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.

[fly_navy]

Navy Official website gives his rating as: Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling)

[Destructor]

Point taken. One Question: Did he die on a boat? He was more of a Soldier than a Sailor. Not that there is anything wrong with Sailors. It's just a matter of semantics.

[4CJ]

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend."

A real hero.

[Harrison Bergeron]

BTTT

[sneakypete]

I heard/read that the chopper he was in was hit, and a ruptured hyraulic line made the load deck slick. This contributed to his falling out.

No,it was hit at least twice,and a ruptered hydraulic line may have been the reason it had to make a forced landing a klick or two away. What caused him to fall out was a RPG round hitting the nose of the helicopter that didn't explode. It may the pilots jerk the stick and he wasn't prepared for this unexpected movement. The forced landing also explains why they didn't circle back and try to get him out.

[wideawake]

Wow, he was a real hardass.

It's a shame his little son will grow up without him. At least, unlike all those sons who have been abandoned by their fathers, he'll be able to hold his head up high and think of his loss with pride.

All the Muslims in the world combined aren't worth a man like this.

[BornOnTheFourth]

Well said and very true.

On my way to work this morning, I was thinking about the post-election rallies held around the country. If Bush signs CFR, we need to have more rallies to let these rats and RINOs know we won't stand for their trashing of the Constitution this brave man gave his life for.

[LaGrone]

The debt we owe to this hero and so many brave men like him. May the Lord bless him and his loved ones.

[Slyfox]

....or it should be placed in front of Bill Clinton's face for the rest of his life to remind him what a real man is.

That's like throwing pearls before swine. We should have his face before us at all times.

[Thumper1960]

Sent far away, to a hostile land, this SEAL performed his duties with honor and resolve. His glory is our nation's glory. Unselfish heroism is not common.....except in the US military.

The name of Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Neil Roberts will be remembered, and honored, for generations to come.

[sneakypete]

but under the circumstances, the Navy Cross would be closer, which is the highest honor the service bestows.

I agree that the Medal of Honor is undeserved in this case,but he should get a legimitate Silver Star because he earned it. Most people get the DSC/Navy Cross because they were put in for a MOH that was denied. He didn't EARN a MOH because this was more of him being a "brave victim of circumstances" than someone who risked it all without regard for his own safety or life. If he had seen the other guy fall from the other helicopter and then jumped out of his and ran to help the guy KNOWING that he was on his own,THAT is getting into MOH territory. None of this means he won't get a MOH,though. You can bet everything you own the Navy brass have already written him up for one because they want his heroism to reflect onto the Navy. You can also bet I'm going to get flamed for writing this by emotional people who don't know a damn thing about what it takes to legimitally earn a MOH. You ONLY get a MOH for showing a total disregard for your own life to save the lives of others in situations where you DO have a choice to act and save their lives while facing a almost certain situation where you are sure to lose yours. Or that's the way it's supposed to work,anyhow. Go read a few Army or USMC MOH citations and you will see what I mean.

BTW,I've heard rumors that there may be some legimitate MOH recommendations made for the people who went in and recovered his body.

[sneakypete]

Is there any question?

Yes. He didn't earn one in this case,and the MOH shouldn't be "cheapened" for political reasons. There is no doubt of his courage or that he would have done what was neccessary to have legimitally earned a MOH in the right circumstances,but those circumstances were absent in this action.

If you don't believe me,look up and read Army and USMC MOH citations.They always involve great courage while working to save the lives of others. There were no other SEALS or Americans living on the ground,and he didn't voluntarilly jump off his helicopter to try to rescue them. You don't/aren't supposed to get MOH's for solo acts of courage,or for not surrendering.

[sneakypete]

They screwed up when they left him.

They didn't have any choice. The helicopter he was in had taken a serious hit going in,and had to make a forced landing a few klicks away. I seriosly doubt the pilot was able to manuever it well enough to circle around and land,and if he did he would have never made it off the ground again.

[sneakypete]

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

Because that is the nature of a combat arms job in the US military. It's accepted as being a part of the occupational hazard,and if you are afraid of dying you are in the wrong line of work.

[nimc]

No flames here, I concur with your assessment.

[sneakypete]

Well,at least I won't be getting flamed by myself.

[oc-flyfish]

This is the definition of a hero... Freeper salute!

[sneakypete]

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend."

He didn't lay down his life for a friend. He was killed because he chose to fight to the death,rather than to surrender. Given the way these people are reported to treat foreign prisoners,he probably made the right choice. Remember the line of Kiplings, where he says "when you are wounded and lying on Afhagan's plains,and waiting for the women to come up and cut up your remains,remember to save a bullet for yourself,and roll over and blow out your bloody brains".

War on the "grunt level" ain't pretty.

[sneakypete]

The name of Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Neil Roberts will be remembered, and honored, for generations to come.

There is no doubt about that,or that he will be held up as a example for future SEALS.