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Bonjovi

@politigram_operator_

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Military history content centered around Special Operations and the Global War on Terror
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So... where have I been all this time?

I just finished serving a two year service mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! It was the most incredible opportunity I've ever had. I learned so much along the way, but the most important thing is this:

Jesus Christ is our Savior, our King, and our Redeemer. He came to the earth so that He would be able to cleanse and redeem each and every one of God's children. Through Him, we can gain the strength to overcome the challenges of this life and find eternal joy!

I can personally testify of these sacred truths from my own experience! I know that He lives and has helped me through immense struggles in my life. The greatest joy I have ever known has come as I have learned about my Savior and chosen to serve in His name! God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son!

Helaman 5:12 "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

If anything I said interests you, I invite you to click on the links in this post. Maybe go talk to some missionaries if you ever run into them! They'd love to share more about Jesus Christ with you.

(I should clarify that this post isn't me coming back. Really, I don't see much point. There are so many talented creators sharing the same stories of valor that I did. Thank you all for being such an incredible support, and an even bigger "thank you" to the incredible veterans who let me share their stories!)

#jesuschrist #jesus #christ #savior #churchofjesuschrist #lds #bible #bookofmormon #christian #discipleofchrist by @politigram_operator_

Hey, everyone! I hope you've all been enjoying 2024!

I want to let you all know that I'll be taking an indefinite break from Instagram. Things have gotten busier lately, and I feel that now is a good time for me to step away.

Running this page has been an absolute blast, and I'm grateful that I've been able to share the stories of our warfighters. My account isn't going anywhere, so you'll still be able to view my posts.

Good luck, and stay safe!

(Photo is unrelated, I just like it) by @politigram_operator_

I can't believe that 2023 is already over! It's been a very eventful year for me. I'm incredibly grateful for the experiences I've had and the friends I've made. This page has definitely grown over the last year, which is something I still can't wrap my head around. Thank you all for your support!

This is the photo from my most popular post of the year, featuring MMA fighter and Combat Controller veteran Connor Matthews @thecontrollermma (left) with one of his teammates during an overseas deployment. He's a great guy, and I recommend giving him a follow if you don't already!

I wish you all a safe and happy New Year. Let's make the best out of 2024!

#combatcontroller #combatcontrol #combatcontrolteam #cct #usafcct #firstthere #specialwarfareairmen #airforcespecialwarfare #usafspecialwarfare #airforcespecialoperations #afsoc #usairforce #usaf #ussocom #usmilitary #operator #tactical #specialoperations #aircommandos #warinafghanistan #waronterror #gwot #veteran #mixedmartialarts #mma #mmafighter #ufc #happynewyear #2023 #2024 by @politigram_operator_

55 years ago, on December 30, 1968, Then-Sergeant First Class Robert L. Howard earned the Medal of Honor for his actions during a rescue mission in Vietnam.

While serving with the 5th Special Forces Group and MACV-SOG in Vietnam, Howard was nominated for the Medal of Honor on three occasions for three separate actions over the course of 13 months. The first two nominations were downgraded to a Silver Star and Distinguished Service Cross. In December 1969, Howard was directly commissioned to the rank of First Lieutenant.

On March 2, 1971, Howard was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Richard Nixon. He would eventually retire as a Colonel in 1992, having served in the US Army for 36 years. In retirement, Howard spent much of his time helping veterans and made multiple visits to active duty troops serving in Iraq. At the age of 70, he passed away from pancreatic cancer on December 23, 2009.

In addition to the awards previously mentioned, Howard was awarded four Bronze Stars and eight Purple Hearts, having been wounded in combat 14 times. He is regarded as one of the most decorated servicemembers in US military history.

#medalofhonor #cmoh #distinguishedservicecross #silverstar #bronzestar #purpleheart #macvsog #5thspecialforcesgroup #5thsfg #usarmyspecialforces #armyspecialforces #greenberets #greenberet #deoppressoliber #dol #usasoc #101stairborne #usarmy #ussocom #usmilitary #operator #specialforces #specialoperations #commando #airborne #ranger #vietnamwar #vietnamveteran #veteran #valor by @politigram_operator_

On December 24, 2005, Master Sergeant Joseph J. Andres was killed in action during a combat operation in Baqubah, Iraq.

