Nine years ago Will Chesney got an unexpected call: He was to grab his dog and head to Virginia, immediately. Bass and I had already seen combat together and I knew how he reacted in stressful situations, but I had no idea how much of an impact he was going to have on me and the entire team during this deployment. // All 34 missions undertaken by the team on this tour were night-time helicopter insertions. I still miss him every day and I am thrilled to see his name held in such high esteem. A copy of the letter was provided to Task & Purpose by Chesney's business partner, Mark Semos, a former SEAL and a producer and writer with The Reserve Label. Each program in this digital conversation series will deepen our collective understanding of 9/11s continuing impact on the world today. Ziggy and I had a good thing going but another MPC returned from Afghanistan in December 2014 and was in need of a new handler. Then there's dealing with loss. Our first training together was the basic handlers course in March 2015 in Indiana and my first impressions of his intelligence were confirmed. . I targeted Bass on the area, where he located the individual in the darkness and was able to bite and hold him until the team members were able to get to him. During their deployment in Somalia, the partner nation force that the MARSOC team was training, conducted a critical and lifesaving operation that liberated 30 local children who had been kidnapped by the Islamic extremist group, Al Shabaab. He saved my life in more ways than I care to mention. (Lieutenant General Victor H. Krulak, USMC, April 1965. Support the show! The Navy, for its part, says that they never issued a cease and desist letter, but an educational notice meant to make the book publisher aware that they were using a trademarked symbol, according to David Smalley, a spokesman for the Office of Naval Research, which oversees the service's trademarks. Cairo and I were in the team that would take control of perimeter duties associated with the target. A bad training day can diminish you so much, but there is nothing better in the world after a great training session.. Courtesy of United States Navy. is will chesney navy seal married. Of course, there were some cultural shocks, but the training really prepared us. No Ordinary Dog by Will Chesney. is will chesney navy seal married is will chesney navy seal married. Accordingly, we request that the trident not be included on the cover of theupcoming book.. Service: A Navy SEAL at War. He participated in Operation Neptune Spear, which resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden. Will was forced to say goodbye to his best friend still having two months of his deployment to complete. All these people have seen the book cover with the trident on it, now when they go to a bookstore as the lockdown is eased, or go to Amazon to purchase the book, they're looking at a different book cover, he continued. Kristin Beck is a woman who likes to ride standing up on her 1960 Harley-Davidson (that she rebuilt by hand), who loves to give the gift of hand grenades, who talks fondly of her sniper rifle. QUICK ADD. Usually, on Memorial Day weekend, Jacob Centeno wears a shirt left behind by his father, to honor him. We were told there might be two or three bad guys up there. This kind of uncertainty and instability can be difficult to deal with. During the discussion between Will Chesney and Clifford Chanin, executive vice president and deputy director for museum programs, those watching will have the opportunity to submit questions via live chat. Visit our past program archive to explore other moderated conversations and performances held at the 9/11 Memorial Museum. He, and his dog, Cairo, were involved in the US military's 2011 raid, Neptune's Spear, that resulted in the death of Osama Bin Laden. Following Wills deployment to Afghanistan in the summer of 2008, he completed the nine-week basic handlers course and spent the next 12 months training in K-9. One of those missions was the famous raid on Osama bin Laden's hidden compound, resulting in the death of the. Show Mike Drop, Ep Episode 58: Will Chesney - Navy Seal Dog Handler & Author of 'No Ordinary Dog' - Apr 27 . I had never deployed before and some of these guys had six tours under their belt. My boy was home and better than that, we had been reunited as partners., The dog team deployed again to Afghanistan in the fall of 2010, following almost a year of intense training in Virginia to ready Cairo their next tour an extended stay in the war zone, based out of Jalalabad Air Base. It seemed impossible that the place wasnt laced with explosives so I kept Cairo on task tracking any potential explosive odors. During one mission, Alex and Bass were attached to a mortar gunner position at a remote outpost, to