SEAL charity refuses donations generated by book

[SuperiorDG]

http://media.hamptonroads.com/cache/files/images/908461000.jpg

http://hamptonroads.com/2012/09/seal-charity-refuses-donations-generated-book

By Mike Hixenbaugh (http://hamptonroads.com/2011/03/mike-hixenbaugh)
The Virginian-Pilot
© September 6, 2012 VIRGINIA BEACH
The former Navy SEAL who co-authored a controversial first-person book about the raid to kill Osama bin Laden promised to donate most of his earnings to charity. But at least one nonprofit wants nothing to do with it.
The Navy SEAL Foundation says it will not accept any donations generated by the memoir, "No Easy Day," which the Pentagon says likely contains classified information that could put military personnel at risk.
The book quickly climbed to the top of best-seller lists after it hit shelves Tuesday.
In a statement posted on its website Wednesday afternoon, the Navy SEAL Foundation said it "is committed to providing immediate and ongoing support and assistance to the Naval Special Warfare community and their families. With this principled mission in mind, the Foundation will not be accepting any donations that are generated from the book or any related activities."
The Virginia Beach-based charity took in more than $6.5 million in 2010, according to tax filings, and reported a surge of donations in 2011 after the bin Laden mission. Jim Smith, the foundation's executive director, did not respond to phone calls seeking comment Wednesday evening.
The Department of Defense has threatened legal action against ex-SEAL Matt Bissonnette, who, with the help of a journalist co-author, penned the book under the pseudonym Mark Owen. A Pentagon spokesman said Tuesday that the book included sensitive information and that its release was "a material breach of nondisclosure agreements."
The book offers a blow-by-blow account of the raid in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and the events leading up to it. Bissonnette, 36, was among the commandos in the room when bin Laden was killed and describes the scene in gritty detail.
After a point man shot the al-Qaida leader in the head, Bissonnette and another SEAL trained assault rifles on him and fired a few rounds into his chest. "The bullets tore into him, slamming his body into the floor until he was motionless," he wrote.
The book's release has generated mixed reactions within the close-knit and highly secretive SEAL community, which was thrust into the spotlight after the bin Laden mission.
The Navy SEAL Foundation is among a few groups identified in the book as charities that Bissonnette supports. No other group has stated plans to reject donations.
Christina Valentine, director of the Beach-based All in All the Time Foundation, another SEAL charity listed in the book, said her board hasn't yet decided how to proceed.
Valentine started the fund after her SEAL husband, Senior Chief Petty Officer Thomas Valentine, died in a parachuting accident in 2008. Valentine has been out of the country and hasn't had a chance to read the book, she said.
"I need to sit here and really mull it over," she said. "I don't want to judge anybody or make an uninformed comment. I wonder how many people out there haven't read the book and are making a statement?"
Mike Hixenbaugh, 757-446-2949, mike.hixenbaugh@pilotonline.com

[Ronin13]

I like this quote at the end:
"I don't want to judge anybody or make an uninformed comment. I wonder how many people out there haven't read the book and are making a statement?"

But what about the Obama administration releasing so much info too? Shouldn't they be sued by the DoD as well? Those modified MH-60's used in the op were classified and had not been released to the public until that raid... I had heard about them, but not many had, and we could have gone at least a few more years before they were leaked. I say if you're going to burn one witch at the stake, you damn well better not be picky and burn them all.

[fitz19d]

Not to defend da prez but all those videos of the wreckage I think woulda made it out regardless. Not hard to figure out what they were.

[SuperiorDG]

I like this quote at the end:
"I don't want to judge anybody or make an uninformed comment. I wonder how many people out there haven't read the book and are making a statement?"

But what about the Obama administration releasing so much info too? Shouldn't they be sued by the DoD as well? Those modified MH-60's used in the op were classified and had not been released to the public until that raid... I had heard about them, but not many had, and we could have gone at least a few more years before they were leaked. I say if you're going to burn one witch at the stake, you damn well better not be picky and burn them all.

He never, even though it's out, says anything about the modified MH60s. He talks about them as though they are normal everyday MH-60s.

[BUC303]

I like this quote at the end:
But what about the Obama administration releasing so much info too? Shouldn't they be sued by the DoD as well? Those modified MH-60's used in the op were classified and had not been released to the public until that raid... I had heard about them, but not many had, and we could have gone at least a few more years before they were leaked. I say if you're going to burn one witch at the stake, you damn well better not be picky and burn them all.

Yeah I watched an entire hour long special on discovery channel (I think) that went through the entire raid floor by floor and how they tracked him down and what not. As I understand (haven't read it yet) this book divulges no more information than that did.

[funkymonkey1111]

sounds pretty short-sighted by the "SEAL charity." I guess they're flush with cash and really don't need any more.

[sniper7]

they probably figure the guy will need it for his defense fund. a lot of it will probably just go to lawyers and the .gov. a shame, but that is the way they like to run things.

[spqrzilla]

And that was all divulged by the White House.

In the case of the SEAL foundation, they may wish to avoid partisan controversy and that's fair.

[asmo]

The author is being shunned heavily by a whole bunch of people... Doesn't matter if the book divulges classified information or not - what he did/is doing is very very wrong in many people's opinions.

