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>> Pelley: YOU ARE ABOUT TO MEET
ONE OF THE MEN WHO SHOT OSAMA
BIN LADEN.
MARK OWEN RECENTLY LEFT THE
NAVY'S ELITE COUNTER-TERRORISM
UNIT, SEAL TEAM SIX.
"MARK OWEN" IS NOT HIS REAL
NAME.
IT IS THE NAME THAT HE USED TO
WRITE A NEW BOOK ABOUT THE
ASSAULT ON BIN LADEN'S COMPOUND
CALLED "NO EASY DAY."
OWEN WAS ON THE HELICOPTER THAT
CRASHED INTO THE COMPOUND.
HE WAS THE SECOND MAN IN BIN
LADEN'S BEDROOM.
AND HE TOOK THE PICTURES OF THE
BODY THAT THE WORL D HAS NEVR
SEEN.
OWEN RECEIVED A SILVER STAR FOR
VALOR AND A PURPLE HEART FOR A
WOUND SUFFERED IN THE RAID.
BUT DESPITE ALL THAT, OWEN TOLD
US, IN HIS ONLY INTERVIEW, THAT
"NO EASY DAY" IS NOT ABOUT HIM.
HE SAYS IT'S A TRIBUTE TO THE
HUNDREDS OF AMERICANS WHO
GATHERED INTELLIGENCE, PLANNED
AND TRAINED IN THE TEN-YEAR
PURSUIT OF THE WORLD'S MOST
WANTED MAN.
SEAL TEAM SIX, HE TOLD US, JUST
TOOK CARE OF THE LAST 40
MINUTES.
WAS THIS A MISSION... WAS THE
PLAN TO KILL OSAMA BIN LADEN OR
CAPTURE HIM, BEFORE YOU WENT IN?
>> Mark Owen: THIS WAS
ABSOLUTELY NOT A KILL-ONLY
MISSION.
IT WAS MADE VERY CLEAR TO US
THROUGHOUT OUR... OUR TRAINING
FOR THIS THAT, "HEY, IF GIVEN
THE OPPORTUNITY, THIS IS... THIS
IS NOT AN ASSASSINATION.
YOU WILL CAPTURE HIM ALIVE,
IF... IF FEASIBLE."
>> Pelley: THAT WAS THE
PREFERRED THING?
>> Owen: YES.
>> Pelley: TO TAKE HIM ALIVE, IF
YOU COULD?
>> Owen: YEAH, YEAH.
I MEAN, WE'RE NOT... WE'RE NOT
THERE TO ASSASSINATE SOMEBODY.
WE WEREN'T SENT IN TO... TO
*** HIM.
THIS WAS, "HEY, KILL OR
CAPTURE."
>> Pelley: WE'VE NEVER HEARD THE
STORY FROM SOMEONE WHO WAS
THERE.
THE RAID, MAY 1, 2011, HAD BEEN
YEARS IN THE MAKING.
BUT IN THE MOMENT, THE BEST-LAID
PLANS FAILED, LEAVING A SMALL
TEAM OF AMERICANS TO IMPROVISE
VICTORY FROM NEAR DISASTER.
>> Owen: THIS OPERATION WAS ONE
OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
OPERATIONS IN U.S. HISTORY.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I
BELIEVE DESERVES TO BE TOLD
RIGHT AND DESERVES TO... TO GO
IN A BOOK AND STAND FOR ITSELF.
>> Pelley: YOU'RE IN DISGUISE AS
WE DO THIS INTERVIEW TODAY, AND
I WONDER WHY.
>> Owen: THE FOCUS SHOULDN'T BE
ON ME; THE FOCUS SHOULD BE ON
THE BOOK.
I'M NOT TRYING TO BE SPECIAL
OR... OR A HERO OR ANYTHING.
I'M JUST TRYING TO TELL THE
BIGGER STORY
>> Pelley: BUT YOU'RE IN
DISGUISE ALSO FOR YOUR OWN
SECURITY?
>> Owen: YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
>> Pelley: TELL ME ABOUT THAT.
WHAT CONCERNS YOU?
>> Owen: YOU KNOW, THE ENEMY HAS
A LONG MEMORY.
>> Pelley: AND SO WE SPENT A
LONG TIME PERFECTING A NEW LOOK
FOR OWEN.
BEFORE EACH INTERVIEW, THE BEST
ARTISTS SPENT FOUR HOURS
THOROUGHLY CHANGING HIS
APPEARANCE.
WE'VE USED SHADOWS TO ENHANCE
THE EFFECT AND WE'VE ALTERED HIS
VOICE.
CHIEF PETTY OFFICER OWEN WAS IN
THE NAVY 14 YEARS.
HE HAD READ ABOUT THE SEALS IN
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND SET HIS
SIGHTS.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BEEN TO
WAR SINCE 9/11?
>> Owen: I'VE DONE 13 COMBAT
DEPLOYMENTS.
>> Pelley: AFGHANISTAN?
>> Owen: AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ, ALL
OVER.
>> Pelley: THERE ARE SEVERAL
SEAL TEAMS, BUT OWEN ROSE TO THE
VERY TOP, A UNIT CALLED THE
NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE
DEVELOPMENT GROUP-- SEAL TEAM
SIX.
SEAL TEAM SIX IS MADE UP OF A
NUMBER OF SQUADRONS, AND I
WONDER, WHY WAS YOUR SQUADRON
CHOSEN FOR THIS PARTICULAR
MISSION?
WAS THERE SOMETHING SPECIAL
ABOUT YOU?
>> Owen: NOPE, NOPE.
CERTAINLY, NOTHING SPECIAL ABOUT
ME, NOTHING SPECIAL ABOUT THE 24
GUYS THAT WERE CHOSEN, NOTHING
SPECIAL ABOUT THE... OUR
SQUADRON.
IT REALLY COULD HAVE BEEN ANY
NUMBER OF GUYS
>> Pelley: YOU JUST HAPPENED TO
BE AVAILABLE FOR TRAINING.
>> Owen: YES.
>> Pelley: IN APRIL, 2011,
THEY'D JUST RETURNED FROM
AFGHANISTAN WHEN THEY WERE TOLD
TO REPORT TO NORTH CAROLINA FOR
AN EXERCISE.
OWEN WALKED INTO A TOP SECRET
BRIEFING ROOM, SAW A MODEL OF A
COMPOUND, AND HEARD THIS FROM
HIS BUDDIES.
WHAT'D THEY SAY?
>> Owen: SAID, "HEY, WE FOUND
BIN LADEN," OR, "WE THINK WE
FOUND BIN LADEN."
AND THEY WANT US TO... TO COME
UP, YOU KNOW, REHEARSE AND COME
UP WITH A PLAN.
IF THERE'S GONNA BE A GROUND
OPTION APPROVED, THEY WANT US
TO REHEARSE FOR ONE.
>> Pelley: WHAT DID YOU THINK?
>> Owen: "AWESOME."