support a major offensive operation against ISIS. Im a quiet guy, naturally, but training dogs requires you to be a noisy, energetic, enthusiastic character. He looked great, explains Don Christie. They waited until our publication date to send that cease and desist that's troubling to me on a bunch of fronts, Semos said. Jonny Kim. It made me want to be the best I could be for them. In a training facility in North Carolina, on April 10 2011, Chesney and his fellow SEALs were given the details. During the six-month tour of Somalia, the dog team conducted 16 raids targeting high value individuals in the violent extremist organizations operating in the region. The Navy SEALsis anelite groupthat serves as the primary special operations force for the US Navy. Some have compared the level of strength necessary as being similar to the levels of fortitude required of their husbands when completing Hell Week and similarly straining situations. Anyone that locks eyes with his intense stare can sense his intellect and see that Bass is no ordinary animal. I made a will, paid up my life insurance and called my dad. See what Chesney had to say in this exclusive interview below. The Navy appreciates your service and is supportive of Cairos impressive story being told. I still remember hearing the order over the radio for me to get Bass inside and clear the building. In the most dangerous mission, at the most dangerous time, who did the commander call for? When Navy SEAL Adam Brown woke up on March 17, 2010, he didnt know he would die that night in the Hindu Kush Mountains of Afghanistanbut he was ready. Supporting the K-9 community gives us all a real buzz and it has really helped my transition out of military life to stay connected in this way. His constant companion throughout everything is of course, Bass. I had great bosses who allowed me to joining the training squad, so that I could still work on base. It also made bite training and physical conditioning difficult because Basss paws would get torn up on the concrete and rocky terrain. Last month, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum launched a digital conversation series that advances our mission to commemorate, educate, and inspire during our temporary closure. In this week's podcast, you will hear the incredible story of the mission to locate and kill Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade center by one of two dozen Navy SEALs, Will Chesney, who was a K9 handler in that operation. Visibly nervous, they shifted in their chairs, rubbed their palms . This program will be live streamed on 911memorial.org/watch. There are many divorced and single Navy SEALs, too. 10. You may not be aware that Despite Chesney's request that his book be allowed to keep the trident, the Navy refused to budge. As you can appreciate, the trident is sacred to the SEALs and for that reason it is policy to limit its use to Navy-sponsored activities. I'm asking to use the insignia in order to honor my dog who was a Navy Military Working Dog and to tell my story, which received DoD approval prior to publication, Chesney added. When Navy SEAL Christopher "Cade" Courtley left the military after nearly 10 years, he knew he could never stomach the daily grind of working a desk job. But something that'stalked about less often is the life of a NavySEAL wife. But Bass was more than just a looker. My understanding of trademark enforcement is it has to be consistent across the board, Semos said. ), Bass becomes the 75th recipient of the animals VC for his heroic actions in Afghanistan, In Conversation With Michigan War Dog Memorials Phil Weitlauf, In Conversation With Former MARSOC multi-purpose canine handler Alex Schnell The Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) represents one of the most elite fighting forces in the US military. You'll doubtless be filled with pride for the important work your husband does. The Marines were all from my first company, one of which was on my previous team and some I had known for years. Alex and Bass were on a training package when Alex heard the news. I stayed with him for three days straight while he recovered at Bagram. After the mission, only one name was made public: Cairo, a Belgian Malinois and military working dog. Cairo wasnt needed upstairs. Could we really be the ones tasked with getting him?. mary steenburgen photographic memory. is will chesney navy seal married. At one point, they began taking accurate, sustained indirect fire from ISIS mortars and small artillery, within 30 meters of their position. The moment set the tone for their entire marriage: Lavish and full-throttle. He really was lucky to be alive. Will and Cairo had been part of a mission that will go down in history. We all made our peace with our fact that this would be a suicide mission. 