Andres initially enlisted in the Army Reserve as a Combat Medic in February 1992, later volunteering for active duty in April 1993.

After graduating from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 1996, Andres was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, as a Special Forces Communications Sergeant. Eventually, Andres was selected for the Army Special Mission Unit, where he would serve until his death.

#fallenheroes #deltaforce #cag #theunit #tier1 #specialmissionunit #smu #jsoc #1stspecialforcesgroup #1stsfg #usarmyspecialforces #armyspecialforces #greenberet #deoppressoliber #dol #usasoc #usarmy #ussocom #usmilitary #operator #tactical #specialforces #specialoperations #counterterrorism #commando #iraqwar #operationiraqifreedom #oif #waronterror #gwot by @politigram_operator_

20 years ago, on December 13, 2003, former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was captured by US forces during Operation Red Dawn.

Following the US-led invasion of Iraq earlier that year and the collapse of the Ba'athist regime, Saddam and other high-ranking Iraqi officials went into hiding. For over 7 months, Saddam managed to evade capture.

However, in early December, Saddam was tracked down to a farm compound in Tikrit Iraq. C Squadron, Delta Force, supported by elements of the 4th Infantry Division, discovered the deposed Iraqi president hiding in a spider hole (depicted on slide 3). He was detained without offering any resistance.

3 years later, on December 30, 2006, Saddam was executed by hanging after having been found guilty of crimes against humanity by an Iraqi court. It should be noted that his trial and execution were incredibly controversial, with many questioning its legality and fairness.

Standing to the right of Saddam in the first photo is Jeremy Morton, a retired Ranger and Unit operator who now works as the executive director for the Special Operations Care Fund (SOC-F), a nonprofit that supports the SOF community and their families.

In the second photo, Saddam is seen (with a bag over his head) next to operator Kevin Holland, who had initially served as a Navy SEAL from the late 80s to mid-90s. After seeing combat in the Gulf War and serving with DEVGRU, Holland left the Navy in 1995. However, following 9/11, he went back into the military and passed selection for the Army Special Mission Unit, where he served until 2013.

#deltaforce #cag #theunit #tier1 #specialmissionunit #smu #jsoc #75thrangerregiment #usarmyrangers #armyrangers #rangersleadtheway #rltw #usasoc #usnavyseals #navyseals #theonlyeasydaywasyesterday #navalspecialwarfare #usnavy #ussocom #usmilitary #operator #tactical #specialoperations #counterterrorism #commando #iraqwar #operationiraqifreedom #oif #waronterror #gwot by @politigram_operator_

Happy Veteran's Day to the incredible men and women who have served in our nation's military!
One outstanding veteran is Jeff Streucker.

Streucker enlisted in the US Army in 1987 and made his way into the 75th Ranger Regiment. While serving as a Ranger, Streucker deployed to Panama, Kuwait, and Somalia. For his actions during the Battle of Mogadishu, Streucker was eventually awarded the Silver Star.

Streucker would later serve as an instructor for the Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP) and won the Best Ranger Competition in 1996, alongside Specialist Isaac Gmazel.

A devout Christian, Streucker was commissioned as a chaplain in 2000. He served for a few years with the 82nd Airborne Division before returning to the 75th Ranger Regiment. During his time as a chaplain, Streucker deployed multiple times to Afghanistan and Iraq.

After leaving the Army in 2011, Streucker became a pastor, eventually founding 2 Cities Church in 2019. He has written multiple books, including "The Road to Unafraid," which chronicles his military career and journey of faith.

