nickname given to, 185
reaction to killing of Iraqi woman insurgent, 189
retirement planning by, 322
Silver Stars awarded to, 240–41, 321, 333
O’Neill family
homesickness after boot camp for, 26
SEAL BUD/S training graduation and, 93, 95
Silver Star ceremony and, 240–41
visit with, before SEAL BUD/S training, 25–26
Operation Anaconda, Afghanistan, 115–17, 130, 139, 219
Pakistan, 280
Bergdahl captivity in, 264
bin Laden mission and, 285, 289, 290–91, 296
bin Laden mission planning secrecy and, 276
high-value targets in, 258
investigation of SEAL crossings into, 239–40
rules of engagement regarding, 223, 230, 235, 240
search for Jalil in Afghanistan and crossing border into, 223, 224, 225–27, 230, 231–32, 235–38, 239
sources with information about activity in, 141, 142
Panama, SEAL Team Two in, 102
parachutes
Aircrew Survival Equipment school training on rigging, 24–25
problems during jumps with, 123–24, 216–18
training rotations between missions on, 115, 181
Parker (SEAL BUD/S training class member), 89–90, 91–92
Parris, Matthew
Aircrew Survival Equipment school and, 24–25
boot camp friendship with Rob, 23–24
BUD/S training with, 28, 29, 31, 32–33, 57
failure of physical tests and review board meeting with, 34–35
Navy career of, 43
obstacle course accident of, 42–43
visit to Rob’s family with, 25–26
Pashtunwali code, 153
patching ceremony, at end of SEAL training, 134–36
Paul (SEAL Assault Team Leader), 265–66, 268, 269–70, 271, 280
Petraeus, David, 181–82
Phillips, Richard, 243–44, 251, 252, 253, 273
Phillips hostage mission, 244–56, 320
drop of troops and boats in, 248–50
equipment preparation bags for, 246–47
flight to Indian Ocean for, 247–48
kidnapping and request for ransom by pirates in, 243–44
legal authority behind, 251–52
planning for, 244, 245, 247–48, 250–51
rescue of Phillips during, 253–54
return home after, 254–55
Rob’s departure for, 244–46
snipers in, 251, 252–53, 255–56
pirates
combat diving training for, 265, 267–68
Somali. See Phillips hostage mission
pranking, in SEAL Team squadrons, 131–33, 277
proctor (Instructor A), in SEAL BUD/S training, 39–41
PTRR (physical training rehabilitation and remediation), 32, 34, 35, 73–74
Qaeda, al-. See al-Qaeda
quitters during SEAL BUD/S training
attitudes of, 31–32
Hell Week experiences of, 55–56, 58, 61, 64–65, 66
Hell Week treatment of, 61–62
Instructor Woodie and, 100–101
loudmouths as, 94–95
reading list of names of, at end of SEAL BUD/S training, 94
SEAL recruiters’ desire to weed out, 17–18
swimming pool–training exercises and, 65, 66
X Division for, 31–32, 34
“quitters line,” helmets put on, 38, 62
quitting, attitudes about. See “never quit” attitude
Ramadi, Iraq
gunfight in, 196
living quarters in, 183–84
SEAL Team missions in, 183, 191–93, 196
Ramstein Air Base, Germany, 138, 294
range charts, 108, 112
Rangers. See Army Rangers
range safety officers, on SEAL teams, 164
reconnaissance
Kosovo deployment for, 113
SEAL BUD/S training in, 71, 72
Recruit Division Commanders (RDCs), Navy boot camp, 18, 33
Reeves, Robert J., 323–24
Rich (SEAL team commander), 183, 192–93, 205
Roberts, Neil
death of, 115–17, 140, 273
SEAL obstacle course record held by, 43, 102
Team Two training with, 101–2
weapon used by kept as memorial to, 117
Roberts’ Ridge, Afghanistan, 130, 273
rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) teams, 229, 231, 232, 238, 323, 331
Rogue Warrior (Marcinko), 26–28
Roth, Eric, 266–67, 269–70, 271, 280–81
rules of engagement
insurgents in mosques in Iraq and, 168
Panama mission against Noriega and, 102