>> Pelley: THE MISSION WAS
"OPERATION NEPTUNE SPEAR" UNDER
THE AUTHORITY OF THE C.I.A.
THE AGENCY HAD TRACKED A BIN
LADEN COURIER TO A CURIOUS
COMPOUND IN ABBOTTABAD,
PAKISTAN.
THEY'D BEEN WATCHING THE
COMPOUND WITH SATELLITES.
THE HOUSE SEEMED TOO BIG FOR THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE WAS NO PHONE CONNECTION.
THE PEOPLE THERE BURNED THEIR
TRASH.
THERE WAS A WALL 12 FEET HIGH,
AND A WALLED-IN BALCONY.
WHO LIVED UP THERE?
>> Owen: THEY BRIEFED US ON THE
INDIVIDUAL THEY WERE CALLING
"THE PACER."
>> Pelley: "THE PACER"?
>> Owen: THE PACER.
SO HE'D COME OUT OF THE HOUSE
AND WALK AROUND THE YARD, WHAT
WAS ASSESSED AS JUST KIND OF
GETTING EXERCISE.
>> Pelley: WHERE DID THE PACER
PACE?
>> Owen: OVER HERE.
>> Pelley: IN THIS COURTYARD
BACK HERE?
>> Owen: RIGHT.
SO, HE'D JUST KIND OF WALK OUT
IN HERE.
AND A LOT OF THE... THE
VEGETATION OUT HERE WAS PROBABLY
PURPOSELY PLANTED SO
SURVEILLANCE COULDN'T...
COULDN'T SEE DOWN ON THEM.
>> Pelley: AND HE'D JUST GO
'ROUND AND 'ROUND AND 'ROUND.
>> Owen: YUP.
HE'D WALK AROUND THE YARD.
SOMETIMES HE'D WALK WITH... WITH
WHAT THEY ASSESSED TO BE A
FEMALE, BUT, YEAH, THE... THEY
JUST WALKED AROUND THE YARD.
THEY NEVER STOPPED TO HELP
ANYBODY DO ANY WORK.
IF THERE WAS OTHER PEOPLE IN THE
YARD WORKING, HE NEVER SEEMED TO
DO ANY OF THAT.
IT'S ABOVE... ALMOST ABOVE IT.
>> Pelley: ABOVE DOING THE
MANUAL LABOR.
HE WAS THE BOSS, WHOEVER HE WAS?
>> Owen: RIGHT.
>> Pelley: THE PACER HAD BEEN IN
ABBOTTABAD ABOUT FIVE YEARS.
IT'S A WELL-TO-DO CITY OF ONE
MILLION PEOPLE.
THE COMPOUND WAS ABOUT A MILE
FROM THE PAKISTANI MILITARY
ACADEMY.
IN TERMS OF THE INSIDE OF THE
HOUSE, HOW MUCH DID YOU KNOW?
>> Owen: ZERO.
ZERO.
>> Pelley: SO ONCE YOU WENT
THROUGH THE DOOR, YOU DIDN'T
KNOW WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO BE
FACING?
>> Owen: RIGHT.
BUT, AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO THAT
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
I MEAN, WE'VE DONE THIS A
MILLION TIMES.
>> Pelley: RAIDS LIKE THIS WERE
COMMON MANY NIGHTS IN
AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ.
AND LOOKING AT THE MODEL, THE
SEALS DIDN'T THINK OF THIS AS
CHALLENGING.
THE TRICKY PART WAS GETTING
THERE.
THE U.S. WASN'T TELLING
PAKISTAN, SO THE HELICOPTERS
COULD BE SHOT DOWN BY PAKISTAN'S
MODERN AIR DEFENSES.
THE PILOTS WERE FROM THE ARMY'S
160TH SPECIAL OPERATIONS
AVIATION REGIMENT.
TWO MODIFIED BLACKHAWKS-- CALL
SIGNS "CHALK ONE" AND "CHALK
TWO"-- WOULD DROP 24 SEALS AND A
BELGIAN MALINOIS COMBAT DOG
NAMED CAIRO.
>> Owen: CHALK ONE, WHICH IS THE
ONE I WAS ON, WAS GOING TO HOVER
OVER THE COMPOUND HERE.
WE WOULD DROP THE TWO FAST
ROPES, SLIDE DOWN THE ROPES INTO
THE COURTYARD HERE, AND THEN GO
ABOUT OUR BUSINESS WHILE CHALK
TWO WOULD LAND OUT HERE, JUST
OVER HERE BY THE ROAD.
DROP THE EXTERNAL CONTAINMENT
TEAM OFF.
THEY WOULD PROVIDE SECURITY
EXTERNAL.
WE'D HAVE A... TWO MEN AND
OUR... OUR COMBAT ASSAULT DOG
WOULD DO A QUICK PATROL OF THE
PERIMETER DOWN TO THE SOUTH AND
AROUND TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE
WAS NO TUNNELS UNDERNEATH THE
WALL, IF SOMEBODY DID HEAR US
COME IN AND HAD TIME TO ESCAPE.
AFTER DROPPING THOSE GUYS OFF,
THE SECOND HELO WAS GOING TO
COME UP, HOVER OVER THE THIRD
FLOOR, DROP OFF THE REMAINING
GUYS.
THEY WOULD THEN HOP RIGHT DOWN
INTO THE BALCONY, ASSAULTING
FROM THE TOP DOWN, AND OUR GUYS
WOULD ASSAULT FROM THE BOTTOM
UP.
>> Pelley: A FEW DAYS AFTER
GETTING THE MISSION, THEY HAD
THEIR PLAN, AND SO BEGAN WEEKS
OF REHEARSALS ON A FULL-SIZE
VERSION OF THE COMPOUND BUILT IN
NORTH CAROLINA.
HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU ASSAULT
IT?
HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU TRAIN ON
IT?
>> Owen: A LOT.
BETWEEN WHEN WE GOT THE MISSION
AND WHEN WE LEFT FOR
AFGHANISTAN, WE PROBABLY, YOU
KNOW, GET... PROBABLY GET 100
TIMES.
>> Pelley: SO HOW UNUSUAL WAS
THIS KIND OF TRAINING?
>> Owen: IT'S... YEAH, VERY
UNUSUAL.
I'VE NEVER... I'VE NEVER HAD ALL
THE MOCK-UPS.
I'VE NEVER REHEARSED FOR
SOMETHING FOR THREE WEEKS.
>> Pelley: ONE REHEARSAL HAD AN
AUDIENCE-- THE NATION'S HIGHEST
RANKING OFFICER, ADMIRAL MIKE
MULLEN, CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT
CHIEFS; THE HEAD OF SPECIAL
OPERATIONS, ADMIRAL ERIC OLSON;
AND OBSERVERS FROM THE WHITE
HOUSE.
>> Owen: ONE OF THE THINGS I
LIKE AFTER THE FACT WAS, I
REMEMBER ADMIRAL MULLEN COMING
BY AND TALKING TO EACH ONE OF
US, AND THEN ADMIRAL OLSEN AS
WELL.
AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS COOL
THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY WALKED BY,
SHOOK EACH OF OUR HANDS AND
SAID, "HEY, ARE YOU GUYS READY?
CAN YOU GUYS PULL THIS OFF?"
AND I'M PRETTY SURE, TO A MAN,
WE ALL SAID, "YES, ABSOLUTELY."
>> Pelley: THE TEAM GOT SEVERAL
DAYS OFF AT HOME AROUND EASTER.
THEN, IN LATE APRIL, ABOUT A
MONTH AFTER THEY GOT THE
MISSION, THEY LOADED ON A PLANE
BOUND FOR A U.S. BASE IN
AFGHANISTAN.
THE PRESIDENT WASN'T CONVINCED
YET.
NO ONE CONFIRMED THAT BIN LADEN
WAS "THE PACER," SO SEAL TEAM
SIX WAS ON STAND-BY.
ONE OF THE PASSENGERS ON THEIR
PLANE WAS A C.I.A. ANALYST WHO
HAD SPENT FIVE YEARS ON BIN
LADEN'S TRAIL.
>> Owen: I CAN'T GIVE HER ENOUGH
CREDIT.
I MEAN, SHE... IN MY OPINION,
SHE KIND OF TEED UP THIS WHOLE
THING, AND IS JUST, YOU KNOW,
WICKED SMART, KIND OF FEISTY.
AND SHE WAS... YOU KNOW, WE'D
ALWAYS TALK BACK AND FORTH,
"HEY, WHAT.. YOU KNOW, WHAT DO
YOU THINK THE ODDS OF THIS ARE?
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ODDS OF
THAT ARE," YOU KNOW?
AND, "HEY, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU DO
THINK?
THINK HE'S THERE?"
SHE'S LIKE, "100%.
100% HE'S THERE."
>> Pelley: AND YOU THOUGHT WHAT?
>> Owen: WELL, WE'LL SEE.
>> Pelley: THREE DAYS LATER, ON
APRIL 30, THE PRESIDENT WAS
TELLING JOKES AT THE ANNUAL
WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS'
DINNER.
C.I.A. DIRECTOR LEON PANETTA'S
BELLY LAUGH WAS HEARD ALL ACROSS
THE ROOM.
REPORTERS IN BALL GOWNS AND
TUXEDOS HAD NO IDEA THAT, JUST A
FEW HOURS BEFORE, PRESIDENT
OBAMA HAD ORDERED PANETTA TO
LAUNCH THE RAID.
MR. OBAMA KEPT TO HIS SCHEDULE,
THINKING THAT, ON THIS NIGHT, IT
WAS BETTER TO HAVE REPORTERS
DRINKING AND LAUGHING THAN
ASKING QUESTIONS.
WHEN DID YOU FIRST HEAR THAT THE
PRESIDENT HAD APPROVED YOUR
MISSION?
>> Owen: THE COMMANDING OFFICER
OF OUR... OUR COMMAND WALKED IN
AND SAID, "HEY, JUST GOT OFF THE
PHONE.
THE MISSION'S APPROVED."
>> Pelley: WHAT DID YOU THINK?
>> Owen: "THIS IS BIG.
THIS IS COOL.
I'M GLAD I'M A PART OF IT."
>> Pelley: THE RAID WAS SUPPOSED
TO BE APRIL 30, BUT THE WEATHER
WAS BAD.
THE NEXT NIGHT, VICE ADMIRAL
WILLIAM McRAVEN SAW THE MEN OFF.
HE WAS A SEAL, AND HE HAD
PLANNED THE MISSION AS HEAD OF
THE JOINT SPECIAL OPERATIONS
COMMAND.
JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT, THE
BLACKHAWKS STARTED THE SPRINT
FROM THE U.S. BASE IN JALALABAD,
AFGHANISTAN, TO ABBOTTABAD,
ABOUT 150 MILES AWAY.
THE HELICOPTERS WERE BLACKED OUT
AGAINST A CLEAR, MOONLESS NIGHT.
THE ARMY PILOTS, GUIDED BY NIGHT
VISION GOGGLES, FLEW HIGH SPEED,
TREETOP LEVEL, UNDER PAKISTANI
RADAR.
>> Owen: IT WAS ROUGHLY AN HOUR
AND A HALF.
I REMEMBER... YOU KNOW, WE TOOK
OFF, SHUT THE DOORS, AND... AND
THE RADIO CALL I HEARD WAS...
YOU KNOW, "HEY, WE'RE... WE'RE
OVER THE BORDER.
WE'RE CROSSING THE BORDER INTO
PAKISTAN."
AND I REMEMBER THINKING, "WOW,
THIS IS... OKAY, THIS IS
HAPPENING."
AND... AND I SWEAR, I GLANCE
AROUND THE HELICOPTER AND... AND
HALF THE GUYS ARE SITTING THERE
ASLEEP ON THE RIDE IN.
IT WAS AN HOUR AND A HALF RIDE,
SO GUYS GOT TO CATCH... CATCH A
FEW Zs ON THE WAY IN.
>> Pelley: WAIT A MINUTE.
YOUR TEAM IS FLYING IN TO OSAMA
BIN LADEN'S COMPOUND, AND
THEY'RE ASLEEP?
>> Owen: YEAH, NO, IT'S YOUR...
IT'S YOUR TIME TO JUST KIND OF
SHUT YOUR EYES, RELAX, YOU KNOW?
MENT ALLY WALK THROUGH WHATER
YOU NEED TO WALK THROUGH.
>> Pelley: IT WAS ABOUT 1:00 IN
THE MORNING, 66 DEGREES, 65%
HUMIDITY, WITH CALM WINDS.
>> Owen: AT ONE MINUTE, WE OPEN
THE DOOR, AND I JUST KIND OF
SWUNG MY LEGS OUT AND I'M
SITTING THERE LOOKING DOWN.
I'M THINKING, "WOW, YOU KNOW,
THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL... THIS IS A
BEAUTIFUL SPOT-- HOUSES WITH
POOLS IN THE BACKYARD, WELL
LIT... MANICURED YARDS."
LIKE, WOW, THIS IS DEFINITELY
NOT, YOU KNOW, THE MUD HUTS OF
AFGHANISTAN.
>> Pelley: SOMEHOW, THERE WAS A
BLACKOUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
NO ONE WILL SAY WHETHER THAT WAS
LUCK OR DESIGN, BUT IT MEANT
IDEAL DARKNESS FOR THE SEALS
WITH THEIR NIGHT VISION GOGGLES.
>> Pelley: YOU COULD SEE THE
COMPOUND COMING?
>> Owen: UH-HUH.
>> Pelley: YOU HAD THE DOOR TO
THE BLACKHAWK OPEN?
>> Owen: UH-HUH.
>> Pelley: AND YOUR LEGS WERE
SWUNG OUTSIDE?
>> Owen: RIGHT.