2023 National September 11 Memorial & Museum 9/11 MEMORIAL is a registered trademark of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, Two dozen Navy SEALs descended on Osama bin Ladens Abbottabad compound. As soon as he was stable enough, I flew with him to Bagram. Trip wires connected to explosives or teams of hidden insurgents could surprise us at any moment. Will Chesney served in the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group as an operator and dog handler. | What does this mean for Navy SEAL families? Even the President of the United States asked for an audience with the dog that helped take down Osama bin Laden. Beck recalls the SEAL confronting her saying, while his 20 buddies hovered. If you're able to tap into a support network then you should. The course of Wills career continued when they returned to Virginia and in the Spring of 2012, he returned to Afghanistan as a SEAL operator. We moved forward to recover the casualties and I sent Bass ahead to clear the way for the team, who successfully eliminated all seven enemy fighters who were barricaded inside. I was raring to go. Alex and Bass landed in Iraq in January 2016 and once they had acclimatised, they found their stride quickly. Not gratuitously so, but she has learned how to withstand the pressures, the difficulty and the sadness that comes with being the woman left behind while her husband goes off to some Godforsaken place or the other and defends America, our liberties, our flag. He absolutely loved to work, recalls Chesney. Will Chesney is the author of No Ordinary Dog, the powerful true story of a SEAL Team 6 operator and military dog handler, and the dog that saved his life. In a letter to his children, not meant to be seen unlessContinue Reading, Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell returned from his star-crossed mission in Afghanistan with his bones shattered and his heart broken. While preparations were made for the secret mission, rumours pulsed around the team. This is a FREE event and we will have Hard Cover Books on hand for purchase and personal signing by Will. It doesn't take much to Google search books about Navy SEALs, and a lot of them use the trident.. If your husband gets called away at the last minute there's nothing you can do about it. Will Chesneys move into K-9 was inspired by a moment that he will never forget. Excepts from the book were used in the writing of this article. So many had given their lives to save him-and he would have readily done the same for them. We travelled around the US, learning all the additional skills that MPC handlers needed, from repelling; close-quarter combat and helicopter insertion and extraction. Naval . Will used the wind to help Cairo to track their scent, which he caught almost immediately. I was only able to attend one of their funerals. Read More Will Chesney, Navy Seal & K9 Cairo Handler stops by our booth! Part of the mission is highlighting that its ok to show vulnerability and to seek help. He was too hardened. It took several months and a painstaking application process, but Cairo was finally given the Navy nod to be adopted by Will. I wasnt very big (five feet nine, 170 pounds) or a great athlete, but I wouldnt quit. Prior to publication, Semos told Task & Purpose that the book underwent an extraordinarily onerous screening process through the Department of Defense that lasted nearly a year and a half to ensure that nothing made it to print that would jeopardize operational security. The disgraced Navy SEAL claimed he was napping in their Jeep while the carnage unfolded. A combat medic worked on him in the field, stuffing gauze into this chest wound. After the mission, only one name was made public: Cairo, a Belgian Malinois and military working dog. The job was done. Life's a Beach! Our shared experiences and the bond we have is difficult to put into words but he definitely helps me through any low moments. Taking him for slow, long walks and hand feeding him until he could eat on his own. Two dozen Navy SEALs descended on Osama Bin Laden's compound in May 2011. December 10, 2012, 9:23 AM 2:08 Dec. 10, 2012 -- The Pentagon has identified Petty Officer 1st Class Nicolas Checque as the Navy SEAL who died of injuries sustained in the successful rescue of an American doctor from the Taliban over the weekend. Being married to a Navy SEAL means dealing with the possibility that your husband might not return from a deployment. It is important to note that the Navy Trademark and Licensing Offices correspondence to the publishers was not a cease and desist letter, Smalley told Task & Purpose. WILL CHESNEY is a retired US Special Forces Navy SEAL. Will and his dog, a Belgian Malinois named C. In a gripping autobiography, No Ordinary Dog, he chronicles his journey from enlistment through SEAL training and multiple deployments. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Were going after UBL. Usama (or Osama, as coined by western media) bin Laden. is matthew ramsey married. Cairo's partner and handler Will Chesney joins us to discuss his tribute to Cairo as presented in his book "No Ordinary Dog; My Partner From the SEAL Teams to the Bin Laden Raid." Fellow SEAL dog handler Jimmy Hatch was part of Will's inspiration for writing "No Ordinary Dog". Navy SEAL wives need to be able to support their kids during times such as these. Cairos determination, strength and cool head made him an easy pick and he, along with eight other puppies, we shipped to Virginia to begin training with the SEALs. Not only had Cairo engaged one of two insurgents on the ground, hidden within the tree line, but he had been shot by another from above. Will Chesney and Cairo. Chesney sat down with the Daily Caller to discuss how he met Cairo, and the role the dog played in the killing of the world's most wanted terrorist. That fact is as true today as it was, entering the fight. The mission drives you forward and you really dont have time to heal that way. This husband/wife team has been working their tails The first time we took contact from the enemy fighters that night there was no time to give Bass obedience commands or control his movements. Two dozen Navy SEALs descended on Osama Bin Laden's compound in May 2011. Watching them work was awe-inspiring to me it changed my career path. He was too hardened. The damage he did startled me but to my amazement, we found a tiny baby, bundled in blankets near where the man had been hiding. If you havent had a look yet, get yourself onto the store now for some retail therapy: https://uswardogsstore.org/ , US War Dogs in Conversation With Bill Childress. From 1999 to 2009, U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle recorded the most career sniper kills in United States military history. It was a little intimidating at first. Wills life was about to take a serious turn as a seemingly routine (for SEALs, at least) night-time mission ended with Will and two of his teammates being blown up by an enemy grenade. This year, on April 21, Chesney published his memoir,No Ordinary Dog. Learn about the attacks and their aftermaththrough a host of online resources. Made up of specially trained, highly skilled Marines, MARSOCs deployment cycles are of the most intense and dangerous in the world. On May 10, 2005, the couple got married in front of 40 guests at a. And so in a way, it can lead to a lot of questions: Does the Navy not support this? Every mission included ground movement in vehicles often six to ten hours from our base. Traditionally, K-9 teams are lone rangers, attaching to deployed teams and earning trust on the job. At this point in our career Bass had already made a reputation for himself through his proven experience on his previous deployments. Just then, the radio burst into life with confirmation of the missions success: For God and country, Geronimo, Geronimo, Geronimo, EKIA mission code which meant that Osama bin Laden had been killed in action. It focuses on his four-legged partner Cairo who, Chesney says, saved his life in more ways than one. It feels great to support this community and do something to turn the horrific tide of veteran suicides and give individuals control of their lives again. Alex also sits on the board for US War Dogs Association. If you don't start out with mutual love and respect your marriage isn't likely to last long. "knowing you're going to be out there for more than four hours, wearing a slick black wetsuit and fins that might confuse any hungry shark into thinking he's looking at a seal, rather than a SEAL, it does give you pause.". Being married to a Navy SEAL means dealing with the possibility that your husband might not return from a deployment. As such, theymaintain intensive training schedules and arealways on call. Warrior Dog is the story of Cairo and his handler, Will Chesney, a member of SEAL Team Six whose life would be irrevocably tied to Cairo's, specially adapted for young . Everyone in the room stood without the slightest hint of irony. Joe Skipper . Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily. Taxes estimated using tax rates for a single filer using 2018 federal and state tax tables. Will recalls: One of the instructors asked the class to stand up if youve ever had your life saved by a dog. US War Dogs president and former MARSOC K-9 program manager, Chris Willingham, explains: This format elevates the standard tenfold. That's not to say there aren'tbenefits of being married to a Navy SEAL. This will be a Speech, Q&A, and Book Signing (No Ordinary Dog) with Will Chesney. Soon, he was completely hidden from view, which is when the gunfire began., Cairo had been shot at point-blank range but somehow, despite being seriously hurt, had managed to limp back to Chesney before collapsing. Will Chesney, a Navy SEAL who participated in the May 2, 2011 raid that killed Osama Bin Laden, was recently told by the Navy to remove the Navy Special Warfare insignia from cover of his. Its when people step away from the military life that it hits thats why there are 22 veteran suicides a day in the US. The organization takes small groups of former operators on retreats where they learn a range of therapies and classes to shed light on how the brain reacts to trauma and the operators lifestyle. There are also SEALION IIIs & IVs. He strictly reacted to my movement and stayed by my side, trusting every step I led him on until he was sent out front to work. James Clark is the Deputy Editor of Task & Purpose and has been with the publication since 2015. The job is tough with regular deployment s into war zones, which is stressful on families, but many. News. Bass has always had a human-like ability to understand complex situations and feed off of the emotions from myself and members of his team. What came next were weeks of exhaustive training as the Navy SEAL and his military working dog, Cairo, prepared for one of the most significant special operations missions in history: Operation Neptune Spear. He was our best line of defence in this situation.. Born and raised in California, Kim enlisted in the United States Navy in the early 2000s before earning a Silver Star and his commission. Mullen died during an underwater demolition class . We pursued him and as we got closer, we engaged and wounded the fighter. When the SEALs send their elite, they send SEAL Team Six SEAL Team Six is a secret unit tasked with counterterrorism, hostage rescue, and counterinsurgency. And he was very strong. Fortunately for me, we were a package deal, recalls Will. U.S. Navy SEAL Team 18 members with a multi-purpose dog take part in a demonstration of combat skills at the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce, Florida on November 11, 2011. JSOC's Navy, the SEALIONs. Will Chesney Biography. Our night vision equipment allowed us to manoeuvre almost seamlessly in the pitch darkness whereas Bass had to rely on his natural night vision, which was pretty limited in that level of darkness. He had some serious stage presence and the most piercing eyes I had ever seen they had a kind of predatory quality to them. These guys were serious and after seeing the incredible skills of the dogs and their handlers, my interest was piqued.. Driver: Titleist TSi1 (10 degrees) Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD IZ 6 S 3-wood: Titleist TSi2 (16.5 degrees @17.25) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 70 S Fairway wood: Titleist TSi2 (21 degrees @20.25) Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw Blue 75 S Irons: Titleist T200 (2021) (4), Titleist T100 (5-PW) Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber i80cw F4 Wedges: Vokey [] Leap Frogs, the Navy parachute team, spends most of American Sniper by Chris Kyle, Scott McEwen & Jim DeFelice, Seal Team Six by Howard E. Wasdin and Stephen Templin, How Will Naval Special Warfare Fit In With Upcoming Artificial Intelligence as it will Increasingly and Dramatically Improve Systems Across the Defense Department, As Says the Director of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center. June 12, 2022 . I officially adopted Bass the week before I left in October 2019, says Alex. On Saturday, February 1, the 9/11 Memorial Museum celebrated the opening of the new special exhibition, K-9 Courage, with a family-friendly K-9 festival. Bass and I were moved to work with another team, where we would train for seven months before deploying to Somalia. But as their training was in full swing, tragedy struck MARSOC when a the KC-130 flight to a training exercise ended in disaster. His tone is notably, markedly devoid of bravado. I sent him forward and I watched as he weaved in and out of the trees, moving deeper into the undergrowth as he went. Two dozen Navy SEALs descended on Osama bin Laden's compound in May 2011. My older brother was a senior handler in the unit and was able to get myself and two classmates a shot at joining the unit. You'll need mental toughness for yourNavy SEAL marriage to survive. items of the navigation menu have some associated content which may provide additional information of interest. Navy SEAL and K9 handler Will Chesney gives an INSIDE LOOK on the Bin Ladin raid and mo. Chesney declined to comment for this article, though Semos provided a screenshot of an email that Chesney sent in response to the Navy's letter. There was a blip and the plan changed explains Alex. Cairo would use his detection skills