SEAL missions and, 334
search for Jalil in Afghanistan and crossing border into, 223, 230, 235, 240
Russia
Afghan defeat of, 115, 221
Asadabad, Afghanistan, military base of, 221
USA hockey team win (1980) over, 315–16
Volganeft oil tanker with Iraqi oil registered in, 112–13
San Clemente Island, California, SEAL BUD/S training, 87–93
class member Parker’s problems during, 89–90, 91–92
description of, 87
demolition drills during, 88–89, 90–91
motto of instructors during, 87–88
Naval Special Warfare compound as site of, 87
return to Coronado after, 93
swim exercise during Shark Week, 88
team assignment selection during, 92–93
Savio, Jonny, 159–60, 258, 266, 269–70
Iraq mission of, 160, 165, 166–67, 168
Phillips hostage mission and, 251, 252–53, 254, 255
SEAL Team Two training of, 159
Seabees, 195, 207
Seahawk helicopter, oil tanker boarding using, 112–13
SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV), 92–93
SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One, 144
Korengal Valley mission of, 145–49
SEALs
avoiding crucial decisions based on emotions and, 205–6
documents recording last wishes of, in case of death, 219–20
duties of, 22
evolution of, after World War II, 22
insignia of, 20, 32
knowing history about, 22–23
meaning of acronym, 22, 50
Neil’s letter on his time in, 117
“never quit” attitude of, 40, 41, 60, 61, 62, 64–65, 66, 101, 108–9, 135, 155
nickname given to, 185
on-ship routine for, 108–9
patching ceremony at end of training as member of, 134–36
physical appearance and dress of, 27–28, 131, 141, 159
recruits’ bragging about desire to become, 17
Rob’s chances of becoming, 12, 13, 17, 38, 62
Rob’s decision to make a career in the, 114
Rob’s desire to become part of, 11, 111
Rob’s first impressions of, 9
Rob’s first meeting with a SEAL, 9
Rob’s first time being fired on as member of, 111
Rob’s last mission as, 327–31
Rob’s passing oral exam to become a SEAL, 106
Rob’s separation from, 333–35
specialization by, 164
Trident pin signifying, 102, 103, 106
type of person recruiters looking for, to join, 17–18
wives’ sacrifices and adaption to husband’s work in, 171
wives’ worries about husbands’ possible deaths during missions by, 151–52
SEAL screening tests
first attempt to pass, 19–21
guarantee of three attempts to pass, 21
second successful attempt to pass, 21
&nb
sp; signing up for, 19
swimming and running to get in shape for, before boot camp, 12–13
SEAL sniper school, Camp Atterbury, Indiana, 107–8
SEAL Team
al-Qaeda’s study of tactics used by, 158, 184
avoiding crucial decisions based on emotions and, 205–6
breachers on, 164, 184, 277, 279
budget for, 122
creation of, 27
dogs used on missions of, 162, 163, 177–78, 201–3, 208, 212, 260–61, 264, 278, 287, 323
“dry hole” missions by, 187
members slowing down and moving on from, 175–76
patching ceremony at end of training as member of, 134–36
Phillips hostage mission and, 244–56
physical appearance and dress of operators in, 27–28, 131, 141, 159
Rob’s chit requesting tryout for, 119
Rob’s first team leader assignment in, 222
Rob’s screening meeting for, 120
Rob’s screening tests for, 121–22
screening process used in, 119–20
Somalia mission of, 103
specialization on, 164
travel reimbursements for, 186
SEAL Team Afghanistan missions, 137–56, 172–79, 257–64
Ambien used during, 138, 207, 298
Bergdahl investigation and, 262–64
departure and flight to, 137–38
dogs used on missions in, 177–78, 260, 261–62, 278, 287, 303, 305, 309
first mission from, as learning curve, 142–44
IED makers hunted in, 258–62
interpreter assigned to, 139
