Randy Watt: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Randy Watt FBINAA.png|thumb|275px|Lt. Col. Randy Watt]]Lt. Col. '''Steven 'Randy' Watt''' is an American [[Special Forces]] soldier who commands the 1st Battalion<ref name="tan" /> of the [[19th Special Forces Group (United States)|19th Special Forces Group]].<ref name="ksl">Bruce, Becky and Sandra Yi. [[KSL]], [http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=2694760 Man sentenced for falsifying military honors], February 2008</ref> |
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As a Major, Watt had been in Afghanistan since December 2001<ref name="tan" />, and led the [[Special Forces]] assault team that attacked the compound in [[Ayub Kheyl]] where [[Omar Khadr]] was captured on [[July 27]], 2002. The team consisted of Watt, [[Executive Officer|XO]] Captain Mike Silver, Sgt [[Christopher Speer]] from [[Delta Force]], [[Layne Morris]] and Master Sgt. Scotty Hansen, both from the [[19th Special Forces Group (United States)|19th Special Forces Group]] and two others.<ref name="thestar">[[Michelle Shephard|Shephard, Michelle]]. [[Toronto Star]]. [http://www.thestar.com/printArticle/208502 Khadr goes on trial], April 29, 2007</ref> Watt and Hansen were both credited with running forward under fire to pull two bodies to safety, although sources differ on whether it was two wounded Americans including [[Layne Morris]], or two dead Afghan militiamen.<ref name="slct" /><ref name="return">House, Dawn. [[Salt Lake City Tribune]]. "Utah Soldiers Return to Honors", October 23, 2002</ref> |
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Although nominated for a [[Silver Star]]<ref name="ksl" />, he was instead awarded the lower [[Bronze Star]] for his actions.<ref>[[Mike Leavitt|Leavitt, Mike]]. "[[s:2003 Utah State of the State Address|Utah State of the State Address]], January 21, 2003</ref> In addition to his medal from the battle, Watt also holds two other Bronze Stars including one with [[Valor device]], a [[Meritorious Service Medal]] and a [[Combat Infantryman Badge]].<ref name="tan" /> |
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A native of [[Ogden, Utah]], Watt is a graduate of [[Weber State University]] and [[University of Phoenix]].<ref name="fbi">[http://www.utahfbinaa.org/id19.html 2007 Fall Conference Training]</ref> serves as Assistant Police Chief in the city.<ref name="stan">Gurrister, Tim. [http://www.standard.net/live/news/116715 Iraqi interpreter's different worlds], October 21, 2007</ref> |
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Watt was stationed in Afghanistan until December 2002.<ref>Lakshmanan , Indira and John Donnelly. [[Boston Globe]], [http://www.boston.com/news/packages/sept11/anniversary/globe_stories/090902_qaeda.htm The hunt for Al Qaeda], September 9, 2002</ref><ref name="tan" /> |
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In 2004, he was quoted in the ''[[Salt Lake Tribune]]'' as stating ""We're arrogant. We think everyone knows what democracy is and wants it... but you can't change something in six months that took 6,000 years to create. If we don't help the transitional government get the warlords out of power and give democracy time to sprout, the country will revert back to anarchy."<ref name="slct">House, Dawn. ''[[Salt Lake Tribune]]'', "Some troops doubt Afghanistan effort is adequate", March 20, 2004</ref> |
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In December 2005, he was in [[Brazil]] for a three-day [[National Tactical Officers Association]] training course for Brazilian special forces, in preparation for the [[2007 Pan American Games]].<ref>[http://www.m16clinic.com/brazil/ M16 Viper and NOTA in Brazil]</ref> |
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Watt was deployed to Iraq, training [[Sadr City]] police<ref name="fbi" />, from July 2006 until June 2007, and helped his interpreter Falah Al-Baldawi move his family to the United States.<ref name="stan" /><ref name="tan" /> He returned saying that he no longer considered himself a "hardline [[George W. Bush|President Bush]] supporter", like he had while in Afghanistan.<ref>[[StandardNET]], "http://www.standard.net/live.php/News/109218/?printable=story Even Iraqis want out], July 19, 2007</ref> |
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In February 2008, Lt. Col. Watt was interviewed after the trial of [[Anthony Calderone]], a Special Forces soldier in Watt's group who falsified his military awards. Watt said that nothing could "recover the lost honor for the U.S. Army" following Calderone's actions.<ref name="ksl" /> Although he didn't know Calderone personally, Watt served as his company commander in 1992, and was called to testify at his trial.<ref name="tan">Tan, Michelle. [[Army Times]], "[http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/11/army_medals_faker_071125/ Reserve major faces jail over phony medals]", November 27, 2007</ref> |
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He was profiled in the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] 2003 special, “[[Profiles from the Front Line]]” in 2003, as well as the August 2004 edition of ''[[Men’s Health]]'' magazine.<ref name="fbi" /> |
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==References== |
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{{US-army-bio-stub}} |
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