Fallen Heroes: Navy SEALs Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods lost their lives in Benghazi

The heroism of former Navy SEALs Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods MUST surface. They deserve it. We must not let their courage be hidden or diminished. These men died while defending U.S. interests because they were brave patriots who put country ahead of self. 

In his Weekly Address, President Obama implied, quite intentionally, that Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods were part of Ambassador Christopher Steven’s security detail:

“Glen and Tyrone had each served America as Navy SEALs for many years, before continuing their service providing security for our diplomats in Libya. They died as they lived their lives — defending their fellow Americans, and advancing the values that all of us hold dear."

However, that's false. Yes, they were both former Navy SEALs, but Doherty and Woods were not part of the Ambassador's security detail. 

Glen Doherty, 42

During the Gadaffi overthrow, massive stockpiles of Libyan weapons including MANPADS and other surface-to-air missiles were looted from the military storage facilities.  Estimates put the number of missing missiles around 20,000. Doherty and Woods were in Libya to track down those weapons.  As a consequence of their visit, they were at an annex to the US consulate grounds using it as a safe place to meet, coordinate, and evaluate their ongoing intel.  Their location was approximately a half mile from the main consulate compound area.

They were inside that annex building when the main consulate complex came under attack from the Libyan al-Qaeda terrorists.  They heard the distant shots and responded to a call for help from the compound itself.  Both Woods and Doherty evaluated the assassination attempt, and immediately took up arms to defend Ambassador Stevens.

Ty Woods, 41

Their heroism is incredible when you consider what they were facing.  Doherty and Woods reached the main compound of the Consulate and evacuated approximately 20 employees.  (Unfortunately, Ambassador Steven’s aide Sean Smith was already dead when they arrived.)  Woods and Doherty fought through the firefight, and took the consulate employees back to the annex building where again they came under another wave of attacks. 

The second wave of attacks at the annex brought even more firepower upon them.  Yet they held their position providing time for the 20 consulate employees to be rescued.  In total for over two hours they held off upwards of 200 al-Qaeda terrorists -- who pre-planned and coordinated the attack to occur in two stages -- under heavy fire from RPGs, mortars, and at least one 23mm Anti Aircraft gun firing on their positions around the consulate grounds and the annex building. 

Doherty and Woods heard the attack; they heard the gunfire. Despite the danger to themselves, they rushed into the breach, taking weapons from the frightened Libyan security officials to help protect the American Consulate, Ambassador Stevens and his embassy aide Sean Smith. Both Woods and Doherty were under no obligation to assist, protect or defend Stevens.  They could have bugged out; they did not. They could not.....They're U.S. Navy SEALS. Hoo-rah!

Mr. Doherty’s best friend and former SEAL Team 3 comrade, Brandon Webb, has written a goodbye letter that was published in full by The New York Times. I hope you'll read its entirety. A wonderful tribute from a comrade-in-arms and friend. http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/21/a-letter-to-my-friend-glen-doherty/?hp