SEAL Who Shot Bin Laden Says Navy Told Him 'Go F**k Yourself'

He says he lost his health care and hasn't been able to find work

The Navy SEAL who shot Osama bin Laden has finally broken his silence - albeit anonymously - in an the interview with Esquire. Unfortunately the takeaway everyone is talking about is the SEAL's revelation that he received no health care or pension after leaving the military:

"My health care for me and my family stopped at midnight Friday night," he told Esquire of the day he left the Navy.

I asked if there was some transition from my Tricare to Blue Cross Blue Shield. They said no. You're out of the service, your coverage is over. Thanks for your sixteen years. Go f**k yourself.

If he'd been in the Navy for two decades he would have been entitled to transitional healthcare and a pension, but since he left after 16 years, he received neither. He has health problems including arthritis, tendonitis, and blown discs, and hasn't been able to find work. His disability claims are still being processed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, with an average wait time of 9 months. In the interview, he doesn't discuss why he isn't receiving other forms of assistance offered by the VA.

The anonymous SEAL also told powerful stories about the raid. He described another team member's bravery:

He thought he was going to absorb the blast of suicide vests; he was going to kill himself so I could get the shot. It was the most heroic thing I've ever seen.

The team weren't told initially that they'd be taking down bin Laden:

'Three of us were driving to our first briefing on the mission,' [the shooter] said. 'We were thinking maybe it was Libya, but we knew there would be very high-level brass there. One of my guys says, "I bet it's bin Laden."' Another guy told the Shooter, "If it's Osama bin Laden, dude, I will suck yo' dick." [The Shooter said,] "So after I shoot UBL, I bring him over to see his body. 'Okay,' I told him, 'now is as good a time as any.'

He also recalls thinking his team wouldn't make it out of the raid alive:

We all knew that none of us were coming back alive. It was either death or a Pakistani prison, where we'd be raped for the rest of our lives.

Update, Feb 12, 1:15am PST: As Politixer DARSB points out, "the shooter" is eligible for 5 years of free healthcare from the VA, as are all veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. However, the shooter apparently didn't know that, according to his interviewer for Esquire, Phil Bronstein.

Via Esquire.

Should this Navy SEAL have been offered veterans' health care?

[jessejaymes]

There is more to this story than what we're reading here. If he was a "lifer" and `16 years would indicate that he was, why did he just quit and not apply for a medical discharge for seal related injuries over the years? I support our troops but I want to know the whole story.

[AceLuby]

Because you can't get knee jerk reactions if you actually tell the whole story. Come on! ;)

[DARSB]

It is odd he'd hang it up just three years out from retirement.

[mimi57]

I agree, there is things about this story that doesn't add up. Something's fishy!

[mimi57]

@mimi57 * Should have read there *are* things...

[mtkopf]

Here's the thing Jesse, this man, if unable to work bc of his injuries, could collect social security, and be covered under medicare, while va processes his disability app. Why isn't he doing that? So yes, I do believe that there is more to the story here.

[thatgirl]

Wow.....just, wow.

[dances-weebles]

i had the same crap happen after 6 years... 3.5 of which were spent in the swamps of vietnam. not only that, but most of the guys i know who survived that fiasco were offered jobs where they cold be 'erased' if necessary. i was 'invited' to join the nys state police force.

[Clarke12]

people can get driven out of service to the government pretty easily when they are no longer needed or do not bend according to the political winds at the time.

[Knightkore]

Anonymous? Hmmm....we still don't have a body or pictures....why do I feel a story that is trying to tug at our "heart strings" that has very little basis in reality....I smell a progressive liberal setup....

[PoliticalSpice]

That's right. You're being Setup to support the idea that everyone has a right to medical care. We're just evil that way.

[Knightkore]

@PoliticalSpice That part of the story is suspicious at best....

[PNWest]

I don't care what this guy's back story was. The United States as a country should see to it that this guy and his family is taken care of. If the US government is not willing to do so someone should set up a fund for him and his family. I'll be glad to chip in and I'm sure that many more people would too.

[jessejaymes]

You don't care if he quit because he thought he could profit from being the shooter of Bin Laden and didn't bother to file for medical discharge? I don't know what happened here and neither do you. I might contribute if there is legitimate cause but just because he was an assigned shooter doesn't make him any different than any other Navy Seal in service today.

[kathyparsell]

I agree, even more so after reading the whole article. I cannot imagine what he and many others, have faced. To then forevermore fear retribution, for doing his job. He and all military personal placed in positions like this deserve much better.

[texas_cutie75]

Its a shame to hear, but there has to be more to this story.... there are 2 sides to every story and the truth lies somewhere in between!

