The Navy SEAL who fired the first shot that killed bin Laden has finally been revealed. His name is Rob O?Neill, SEAL Team Six, originally from Butte Montana.
O?Neill has severed 16 years in the Navy, has been decorated 52 times including two silver stars, four Bronze Stars with Valor, a Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor, three Presidential Unit citations and others. Not only that, he also participated in the Captain Phillips recovery and the rescue operation for Marcus Luttrell ( ?Lone Survivor? movie and book).
Although O?Neill is clearly a proficient ?team operator?, his decision to come out and share his identity will be heavily questioned. Not to mention, face possible fines from the Pentagon. Navy Rear Admiral Brian Losey wrote, ?A critical tenant of our Ethos (Naval Special Warfare Group) is I do not advertise the nature of my work, nor seek recognition for my actions.? With that said, it is too early to know how O?Neill fellow team mates will respond.
O?Neill is scheduled to be interviewed on a Fox News Special next week title, ?The Man Who Killed Osama bin Laden?. Thus far and as anticipated, reactions across the board are mixed.
O?Neill is currently on the motivational speaker circuit and will likely follow Matthew Bisonnette?s life line by writing his own book and if enough copies sold, a movie is definitely likely.
Not bad for a military guy with 400 combat missions and more than 30 kills who?s now trying to make a living as a Navy veteran. But at what costs?