JUST MAKE A LITTLE MORE ROOM, BE
FASTER TO... YOU KNOW, QUICKER
FOR EVERYBODY TO GET OUT AND
FAST-ROPE OUT OF THE HELICOPTER.
SO EVERYBODY'S GETTING READY TO
FAST-ROPE.
AND THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE
BANKED HARD 90 DEGREES, AND THEN
WE... ONCE WE WENT HARD 90, IT
WAS VERY APPARENT THAT SOME...
SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
>> Pelley: OWEN DOESN'T KNOW
WHAT WENT WRONG, BUT PILOTS SAY
THAT A CHOPPER CAN LOSE LIFT
WHEN IT DROPS INTO THE
TURBULENCE OF ITS OWN DOWNDRAFT.
AND THE TURBULENCE WOULD HAVE
BEEN MUCH WORSE BECAUSE THE
DOWNDRAFT WAS BEING MAGNIFIED
AND REFLECTED BY THE COMPOUND'S
WALLS.
>> Owen: THESE PILOTS ARE THE
BEST IN THE WORLD.
YOU DON'T... YOU DON'T GET
BETTER THAN THESE GUYS.
AND... AND TYPICALLY, THEY JUST,
BOOM, THEY MOVE RIGHT IN AND
THEY STICK IT.
IT... IT WAS LIKE PARKING A CAR
FOR THESE GUYS.
AND IT WAS... IT WAS A ROUGH...
IT WAS A ROUGH RIDE
WE WERE PRETTY LOW, TAIL ROTOR
AND EVERYTHING HAPPENED TO MISS
THIS WALL HERE, AND THEN WE WERE
JUST KIND OF SLIDING AND FALLING
OUT OF THE SKY THIS WAY.
I WAS NOW IN THE FRONT OF THE
HELICOPTER-- ALTHOUGH I WAS
SITTING ON THE LEFT SIDE, I WAS
NOW THE FRONT.
MY BUDDY RIGHT BEHIND ME, HE
PRETTY MUCH SHOULD HAVE FALLEN
OUT.
IF IT WEREN'T FOR HIM HANGING ON
TO ME, THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE I
WOULD HAVE BEEN THROWN FROM THE
HELICOPTER.
>> Pelley: AS THE HELICOPTER IS
GOING DOWN, WHAT WERE YOU
THINKING?
>> Owen: "THIS IS GOING TO
SUCK," YOU KNOW.
"HEY, WOW."
>> Pelley: THE CAREFULLY
REHEARSED PLAN WAS OUT THE
WINDOW BEFORE THE FIRST BOOT HIT
THE GROUND.
WITH ONE HELICOPTER AND HALF THE
SEALS CRASHING, THE SECOND
HELICOPTER ABANDONED THE ROOF
ASSAULT AS TOO RISKY AND THE
SEALS BEGAN TO IMPROVISE.
>> Pelley: THE RAID ON BIN
LADEN'S HOUSE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
STRAIGHTFORWARD.
TWO HELICOPTERS, CALL SIGNS
"CHALK ONE" AND "CHALK TWO,"
CARRIED 24 MEMBERS OF SEAL TEAM
SIX, EACH MAN HAULING 60 POUNDS
OF GEAR.
ONE GROUP PLANNED TO SLIDE DOWN
ROPES ONTO THE ROOF OF THE
HOUSE.
MARK OWEN'S GROUP PLANNED TO
ROPE DOWN INTO THE COURTYARD.
BUT OWEN'S HELICOPTER CRASHED,
AND NOW EVERYTHING WAS CHANGING
FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT COUNTER-
TERRORISM ASSAULT IN U.S.
HISTORY.
TELL ME ABOUT THE CRASH.
>> Owen: THE PILOT MENTIONED...
YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER HIM
MENTIONING IN THE REHEARSALS,
LIKE, "YOU KNOW, IF I HAVE TO
DITCH THIS THING, I'M GOING TO
TRY AND PUT IT DOWN IN THIS
COURTYARD."
SO THAT... THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT
HE DID, YOU KNOW?
YOU CAN TELL WHAT HE DID, YOU
COULD HEAR THE HELICOPTER
WINDING UP.
>> Pelley: HE WAS PUTTING ALL
THE POWER HE COULD ON IT, BUT IT
WASN'T HELPING.
>> Owen: NO, NOTHING.
CAME IN AND IMPACTED-- BOOM.
HAD THE ANGLE BEEN MORE, THE
ROTORS WOULD'VE HIT THE GROUND,
SNAPPED OFF, AND CAUSED US TO
ROLL.
HAD THE TAIL ROTOR HIT,
OBVIOUSLY, IT WOULD'VE BROKE AND
CAUSED US TO BREAK AND ROLL.
THE LOAD-BEARING SECTION OF THE
TAIL LANDED PRECISELY ON THE
WALL.
>> Pelley: THE STRONGEST PART OF
THE TAIL JUST HAPPENED TO LAND
ON THE WALL?
>> Owen: YEP.
AND THE ANGLE HAPPENED TO BE
PERFECT.
IT ALL CAME DOWN TO INCHES--
REALLY, INCHES EITHER WAY.
WE STOPPED.
THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES ARE STILL
TURNING.
I DON'T THINK YOU COULD RECREATE
THAT IF YOU TRIED.
>> Pelley: LUCKY.
>> Owen: LUCKY, BUT AGAIN, HUGE
PROPS TO THESE PILOTS.
I MEAN, EVERYBODY WANTS TO MEET
THE GUY WHO SHOT BIN LADEN.
I WANT TO MEET THE PILOT.
I MEAN, I WOULDN'T BE HERE IF IT
WEREN'T FOR HIM.
>> Pelley: IF THE PILOT HAD NOT
BROUGHT YOUR HELICOPTER DOWN
INTACT, WOULD THE MISSION HAVE
FAILED?
>> Owen: NO, I DON'T THINK SO,
BECAUSE CHALK... CHALK TWO WAS
ON THE GROUND.
AND AS SOON AS THEY SAW US CRASH
LAND, THAT CHALK TWO HELICOPTER
PILOT SAW THAT HAPPEN, DECIDED
NOT TO PUSH THE POSITION TO GO
TO THE ROOF.
AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT
ADMIRAL McRAVEN SAID IN ONE OF
OUR VERY LAST REHEARSALS,
BRIEFS, DRY RUNS, RIGHT THERE IN
AFGHANISTAN BEFORE WE LAUNCHED.
HE STOOD UP AND HE SAID, "HEY
LISTEN, DON'T TRY ANY FANCY
STUFF.
JUST GET THE GUYS ON THE GROUND
AND THEY'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
>> Pelley: YOU MENTION IN THE
BOOK THAT ONE OF THE ARMY PILOTS
THAT WAS FLYING YOUR TEAM LOOKED
TO YOU TO BE ABOUT 50 YEARS OLD?
>> Owen: HE WAS DEFINITELY A
LITTLE OLDER.
>> Pelley: BUT I GUESS, IN THIS
LINE OF WORK, IT'S EXPERIENCE
THAT MATTERS.