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

If anybody wants to know why I abhor the obama regime, this is it. obama was reelected on the lie that he shot and killed bin laden. The navy seal that actually shot and killed bin laden didn't even so much as get a thank you from the president, although this navy seal's action are directly responsible for barack "Jimmy Carter v2.0" obama getting reelected. It is disgusting the utter disrespect that the obama regime shows our military. The entire country should be ashamed and outraged. Instead the country continues to support failed leadership. Disgusting, and yes, so sad...

[jessejaymes]

That's quite a rant based on basically what is no more than a news blurb.

[Denizen_Kate]

"obama was reelected on the lie that he shot and killed bin laden." No, Neo, that wasn't the reason. It was, in fact, a very small factor in the outcome of November's election. I'm sure you would like to believe that the reelection was a fluke of some sort caused by something like this one incident, or Hurrican Sandy, or voter fraud, or any of the other excuses that people like Rush Limbaugh and Karl Rove tried to come up, but it really did happen because most people disagree with you. Sorry. It sucks to be in the minority, but there it is.

As for this one soldier, I'm sure there is much more to this story than what we're getting here. Maybe you could google it for us and let us know what you find?

[OhWiseOne]

@Denizen_Kate "Sucks to be a minority" Is that what the NAACP has been crying about for decades now?

[Brownie]

Ranting and raving. He'll probably get his 100% in 9 months. The Vietnam veterans been waiting for their disability since their war ended. How many presidents have passed them by since then? Hmmm.

[Denizen_Kate]

@OhWiseOne - I'm not a member so I wouldn't know, but it seems logical.

[Russell797]

No, he is an American citizen. He should find a job which offers health insurance as a privileged benefit just as any other disadvantage American relative to the rest of the modern world has to. Screw him. (:

[Denizen_Kate]

Exactly. Welcome to the 47%, soldier. /end sarcasm/

[OhWiseOne]

That man shot and killed the terrorist behind the 9/11 massacre. He is a hero. Your comment is very disrespectful to say the least.

[Denizen_Kate]

@OhWiseOne - I'm pretty sure Russell was being sarcastic. ;)

[OhWiseOne]

@Denizen_Kate I hope so.

[Russell797]

@OhWiseOne I agree with you 100%. What a disgrace that he finds himself in a situation similar to millions of other Americans. His experience represents what I feel is wrong with the U.S. unique method of access to heath care by its citizens. I can't understand how so many people can be proud of a system which produces an outcome like this. Yet his experience is one shared by millions placed in a similar predicament and people just don't seem to care. He will be one of the luckier ones with the VA to turn to, others have had nothing.

[Brownie]

Shhh. Be quite. Your disability claim is still pending. You might end up with 100% in 9 months. Think about the Vietnam Vets. who's still trying to get their benefit.

[NTBFW]

If he was the guy who actually got bin laden, why not give him some of the $25 million reward they offered? I know the legal reasons. Blah blah. But in this case make an exception. Split it among the members of the team.

[jessejaymes]

Why would you do that when numerous people other than the Seal team was responsible for finding bin Laden in the first place? Didn't you even watch Zero Dark Thirty? If anyone deserves to share in the reward the woman at the CIA who pressed on despite all the jerks who stood in her way should be included.

[NTBFW]

@jessejaymes maybe so. I was saying that there was a reward. Why not split it up and give it to the team. Not just the boots on the ground people but the people that were actually responsible for getting him. That would include those that found him. It would be a great gesture.

[jessejaymes]

@NTBFW I personally wouldn't have a problem with that but this being America if you split up 25 million among a small group of people who are already being paid to do a job for this country then you open the can of worms that is always America. Seal team people suing because they weren't on that mission. Delta Force claiming bias. NSA suing for their share of the reward because of some obscure contribution that may or may not be valid. I just don't see it happening.

[hybridlment]

Disability benefits pay more than retirement. With this younger generation of soldiers, it's become a trend to prefer 100 percent to retirement or working. Substance abuse (because of PTSD) is often used to reach that goal, and they'll joke about it and network about how to act and react during that 30 days in order to be certified disabled. Not all, but quite a few have this mentality.

[MOVet]

I am sure this SEAL isn't just trying to get one over on the military. To get my disability it took two blown eardrums, brain damage and more metal than a 1962 Buick in my knee. Not all of us want or lie about our problems. I would much rather have my health than have to deal with the VA's crappy service or money. I will agree there are lots of dishonest people who try to take advantage of the system however there are just as many crooks in the system who take away from us veterans.