Iraq mission and number of squadrons in, 183
Jalalabad mission in, 138–44
Korengal Valley mission exclusion of, 145–46
Korengal Valley mission helicopter crash and, 147–49
learning about al-Qaeda during missions in, 179
living quarters during, 140–41, 257–58
missions with Lance in, 174, 176–77
rescue mission for Luttrell in Korengal Valley with, 149–56
Rob’s desire to be part of, 114–15
Rob’s thoughts about family before leaving for first combat assignment in, 137
Sharana base deployment in, 257–64
vehicle interdiction and suicide bomber in, 258–59
SEAL Team Iraq missions, 137, 157–69, 183–213, 257
Afghanistan mission and number of squadrons in, 183
al-Qaeda targets in Anbar Province hunted during, 183
Army Rangers with, 167–68, 168–69
Army Special Forces collaborating on, 193–94, 199, 204–6
arrival in, 157
attack against IED makers in al-Qaeda cell and, 207–13
Baghdad mission in, 193–97, 200–213
“counting coup” game during, 191–92
dangers of deployment to, 157
Fallujah mission against al-Qaeda houses in, 184–91
first missions as learning curve in, 162–63
gunfight in, 174–75
intelligence process in, 161
Iraqi kids orphaned during, 189–91
joint operations against three terrorist compounds during, 164–69
living quarters during, 158, 183–84, 194–95, 196–97, 206–7
Ramadi base for, 183–84, 191–93, 196
revised tactics planned by, 158
Rob’s first gunfight and first kill in, 166–69
rules of engagement about mosques in, 168
strike team daily routines in, 158–59
Vietnam-era tactics earlier used by, 157–58
women insurgents in, 189–90, 306, 322
Zarqawi as target in, 161–62
SEAL Team squadrons
duties for new men in, 130–31
morale in, 133–34
pranks with locker room cages of, 131–33
Rob’s first meeting with leadership of, 131
Rob’s selection for, 130
selection process for, 129–30
specialization on, 164
Yard-In Party with beer and whiskey in, 134–36
SEAL Team training, 122–28
close quarters battle (CQB) training in, 122, 124–26, 134, 143
increase in number of men in, 182
learning to make life-and-death decisions during, 125–26
ongoing, between missions, 181
patching ceremony at end of training as member of, 134–36
Rob’s completion of, 129
Rob’s invitation to, 120
skydiving training in, 122–24
squadron placement after, 129–30
Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape school in, 126
war game exercise in, 126–28
SEAL Team One, 22, 27, 32, 93, 144
SEAL Team Two, 27
buddies met at, 115, 159–60, 160, 186
C-130 airplanes used by, 122
first deployment with, 95, 107
Naval Amphibious Base, Virginia Beach, site of, 100
Neil’s death during Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan and, 115–17
Rob’s selection for, 92–93, 95
Rob’s time with, waiting to begin SEAL Team training, 120
SEAL Team Two training, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 99–106, 112
drinking violation ticket during first night at, 99–100
first deployment after, 107
introductions by new men starting at, 104–5
jump school training before starting, 95–97
Navy barracks and galley used in, 100
“O” course exercise during, 105–6
probation period during, 105, 134
relationships between Rob and SEALs at, 100–101, 103
Rob’s passing oral exam to become a SEAL during, 105, 106
Rob’s status as not yet a full-fledged team member at, 100, 103
second training rotation to, 115
tactical training course at, 105
Tuesday swims at, 103–4
wait for next training session at, 103
SEAL Team Three, 20, 27, 32, 90–91
SEAL Team Four, 27
Panama mission of, 102
Rob’s deployment with, 114
SEAL Team Five, 27, 32
SEAL Team Ten, 144
