounts, that helicopter should have crashed disastrously, but the pilot managed to hard-land the bird in a way that saved everyone on board and kept the mission going. Cashing In on Killing Bin Laden Home > News Source: Instagram Robert J. O'Neill Now: Ex-Navy SEAL Claimed He Killed Bin Laden, Cashed In By Chris Barilla Apr. There is nothing wrong with keeping people happy." Robert O'Neill, The Operator: Firing the Shots that Killed Osama bin Laden and My Years as a SEAL Team Warrior As other team members peeled off to search different rooms, ONeill found himself in the No. (WhiteHouse.gov via YouTube). ONeill confirmed to The Washington Post that he was the unnamed SEAL who was first to tumble through the doorway of bin Ladens bedroom that night, taking aim at the terrorist leader as he stood in darkness behind his youngest wife. David Mikkelson founded the site now known as snopes.com back in 1994. After participating in May 2011's Operation Neptune Spear with SEAL Team Six, O'Neill was the subject of controversy for claiming to be the sole individual to kill Osama bin Laden. The United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda and a terrorist whos responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women and children, Obama said. Later, more SEALs show up. "[8], Of his decision to lay claim to killing bin Laden, O'Neill told CBS News that "I think it's a difficult secret to keep, [] Everyone was proud. We live in a democracy where the public has a real desire to know information, Mann fears. U.S. House Speaker John Boehner and Defense Secretary Ash Carter honored the victims of 9/11 last week at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. The Navy SEAL team was sent in to kill Osama bin Laden. O'Neill, a former SEAL Team 6 member who was on the May 2011 raid to kill Bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and Meyer, a Marine veteran who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions. 345. ONeill shoots bin Laden in the face and kills him.
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