[Byte Stryke]

Funny part of being a silent professional... the silent part

I wouldn't give you a nickle for this guys life

[funkymonkey1111]

the guy is on 60 minutes for the full hour this Sunday

[cmailliard]

I just finished Chapter 9 (about half way) and so far on the tactics side nothing has been revealed that is not common sense (for most) or can't be found on the Internet (have not made it to the UBL mission yet).

Yeah the whole silent warrior issue is a fail here, but I think part of that may be the "freshness" of it. Had this book been written 5 years from now I don't think it would as big of an issue. It would still be an issue, just more subdued.

As far as the book itself, I find it to be very boring when compared to Chris Kyle's book. So far it has kinda been a dull and easy to put down. American Sniper I read in two nights and worth it. Not really sure if it was worth the $13 from iBooks, but we'll see.

[BushMasterBoy]

Hell it was easy to find Osama Bin Ladins house...I just entered his name in "Google Earth" and it took me right there! BFD...[AH64]
http://www.navysealfoundation.org/

I figure the classified parts are the SEALs real names and the guys that helped in the op like the doctor that they sentenced to Pakistani prison for getting Osamas kids DNA.

Charity refusing money that could help dead SEALs kids is wrong. Those kids dads died defending us and deserve all the benefits they can get. I don't care if the money was confiscated from drug dealers. Makes me wonder how much money they pay their Director Jim Smith? WTF is "Command Support"?*


*
http://www.navysealfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Navy-SEAL-Foundation-Audit-FS-12-31-11.pdf

[argonstrom]

Read it. The writing was terrible and the editing was even worse.

The enemy could gather more intel from watching E.T. & intellectual time would have been better spent watching Sponge Bob.

I want my money & time back.

[275RLTW]

sounds pretty short-sighted by the "SEAL charity." I guess they're flush with cash and really don't need any more.

Since the book and the author are under investigation by the DoD, the charity as a 501(c) legally canot accept any monies from the book's sales. Its a "not allowed," not a "don't want" issue.

[Ronin13]

I just finished Chapter 9 (about half way) and so far on the tactics side nothing has been revealed that is not common sense (for most) or can't be found on the Internet (have not made it to the UBL mission yet).

Yeah the whole silent warrior issue is a fail here, but I think part of that may be the "freshness" of it. Had this book been written 5 years from now I don't think it would as big of an issue. It would still be an issue, just more subdued.

As far as the book itself, I find it to be very boring when compared to Chris Kyle's book. So far it has kinda been a dull and easy to put down. American Sniper I read in two nights and worth it. Not really sure if it was worth the $13 from iBooks, but we'll see.

Have you read Luttrell's "Lone Survivor"? That was a well written book, plenty of laughs, cries, and a real page turner. Also Mike Durant's book about 160th SOAR and his time in captivity is a good one!

[cmailliard]

Have you read Luttrell's "Lone Survivor"? That was a well written book, plenty of laughs, cries, and a real page turner. Also Mike Durant's book about 160th SOAR and his time in captivity is a good one!

Yeah read both of them, agree both great books. Another great one is My Men are My Hero's by Brad Kasal.

[hollohas]

Have you read Luttrell's "Lone Survivor"? That was a well written book, plenty of laughs, cries, and a real page turner. Also Mike Durant's book about 160th SOAR and his time in captivity is a good one!

Both great books.

I really liked the parts in Lone Survivor describing how the British POW's hated the American POWs because the American's wouldn't shut the hell up which resulted in all their asses getting beat repeatedly. I haven't been there, but I think having a good sense of humor would be one of the best ways to keep in good spirits...even if you get beat for telling jokes. Also, it perfectly framed the goodhearted, almost brotherly rivalry that I have experienced between Brtis and Americans.

[Pancho Villa]

Without comment as to the release of classified data (and another important discussion about exactly what should be classified,) it does seem a shame to me that the boisterous warrior, followed by his skald, has been lost to western civ.

The "silent professional" may be en vogue these days, but he is awfully boring and doesn't provide much fodder for the popular imagination, like a Roland or El Cid.

[Singlestack]

Shouldn't they be sued by the DoD as well? Those modified MH-60's used in the op were classified and had not been released to the public until that raid... I had heard about them, but not many had, and we could have gone at least a few more years before they were leaked. I say if you're going to burn one witch at the stake, you damn well better not be picky and burn them all.

Ronin,

I first heard about those MH-60s when I read Chuck Pfarrer's book "Seal target Geronimo". The book came out just in time for SHOT 2012 and he was signing copies. He mentioned there were 2 stealthy version of helicopters, and we used the older of the two models for the raid to make sure the newest model didn't fall into the Paki's hands.

Singlestack

[275RLTW]

Ronin,

I first heard about those MH-60s when I read Chuck Pfarrer's book "Seal target Geronimo". The book came out just in time for SHOT 2012 and he was signing copies. He mentioned there were 2 stealthy version of helicopters, and we used the older of the two models for the raid to make sure the newest model didn't fall into the Paki's hands.

Singlestack


There are ALWAYS a new version of air assets being used that you don't know about. Do you think the -60s are new? Even the -22 Ospreys are over 20 years old now. The "new" -60 have been around for a bit and there is definately a newer version of them being used now.