SEAL of Honor (26 page)

After the September 11, 2001, attacks, President George W. Bush set forth a policy regarding the U.S. response to terrorism. In what has become known as the Bush Doctrine, the United States put the world on notice that it reserved the right to aggressively secure itself from countries that harbor or give aid to terrorist groups.

In his address to the nation on the evening of September 11, 2001, President Bush stated this resolve by stating that “we will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them.” In his September 20, 2001, address to a joint session of Congress, President Bush reemphasized this doctrine: “We will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism. Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime.”

This doctrine was published by the U.S. National Security Council (NSC) on September 20, 2002, in a text entitled
The National Security Strategy of the United States
. The policies outlined in the NSC document represented a significant foreign policy change, since it was not the Afghanistan government (the Taliban) who had initiated the attacks, and there was no evidence that the Taliban had any foreknowledge of the attacks; however, the Taliban did harbor bin Laden and al-Qaeda, who did commit the attacks.

In a subsequent address to the cadets of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, on June 1, 2002, President Bush clearly stated the role that preemptive war would play in the future of American foreign policy and national defense: “We cannot defend America and our friends by hoping for the best. We cannot put our faith in the word of tyrants, who solemnly sign non-proliferation treaties, and then systemically break them. If we wait for threats to fully materialize, we will have waited too long ... Our security will require transforming the
military you will lead. A military that must be ready to strike at a moment’s notice in any dark corner of the world. And our security will require all Americans to be forward-looking and resolute, to be ready for preemptive action when necessary to defend our liberty and to defend our lives.”

President Bush made it clear that the United States should depose foreign regimes that represent a potential or perceived threat to the security of the this country or its national interests, even if that threat was not an immediate one. He further advocated a policy of spreading democracy around the world, especially in the volatile, war-torn region of the Middle East, as an overall strategy of combating terrorism, even if this meant acting unilaterally.

Despite the fact that most Americans believe that the fight against terrorism is limited to a region or area and against a single group, the reality is that the GWOT is global in nature. This is a war being fought on several different fronts on several different continents and against more than one group.

Operation Active Endeavor, which began on October 26, 2001, in response to the September 11 attacks, is an ongoing naval operation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). NATO, a military alliance established on April 4, 1949, consists of twenty-six independent countries whose members have agreed to participate in a mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party. Operation Active Endeavor operates in the Mediterranean Sea. It is designed to prevent the movement of terrorists or weapons of mass destruction and to enhance the security of area shipping in general, as well as helping Greece with the prevention of illegal immigration.

In January 2002 the United States deployed SOF operators to the Philippines to advise and assist the armed forces of that country in combating terrorism, specifically the Abu Sayyaf Group and Jemaah Islamiyah, which have strongholds on the island of Basilan.

The American effort in the Horn of Africa was initiated in response to the September 11 attacks on the United States. While this effort does not have a specific terrorist organization as a target, it focuses on the detection and disruption of terrorist groups in the region and works with host nations to prevent a resurgence of terrorist cells and activities.

In October 2002 Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) was established at Camp Lemonier in Djibouti. Approximately two thousand personnel, including SOF and coalition force members, were assigned to a naval task
force designated Coalition Task Force 150 (CTF-150). The coalition task force included ships from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Pakistan, New Zealand, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Its primary goal remains as originally stated: to monitor, board, and inspect shipments entering the Horn of Africa and other areas.

Despite the U.S. government’s repeated calls for the Taliban to turn over Osama bin Laden, the Taliban refused. In response, on October 7, 2001, the United States and the United Kingdom led an unprecedented aerial bombing campaign. High-altitude long-range bombers attacked al-Qaeda training camps and Taliban air defense sites. Within days, with the Taliban defenses neutralized, the bombing was concentrated in and around the cities of Kabul, Jalalabad, and Kandahar, taking out command, control, and communications targets, which crippled the Taliban’s ability to communicate.

