Hear The Ron and Don Show weekdays on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM
  Ron & Don
Most popular
Help us build a Fisher House
Bonneville Seattle is raising funds for the construction of a second Fisher House at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma and we need your help.
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 (69)


  • Add A Comment

  • Bloodsurf69 wrote...
    Remember
    February 20, 2013 2:51 pm
    Remember in past wars there were many soldiers who didn't get retirement because their mission had a 100% chance that they would be killed and they did it anyway.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Regularjoe44 wrote...
    R&D I'm confused....
    February 23, 2013 7:49 pm
    You advocate for "the seal who killed Osama bin Ladin". Now how is that possible that a seal killed Osama when you have made it very clear that it is the gun that kills people. That is why you continually call for the control of guns to law abiding citizens, right? That is much of what we hear tuning in any broadcast.....yours or others...ban the scary gun, the big magazine, or Ron's current favorite...the hand gun. You two appear to want it both ways. So what are we to believe? Shall we control the gun or the shooter. If it's truly the shooter that kills, as indicated in your article, I think I know the answer, but as members of the media, you know we the sheeple will believe whatever answer you tell us.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • truth be told is a MUST wrote...
    HERO
    February 24, 2013 5:48 am
    This man is the ultimate hero or any american man or woman. He deserves every right as any soldier in the U.S. Military no matter what branch to get the full respect from the Military never mind us the American people. Never mind the fact that he help the mourners of the 9/11 attacked families hopefully put some of this horrific thoughts of being attacked themselves to rest. Their loved ones will never be brought home. They will never see the people that left for work that day again except in heaven. As an American I do not understand why people make money off kill Osama Bin Laden shirts and memorabilia. But they cannot help the man that did it. He helped all of us understand that our Country does not forget and will not forget such an atrocity so we can help it to never happen again!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We need to support his family for their support and the man himself for his time and training and great skills, he is truly my American Hero Now and Forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you I hope you are able to get the financial support you deserve I will give what I can!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • robert enquist wrote...
    Navy Seal
    February 24, 2013 9:40 am
    Until he resigned after 16 years, he was a member of the Profession of Arms. If paid following the killing, he is a mercenary. Our county has used them since the Revolutionary War but they are not to be exalted..he left the Profession anticipating a jack-pot and is now selling his story. As a recently retired member of the Military,I am insulted and if either of you had been in the military you would understand.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }