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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.
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Comments (57)


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  • hpitantso wrote...
    Hero honored by Left denied by the Right
    February 12, 2013 4:25 am
    LAPD seems to have dug up a million to offer to someone everyone wants off the street for FREE give to the seal so he can stop whining for job well done. Why hasn't NRA offered him a job? The truth is he who did his job at highest level deserves better for the rest of his life.
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  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    This regime wants to severly limit how this American hero can protect his family and friends.
    February 12, 2013 5:59 am
    By taking away his rights to own a gun for protection from whomever!
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  • Cbrew wrote...
    I support the guy, I support all of our Veterans
    February 12, 2013 8:21 am
    Unfortunately this is the way it is with the military... Once you're out... you're out... They do not help you. That's the bottom line, the job of the American soldier has always been like that, when you're in, they'll make sure you're taken care of, but if you leave, you're not their problem anymore... they take your Gov. ID away, you can't go back on base... Your benefits go away etc. it is what it is. It's not easy transitioning from the Military to civilian life. You have a job like no other really. It takes time to get work that makes sense for you and of course it just takes time to assimilate back into normal society. To me, I think a guy like this, who killed Bin Laden, after 16 years of service, they should give him early retirement... be good to the people that risk their lives for you... I wish the man well, oh and as for the people on here tearing this guy down... honestly, Fack you!
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  • BikerDude wrote...
    Cbrew
    February 12, 2013 8:43 am
    Right ON.... got to give credit to those crazy moe foe balls of steal men and women that go out and take care of business. Everyone tearing him down now would be cowering in the corner wetting themselves if they had to do it.
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  • MagneticPatriot wrote...
    Did he file a claim with the VA?
    February 12, 2013 9:24 am
    He should have filed a claim with the VA which service members do along with a physical before they get out.
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  • Lillyrose125 wrote...
    Hmmmm
    February 12, 2013 9:40 am
    While I am forever grateful for the killing of Osama, this brave Seal was just doing his job. He should have stayed in the Navy for the rest of the 36 months to get his pension. I cannot leave my job before seven years to be fully vested in my 401(k) plan contributions by my employer. That is all I get also. My husband and I have to work and save and plan for our retirement - no pension for us.
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  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    It's pretty sad and a commentary on the economic times
    February 12, 2013 9:50 am
    when a man of this caliber can't find a job in the "Obama economy"!Now President Obama is going to float more taxes and MORE SPENDING in his State of the Union address. The Democrat's are hoping to collapse the economy so they can "revamp" the Constitution...
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  • MagneticPatriot wrote...
    Article Wrongly Says OBL Killer Denied Healthcare
    February 12, 2013 10:08 am
    Article Wrongly Says OBL Killer Denied Healthcare - here is a link to the Military Times article - http://stage.military.com/daily-news/2013/02/12/article-wrongly-says-obl-killer-denied-healthcare.html?ESRC=sm_todayinmil.nl
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  • Cbrew wrote...
    just a few thoughts and misconceptions about the military i'd like to pass along... sorry if it's a bit long....
