Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital Former U.S. Navy SEAL Team 6 member Robert O'Neill discussed Operation Neptune Spear, the mission that resulted in Osama bin Laden's death on May 1, 2011, in a special conversation held in the 9/11 Memorial Museum for members of the 9/11 community yesterday. He says hes sorry he didnt submit the book for legal review, but says there are inconsistencies about who is allowed to talk and who isnt, since higher ups were apparently speaking freely. They havent done anything leadership wouldnt have done, said James Hatch. 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. 1 best-seller. (Photo: Jin Lee), 2023 National September 11 Memorial & Museum 9/11 MEMORIAL is a registered trademark of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. But the former SEALs released his name in protest of his decision to come forward. National security reporter covering terrorism, rogue states, weapons proliferation, In May 2011, President Obama announced that U.S. forces had killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Offers may be subject to change without notice. [12] O'Neill estimated that with the Navy and SEALs, he annually earned US$60,000 (equivalent to $76,481 in 2022). Ex-Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill maintains he single-handedly killed Osama [The point man] literally whispers, not amped up, not yelling, not anything. 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 Seems rather far-fetched - not many Crips in Butte, MT. What followed did not compare to that extraordinary mission, and within a year, the highly decorated vet no longer wanted to carry a gun. The Navy SEAL team was sent in to kill Osama bin Laden. It's tough to hear a lot of different SEALs that I've never met, I've never worked with and I don't know. "Well, I'd say if I was cashing in, I would have written a book as soon as I got out. Violators of our ethos are neither teammates in good standing, nor teammates who represent Naval Special Warfare. [13] According to The Intercept's interview of a former SEAL Team 6 member, when O'Neill arrived at the terrorist leader, bin Laden was already "bleeding out on the floor, possibly already dead, after being shot in the chest and leg by the lead assaulter on the raid." 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. [2], O'Neill told Esquire that he found himself in a United States Navy recruiting office after a relationship breakup. With over 300,000 followers on Instagram, he has quite a sizable group of users keeping up with his day-to-day life. 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. Robert O'Neill, a former U.S. Navy SEAL, speaks at the "Best of Blount" Chamber of Commerce awards ceremony at the Clayton Center for the Arts in Maryville, Tennessee, U.S., on Thursday, Nov. 6. Just a week ago, the two officers who run the Naval Special Warfare Command fired off a stern warning letter to all SEAL teammates about seeking fame. I haven't written a book. O'Neill married in March 2004,[3] and has at least two children, though he and his spouse were legally separated by February 2013. "[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.' Geronimo, E.K.I.A. Thats whats rubbing a lot of SEALs the wrong way.. Two Special Operations. Then Bissonnette took too much credit for his role, Mann believes. 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. 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. [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. Just then, President Obama appeared on a television screen. ", "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. Peter Bergen - Did Robert O'Neill really kill bin Laden? CNN.com And they come out and say things. When he published the book No Easy Day on Sept. 4, 2012, he used the pen name Mark Owen and pledged much of the proceeds to charity, but he still became persona non grata with his command and many former comrades. Robert O'Neill discussed the situation in Afghanistan on Primetime with Will Cain and suggested that many U.S. admirals and generals should have resigned or been fired over recent events in. He said he shot bin Laden three times in the face. Create an account today and support the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. "Everyone was proud. 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. "Mr. O'Neill had just turned in for the night, but was awoken by a loud crash when his backdoor was abruptly kicked in. "I turned and went into the next room and I was looking at Osama bin Laden and that's when I shot him and killed him," O'Neill told CBS News correspondent Margaret Brennan. But the disclosures may have legal consequences, and top officers at the Naval Special Warfare Command recently warned other SEALs to stop talking. The SOFREP item was subsequently picked up by the British tabloid, the Daily Mail, which reported on Wednesday that ONeills father had confirmed his identity as the shooter in a telephone interview. Bap! On Wednesday, Robert O'Neill, a former member of SEAL Team 6 who fired several shots into bin Laden during the 2011 raid which killed the Al Qaeda leader, tweeted a photo of himself. 