>> Owen: YEAH.
YEAH.
HE'S PROBABLY BEEN FLYING LONGER
THAN I'VE BEEN ALIVE.
SO THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH
THAT.
>> Pelley: THEY HAD PLANNED TO
BE ON THE GROUND 30 MINUTES, BUT
NOW, THEY WERE RUNNING LATE.
OWEN'S TEAM LANDED IN THIS
COURTYARD WALLED OFF FROM THE
HOUSE.
SO, YOUR TEAM DOES WHAT?
>> Owen: I RAN OUT HERE.
I TURN AROUND AND LOOK, AND I
SEE THE GUYS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF
THE HELICOPTER.
THEY'RE SITTING RIGHT AT...
STARING AT THE FRONT DOOR.
SO, THEY SIMPLY HOP OUT AND GO
RIGHT TO THE FRONT DOOR LIKE
NOTHING HAPPENED.
>> Pelley: GO RIGHT TO THIS DOOR
HERE?
>> Owen: YEP.
>> Pelley: THE OTHER HELICOPTER
LANDED OUTSIDE THE PERIMETER
WALL, DROPPED ALL OF ITS SEALS,
AND TOOK OFF.
NOW, WHAT'S YOUR OBJECTIVE?
WHAT'S YOUR TEAM SUPPOSED TO DO
RIGHT NOW?
>> Owen: WE WERE SECURING AND
CLEARING THE SOUTHERN COMPOUND
>> Pelley: YOU EXPECT TO FIND
PEOPLE IN THIS BUILDING?
AND YOU WANT TO CLEAR THAT
BUILDING SO THE REST OF THE TEAM
CAN DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IN
HERE?
>> Owen: EXACTLY.
>> Owen: I THINK WHAT... WHAT
SEALS ARE GOOD AT IS... IS WHAT
I CONSIDER PICKUP BASKETBALL.
WE ALL KNOW HOW TO PLAY THE
GAME.
YOU KNOW, OUR... YOU HEAR THE
SAYING IN THE TEAM SAYS, "CAN
YOU SHOOT, MOVE, AND
COMMUNICATE?"
SO, WE ALL KNOW HOW TO SHOOT.
WE ALL KNOW HOW TO MOVE
EFFICIENTLY AND... AND
TACTICALLY.
AND WE CAN COMMUNICATE CLEARLY.
SO, WHEN SOMETHING GOES
SIDEWAYS, WE'RE ABLE TO PLAY THE
PICKUP BASKETBALL AND JUST KIND
OF READ OFF EACH OTHER.
>> Pelley: NOW, THE SEALS WERE
IN SEVERAL GROUPS.
ONE GROUP WAS OUTSIDE THE
PERIMETER WALL TO MAKE SURE NO
ONE ESCAPED.
THE GROUP THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO
ROPE TO THE ROOF WAS OUTSIDE THE
WALL LOOKING FOR A WAY IN.
OWEN LED HIS TEAM TO THE OUTER
BUILDING WHERE THEY EXPECTED TO
FIND ONE OF BIN LADEN'S
COURIERS.
>> Owen: WE GOT TO THE DOOR.
OBVIOUSLY, WE MADE TONS OF NOISE
AT THIS POINT.
IT HAD TAKEN A LITTLE LONGER TO
GET THERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE ELEMENT OF
SURPRISE IS... IS SLIPPING AWAY
QUICKLY.
AND WE GOT TO THE... THE DOUBLE
DOORS.
I TRIED IT ONCE REAL QUICK.
IT WAS LOCKED.
MY BUDDY WAS WITH ME.
HE'S CARRYING A SLEDGEHAMMER,
PULLS IT OUT, GIVES IT A COUPLE
GOOD SWINGS, NOTHING.
DOOR'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE, KIND
OF SOLID METAL.
SO I'M LIKE, "OKAY, WE'RE GOING
EXPLOSIVE."
THEY ALL CARRY EXPLOSIVE
CHARGES.
I... I PULLED ONE OFF, GOT ON MY
KNEE, AND STARTED SETTING IT.
AND... AND RIGHT AS I WAS
ATTACHING IT, A ROUND STARTED
COMING THROUGH THE DOOR AT US.
>> Pelley: SOMEBODY STARTED
SHOOTING AT YOU FROM INSIDE THE
HOUSE?
AND THE... AND THE BULLETS WERE
COMING THROUGH THE DOOR?
>> Owen: YEP, YEP.
IMMEDIATELY, MY BUDDY WHO WAS...
WHO WAS STANDING UP STARTED
RETURNING FIRE.
I COULD... YEAH, I KIND OF
ROLLED AWAY FROM THE DOOR,
BLINDLY RETURNED FIRE BACK
THROUGH.
YOU COULDN'T SEE WHAT WAS ON THE
OTHER SIDE.
AND THEN IT WENT QUIET.
THANKFULLY, THE SEAL THAT WAS
THERE WITH ME THAT... INITIALLY
RETURNED FIRE WITH ME... SPOKE
ARABIC.
SO HE IMMEDIATELY STARTED
CALLING OUT TO THE PEOPLE
INSIDE, STARTED HEARING THE
METAL LATCH ON THE INSIDE OF THE
DOOR.
ARE THEY GOING TO COME OUT WITH
A SUICIDE VEST?
ARE THEY GOING TO THROW A HAND
GRENADE OUT?
ARE THEY GOING TO, YOU KNOW,
SPRAY THEIR A.K.?
CHILDREN.
>> Owen: YEAH, YEAH.
SPLIT SECOND.
I MEAN, WE HAD JUST RECEIVED
FIRE.
MY BUDDY'S SPEAKING ARABIC,
AND... HE'S ASKING HER, YOU
KNOW, "HEY... WHERE'S YOUR
HUSBAND?
WHAT'S GOING ON?"
AND SHE REPLIES BACK TO HIM,
"HE'S DEAD.
YOU SHOT HIM."
OWEN DIDN'T NOTICE UNTIL LATER,
BUT HE WAS BLEEDING, A SHOULDER
WOUND FROM A FRAGMENT OF
SOMETHING IN THE FIREFIGHT.
>> Owen: YEAH, I JUST GOT A
LITTLE PIECE OF FRAG IN MY
SHOULDER FROM SOME OF THE ROUNDS
THAT CAME THROUGH.
I CARRY A SET OF BOLT CUTTERS TO
CUT LOCKS WITH.
WHEN I GOT BACK, YOU KNOW, I WAS
CHECKING MY GEAR, SEEING IF
THERE'S ANY HOLES OR ANYTHING,
AND... AND I PULL OUT THE BOLT
CUTTERS, AND I'VE GOT THE BULLET
STUCK IN THE HANDLE.
SO, THE BULLET JUST... JUST
MISSED ME BY A LITTLE BIT, AND
THE HANDLES STICK UP EITHER SIDE
OF MY HEAD.
>> Pelley: RIGHT BY YOUR NECK.
