Navy SEAL Fought To the Death

New York Daily News ^ | 3/22/02 | MAKI BECKER

[kattracks]

Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Neil Roberts — shot dead and dragged off by Al Qaeda fighters March 4 — went down fighting.

Thrown from his helicopter on the first night of Operation Anaconda, the Navy SEAL found himself alone and in enemy territory, according to two new accounts, including an e-mail circulating among military personnel.

His survival instinct in high gear, Roberts — a married father of a toddler son — grabbed a machine gun from a felled commando nearby, CBS News reported last night.

He opened fire with the machine gun and a pistol on the enemy fighters around him until he ran out of ammunition.

Roberts, 32, then stood and threw all his grenades before being cut down by enemy fire.

Helpless and horrified, his commanders watched via a reconnaissance drone's camera as Roberts' valiant last stand ended with Al Qaeda fighters dragging off his body.

According to the e-mail and other accounts given to CBS News by members of the Special Operations forces in Afghanistan, Roberts' helicopter was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade that didn't explode but caused the aircraft to lurch.

That ejected the chopper's tail gunner, who dangled from the aircraft by his safety harness.

Roberts then raced to action, putting down his rifle to pull the gunner inside.

But the helicopter was jolted again, and Roberts, who wasn't wearing a harness, fell 10 feet to the ground. His helicopter left without him, apparently unaware he was not on board, the reports said.

A second U.S. chopper also came under fire, and a commando aboard it was shot dead. He fell to the ground still clutching his machine gun, and Roberts made his way over to the dead soldier to grab his guns, according to CBS News.

Last Monday at a memorial service, Roberts was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star. CBS reported he is also being considered for a Medal of Honor.

[11th Earl of Mar]

Thank God for soldiers like Neil Roberts.

And thank God we no longer have a president who would use the death of a brave man like this for a photo op and a chance to make himself look good at the expense of others.

[Samwise]

I am so sad for his family.

[Don Joe]

CBS reported he is also being considered for a Medal of Honor.

Considered for???

Is there any question?

They don't make a medal sufficient to honor what this man gave for his country.

I only hope his country does not forget his wife and children, who in addition to the grief they must bear, are now without him providing for them.

[BCR #226]

a moment of silence for a true American hero...

Mike

[kinghorse]

They screwed up when they left him.

Out.

[lentulusgracchus]

And thank God we no longer have a president who would use the death of a brave man like this for a photo op and a chance to make himself look good at the expense of others.

Hear, hear.....may we never see his like again.

[lentulusgracchus]

They screwed up when they left him.

They didn't know they lost him.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

. . . or as the French WWI ace put it, when asked what honor he yet to win, "a white cross."

Every serviceman who falls in battle must be assumed have, as Shakespere put it, "his wounds before". But it has not, herertofore, often been videotaped . . .

Which plays into a pet peeve of mine--how very much video Americans consume. This would just be another few seconds of it . . . we would watch in horrified fascination, helpless to aid. There is an emotional distancing that takes place, I fear, like watching the movies of the Holocaust too many times . . .

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Of course the pilot probably feels that way now, but at the time he was trying to bug out to save, not only his own hide, but that of the crew. Including the crewman who, unbeknownst to the pilot, fell out.

[cactmh]

Most likely not in a blue zone...

[hchutch]

Dear God, why did we have to lose such a brave man?

[section9]

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Two Thirds Vote Aye]

Thanks, kattracks, for posting this incredible story of this great fighter from the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

[LouD]

Don Myers; rbmillerjr; GussiedUp

[Kevin Curry]

Roberts was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star. CBS reported he is also being considered for a Medal of Honor.

The Bronze Star is a gimmee. He should receive the Navy Cross at a minimum.

[LouD]

Bump!

[Slam]

Yup.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

Sometimes I despair at the state of our nation, but stories of brave men like this fighting for us give me a glimmer of hope. Rest easy, sir...

[LouD]

Doh!

[Slam]

Navy Cross only if downgraded by some REMF awards board.