During the intense aerial bombing campaign, the United States had few combat troops on the ground, instead utilizing special operations forces to serve as liaisons with local Afghan militia. Militia units led U.S. forces to the White Mountains (Safed Koh), where al-Qaeda forces had dug into the extensive Tora Bora cave complex and underground bunkers. A continuous targeted heavy bombing of the area ensued. The B-52s that performed that mission were called in and guided by U.S. special operations forces. On December 17, 2001, the defenders were overrun. SOF found thousands of weapons and millions of rounds of ammunition within the cave network. SOF remained in the area and continued to coordinate numerous successful Air Force bombing missions that destroyed the weapons cache. On December 6, 2001, Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar was seen leaving Kandahar, essentially surrendering control of Afghanistan. It is believed that he escaped over the mountains into neighboring Pakistan. As efforts continued in Afghanistan to find and rout out the remnants of bin Laden’s al-Qaeda, the United States turned its attention to Iraq.

Beginning in 1990, the United States listed Iraq as a state sponsor of terrorism. Moreover, Iraq had strained relations with the United States and the United Nations since the Gulf War. Saddam Hussein remained a threat for his refusal to allow international weapons inspectors to account for his known inventory of known chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction in violation of UN resolutions, and its open support of terrorist activities against Israel and its neighbors.

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operators and U.S. special operations forces entered Iraq on July 10, 2002, in an attempt to monitor and verify Iraq’s chemical and biological weapons program. On March 20, 2003, the American invasion
of Iraq was launched as what the Bush administration said were the “serious consequences” spoken of in UN Resolution 1441. While encountering little real resistance from Iraqi forces, the United States was now fighting the Global War on Terror on several different fronts, thereby straining the capabilities of our military forces. Saddam Hussein’s regime was quickly overrun, and George Bush stated on May 1, 2003, that major combat operations in Iraq had ended. But an insurgency quickly arose against the U.S.-led coalition and the newly developing Iraqi military and post-Saddam government.

During the ensuing years, the war in Afghanistan became a lower priority for the U.S. administration than the war in Iraq. This was confirmed in a July 22, 2008, Jim Lehrer interview with Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Admiral Mullen said that while the situation in Afghanistan was “precarious and urgent,” the ten thousand additional troops requested by the commander there would not be made available “in any significant manner” unless troop withdrawals from Iraq were initiated. He added that “my priorities ... given to me by the commander-in-chief are: Focus on Iraq first. It’s been that way for some time. Focus on Afghanistan second.”

After having been promoted to the rank of lieutenant on January 1, 2005, Michael returned home on March 16 for a well-deserved leave. While he was in Patchogue, he visited family and friends, and spent time with his fiancée, Heather Duggan, who was busy making wedding preparations. While Michael was certainly interested in his wedding, he was somewhat distant and appeared preoccupied with others matters.

While visiting John and Maureen Bogenshutz, Michael and his uncle were seated in the living room, talking and enjoying a cold beer. John was fascinated by Michael’s chosen profession and had a never-ending set of questions. Michael answered the questions he could and deflected the rest.

After listening to the extended conversation, Maureen interrupted and said to Michael, “So, Michael, how are the wedding plans coming?” Michael looked at his aunt and said, “Fine, I guess.” Maureen responded with a puzzled look to which Michael, having experienced the career-ending accident involving his friend Andy Haffele, responded firmly, “Aunt Maureen, I know that Heather is really upset that I am not more involved in the wedding plans, but I can’t be thinking like that right now. After I get back, I can take time and think about that, but right now I have got to stay focused and keep my head straight. If I don’t, there won’t be any wedding. It’s as simple as that.” Maureen and John looked at each other. Now very uneasy, she nervously smiled and changed the subject.

During his leave, Michael met with the FBI in New York City. He was planning on leaving the Navy after his initial enlistment, and he was considering joining the FBI’s elite counterterrorism unit.