BUT YOU DON'T CONSIDER THAT TO
BE A BIG DEAL?
>> Owen: NO, PLENTY OF OTHER
GUYS HAVE SUFFERED MUCH, MUCH
WORSE, SO IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL.
>> Pelley: WITHIN FIVE MINUTES,
OWEN'S TEAM CLEARED THE OUTER
HOUSE.
MORE SEALS ENTERED THE COMPOUND
AND CONVERGED ON THE FIRST FLOOR
OF THE MAIN BUILDING.
INSIDE THEY FOUND ANOTHER
COURIER WITH AN ASSAULT RIFLE.
THOSE SEALS WERE IN THE PROCESS
OF SHOOTING THE SECOND GUNMAN?
>> Owen: RIGHT.
>> Pelley: AND HIS WIFE JUMPED
IN FRONT OF HIM?
>> Owen: ALL THE WOMEN ON TARGET
WERE VERY HOSTILE.
IT'S SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT
THAN WHAT WE SEE IN AFGHANISTAN
OR IRAQ.
YOU TYPICALLY DON'T SEE THE
WOMEN THAT ARE THIS AGGRESSIVE
AND HOSTILE.
EVEN THOUGH THE FEMALES HAD COME
OUT OF THIS BUILDING AND TALKED
TO US, THEY WERE STILL VERY
COMBATIVE AND AGGRESSIVE. AND WE
SAW THAT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE
COMPOUND, EVEN ALL THE WAY UP ON
THE THIRD FLOOR.
>> Pelley: THEY SECURED THE
GROUND FLOOR AND THEN THE SECOND
FLOOR.
THE TEAM CONTINUED TO HEAD UP
THESE STAIRS, SINGLE FILE.
THE FIRST SEAL IN LINE IS CALLED
THE "POINT MAN."
OWEN, AT THIS POINT, SAYS HE WAS
RIGHT BEHIND HIM, NUMBER TWO
GOING UP TO THE THIRD FLOOR.
THE SEALS HAD BEEN TOLD TO
EXPECT ONE OF OSAMA BIN LADEN'S
SONS.
>> GUYS START MAKING THEIR WAY
UP THE STAIRS, AND... IT'S
QUIET.
IT'S PITCH BLACK IN THE HOUSE.
NO... NO LIGHTS.
ALL NIGHT VISION.
GET TO THE SECOND FLOOR, INTEL
HAD SAID, "HEY, WE THINK THAT
KHALID, HIS SON, LIVES ON THE
SECOND FLOOR.
>> Pelley: THIS IS OSAMA BIN
LADEN'S SON?
>> Owen: YEAH.
THE GUY IN FRONT OF ME, WHO'S
POINT MAN, HE SEES THE HEAD POP
OUT AND DISAPPEAR REALLY QUICK
AROUND THE CORNER.
HE'S LIKE, "OKAY, YOU KNOW,
WHAT... WHO IS IT?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?"
"YEAH, I DON'T... I DON'T KNOW."
HE LITERALLY WHISPERS... NOT...
NOT AMPED UP, NOT YELLING, NOT
ANYTHING.
HE WHISPERS "HEY, KHALID.
KHALID."
HE WHISPERS KHALID'S NAME,
DOESN'T KNOW IF IT'S KHALID OR
NOT.
KHALID LITERALLY LOOKS BACK
AROUND THE... AROUND THE EDGE OF
THE... THE HALL.
AND HE SHOOTS HIM.
WHAT WAS KHALID THINKING AT THAT
TIME?
LOOK AROUND THE CORNER.
YOU KNOW, CURIOSITY KILLED THE
CAT.
I GUESS KHALID, TOO.
>> Pelley: IT HAD BEEN 15
MINUTES SINCE THE CRASH.
IT WAS NOW ABOUT 1:15 A.M.
GIVE ME A SENSE OF WHAT THIS
SCENE IS LIKE IN THERE?
I MEAN, ARE THESE GUYS YELLING
AND CHARGING UP THE STAIRS?
IS THERE A LOT OF ACTION?
HOW IS IT UNFOLDING?
>> Owen: YOU KNOW, IT'S... IT'S
NOT LIKE THE MOVIES.
MOVIES MAKE IT OUT TO BE, YU
KNOW, LOUD AND... AND CRAZY AND
EVERYBODY'S YELLING.
IT'S... THIS IS WHAT WE DO.
WE'RE REALLY GOOD AT IT.
AND SO IT'S QUIET AND CALM, LIKE
WE'VE DONE IT... DONE IT A
MILLION TIMES BEFORE.
WE HAVE A SAYING, YOU KNOW,
"DON'T... DON'T RUN TO YOUR
DEATH."
SO NICE AND SLOW AND WE HEAD UP
THE STAIRS.
>> Pelley: KHALID IS DEAD ON
THIS LANDING.
THE POINT MAN IS STEPPING PAST
KHALID.
AND NOW, YOU'RE NUMBER TWO IN
THE STACK.
YOU'RE RIGHT BEHIND THE POINT
MAN?
>> Owen: YEP.
I'M KIND OF TRYING TO LOOK
AROUND HIM, HEAR HIM TAKE A
COUPLE SHOTS.
KIND OF SEE A HEAD... SOMEBODY
DISAPPEAR BACK INTO THE ROOM.
>> Pelley: THE POINT MAN HAD
SEEN SOMEONE STICK HIS HEAD OUT
A DOOR AND SHOT HIM JUST THE WAY
HE'D SHOT KHALID.
>> Owen: YUP.
>> Pelley: WHAT DID YOU DO THEN?
>> Owen: INSIDE THE ROOM, I
COULD SEE A BODY LAYING ON THE
GROUND.
OVER HIM WAS... WAS TWO FEMALES,
REAL CLOSE TO THE DOOR.
THEY LOOKED UP AND SAW THE...
SAW THE POINT MAN.
HE STEPS INTO THE ROOM,
LITERALLY RUSHES THE TWO WOMEN,
GRABS ONE UNDER EACH ARM AND
PUSHES THEM BACK AGAINST THE FAR
WALL.
SO IF THEY DID HAVE A SUICIDE
VEST ON AND THEY DID BLOW
THEMSELVES UP THAT THEY
WOULDN'T... THAT THAT WOULDN'T
AFFECT THE REST OF THE GUYS.
>> Pelley: BUT IT WOULD HAVE
KILLED HIM.
>> Owen: YEAH.
>> Pelley: YOU STEPPED INTO THE
ROOM AND SAW THE MAN LYING ON
THE FLOOR?
WHAT DID YOU DO?
>> Owen: MYSELF AND THE NEXT
ASSAULTER IN, WE BOTH ENGAGED
HIM SEVERAL MORE TIMES AND THEN
ROLLED OFF AND THEN CONTINUED
CLEARING THE ROOM.
>> Pelley: WHEN YOU SAY YOU
ENGAGED HIM, WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
>> Owen: FIRED.
>> Pelley: YOU SHOT HIM?
