Hear The Ron and Don Show weekdays on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM
  Ron & Don
binladencompound_ap_slide.jpg
Ron and Don are helping raise money to cover one year's salary for the Navy SEAL who shot and killed Osama bin Laden at this compound in Pakistan. (AP file)

Help raise one year's salary for the SEAL who killed Osama bin Laden

BY Libby Denkmann  on February 11, 2013 @ 6:05 pm (Updated: 9:32 pm - 2/12/13 )

The former SEAL who shot Osama bin Laden gets no pension or protection from the military after 16 years of service.

As "The Shooter" puts it, there is no landing pad for guys like him leaving the Navy. "Thanks for your sixteen years. Go f— yourself," he told Pulitzer Prize winner Phil Bronstein in Esquire. Bronstein offers a troubling account of what life is like for the man who killed the most notorious terrorist the world has ever seen in a new story with the Center for Investigative Reporting.

The Shooter tells Bronstein that he left the service 36 months before the minimum 20 years needed for retirement. His Tricare health insurance ended the day he left the Navy.

Bronstein talked to The Shooter's wife about his situation:

The loss of income and insurance and no pension aside, she can no longer walk onto the local base if she feels a threat to her family. They've surrendered their military IDs. If something were to happen, the Shooter has instructed her to take the kids to the base gate anyway and demand to see the commanding officer, or someone from the SEAL team. "He said someone will come get us."

Because of the mission, she says that "my family is always going to be at risk. It's just a matter of finding coping strategies."

The Shooter still dips his hand in his pocket when they're in a store, checking for a knife in case there's an emergency. He also keeps his eyes on the exits.

He's lost some vision, he can't get his neck straight for any period of time. Right now, she's just waiting to see what he creates for himself in this new life.

And she's waiting to see how he replaces even the $60,000 a year he was making (with special pay bonuses for different activities). Or how they can afford private health insurance that covers spinal injections she needs for her own sports injuries.

"This is new to us, not having the team."

The Shooter also talked about his financial situation:

"I still have the same bills I had in the Navy," the Shooter tells me when we talk in September 2012. But no money at all coming in, from anywhere.

"I just want to be able to pay all those bills, take care of my kids, and work from there," he says. "I'd like to take the things I learned and help other people in any way I can."

Monday on The Ron and Don Show, the guys declared, "We can do better."

The show launched a fundraising page to benefit The Shooter and his family.

"Let's help him start a new chapter by raising a 'pension' with thanks from the American people," said Don.

All donations are tax-deductible. Everything (except a 3 percent IndieGoGo platform fee) will go to a fund for The Shooter set up with Crimestoppers of Tacoma/Pierce County.

Libby Denkmann, Ron & Don Show Producer
Libby Denkmann is producer of KIRO Radio's The Ron & Don Show (weekdays 3-7). Libby is always on the run - literally.
More Ron and Don

MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (57)


  • Add A Comment

  • Regularjoe44 wrote...
    R&D, you finally figured it out...
    February 11, 2013 6:55 pm
    ...it's the shooter that does the killing, not the scary gun.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mpgunner wrote...
    messiah101????
    February 11, 2013 6:58 pm
    I'd love you to say that to his face which you would have for only a short time. These men are exceptional and doing a lot of dirty work. But, if I had a company I'd hire him on the spot. These guys are so much smarter than MOST people.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • O-town listener wrote...
    I agree with the questioners..
    February 11, 2013 7:19 pm
    I'm not passing judgement because I haven't heard the full story. Anytime I hear a story like this without even an attempt at an explanation for why he left (maybe it was played on the radio?) after 17 years with only 3 to go I have to be a little skeptical.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    It happens more than you think
    February 11, 2013 7:31 pm
    I had 16 years, wanted to do 20. But a Reduction in forces came down and anybody with the slightest issue was booted with a medical discharge. No exceptions. At the time I was in they would let you go 4 years on Limited duty for retirement.

    But the Admiral in charge said letter of the law was 18 and 1 day for Limited thus 200 of us sent packing at Bethesda. All with 19.9% disability.

    Why 19.9. You can appeal 10%, it takes 30% to get a retirement ID. Thus Appeal would only get you 29.9%

