VALIANT TO THE END By NILES LATHEM
March 22, 2002 -- WASHINGTON - The U.S. commando killed by the enemy after tumbling out of a helicopter accomplished astonishing feats of bravery as he tried to fight off al Qaeda fighters, it was revealed last night.Outnumbered and armed only with a machine gun and hand grenades, stranded Navy SEAL Neal Roberts courageously battled the al Qaeda fighters in the final moments of his life - down to his last bullet before he was shot.
The harrowing tale of tragic battlefield heroics took place March 2 when Roberts' chopper was hit by rocket-propelled grenades during an ambush.
The tail gunner fell out while the helicopter was in the air, but he was still attached to his safety harness and was hanging outside the aircraft.
Military officials said Roberts dropped his weapon and quickly pulled the tail gunner back in.
But the chopper made a violent jerk and Roberts - who was not wearing a safety harness - fell out, right in the middle of a nest of die-hard al Qaeda snipers.
A few minutes later, a second U.S. helicopter also was attacked by enemy fire, and a soldier in that chopper was hit and fell out dead - still clutching his machine gun.
Roberts' comrades say that under heavy fire, he crawled over to his fallen comrade, took his weapon and fired at the band of al Qaeda fighters until he ran out of ammunition.
Then, he grabbed a grenade, stood up and was shot as he tossed it.
A Predator drone aircraft flying above the battlefield videotaped al Qaeda fighters dragging off the lifeless Roberts. His body was later recovered by U.S. forces.
Military officials say it's likely Roberts, one of eight American servicemen killed during the massive assault on an al Qaeda hideout in the bloody battle of Gardez, will be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.