>> Owen: YEAH.
>> Pelley: HE'S STILL MOVING?
>> Owen: A LITTLE... A LITTLE
BIT.
BUT YOU COULDN'T SEE HIS ARMS,
COULDN'T SEE HIS HANDS.
SO, HE COULD'VE HAD SOMETHING.
COULD'VE HAD A HAND GRENADE OR
SOMETHING UNDERNEATH HIS CHEST.
>> Pelley: SO AFTER OSAMA BIN
LADEN IS... IS WOUNDED, HE'S
STILL MOVING.
YOU SHOT HIM TWICE?
>> Owen: A HANDFUL OF TIMES.
>> Pelley: A HANDFUL OF TIMES,
AND THE SEAL IN THE STACK BEHIND
YOU ALSO SHOT OSAMA BIN LADEN.
AND AT THAT POINT, HIS BODY WAS
STILL?
>> Owen: YES.
>> Pelley: DID YOU RECOGNIZE
HIM?
>> Owen: NOPE.
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY THINKS IT
WAS, LIKE, YOU KNOW IT'S HIM.
NO.
TO US, AT THAT TIME, IT COULD
HAVE BEEN ANYBODY.
MAYBE THIS WAS ANOTHER BROTHER.
MAYBE THIS IS A BODYGUARD.
MAYBE IT DOESN'T MATTER.
THE POINT IS TO JUST CONTINUE
CLEARING.
>> Pelley: BY NOW, 20 MINUTES
HAD PASSED.
EVERY SINGLE THING THE WOMAN
WITH THE C.I.A. HAD TOLD THEM ON
THE PLANE HAD BEEN RIGHT, BUT
TIME WAS RUNNING OUT.
THROUGHOUT THE RAID, THE
REMAINING HELICOPTER WAS IN THE
AIR.
IT ONLY HAD ENOUGH GAS TO STAY
FOR 30 MINUTES OR SO.
PAKISTANI NEIGHBORS HAD
DISCOVERED THE SEALS POSTED
OUTSIDE THE COMPOUND WALL, AND
IT COULDN'T BE LONG BEFORE THE
PAKISTANI MILITARY WOULD KNOW
THEY WERE THERE.
ONE SEAL WAS CHARGED WITH
KEEPING AN EYE ON HIS WRISTWATCH
AND CALLING OUT THE DWINDLING
>> Pelley: AS TIME WAS SLIPPING
AWAY, MARK OWEN AND A COUPLE OF
OTHER MEMBERS OF SEAL TEAM SIX
KNEELED AROUND A MANGLED BODY ON
THE THIRD FLOOR OF THE HOUSE IN
ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN.
EVERYTHING THE C.I.A. ANALYST
TOLD THEM ABOUT THE RAID ON
OSAMA BIN LADEN'S HOUSE HAD
CHECKED OUT EXACTLY AS SHE SAID.
BUT WAS THIS BIN LADEN?
>> Owen: IN MY MIND, HE LOOKED
WAY YOUNGER THAN I THOUGHT HE
WAS GOING TO BE.
HIS BEARD WASN'T GRAY AT ALL.
YOU KNOW, I'D STUDIED LOT...
LOTS OF PHOTOS OF HIM, AND, YOU
KNOW, THEY WERE ALWAYS GRAY.
HIS BEARD WAS... WAS DARK BLACK.
IDENTIFIABLY, HE WAS VERY TALL.
SO, OKAY, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN KIND
OF CHALK THAT UP AS SOMETHING.
>> Pelley: BIN LADEN WAS ABOUT
6-FOOT-4.
>> Owen: RIGHT.
HIS NOSE TO ME WAS SOMETHING
THAT I COULD... I COULD KIND OF
IDENTIFY.
SO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF LOOKING AT
THE PROFILE SHOTS AND
EVERYTHING, I WAS LIKE, OKAY, I
WAS... I WAS PRETTY SURE THAT
WAS HIM.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT WILLING
TO MAKE THAT CALL, CERTAINLY NOT
AT THAT POINT.
>> Pelley: NOT WILLING BECAUSE
OWEN SAYS T HEY SUSPECTED THE
PRESIDENT WAS LISTENING AT THE
WHITE HOUSE, AND HE WAS RIGHT.
THE HELICOPTER CRASH HAD BEEN
REPORTED UP THE CHAIN OF
COMMAND.
OWEN SAYS THE SEALS WANTED PROOF
BEFORE ANYONE SAID ANYTHING ON
THE RADIO ABOUT KILLING OSAMA
BIN LADEN.
THEY TURNED TO ONE OF THE SEALS
IN THE ROOM WHO SPOKE ARABIC.
>> Owen: SO HE MOVED OUT TO
WHERE THE WOMEN AND KIDS WERE,
GRABS ONE OF THE... THE YOUNGER
KIDS, SAYS, "HEY, WHO... WHO IS
THAT INSIDE?"
SHE SAYS, "OSAMA."
"OSAMA WHO?"
"OSAMA BIN LADEN."
>> Pelley: THE CHILD?
>> Owen: THE CHILD.
>> Pelley: IDENTIFIED HIM?
>> Owen: YEP.
GRABBED ONE OF THE FEMALES,
AGAIN ASKED HER, "HEY, WHO IS
THAT?"
SHE SAID, "OSAMA BIN LADEN."
>> Pelley: DOES A CHEER GO UP
AMONG THE SEALS?
YOU START SHAKING HANDS?
PATTING EACH OTHER ON THE BACK?
>> Owen: NOT... NOTHING.
IT'S ALL... ALL BUSINESS.
WE'RE ON THE CLOCK HERE.
SO, WE CALL UP THE COMMANDING
OFFICER.
HE COMES UPSTAIRS, LOOKS AT THE
BODY.
WE GIVE HIM WHAT WE HAVE SO FAR
OF "HEY, HERE'S WHAT HE LOOKS
LIKE, TAKE A LOOK.
HE'S TALL.
WOMAN AND KID CONFIRM IT."
HE TOOK ONE LOOK, HE SAID,
"OKAY, I THINK THAT'S HIM."
>> Pelley: THE COMMANDER USED
THE CODE WORD FOR BIN LADEN,
GERONIMO, AS HE PASSED THE
MESSAGE TO ADMIRAL McRAVEN.
"FOR GOD AND COUNTRY," HE SAID,
"I PASS GERONIMO."
"GERONIMO E.K.I.A.,' WHICH
STANDS FOR "ENEMY KILLED IN
ACTION."
20 MINUTES HAD PASSED, TEN
MINUTES LEFT ON THE SCHEDULE.
>> Owen: WE WANTED TO COLLECT
D.N.A. SAMPLES, WE WANTED TO
TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS OF HIM, AND
THEN WE WANTED DUPLICATE COPIES
OF THAT.
SO OBVIOUSLY WE'RE TAKING THE
BODY OUT.