    February 12, 2013 10:20 am
    I expect that many folks know a lot of this information but i noticed there's a number who don't... I joined the military when i was 20, I initially joined because I was young, just got married, was trying to finish college and didn't want to go into debt to begin my life just so i could get an education... Before i joined, my impression of people in the Army was severely biased. I had been incorrectly taught by peers and older folks and the media that soldiers were the people who weren't smart... those that didn't get good grades in school or were misfits and had no other choice... That's what the attitude was whenever the recruiters would show up at Highschool... I learned really quickly that I couldn't have been more wrong... I met some of the most intelligent, insightful and talented people in the Army... They didn't join because they weren't smart, they joined for a variety of reasons, some for financial reasons, some for patriotic reasons, some because they simply felt the need to do something important with their lives... I was lucky in my opinion to meet the men and women i met while i was in, i was constantly suprised and at times astounded by their dedication, their sacrifice and their strength. In Late 2003 i was deployed to Iraq and served a year there. It was not easy, War is impossible to describe in my opinion... there is danger, there is fear, there is excitement, boredom, there is death, there is violence, it is unforgettable. You don't worry about why you are there when you're there, because you don't have time to spend thinking about that stuff. As a soldier you just have to leave it up to those in charge and the American People, who through their vote, put those people in charge. You simply do the very best you can in the position you're in. Much of my time in Iraq, I spent trying to make Iraq safe for Iraqis, I think that's a common misconception particularly by the folks who hate or do not trust the military, we did not spend our time ransacking and destroying Iraq... Most of our effort was spent trying to rebuild it... provide aid to the citizens and try to rebuild their society... We did the very best we could to that end. American Soldiers are not so different from the general population, they are kind, generous, helpful, and in the end, many of them do not want to harm anyone and only do so when it's necessary. Somehow people think that we were bloodthirsty or uncaring or whatever, that's simply not the truth... we wanted to capture or kill our enemies, don't get me wrong, but we also wanted to help the impoverished war ravaged people of Iraq to rebuild and be at peace. I don't know how that gets twisted by so many people... After I returned home I was re-stationed away from my home state for a year and finished out my 4 year enlistment... I decided not to re-up.. I am a family man and though my marriage didn't survive my stint in the Army, i had a hard time being away from my family for so long so i decided not to make the military a career. After I left the Military I did find it difficult to transition back to normal life.. It's difficult to describe but essentially life goes from being about critically important missions, life threatening endeavours, adventure and excitement... to chatting around the water cooler... it's not easy... you have a hard time coping... Then you deal with people asking about the War, and you get asked things that people really don't understand are personal and not things you want to talk with them about, for example, "Did you kill anyone" .... can't believe how many times i've been asked that... Over time i have learned to deal with all of that and have re-adjusted to "Normal life" but there are still things i'm suprised to see people don't know... like the fact that when i got out of the Army, friends of mine would say things like, "must be nice that you'll be taken care of for the rest of your life" .... It's amazing how many people believe that a veteran of a war gets paid or gets benefits for the rest of their life... My wife now, she was appalled to learn that even after fighting in a war and serving honorably that i would never be allowed on Base again even for PX priveleges or anything, and that i don't have any medical benefits from it or anything... I explained to her, that's the way it is, if you serve 20 years you get full retirement, base access, medical care etc. but unless you're retired or medically discharged with a certain percentage of disability, you're done as soon as you are officially discharged. Honestly, I wasn't looking for any handouts but i do believe some things should change, like Veterans should have access to the PX on base etc. but either way... those were just some things i've noticed over the years, some misconceptions, in the end my time in the military was the most rewarding and difficult time of my life... I joined looking to support my family and avoid debt... but i quickly learned why this nation is the Greatest Nation on Earth, I respect my country even more, and i know what it's like outside of these borders.. I also learned that we are defended by great men and women who are just like the rest of us and they deserve to be commended and they deserve a greatful nation to stand behind them.
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  • DesertRez wrote...
    something
    February 12, 2013 10:37 am
    just stinks about this story. NOBODY leaves the military after 16 years, 4 shy...That is just idiotic. Do you quit your job without another job lined up if you have a family to support? I am ex-navy and can tell you that ex-SEALS do not have a problem finding work.
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  • Ron_Spins wrote...
    @DesertRex
    February 12, 2013 10:45 am
    Exactly ! ! A Navy Seal is the Best of the Best the 1% of the 1% any Police force any related job requiring security including lots of government jobs would LOVE to have a Navy Seal.Tyrone shove off.87
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  • Mavila wrote...
    I know...
    February 12, 2013 11:19 am
    someone looking for work can't exactly be picky, but he says that he doesn't ever want to carry a gun for work again.
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  • Cbrew wrote...
    DesertRez - you can't say that....
    February 12, 2013 11:12 am
    I knew people that left after 12-14-16 years in the Military, some just can't do it anymore, The hardship, the difficult family situations, those things are amplified to the Nth degree when you are in a Special forces group... they are constantly deploying, constantly in combat, and according to the article this guy has injuries etc. he could simply be physically and mentally worn down to the point he just can't do it anymore... I respect his choice to get out... I don't think he's going to remain unemployed but you got to admit it's not necessarily easy to just jump into a new profession... It took me 3 months to find work, the guy has been out for 6 and this is a much worse economy than when i got out... I'm not suprised he can't find work... I do think he'll probably get disability and will likely get VA benefits... i don't think they describe that portion of things very well... but either way... I don't find this story that hard to believe.
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