I am a warfighter, father, husband, friend, brother, and survivor of the longest war in US history. I spent twenty years in service to this great nation. I missed most of my three children’s milestones, while my wife unselfishly carried the enormous weight of their routines and activities, as well as the daily emotional ups and downs that come with that, until I retired 18 months ago. These last few weeks, the highly visible and poorly led withdrawal from Afghanistan has left me confused, angry, sad. I am enraged watching my military brothers die needlessly. My emotions mirror the ones I experienced when the terrorist attacks of 9/11 occurred. I wrote a piece reflecting on the 20th Anniversary of 9/11. This is not that piece. I had to start over.
The events of 9/11 set the direction of my life as it did for so many of my brothers. I was stationed at SEAL Team FOUR in Little Creek, VA, and just finished morning PT when I first saw the faces and heard the gasps of my teammates as they watched the television. We witnessed the attack on Tower 2 and the ultimate collapse of both Towers. We recognized our country was under attack. I was filled with rage, hatred, and sadness. Anger fueled my patriotism as I witnessed the greatness of American heroes that rushed to help with little regard for their safety. The iconic photo of our American flag draped over a still-smoking building is forever etched into my memory and psyche. I remember our nation, one nation, coalescing, unifying.
As Mike McGreevy, another Junior Officer at the team, and I took a fighting position on the roof of a building at ST-4 in Virginia Beach, we listened to the ominous absence of airplanes. At some point on that roof, all my fear, confusion, and anger were soon naively replaced by the youthful excitement of going to war. I fought for the next 19 years, in cities filled with sewage and blood, fighting an evil that had no regard for children or civilians or foundational principles of the West encapsulated in the U.S. Bill of Rights. I have seen atrocities unimaginable; I have been blown up, shot and stabbed at, spit on, punched and kicked. I cried at the side of my wounded brothers or over their prostrate bodies as they bled and left this world. I have punched my Trident into the casket of too many of their coffins. I have wanted to quit, but never did. I always went back because I believed in America and Her principles. I believed in all those who willing put their lives in danger to protect and preserve the ideal that is America.
I sit here today thinking about the 20th Anniversary of 9/11, my 20 years in the service of America, and the events happening in Afghanistan. And once again, I am confused, angry, sad, enraged.
38. Thirty-eight is the number of brothers I lost during this war. Thirty-eight is just the ones who were my personal friends. I knew them. I knew their hearts, dreams, faults, and all the little idiosyncrasies that made them who they were. There were many more who I did not know, but who were my brothers-in-arms. I carried the casket of many, the most heartbreaking being my mentor and friend, Mike McGreevy. He was the same junior officer I sat on the rooftop at ST4 on 9/11 listening to the absence of normalcy.
13 is another number that resonates- 12 Marines and 1 Navy Corpsman murdered by the terrorists on August 26th. The same terrorists we fought for over 20 years. But now we are told that it is in their interest to help us. It’s hard for me to comprehend.
20 years since 9/11; 16 since Red Wings, 10 years since we killed Osama Bin Landen, 10 years since Extortion 17. The list goes on and on.
My hands are clasped in prayer for the families and warriors who fought, died, or are still suffering. I fight indirectly now by serving the warriors to ensure they get the help they need. I know that I sleep peacefully under the blanket of freedom provided by their work.
I serve as the CEO at the SEAL Future Foundation proudly in support of my brothers. Twenty years in combat or supporting combat is unprecedented in American history. The impact of TBI, PTSD, and the wounds of this 20 year burden are claiming more lives than the enemy. This is unknown territory for our warriors or the systems that support them…and we desperately need YOUR support to help them. Help them heal, help them find a new passion and purpose, and to help them live a life deserving of their sacrifice. I speak for many, if not most of my brothers and the family of supporters of SFF. The physical and mental wounds of all Veterans who served, are now being ripped open by the debacle of the withdrawal from Afghanistan. But I also know that our service was not in vain and that our sacrifices, along with those of our families, will not be forgotten.
We need your help now more than ever to continue to work to heal these injuries. We are asking for your support as we pass through this unprecedented season. Your donations are needed and will make a huge impact on the SEALs we serve. Your help can immensely impact their lives. Our people and our country are worth it. If not you, then who will answer the call?
Please consider giving a one-time donation of:
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Click HERE to donate.
Sincerely,
Ty Bathurst SEAL CDR (Ret)
SEAL Future Foundation
Chief Executive Officer