[Your_Name_Here]

Interesting how people have to keep on substantiating Bin Laden's death since there is no evidence and no retaliatory action on the part of his followers.

[Dan_Tien]

"Insurgents shot down a U.S. military helicopter during fighting in eastern Afghanistan, killing 30 Americans, most of them belonging to the same elite unit as the Navy SEALs who killed former Al Qaeda leader Usama bin Laden, U.S. officials said Saturday."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/08/06/afgha...

[Midget]

He should have health care for himself and his family, but the story does not add up. I would like to hear both side's. I do know that VA has hospital and medical care for all that has served in the military.

[SmedleyButler]

Yes he should. The corporate war machine has made TRILLIONS of dollars off the back of these guys, who joined because they had the patriotic ideals of so many young military aged Americans. I was in during the 80's and saw many career Vietnam era hard charging Marines, being pushed out because of some pencil pusher in the pentagon came up with arbitrary career and performance goals designed to keep the clueless yes men in. I'll never forget my company Gunny getting screwed with 18 years being pushed out, because of a disagreement he had with a, fresh out of college 2nd lieutenant who screwed up a operation that almost wiped out a whole infantry platoon with a botched mortar strike. That Gunny saved them. Didn't matter, all senior NCO's expendable .
My kid wanted to follow my footsteps and join the Marines. Than god there was plenty of examples to convince him not to. Civilian employers unless they were vets, seem to be afraid of vets.

[Kellso]

He should be offered the same coverage as all the Viet Nam, the WW II, and all the other wars vetrans were. It just goes to sho you that soldier is only worth the price of a piece of paper to record his death. OUR GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE ASHAMED! Where is Obama and all the big shots during these times??? They say we have to cut spending and cut budget, CUT THE PORK BELLY FAT OF THE OVER PAID GOVERNMENT LEADERS and let them live like the rest of us do!!!

[MadAmerican]

Sorry but you have to do the 20 years unless you were medically discharged. I am retired military and you just do not get out at 16 and get benefits. you volunteered to be a Seal, quit complaining. You sound like an NFL athelite who is wanting money for a concussion. And no one who works for the DOD is going to tell a veteran "go F**ck yourself."

[MOVet]

I beg to differ. When I suffered brain damage and two blown ear drums I was brought back to the theater of operations to run a radio in the toc even though I had zero hearing in one ear and partial in the other. Once I did make it back to the states I had a urologist, yes a UROLOGIST, evaluate me for a brain injury. He told me to go fu@# myself and that I had zero problems even though all my tests and evaluations said otherwise. I eventually had to involve a Senator just to get a fair evaluation. So yes it does happen.

[MadAmerican]

@MOVet I am in the Fort Knox area and have been here since 1989 with the exception of two years, and have never heard of DOD or active militray doctor telling a wounded vet to go f**k themselves. A civilian yes, I could see that. Could it happen? Yes, but that person wouldn't be working there long with that attitude. I have 20 % dissability, and it took me two years to get it even though my records clearly dictate they were service related, and I know of others who have the same injuries but get far more. It is a big problem for vets to get help-I know this, but just because you killed Bin Laden doesn't mean you move to the front of the line. Using your status as the man that killed Bin Laden to speed up the benefit process is just wrong.

[MOVet]

@MadAmerican no it doesn't automatically mean he should get disability or coverage just because he killed bin laden. However the article clearly states a wide range of disabilities. I am a combat veteran, initially joined in 1994 and yes I am retired from the Army, medically 70 percent dod 100% va, after sixteen years of active service, I was wounded in combat. In my experience yes I have had a dod employee tell me to fuck off. Yes I was evaluated by someone who was not qualified to evaluate me. Everyone has a story and what happens to one not necessarily means it will happen to you. This evaluation and dealing with this dod employee took place at Ft Campbell, KY from 08-10. So yes it does happen and as far as that pos having a job he did when I retired.

[MaxPain]

Money always talks and Bullshitz walks......I fully support or Troops but i don't support Bull.Medical Discharge would have been the right thing.This story smell of Crap

[MOVet]

Yes and considering he does have service connected disabilities the Navy should have evaluated him and gave him a disability rating. Of course if he was disabled his TRICARE should have continued and judging from the article I would say he was. I've seen it oh so many times how the military wants to rush one out without proper diagnosis and treatment. All the while telling you how the VA will take care of you. Never mind the fact that the VA is back logged for over a year!

[whataGOVwehave]

Workers comp!

[Meanie]

Isn't this the same guy who iterated the steps and wrote, or is writing a book about the Bin Laden incident? If so, then what does he expect. He shouldn't have opened his mouth about the incident when military is always confidential.