The Navy SEAL member who pumped the fatal bullets into Osama Bin Laden in a raid back in 2011, is going public in a Fox interview which will air on November 11th and November 12th, but UK’s Daily Mail has revealed his identity before the interview airs.
Robert O’Neill, a SEAL turned public speaker, has been named by the UK’s Daily Mail and the special operations community blog SOFrep.com as the member of SEAL Team 6 who fired the shots that killed bin Laden in a May 2011 raid on his compound in Abottabad, Pakistan.
O’Neill, a former senior chief, has earned two Silver Stars and four Bronze Stars with combat “V” among many other decorations, according to the Mail Online report. He left the service after 16 years.
Naval Special Warfare Command spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Mark Walton said he could not speculate on the identity of the Fox News interview subject. The command will respond after the interview airs, he said.
O’Neill and his family decided to reveal his role in the Navy SEAL’s most storied raid despite the risks. Tom O’Neill, Robert’s father, told the Mail Online, “People are asking if we are worried that ISIS will come and get us because Rob is going public. I say I’ll paint a big target on my front door and say come and get us.”
This revelation comes days after Rear Adm. Brian Losey, head of NSWC, and Force Master Chief Michael Magaraci issued a reminder to special warfare sailors to stay out of the limelight when it comes to their service.
“At Naval Special Warfare’s core is the SEAL ethos,” according to the letter, which was obtained by Navy Times. “A critical tenant 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. Violators of our ethos are neither teammates in good standing, nor teammates who represent Naval Special Warfare.”