#silverstar #2ndrangerbattalion #3rdrangerbattalion #rrd #stb #75thrangerregiment #75thrangers #usarmyrangers #armyrangers #rangersleadtheway #rltw #usasoc #usarmy #ussocom #usmilitary #operator #tactical #airborneranger #ranger #chaplain #specialoperations #battleofmogadishu #blackhawkdown #operationgothicserpent #warinafghanistan #iraqwar #waronterror #gwot #veteran #veteransday by @politigram_operator_

Congrats on retirement to SEAC Ramón Colón-López, a legendary Pararescueman and an incredible leader!

Colón-López, known by many as "CZ," enlisted in the US Air Force as a transportation specialist in December 1990. In 1994, he volunteered for Pararescue (PJ) selection and graduated from training two years later, one of only 13 candidates who passed out of the original 113. CZ served for three years with the 48th Rescue Squadron before joining the 24th Special Tactics Squadron in 1999. During his time with the 24th STS, Colón-López deployed multiple times to Afghanistan and Iraq, earning two Bronze Stars.

CZ would eventually reach the rank of Chief Master Sergeant, serving as the Senior Enlisted Leader for multiple units and commands, including the 1st Special Operations Wing and US Africa Command (AFRICOM). In 2019, Colón-López was appointed as the 4th Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (SEAC), becoming the first Airman to serve in that role. He would hold this position for four years, retiring just yesterday on November 3, 2023.

#24thsts #tier1 #smu #jsoc #pararescuemen #pararescue #pj #usafpj #thatothersmaylive #toml #specialwarfareairmen #airforcespecialwarfare #usafspecialwarfare #airforcespecialoperations #afsoc #ussocom #usmilitary #seac #cz #operator #tactical #specialoperations #counterterrorism #combatsearchandrescue #csar #warinafghanistan #operationenduringfreedom #waronterror #gwot #veteran by @politigram_operator_

Some of my older followers may remember Brad Halling, whom I have posted about before. However, since this month is the 30th anniversary of the Battle of Mogadishu, it seemed fitting to share his incredible story once again.

Halling enlisted in the US Army in the early 1980s and served with the 4th Infantry Division before attending Special Forces selection in 1982. While serving with the 7th Special Forces Group, Halling deployed to Honduras in 1983 as a military advisor. Halling would serve from 1984-87 with the 10th Special Forces Group, subsequently joining a classified Special Forces team based in Berlin.

In 1990, Halling was selected into the Army Special Mission Unit. His squadron would deploy to Somalia in 1993 as a part of Task Force Ranger. During the Battle of Mogadishu on October 3rd, Halling was severely wounded by a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) when it struck "Super 62," the MH-60 Blackhawk helicopter he was riding onboard. Due to this injury, his left leg had to be amputated above the knee.

However, thanks to his resilience and help from his teammates, Halling was able to return to the Unit, becoming the first above-knee amputee to remain on active duty through full Army retirement. He left the US Army in 2000 and became a certified prosthetist through a graduate program at the University of Connecticut. Following 9/11, Halling returned to Fort Bragg in 2003 as a civilian instructor, where he trained special operations soldiers.

In 2020, Brad and his wife Jess, a retired Army colonel, founded Brad Halling American Whiskey Ko. (BHAWK), which is set to open in Southern Pines, North Carolina, later this year.

Thanks to @bradhalling for these photos! Make sure to check out his page, which includes fascinating journal entries from his time in Somalia.

#theunit #tier1 #specialmissionunit #smu #jsoc #7thspecialforcesgroup #7thsfg #10thspecialforcesgroup #10thsfg #usarmyspecialforces #armyspecialforces #greenberet #deoppressoliber #dol #usasoc #usarmy #ussocom #usmilitary #operator #tactical #specialforces #specialoperations #commando #sniper #amputee #veteran #veteranowned #battleofmogadishu #blackhawkdown #operationgothicserpent by @politigram_operator_

On October 22, 2015, a combined team of Delta Force and Kurdish Counter Terrorist Group (CTG) operators assaulted a compound in Kirkuk Province, Iraq, to rescue hostages being held by the Islamic State (ISIS). Drone footage had shown freshly-dug graves outside of the prison, indicating that the hostages held within were soon to be executed.

The Kurdish commandos unsuccessfully attempted to breach the gates, after which the guards opened fire. The US operators took the lead and climbed over the walls to get inside. Unfortunately, Master Sergeant Joshua Wheeler was killed by enemy fire.

Then-Sergeant First Class Thomas Payne and his teammates cleared the first of two buildings where hostages were being held and freed 38. Meanwhile, a firefight was under way in the second building, and Payne, along with some of his teammates, responded to a call for assistance. Payne and another operator attempted to gain entry through the roof but were unsuccessful. From their position on the roof, the two men engaged enemy fighters before searching for another entry point after a suicide vest was detonated in the building.

Upon entering the burning building with a Kurdish soldier, Payne repeatedly braved smoke and heavy enemy fire in order to cut the locks on a door, freeing 37 more hostages. An evacuation order was given out at this point, as the building was collapsing, but Payne twice reentered in order to rescue all of the hostages and was the last to exit.

SFC Payne and his team rescued approximately 75 hostages that night, in large part due to his heroic efforts. Initially awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Payne, now a Sergeant Major, was awarded the Medal of Honor on September 11, 2020.

You can follow his Instagram @t.payne75

#medalofhonor #deltaforce #cag #theunit #tier1 #specialmissionunit #smu #jsoc #1strangerbattalion #75thrangerregiment #usarmyrangers #armyrangers #rangersleadtheway #rltw #usasoc #usarmy #ussocom #usmilitary #operator #tactical #specialoperations #counterterrorism #hostagerescue #commando #airborneranger #ranger #operationinherentresolve #oir #waronterror #gwot by @politigram_operator_

On October 22, 2015, Master Sergeant Joshua Wheeler was killed in action during a hostage rescue mission in Kirkuk Governate, Iraq.

Wheeler enlisted in the US Army as an infantryman in May 1995 and was assigned to 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment following initial training. In 1997, he graduated from the Ranger Indoctrination Program and was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Wheeler deployed with 2/75 three times before he was selected for the Army Special Mission Unit in 2004.

Master Sergeant Wheeler's last words were "On me" before he bravely charged into enemy fire. For his actions during that mission, Wheeler was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.

#fallenheroes #silverstar #deltaforce #1stsfodd #cag #theunit #tier1 #specialmissionunit #smu #jsoc #75thrangerregiment #usarmyrangers #armyrangers #rangersleadtheway #rltw #usasoc #usarmy #ussocom #usmilitary #operator #tactical #specialoperations #counterterrorism #commando #airbornerangerinthesky #airborneranger #operationinherentresolve #oir #waronterror #gwot by @politigram_operator_

Tom Satterly is a retired Command Sergeant Major who spent nearly 25 years in the US Army, serving for over 15 years in the elite Army Special Mission Unit, known as "Delta Force." He served in the Battle of Mogadishu and eventually led operators in combat during the Iraq War.

After his retirement from the US Army in 2010, Tom fell into a dark place, nearly taking his own life. However, he pulled through, thanks in large part to his wife, Jen. Knowing firsthand the struggles of America's warfighters, Tom and Jen started the All Secure Foundation, a nonprofit that supports SOF warriors and their families. Since its establishment in 2017, the All Secure Foundation has impacted the lives of over 5,000 special operators and SOF spouses.

I can't possibly do justice with a single post to the incredible things Tom and Jen are doing, so if you want to know more, check out the All Secure Foundation website and the recent interview they did with Shawn Ryan.

Thanks to @tomsatterly for these photos! 2-4 are from Operation Gothic Serpent in Somalia.

#deltaforce #cag #theunit #tier1 #specialmissionunit #smu #jsoc #5thspecialforcesgroup #5thsfg #usarmyspecialforces #armyspecialforces #greenberet #deoppressoliber #dol #usasoc #usarmy #ussocom #usmilitary #operator #specialforces #specialoperations #counterterrorism #commando #battleofmogadishu #blackhawkdown #operationgothicserpent #waronterror #gwot #veteran #allsecurefoundation by @politigram_operator_