to clear the area of explosives, weapons and hidden threats. Bass would search the entire area and any buildings for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and would often lead the team into ISIS-controlled territory to recover downs unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Check out the rest of our site formore informationnow. Brian Bourgeois, commander of SEAL Team 8. * assuming bi-monthly pay period. I remember him biting calmly on the suit, and just hanging on. The plan was to move in on the compound in Abbottabad on MH-60 Black Hawks from Jalalabad. Ill always remember that being the place where our bond really grew. Nine years ago Will Chesney got an unexpected call: He was to grab his dog and head to Virginia, immediately. Noida, India richest volleyball player in the world +91 9313127275 ; conclusion of the emperor's new clothes neeraj@enfinlegal.com Once I gave Bass the command he took off like a rocket, straight inside the building, with me attempting to keep up. But your husband will need support too. This is best evidenced in thehigh divorce ratesattributed to Navy SEAL marriages. Navy = ships, and for the most part, ships = water. THE. Rather, it is an educational notice regarding the Navys trademark rights. At the end of April, we returned to Virginia and told to get our affairs in order. Bin Ladens name bounced around the teams. He was one of us.. As I manoeuvred around the battlefield, Bass reacted with me, feeding off my emotions and patiently waiting for me to call him to work. In fact, the story of Chesney and Cairo is like any of a man and his beloved dog except the part where the U.S. Navy SEAL and his canine partner helped take out Osama bin Laden in 2011.. I was an ordinary kid from a small town in Texas. And . In No Ordinary Dog, Will Chesney, Cairos handler, tells his remarkable story. Their partnership, skill and devotion as a dog team put them on that Black Hawk and take their place as an integral part of the team. With MARSOC, the dog team is integral, creating a truly cohesive unit that is unmatched in its effectiveness. Virgin Tour I had joined four years earlier, recalls Alex when he describes his first tour. Cairo became a spare dog for the Navy. When the pair returned to Virginia in March 2011 though, it was time to go their separate ways. There were seven enemy fighters inside. Every product on Mike Ritland Co. - from Fueled by Team Dog Food and Freeze-Dried Treats, branded apparel, canine supplements to protection dogs, training programs, & equipment - was born from the battlefield, not the boardroom, with the standard of zero bullshit. Two dozen Navy SEALs descended on Osama bin Laden's Abbottabad compound in May 2011. Its a huge shift for both of us but we are adjusting well to normal life. As with so many veterans though, Alex recognises the struggles of adjusting to normality and the overwhelm of being faced with demons that were easier to stuff down when the mission was the focus. During many of these missions, kinetic action took place whether it was gunfire, explosions, demolition charges, or rockets. There were two dozen of us, split into four separate teams. Alex recalls: He was an extension of my body during these missions. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, Will recalls. is will chesney navy seal married. As Cairo posthumously receives the Animals in War and Peace Medal of Bravery, for outstanding bravery and service to his country on that fateful day in 2011, we speak to Will about the mission that changed the world and arguably, changed his life too. By Nicholas Slayton Feb 19, 2023. Other members of the team were using demolition and grenades to mitigate the threat as much as they could before we would have to go inside. What matters is winning after you get there. by Marcus Luttrell, James D. Hornfischer (With) Paperback $16.99 $18.99 Current price is $16.99, Original price is $18.99. Great job.. He first met Cairo a large and striking Belgian Malinois and after a two-week initiation for the new dog handlers, they dog team was officially paired together. I took him home that night and we enjoyed a steak together. I was his dad and I wanted him to feel how much I cared for him. It certainly wasnt an average day but was extremely rewarding to do something that provided such immediate help and care to those children and their families. I truly believe that without Bass entering first, an American would have been injured, and that American would have most likely been me. Staff Sergeant Alex Schnell was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions during that mission and Bass has been formally recognized with the Animals in War and Peace Medal of Bravery, for his career of courageous service.
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