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Donkey wrote...
    really...
    February 11, 2013 7:21 pm
    .... and what are you doing for all the others that have put their lives on the line and are in this same situation? How can you seriously be surprised you have military people contacting you in anger? Sure, this guy got to take out BL, but only because that was his mission. And, just like any other soldier would have done if he were told to. Bah...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cash wrote...
    I am guessing
    February 11, 2013 7:21 pm
    That his career is over because of the raid and because of everything that had happened. I am curious why President Obama needed to go into so much detail and not just say we took out Bin Laden and not get this team all wrapped up in it. Now the media can't let go and there could be way more to his career ending than he just quit.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    Cash
    February 11, 2013 8:05 pm
    Why didn't Obama avoid the details? Because The RWNJ would complain he didn't offer enough details and they couldn't possibly accept the fact that it actually took place. Even with all of the details given, there are many that believe the raid never took place, those involved were sworn to secrecy about it never happening, and that he was dead years before. How do I know this? Because I know a RWNJ that says all of this garbage.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mavila wrote...
    Well, I don't know about all of that...
    February 11, 2013 8:40 pm
    but The Shooter stayed in the Team 6 unit for at least one more 4 month deployment after the OBL hit. He said he was burned out (not the basis of a disability claim, I know, but that's what he said). Incidentally, I don't know anyone that doesn't believe the raid took place (it was really an assassination to be honest).
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mavila wrote...
    Meant to say...
    February 11, 2013 9:05 pm
    I don't know anyone who DOESN'T think the raid took place.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CldWtrSrf wrote...
    wsualumn...."those involved were sworn to secrecy about it never happening"
    February 11, 2013 8:45 pm
    Don't forget about all the ones that got loaded onto a chopper to supposedly provide "covering fire" for a Ranger Team that apparently wasn't even there and blow out of the sky.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mavila wrote...
    The Navy Seals are pretty much sworn to secrecy...
    February 11, 2013 8:58 pm
    on everything they do. The Bronstein article goes into that. There's a poignant part where The Shooter gives his dad a phone call before the mission, words to the effect, "I'm going to work." But no detail more than that. The Shooter thought it was going to be his last conversation with his dad and I'm sure the significance of the call didn't escape his dad either. If you think about, that's a difficult concept to wrap your head around - internalizing all of that. Can't say a thing to your own family.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SeattleNative wrote...
    Why didn't Obama avoid the details?
    February 12, 2013 8:43 am
    Because it made him look like the BMOC. All puffy-chested and what not.

    For some reason, however, he couldn't bring himself to telling anything remotely truthful about Benghazi down the home stretch into the election.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mavila wrote...
    America's finest...
    February 11, 2013 7:36 pm
    deserve better.

    This Bronstein article is really a great read.

    I have to wonder, though, why didn't The Shooter stay in the Navy? I'm sure he could have secured a transfer to some sort of training instructor job, or other non-combat job near home to complete the remaining four years.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • deltta wrote...
    What if?
    February 11, 2013 7:44 pm
    They were supposed to capture not kill?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mavila wrote...
    I can't say for certain...
    February 11, 2013 8:04 pm
    but if you read the article, it doesn't sound like capture was thought to be a realistic goal. They probably could have done it, though, as the compound wasn't very well defended and OBL and his family were taken totally by surprise.

    But the Navy Seals expected booby traps, suicide vests (there were several people living in the compound), and all that, so it appears the orders were to shoot on sight, which they pretty much did according to this account. OBL didn't have a gun in his hand, but they weren't taking any chances in case he had a grenade or other explosive device. The Shooter took him out right away without any attempt to take OBL into custody. It doesn't appear that it was even a consideration in this account.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • deltta wrote...
    Mavila
    February 11, 2013 8:11 pm
    Thats pretty much in line with the official WH story.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Moondoggie wrote...
    Phil Bronstein
    February 11, 2013 8:16 pm
    Is not telling the whole truth. The ex-seal gets medical coverage for the next 5 years and has a disability claim pending. When Bronstein was questioned about this, he stated that because the ex-seal didn't know about the 5 years of medical coverage that he was going to stand by his story.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mavila wrote...
    I think there is...
    February 11, 2013 8:22 pm
    something pending on the disability thing. However, the medical coverage was shut off presumably because the Navy determined that he didn't have disability status and he essentially quit before retirment (20 yrs). That could all change with the pending disability issue, however. It's not real clear in the article but I do expect there's more to the story on that.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mavila wrote...
    Banner Headline
    February 11, 2013 9:41 pm
    on the home page. I don't know who writes those, but The Shooter did not "lose" his pension.

    He didn't earn the pension because he essentially quit after 16 years of service in the Navy. 20 years of service are required to qualify for the pension.

    Now, there may be some extenuating circumstances related to disability caused by his service, but that is not the account given in the Bronstein article (which is entirely favorable in every way to "The Shooter").

    I have all the compassion in the world for this man and his family, but you cannot "lose" a pension that was never earned. Sorry, but that's not accurate.

    If it was up to me, I'd gladly see to it that he and his family were taken care of. But he did not "lose" a pension.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    That article in Esquire is on the web
    February 11, 2013 10:12 pm
    .
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mavila wrote...
    Yes, and it is really one of the best things I've read...
    February 11, 2013 10:17 pm
    in a long time. Bronstein is a great writer and this is a great story.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rangerhawk wrote...
    The problem with the Navy Seals
    February 12, 2013 12:17 am
    Is that there in the Navy. Not really a "Warrior Culture" that they draw from or can return to when they leave the Teams like the Army has. If his primary occupation skill was scraping barnacles off ship hulls, then he goes back to it (likely as a leader). That's not an option for these guys so they usually walk early. Because "Shooters" identity will be compromised, no private (Triple Canopy/Blackwater) or government agencies want him. He's a walking liability. His best bet is a change of name and enlistment into the Army. SOCOM will find him a job and he can get his 20+ and retire. (He won't be the first or last either) but he needs to do it quickly!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }