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{{Infobox military person
| name = Robert J. O'Neill
| image = Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill.jpg{{!}}border
| caption = O'Neill in November 2014
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|04|10|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Butte, Montana]], U.S.
|nickname="Rob"
| allegiance = {{Nowrap|{{flag|United States|name=United States of America|1960|size=23px}}}}
| branch = {{flag|United States Navy|size=23px}}
| serviceyears = 1995–2012<ref>{{Cite web|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|work=BBC News|location=United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-29945568|title=Osama bin Laden killing: US Navy Seals row over shooting|date=November 7, 2014}}</ref>
| rank = [[File:U.S. Navy E8 infobox.png|25px]] [[Senior chief petty officer]]
| unit = [[United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group]] ("SEAL Team 6")
| battles = [[Second Liberian Civil War]]
*[[Operation Shining Express]]
[[Iraq War]]
*[[Operation Iraqi Freedom]]
[[War in Afghanistan (2001-14)|War in Afghanistan]]
*[[Operation Red Wings]]
[[Maersk Alabama hijacking|''Maersk Alabama'' hijacking]]
[[Operation Neptune Spear]]
| awards = [[Silver Star]] (2)<br />[[Bronze Star Medal]] (4)<br />[[Joint Service Commendation Medal]] (V)<br />[[Navy and Marine Corps Medal]]<br />[[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Presidential Unit Citation]] (3)
|website=http://www.robertjoneill.com/
}}

'''Robert J.''' "'''Rob'''" '''O'Neill''' (born April 10, 1976) is a former [[United States Navy]] sailor. A former [[United States Navy SEALs|U.S. Navy SEAL]] and [[United_States_Navy_SEALs#Special_warfare_ratings|special warfare operator]], O'Neill is best known for his claims that he had made in November 2014, of having fired the head shots that killed [[Osama bin Laden]] during the raid on his [[Abbottabad]] compound on May 2, 2011.<ref name="usatoday">{{cite web|title=Osama bin Laden Shooter ID'ed Ahead of Fox Interview|url=http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/militaryintelligence/2014/11/05/bin-laden-shooter-identified/18563131|work=USA Today|first=Meghynn|last=Myers|date=November 6, 2014|accessdate=November 6, 2014}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
O'Neill was born and raised in [[Butte, Montana]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Butte native identified as man who killed Osama bin Laden|url=http://www.ktvq.com/news/butte-native-identified-as-the-navy-seal-that-killed-osama-bin-laden|work=KTVQ (Billings, Montana)|first=David|last=Sherman|date=November 5, 2014 |accessdate=November 6, 2014}}</ref> In his youth, his father, Tom, took him hunting and taught him [[sharpshooting]]. In 1995, at age 19, a year after graduating from [[Butte Central Catholic High School]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/butte-community-reacts-to-news-of-local-man-who-killed-bin-laden/29590398|title=Friends describe Butte man who killed Osama bin Laden|author=NBCMontana|work=NBCMontana}}</ref> O'Neill joined the U.S. Navy hoping to become a sniper.<ref name="dailymail">{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2824136/Fellow-SEALs-turn-Team-Six-member-going-public-bin-Laden-killing-Rob-O-Neill-not-truthful-telling-fired-three-bullets-terror-mastermind-s-head.htm;|title=Profile|work=The Daily Mail|accessdate=November 9, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Tim|last=Walker|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/rob-oneill-us-navy-seal-who-shot-osama-bin-laden-revealed-9843166.html|title=Rob O'Neill: US Navy Seal who shot Osama Bin Laden outed|date=November 6, 2014|work=The Independent}}</ref>

==Career==
O'Neill initially sought to become a sniper and enlist as a [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine]] where he had known some friends. On the day he arrived at the recruitment office, the Marine recruiter was not in. Instead, a [[United States Navy|Navy]] recruiter suggested that O'Neill enlist in the U.S. Navy, telling him that he could be a sniper in the U.S. Navy SEALs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leadingauthorities.com/speakers/robert-oneill.html|title=Robert O'Neill|publisher=}}</ref>
As a member of the U.S. Navy, O'Neill was reportedly involved in more than 400 missions,<ref name="dailytelegraph">{{cite web|title=Robert O'Neill: The Man Who Shot bin Laden|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/al-qaeda/11212782/Rob-ONeill-The-man-who-shot-bin-Laden.html|work=The Telegraph|first=Harriet|last=Alexander|date=November 6, 2014|accessdate=November 6, 2014}}</ref> including the mission to save Captain [[Richard Phillips (merchant mariner)|Richard Phillips]] during the [[Maersk Alabama hijacking]], and [[Operation Red Wings]] in which O'Neill helped save [[Marcus Luttrell]].<ref name="dailymail"/> On 11 occasions during his career, O'Neill left home thinking he would not return alive.<ref>Leading Authorities, [http://www.leadingauthorities.com/speakers/robert-oneill.html Robert O'Neill: Team Leader, Naval Special Warfare Development Group].</ref>

In 2012, after 16 years of service, and 4 years shy of retirement, O'Neill left the U.S. Navy. He is now a public speaker employed by Leading Authorities, a [[speakers bureau]].<ref>Nicholas Kulish, Christopher Drew & Sean D. Naylor, (Nov 07, 2014). [http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/nyt/Another_ex-commando_says_he_shot_Bin_Laden.html Another ex-commando says he shot bin Laden]. Star Advertiser.</ref> O'Neill was hired as a contributor for Fox News Channel in 2015 to lend "his military expertise across the cable channel’s daytime and primetime programs."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2015/03/12/former-navy-seal-rob-oneill-joins-fox-news.html|title=Former Navy SEAL Rob O’Neill joins FOX News {{!}} Fox News|date=2015-03-12|language=en-US|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref>

{{anchor|Decorations and awards}}O'Neill rose up the chain of command to [[Senior chief petty officer|Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator]]. His 52 decorations include two [[Silver Star]]s, four [[Bronze Star|Bronze Star Medals]] with Valor device, a [[Joint Service Commendation Medal]] with Valor device, three [[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Presidential Unit citations]], and two Navy and Marine Corps Commendations with Valor device.<ref>
[http://www.wbir.com/story/entertainment/events/2014/11/06/robert-oneill-in-blount-county/18608263 "Osama bin Laden shooter speaks at Blount Co. event"], wbir.com, November 6, 2014; accessed November 8, 2014.</ref>

===Claims about participation in Operation Neptune Spear===
{{anchor|Bin Laden killing claim}}The claims that O'Neill killed bin Laden came on October 5, 2014, in anticipation of a [[Fox News]] special called ''The Man Who Killed Osama bin Laden'',<ref name="businessinsider">{{cite web|title=REPORT: The Navy SEAL Who Shot bin Laden Has Been Identified|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/report-the-navy-seal-who-shot-bin-laden-has-been-identified-2014-11|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918040321/http://www.businessinsider.com/report-the-navy-seal-who-shot-bin-laden-has-been-identified-2014-11|archivedate=2015-09-18|work=Business Insider|first=Hunter|last=Walker|date=November 3, 2014|accessdate=November 6, 2014}}</ref> which was expected to reveal his identity and details of the mission [[Operation Neptune Spear]]. He had previously been interviewed anonymously in an ''[[Esquire (magazine)|Esquire Magazine]]'' article in February 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Man Who Killed bin Laden... Is Screwed|url=http://www.esquire.com/features/man-who-shot-osama-bin-laden-0313|work=Esquire Magazine|first=Phil|last=Bronstein|date=February 11, 2013|accessdate=November 6, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ex-SEAL Says He Fired Final bin Laden Shot|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/06/politics/seal-bin-laden-shooter-identified/index.html|work=CNN|first=Justin|last=Peligri|date=November 6, 2014|accessdate=November 6, 2014}}</ref>

O'Neill's statements resulted in criticism by fellow Navy SEALs. [[Rear Admiral]] Brian Losey and [[Master Chief Petty Officer|Force Master Chief]] Michael Magaraci issued a public statement,
{{quote|A critical tenant {{sic|nolink=y|expected=tenet}} of our ethos is "I do not advertise the nature of my work, nor seek recognition for my actions."<ref name=People>Johnny Dodd (November 7, 2014). [http://www.people.com/article/controversy-over-bin-laden-shooter-interview "Alleged Osama bin Laden Shooter Accused of 'Violating' Navy SEAL 'Ethos' for Going Public"]. ''[[People (magazine)|People]]''.</ref>}}

In 2012, Matt Bissonette, using the pseudonym "Mark Owen", wrote a book called [[No Easy Day|''No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama bin Laden'']] documenting his participation in the raid. In his book, he does not identify the man who fired the fatal shots at Bin Laden, referring to him as simply the "Point Man". Bisonnette himself admits to firing his weapon at Bin Laden after the fatal shots were fired by the "Point Man" when Bin Laden was already "In his death throes".<ref>{{cite book |last=Owen |first=Mark |date=September 4, 2012 |title=No Easy Day |url= |location= |publisher=Dutton Penguin |page=170 |isbn=978-0525953722 }}</ref> He has; however, refused to respond directly to O'Neill's claims, adding that he believed the team effort was more important than one person pulling the trigger.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/navy-seals-robert-oneill-matt-bissonnette-public-dispute-over-who-killed-osama-bin-1720499|title=Navy SEALs Robert O'Neill, Matt Bissonnette In Public Dispute Over Who Killed Osama Bin Laden|date=7 November 2014|work=International Business Times}}</ref> The [[United States Department of Justice]] launched a criminal investigation into whether Bissonnette leaked classified material.<ref name="businessinsider"/><ref>[[Peter Bergen|Bergen, Peter]] (November 4, 2014). [http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/04/opinion/bergen-seals-bin-laden-killing/index.html "Did Robert O'Neill really kill bin Laden?"]. [[CNN]].</ref>{{fv|date=October 2014|reason=source mentions no investigation}} O'Neill has also been criticized by other former Navy SEALs for disclosing his role.<ref name=People/>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.robertjoneill.com/}}
*[http://www.leadingauthorities.com/speakers/robert-oneill.html Leading Authorities Speakers Bureau – Robert O'Neill]
*{{IMDb name|6889101}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:O'Neill, Robert}}
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:American military personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2014)]]
[[Category:American motivational speakers]]
[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:Death of Osama bin Laden]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Butte, Montana]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Bronze Star Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Silver Star]]
[[Category:United States Navy sailors]]
[[Category:United States Navy SEALs personnel]]

Revision as of 21:01, 15 January 2017

Robert J. O'Neill
File:Navy SEAL Robert O'Neill.jpg
O'Neill in November 2014
Nickname(s)"Rob"
Born (1976-04-10) April 10, 1976 (age 48)
Butte, Montana, U.S.
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1995–2012[1]
Rank Senior chief petty officer
UnitUnited States Naval Special Warfare Development Group ("SEAL Team 6")
Battles/warsSecond Liberian Civil War

Iraq War

War in Afghanistan

Maersk Alabama hijacking

Operation Neptune Spear
AwardsSilver Star (2)
Bronze Star Medal (4)
Joint Service Commendation Medal (V)
Navy and Marine Corps Medal
Presidential Unit Citation (3)
Websitehttp://www.robertjoneill.com/

Robert J. "Rob" O'Neill (born April 10, 1976) is a former United States Navy sailor. A former U.S. Navy SEAL and special warfare operator, O'Neill is best known for his claims that he had made in November 2014, of having fired the head shots that killed Osama bin Laden during the raid on his Abbottabad compound on May 2, 2011.[2]

Early life and education

O'Neill was born and raised in Butte, Montana.[3] In his youth, his father, Tom, took him hunting and taught him sharpshooting. In 1995, at age 19, a year after graduating from Butte Central Catholic High School,[4] O'Neill joined the U.S. Navy hoping to become a sniper.[5][6]

Career

O'Neill initially sought to become a sniper and enlist as a U.S. Marine where he had known some friends. On the day he arrived at the recruitment office, the Marine recruiter was not in. Instead, a Navy recruiter suggested that O'Neill enlist in the U.S. Navy, telling him that he could be a sniper in the U.S. Navy SEALs.[7]

As a member of the U.S. Navy, O'Neill was reportedly involved in more than 400 missions,[8] including the mission to save Captain Richard Phillips during the Maersk Alabama hijacking, and Operation Red Wings in which O'Neill helped save Marcus Luttrell.[5] On 11 occasions during his career, O'Neill left home thinking he would not return alive.[9]

In 2012, after 16 years of service, and 4 years shy of retirement, O'Neill left the U.S. Navy. He is now a public speaker employed by Leading Authorities, a speakers bureau.[10] O'Neill was hired as a contributor for Fox News Channel in 2015 to lend "his military expertise across the cable channel’s daytime and primetime programs."[11]

O'Neill rose up the chain of command to Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator. His 52 decorations include two Silver Stars, four Bronze Star Medals with Valor device, a Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor device, three Presidential Unit citations, and two Navy and Marine Corps Commendations with Valor device.[12]

Claims about participation in Operation Neptune Spear

The claims that O'Neill killed bin Laden came on October 5, 2014, in anticipation of a Fox News special called The Man Who Killed Osama bin Laden,[13] which was expected to reveal his identity and details of the mission Operation Neptune Spear. He had previously been interviewed anonymously in an Esquire Magazine article in February 2013.[14][15]

O'Neill's statements resulted in criticism by fellow Navy SEALs. Rear Admiral Brian Losey and Force Master Chief Michael Magaraci issued a public statement,

A critical tenant [sic] of our ethos is "I do not advertise the nature of my work, nor seek recognition for my actions."[16]

In 2012, Matt Bissonette, using the pseudonym "Mark Owen", wrote a book called No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama bin Laden documenting his participation in the raid. In his book, he does not identify the man who fired the fatal shots at Bin Laden, referring to him as simply the "Point Man". Bisonnette himself admits to firing his weapon at Bin Laden after the fatal shots were fired by the "Point Man" when Bin Laden was already "In his death throes".[17] He has; however, refused to respond directly to O'Neill's claims, adding that he believed the team effort was more important than one person pulling the trigger.[18] The United States Department of Justice launched a criminal investigation into whether Bissonnette leaked classified material.[13][19][failed verification] O'Neill has also been criticized by other former Navy SEALs for disclosing his role.[16]

References

  1. ^ "Osama bin Laden killing: US Navy Seals row over shooting". BBC News. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: British Broadcasting Corporation. November 7, 2014.
  2. ^ Myers, Meghynn (November 6, 2014). "Osama bin Laden Shooter ID'ed Ahead of Fox Interview". USA Today. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  3. ^ Sherman, David (November 5, 2014). "Butte native identified as man who killed Osama bin Laden". KTVQ (Billings, Montana). Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  4. ^ NBCMontana. "Friends describe Butte man who killed Osama bin Laden". NBCMontana.
  5. ^ a b "Profile". The Daily Mail. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  6. ^ Walker, Tim (November 6, 2014). "Rob O'Neill: US Navy Seal who shot Osama Bin Laden outed". The Independent.
  7. ^ "Robert O'Neill".
  8. ^ Alexander, Harriet (November 6, 2014). "Robert O'Neill: The Man Who Shot bin Laden". The Telegraph. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  9. ^ Leading Authorities, Robert O'Neill: Team Leader, Naval Special Warfare Development Group.
  10. ^ Nicholas Kulish, Christopher Drew & Sean D. Naylor, (Nov 07, 2014). Another ex-commando says he shot bin Laden. Star Advertiser.
  11. ^ "Former Navy SEAL Rob O'Neill joins FOX News | Fox News". 2015-03-12. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
  12. ^ "Osama bin Laden shooter speaks at Blount Co. event", wbir.com, November 6, 2014; accessed November 8, 2014.
  13. ^ a b Walker, Hunter (November 3, 2014). "REPORT: The Navy SEAL Who Shot bin Laden Has Been Identified". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 2015-09-18. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  14. ^ Bronstein, Phil (February 11, 2013). "The Man Who Killed bin Laden... Is Screwed". Esquire Magazine. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  15. ^ Peligri, Justin (November 6, 2014). "Ex-SEAL Says He Fired Final bin Laden Shot". CNN. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  16. ^ a b Johnny Dodd (November 7, 2014). "Alleged Osama bin Laden Shooter Accused of 'Violating' Navy SEAL 'Ethos' for Going Public". People.
  17. ^ Owen, Mark (September 4, 2012). No Easy Day. Dutton Penguin. p. 170. ISBN 978-0525953722.
  18. ^ "Navy SEALs Robert O'Neill, Matt Bissonnette In Public Dispute Over Who Killed Osama Bin Laden". International Business Times. 7 November 2014.
  19. ^ Bergen, Peter (November 4, 2014). "Did Robert O'Neill really kill bin Laden?". CNN.
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