mtelkhntr78
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Vice Adm. Bill Gortney said Phillips, 53, was tied up and in "imminent danger" of being killed because a pirate on the lifeboat held an AK-47 assault rifle to the back of his head.
In an interview with NBC's TODAY show, Gortney said it took only three shots to kill the three pirates.
Interviewed Monday from Bahrain, Gortney said the take-down happened shortly after the hostage-takers were observed by sailors aboard the USS Bainbridge "with their heads and shoulders exposed."
Gortney described the snipers as "extremely, extremely well-trained." He said the firing by the snipers was ordered by the captain of the Bainbridge after the pirates "exposed themselves" to attack.
Video
Inside the rescue
April 13: TODAY's Meredith Vieira talks to Vice Admiral Bill Gortney, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, about the rescue.
Today show
U.S. Defense officials said snipers got the go-ahead to fire after one pirate held an AK-47 close to Phillips' back. Two other pirates popped their heads up out of the lifeboat, giving snipers three clear targets from the Bainbridge, one official said.
Military officials Monday described the snipers' operation as remarkable — firing at a small lifeboat 25 yards away at night and from the stern of a ship on rolling waters.
The SEALS arrived on the scene by parachuting from their aircraft into the sea, and were picked up by the Bainbridge, a senior U.S. official said.
A fourth pirate surrendered after boarding the Bainbridge earlier in the day and could face life in a U.S. prison. He had been seeking medical attention for a wound to his hand and was negotiating with U.S. officials on conditions for Phillips' release, military officials said.
-Article from MSNBC
Maybe becaue I am squid that has worked with SEALs before or because I like precision shooting so much but either way after hearing and reading this story I could stand up for 10 minutes becasue of how indecent I would have looked. Freaking awesome story! I cant believe this forum hasn't been blowing up this sort of thing.
Anyways this is better than the movies!
In an interview with NBC's TODAY show, Gortney said it took only three shots to kill the three pirates.
Interviewed Monday from Bahrain, Gortney said the take-down happened shortly after the hostage-takers were observed by sailors aboard the USS Bainbridge "with their heads and shoulders exposed."
Gortney described the snipers as "extremely, extremely well-trained." He said the firing by the snipers was ordered by the captain of the Bainbridge after the pirates "exposed themselves" to attack.
Inside the rescue
April 13: TODAY's Meredith Vieira talks to Vice Admiral Bill Gortney, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, about the rescue.
Today show
U.S. Defense officials said snipers got the go-ahead to fire after one pirate held an AK-47 close to Phillips' back. Two other pirates popped their heads up out of the lifeboat, giving snipers three clear targets from the Bainbridge, one official said.
Military officials Monday described the snipers' operation as remarkable — firing at a small lifeboat 25 yards away at night and from the stern of a ship on rolling waters.
The SEALS arrived on the scene by parachuting from their aircraft into the sea, and were picked up by the Bainbridge, a senior U.S. official said.
A fourth pirate surrendered after boarding the Bainbridge earlier in the day and could face life in a U.S. prison. He had been seeking medical attention for a wound to his hand and was negotiating with U.S. officials on conditions for Phillips' release, military officials said.
-Article from MSNBC
Maybe becaue I am squid that has worked with SEALs before or because I like precision shooting so much but either way after hearing and reading this story I could stand up for 10 minutes becasue of how indecent I would have looked. Freaking awesome story! I cant believe this forum hasn't been blowing up this sort of thing.
Anyways this is better than the movies!
