Posted on 10/23/2015 4:01:56 PM PDT by FourPeas
Master Sergeant Joshua Wheeler of Roland, Oklahoma, a highly-decorated soldier and father of four, rushed into action when he heard sounds of gunfire coming from a prison in Iraq where dozens of ISIS-held hostage were being held on Thursday.
Those actions, Defense Secretary Ash Carter told reporters on Friday, weren't part of the original rescue mission plan, but were critical to its success.
"I am immensely proud of this young man," Carter said adding that his thoughts and prayers go out to Wheeler's family.
Earlier Friday, Defense officials confirmed to NBC News Wheeler, 39, as the American Delta Force commando killed in a rescue mission in Iraq on Thursday.
Acting on a tip that dozens of ISIS-held hostages were about to be slaughtered, U.S. and Kurdish commandos stormed a prison in northeastern Iraq before dawn Thursday, rescuing the captives in a firefight that ended with Wheeler being shot to death, officials said.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Friday that Wheeler "did what proud Americans do" when he ran toward the sound of gunfire.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...
a prison
Wonder whether the guards are still being issued rubber bullets, as they were during the GWBush years?
I wonder if any of the “valuable intelligence “ had to do with CIA Saudi Turkish and other incriminating U.S./ western ties to ISIS?
Destroying the evidence before the Iraqis turn us out of Iraq and invite the Russians to help them clean house ....
If so a dam poor way to lose a soldier...
I don’t want to spend a dime or a drop of American blood to rescue a muslim, but I admit, I don’t know the makeup of the prisoners.
It does make one wonder.
Looks like he was one tough hombre.
Indeed. One story I read interviewed people he knew in high school described him as a guy with long hair, laid back and always cracking jokes.
Well he changed...
I figured he was Delta ....look at his ribbons....wow.
Knock off the bullshit talk that man died saving lives. Really tired of the bullshit talk on this sometimes.....its not all about politics....or imagery enemies.
He thought he died saving lives. It seems he died saving one set of ISIS head choppers from another set of ISIS head choppers
May he RIP for following bravely orders to his death.
As for those who ordered this raid- may they face scrutiny and exposure
Thanks Ernest for pointing out that other topic, got me lookin'.
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