Korengal Valley mission of, 145–49
SEAL training. See also BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) training, Coronado, California; SEAL Team Two training, Virginia Beach
Aircrew Survival Equipment school for, 24–25
diving instruction in, 32, 72–86
evolutions in, 21. See also specific exercises
Hell Week during. See Hell Week, SEAL BUD/S training
humor during, 32, 40, 46–50, 52, 64, 72
Instructor A in, 39–41, 62, 69, 72, 93
instructors in, 33–34, 74, 87–88, 100–101
jump school, Fort Benning, Georgia, for, 95–97
later rotations at Virginia Beach for, 115, 181, 215–18
members quitting. See quitters during SEAL BUD/S training
movie portrayal of, 18, 19, 22, 38, 56, 95
“never quit” attitude during, 40, 41, 60, 61, 62–63, 64–65, 66, 101, 155
PTRR (physical training rehabilitation and remediation), 32, 34, 35, 73–74
San Clemente Island site for diving and swimming during last segment of, 87–93
sniper training, 107–8, 110–11
SEAL Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs). See Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs)
September 11, 2001, World Trade Center terrorist attacks, 113–14, 202, 241, 284, 304, 335
Seth (Army team member), 223, 232, 235, 238
Shah, Ahmad, 145
Sharana base, Afghanistan, 257–64
Bergdahl investigation and, 262–64
IED makers hunted from, 258–62
living quarters at, 257–58
Shark
Week, SEAL BUD/S training, 88
Shia Muslims, Iraq, 162, 182
Silver Star medals, 139, 240–41, 321, 333
skydiving
dangers of, 123
HAHO (high-altitude, high-opening) jumps in, 122, 215
HALO (high-altitude, low-opening) jumps in, 122
jump training for. See Basic Airborne jump school
Lance’s accident during, 173–74
Navy jump team and, 43
parachute problems during, 123–24
SEAL Team training with, 122–24
stacking maneuver of SEAL troop in, 122–23
“slide for life,” in SEAL BUD/S training, 41–43, 253
snipers
Albania deployment for, 111–12
Baghdad mission against IED makers in al-Qaeda cell and, 208, 209, 212
bin Laden mission and, 287, 288, 304–5, 312, 313–14
counting to remain calm by, 303–4
helicopter-borne vessel boarding in Middle East, 112–13
Iraq missions with, 163–64, 165, 166, 167, 168
Korengal Valley dangers for, 144–45
Korengal Valley mission and attack on helicopter with, 145–49
Marines as, 108
Phillips hostage mission and, 251, 252–53, 255
range charts used by, 108, 112
rescue mission for sniper Luttrell in Korengal Valley, 149–56
Rob’s first sniper mission, 112
Rob’s first time being fired on during mission, 111
as SEAL team specialization, 164
sniper training
Austin assignment exercises for, 110–11
Rob’s Camp Atterbury stay for, 107–8
Somalia
kidnapping by pirates from. See Phillips hostage mission
SEAL team fights in, 103
Special Forces
Army. See Army Special Forces
Navy. See SEALs
Special Warfare Operators, Naval. See SEALs
Spike (SEAL Team dog), 273
Sterling, Cole
Boots nickname of, 196
Phillips hostage mission and, 248–49
SEAL BUD/S training with, 64, 196
SEAL Team missions with, 131, 185, 188, 195–97, 203, 205, 210, 212
Street (SEAL team leader), 191, 218
suicide bombers, in Afghanistan, 114, 142, 259
suicide vests, in bin Laden mission, 309, 310, 319, 322
Sunni Muslims, Iraq, 162, 182, 206
Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape school, Washington, 126
Tahir, Qari, 323
Takur Ghar battle, Afghanistan, 115–17, 139–40, 219
Taliban
Afghani military teams paid by, 222
Afghanistan regime of, 114, 115, 137, 144–56, 222, 225
Bergdahl disappearance and, 262, 263–64
Korengal Valley and, 144–45
Operation Anaconda against, 115–17
al-Qaeda sheltered by, 114