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. Former Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill says he killed the world's most wanted man. "Thank you Mr. President. Former Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill Recalls the Night He Killed Osama bin Laden 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. BREAKING:Actor Julian Sands confirmed dead after going missing months ago in California mountains. Who Fired the Shot That Killed Osama bin Laden. "I think it's a difficult secret to keep," O'Neill said. ONeill, who works as a motivational speaker, had been invited to address a gathering of 9/11 family members at the National September 11 Memorial Museum shortly before its official opening. All Rights Reserved. The identity of the Navy SEAL who shot and killed Osama bin Laden was a closely held secret until Thursday, when a site operated by former SEALs disclosed his name. One of the most famous U.S. military operations of the 21st century is undoubtedly Operation Neptune Spear. He was honorably discharged, but his early departure cost him a government pension. The commander replied, Delete me., But another former SEAL, while acknowledging that public scrutiny of their actions was fair, defended both Bissonnette and ONeill. The book was so rife with classified information that the Pentagon successfully sued Bissonnette and seized much of his profits. After two years and some tough financial times while transitioning into civilian life, O'Neill decided to share his story -- a controversial choice he made after meeting with families of those killed in the 9/11 attacks. David Mikkelson founded the site now known as snopes.com back in 1994. 2014 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. ", When asked why he isn't disguising himself, O'Neill said, "It was meeting the 9/11 families and having someone there, being honest, telling the truth, giving them closure.". We went for everybody., Accepting the likelihood of death during the mission: We accepted it; we werent afraid. 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. Both the public and the press seemingly relish identifying such SEALs, and glorifying their exploits, without care for what may be lost in the transaction. He whispers, Hey, Khalid. Navy SEAL who says he killed bin Laden pushes back after Trump "I turned and went into the next room and I was looking at Osama bin Laden and that's when I shot him and. However, his claims about killing Osama bin Laden have been met with some controversy. Screenwriter Mark Boal said he had access to sources who had helped him with an unproduced screenplay about the 2001 raid on bin Ladens Tora Bora hideout, and that he spoke to people in the military and the CIA about details of the raid. by Luke Gentile, . A DoD investigation also revealed that Bissonnette and six other SEALs had served as advisers on the video game, Medal of Honor: Warfighter, at Bissonnettes urging. The former Navy SEAL has claimed that he was the soldier responsible for killing Osama Bin Laden. He has served with the Post's investigative and national security teams, and writes about the Middle East, terrorism and weapons proliferation. In the Esquire version of the raid, ONeill is second in the stack. Robert O'Neill, SEAL in Osama Bin Laden Raid, Says He - NBC News He had a cap on and didnt appear to be hit.. 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. His second book, No Hero, comes out next week. 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. 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. The second time, as he is going down. He looked confused, ONeill was quoted in the Esquire magazine as saying. Former U.S. Navy SEAL Team 6 member Robert O'Neill discussed Operation Neptune Spear, the mission that resulted in Osama bin Laden's death on May 1, 2011, in a special conversation held in the 9/11 Memorial Museum for members of the 9/11 community yesterday. And he shoots him, Bissonnette told 60 Minutes in a 2012 interview. Former SEAL Who Says He Shot Bin Laden Appears To Muse About Here's what we know. 345. Sources tell Task & Purpose that the point man fired shots at bin Laden when he peeked his head out. incredibly Robert was also a part of that mission and we cover the story behind that as well.Quite simply, its one of the greatest interviews you will ever see in your life,on any topic, at any time.----Thank you for watching this videoPlease Share it and get the word out! Robert O'Neill, 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. SOFREP published an Oct. 31 letter apparently triggered by ONeills impending TV interview in which the commander and master chief of the Navy Special Warfare Command emphasized that a critical tenet of their profession is to not advertise the nature of my work nor seek recognition for my action.. In the end, just a week before scheduled interviews on Fox News and The Post, ONeills identity was leaked by some of his former peers. ONeills involvement in the 2011 bin Laden raid capped a career that had already been extraordinary, by any measure. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. 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. We went for her. He is not, however, being investigated by the Pentagon. 