With Michael being home, a large family St. Patrick’s Day family reunion was held at the spacious McElhone home in Kings Park. As with most large families whose members have hectic individual schedules and may live in different locations, it was difficult, if not impossible, to assemble the extended family. When they got word that Michael would be home and in attendance, his relatives made an extra effort to be present. Many members of his large extended family were there, and Michael was pleased to have the opportunity to see them all again. Naturally, his relatives asked a large number of questions about his military service and activities. Michael answered most, deflected some, and respectfully declined to answer a few. One of the most frequent questions he received was about his next duty assignment. This question, of course, could not be answered, and he gave a vague answer that substantively said nothing but satisfied those asking.

What Michael knew but could not share was that in February 2005, the Taliban had announced their intention to increase attacks on the elected government of Afghanistan and its president, Hamid Karzai, who was in a struggle to maintain control outside Kabul. Even though much of the Taliban leadership was hiding in Pakistan, many rank-and-file Taliban fighters had remained in Afghanistan and launched a series of drive-by shootings and suicide bombings directed at local officials and other progovernment clergy. In southern and eastern Afghanistan they began targeting U.S. troops. Other Taliban fighters would cross the border and hit quickly, then retreat over the mountains or through one of thirteen passes between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Mullah Ahmad Shah, a key terrorist leader, and his ever-growing band of well-trained fighters had increased their attacks on U.S. and coalition forces. As a result, additional SEALs were requested in both Iraq and Afghanistan. SEAL Team Ten had been ordered to Afghanistan and SEAL Team Three to Iraq. Commander Kent Paro served as SEAL Team Ten’s commanding officer, with Lieutenant Commander Erik Kristensen serving as task unit commander and Lieutenant Mike McGreevy as SEAL platoon commander.

Prior to deployment, both Paro and Kristensen requested the additional support of SDVT-1, based in Hawaii, and SDVT-2, based in Virginia. As a result of the request, SDVT-2 initially deployed with SEAL Team Ten to Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain. Included in the SDVT-2 deployment were Danny Dietz and Ben Sauers, both petty officers second class. Sauers had graduated from BUD/S Class 236 with Michael.

Bahrain is a major Middle Eastern U.S. ally approximately four times the size of Washington, D.C. Comprised of thirty-six small islands interconnected by
causeways, the country is home to multiple U.S. military facilities, including the Navy’s Fifth Fleet.

Paro and his SEALs arrived at Camp Ouellette, located at the air base in Bagram, Afghanistan, on April 1, 2005. Camp Ouellette was named in honor of Petty Officer First Class Brian Ouellette of NSW Group Two, who was killed in action on May 29, 2004, in Afghanistan.

Paro and his team were assigned to a unit comprised of about 1,200 NSW personnel known as Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force- Afghanistan (CJSOTF-A), under the command of an Army colonel, David Pahl. Organizationally, CJSOTF-A was part of Combined Joint Task Force 76 (CJTF-76), which was a subordinate unit of Combined Forces Coalition-Afghanistan (CFC-A), headquartered in Kabul under the overall command of Major General Eric T. Olson. The Southern European Task Force (SETAF) assumed control of CJTF-76 in March 2005. In addition to the Navy’s SEALS, the CJTF’s 13,000 troops also consisted of Army Rangers, the Delta Force, the Marine’s Force Recon, and the Air Force’s pararescue jumpers (PJs). After receiving their initial briefing, both Paro and Kristensen renewed their request for SDVT-1, which was approved.

As a result, Michael’s next duty station was Bahrain. However, he knew that Bahrain was only a temporary stop. There would be subsequent antiterrorist missions to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan, which had been a member of the former Soviet Union, bordered Afghanistan. Knowing that he might soon be under fire in one of the world’s hot zones, he discouraged further questions at the reunion by reminding everyone that this was a St. Patrick’s Day family celebration, to which everyone raised their glasses and cheered.