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). Those boys sure did find the wrong house!" He discussed the potential danger. [22] O'Neill has also published two books: Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, "Alleged Osama bin Laden Shooter Accused of 'Violating' Navy SEAL 'Ethos' for Going Public", "The Man Who Killed Osama bin Laden Is Screwed", "Bin Laden Shooter -- Kicks It With NFL Team Let's Take Out the Bucs! O'Neill, who was a supporter of Trump,[17] responded with a series of tweets, including "It was not a body double. There was no active participation by the Department of Defense in that movie to reveal any tactic, technique or procedures or classified information to the movie's filmmakers.. He helped start a charity called Your Grateful Nation to do just that. He has received criticism for trying to cash in. 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. Everybody and their brother was talking about this, said Bissonnette. Navy SEAL Attacks Trump for Tweeting QAnon bin Laden Body Double New York, NY 10007View on map. Follow NBC News Investigations on Twitter and Facebook. "Very brave men said [goodbye] to their kids to go kill Osama bin Laden. What they did to put that helo down was remarkable, the source said. So I picked him up, put him with the wife. He is the author of three books, including Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS," which was awarded a 2016 Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction. Interview With The Man Who Killed Bin Laden - Humans Ep. 1: Rob O'Neill With that being said, where is O'Neill today, over a decade after Operation Neptune Spear was conducted? 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. R obert O'Neill may have fired the shot that killed Osama bin Laden, but he was merely the triggerman. Navy SEAL who killed bin Laden says there will - Breaking News Updates 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.. He fires at least one shot. Published Nov 7, 2014 10:36 PM EST. O'Neill's new mission is to help fellow veterans transition to civilian life. Forty. Robert J. O'Neill is a former United States Navy sailor. As other team members peeled off to search different rooms, ONeill found himself in the No. Said Hatch, The same leadership that promoted and produced Act of Valor now want to punish people who did some heavy lifting. First published on November 14, 2014 / 7:38 AM. "I can't speak for him and I can't say what he saw," O'Neill said. President. 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. 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. Peter Bergen. But their dueling narratives are a sign of the backbiting and dysfunction that has roiled a once tight-knit band of warriors as former members violate their code of secrecy in search of the spotlight. A draft report of the internal investigation later showed that CIA Director Leon Panetta had revealed some classified details during an event at CIA headquarters. As Bissonnette notes, both he and ONeill offered their versions of events long after other government employees had apparently spoken to journalists about the bin Laden raid. Ex-Navy SEAL team shooter Robert O'Neill is unwavering in his claim: He alone pumped two bullets into Osama bin Laden, killing the architect of the 9/11 attacks. The former senior SEAL Team Six leader, who knows both Bissonnette and ONeill, said he was utterly disappointed with both men. So he launched a career as a motivational speaker. He told Fox News that he and others . The top SEALs in Naval Special Warfare Command, Rear Adm. Brian Losey and Force Master Chief Michael Magaraci even went as far as to write a letter to the entire command about not seeking fame or fortune as a result of their duties. 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. Navy SEAL who killed bin Laden floats run for office | Washington Examiner [One of the SEALs] was looking at me, and said Are you OK? I said What do we do now? And he laughed and put his hand on my shoulder, and he said, Now we go find the computers., By Jordan Friedman, 9/11 Memorial Research and Digital Projects Associate. ONeill began talking to writer Phil Bronstein as early as March 2012, while still a SEAL. ONeill was among the SEALs who assisted in the 2009 rescue of merchant marine Capt. The leadership created that double standard.. Our ethos is a life-long commitment and obligation, both in and out of the service. Magazines, Digital Why Robert O'Neill and Navy Seals Are Supposed to Keep Quiet - TIME Former Navy SEAL Rob O'Neill was part of the raid and he says he was the one who fired the deadly shot. 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. [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". 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. commissioner Harrington said as he chuckled. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. I want to clarify something before I go on I do think Robert ONeill is a hero. Violators of our ethos are neither teammates in good standing, nor teammates who represent Naval Special Warfare.. ONeill is not solely responsible for killing bin Laden; rather, he is someone who fortuitously found himself at the end of a very long kill chain.