BUT IF A HELICOPTER GOT SHOT
DOWN ON THE WAY OUT AND IT HAD
THE BODY, WE WANTED THE OTHER
HELICOPTER TO HAVE D.N.A. AND
PHOTOS SO THEY'D HAVE SOME SORT
OF EVIDENCE THAT SAID, "HEY, WE
DO HAVE HIM AND HERE IT IS."
>> Pelley: YOU WANTED DUPLICATES
OF EVERYTHING?
>> Owen: YEAH, JUST IN CASE.
>> Pelley: YOU THOUGHT OF
EVERYTHING.
>> Owen: WE TRIED.
>> Pelley: ONE SEAL TOOK BLOOD
AND SALIVA SAMPLES.
OWEN TOOK THE PICTURES.
>> Owen: I FIGURED THESE WERE
THE... PROBABLY SOME OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT PHOTOS I'D EVER TAKE
IN MY LIFE.
SO, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE I DO IT
RIGHT, GET GOOD ANGLES AND...
AND ALL THIS OTHER STUFF.
BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO
CLEAN OFF THE FACE, SO YOU...
THERE'S... IDENTIFIABLE AS
POSSIBLE.
SO ONE OF MY BUDDIES HAD A
CAMELBACK WITH... WITH SOME
WATER IN IT.
GOT SOME, YOU KNOW... SPREAD
SOME WATER ON HIM, TOOK A SHEET
OFF THE BED, KIND OF WIPED THE
BLOOD OFF AND THEN TOOK PHOTOS.
>> Pelley: WIPING THE BLOOD OFF
OF OSAMA BIN LADEN'S FACE?
CAMELBACK IS ONE OF THOSE
BACKPACKS THAT HAS A WATER
BLADDER IN IT, AND YOU USE IT TO
DRINK WATER OUT OF.
BUT YOU USED IT TO WASH HIS
FACE?
AND YOU SHOT PICTURES OF HIS
FACE IN A PROFILE.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT THEY LOOK
LIKE?
>> Owen: THEY'RE PRETTY
GRUESOME.
>> Pelley: WELL, WHEN YOU SAY
"GRUESOME," WHAT ARE WE TALKING
ABOUT?
>> Owen: HE HAD BULLET WOUND IN
THE HEAD, SO THAT GRUESOME.
>> Pelley: TWO SEALS TOOK THE
BODY DOWNSTAIRS AND ZIPPED BIN
LADEN INTO A BAG.
IN THE BEDROOM, OWEN FOUND AN
ASSAULT RIFLE AND A PISTOL ON A
SHELF.
>> Owen: AND SOME PEOPLE WOULD
ARGUE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHY DID
THAT POINT MAN TAKE THOSE SHOTS?
WELL, IMMEDIATELY, THE FIRST
DOOR WE WENT TO, MY TEAM WAS
ENGAGED BY ENEMY FIRE THROUGH
THE DOOR.
SO AUTOMATICALLY, WE... WE KNOW
WE'RE GOING INTO AN ENEMY
COMPOUND, SHOTS BEING FIRED BACK
AT US IMMEDIATELY.
A.K. FOUND NEXT TO KHALID ON THE
STAIRS.
ALL THOSE BOXES HAVE BEEN
CHECKED THAT IF A GUY STICKS HIS
HEAD AROUND THE CORNER, HE VERY
EASILY COULD HAVE A GUN.
YOU DON'T WAIT TO GET THAT A.K.
OR THE... THE GRENADE THROWN
DOWN THE HALL OR THE SUICIDE
VEST.
SO IN THE SPLIT SECOND, THAT'S
WHEN HE ENGAGED.
>> Pelley: HE DID HAVE A GUN,
BUT HE DIDN'T USE IT.
AND I WONDER WHAT YOU MAKE OF
THAT?
>> Owen: I THINK, IN THE END, HE
TAUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE TO DO...
YOU KNOW, MARTYR THEMSELVES
AND... AND... HE MASTERMINDED
THE 9/11 ATTACKS.
BUT IN THE END, HE WASN'T EVEN
WILLING TO ROGER UP HIMSELF WITH
A GUN AND... AND PUT UP A FIGHT.
SO I THINK THAT SPEAKS FOR
ITSELF.
>> Pelley: BACK ON THE SECOND
FLOOR, THE SEALS WERE GRABBING
COMPUTERS, DISKS, FLASH DRIVES,
VIDEOTAPES, MORE PRICELESS
INTELLIGENCE THAN THEY COULD
CARRY.
>> Owen: THERE WAS SO MUCH STUFF
IN THIS HOUSE.
>> Pelley: THE GUYS ARE JUST
STUFFING THIS STUFF IN GARBAGE
BAGS?
>> Owen: WE HAD CARRIED BAGS
WITH US, BUT WE FILLED ALL THESE
BAGS UP.
SO YOU JUST FIND SOME... YOU
KNOW, AN OLD GYM BAG ON TARGET,
DUMP OUT WHATEVER'S IN IT AND...
AND... AND USE THAT.
YOU KNOW, AS WE WERE RUNNING
OUT, I LOOK OVER AT MY BUDDY.
HE'S GOT A BAG OF STUFF IN ONE
HAND, LIKE, YOU KNOW, SANTA
CLAUS RUNNING OUT OF THERE.
A BAG FULL OF GOODIES IN ONE
HAND THAT HE HAD COLLECTED AND A
COMPUTER TERMINAL IN THE OTHER.
>> Pelley: THE PLAN HAD BEEN TO
BE ON THE GROUND FOR 30 MINUTES,
BUT NOW THEY WERE A FEW MINUTES
LATE.
IT WAS AFTER 1:30 AM.
>> Owen: NOW THINGS ARE STARTING
TO PICK UP OUTSIDE.
PEOPLE HAVE OBVIOUSLY WOKEN UP
AT THIS POINT.
THEY'RE... THEY'RE COMING OVER
TO INVESTIGATE WHAT'S GOING ON.
THEY WERE THE NEIGHBORS, AND
THEY HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS FOR
THE SEALS STANDING GUARD OUTSIDE
THE WALL.
SO THAT'S WHERE THINGS COULD GET
REAL DYNAMIC FOR THAT TEAM
OUTSIDE.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW WHAT WAS
GOING ON INSIDE.
THAT TEAM HAD WAY MORE
RESPONSIBILITY THAN JUST ABOUT
ANYBODY ELSE BECAUSE THEY WERE
DEALING WITH ALL THE WHAT-IFS
OUTSIDE.
WHAT IF THE POLICE SHOWED UP OR
THE MILITARY?
WE WERE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
WE'VE GOT TO GET GOING.
THERE'S NEIGHBORS APPROACHING.
THE INTERPRETER THAT WAS OUT
HERE SAID, "HEY, THERE'S A
POLICE OPERATION GOING ON HERE,
GO BACK TO YOUR HOMES," AND
THEY'D SIMPLY GO BACK AWAY.
>> Pelley: AMONG THE UNFINISHED
BUSINESS WAS THE CRASHED
HELICOPTER.
IT WAS A SECRET DESIGN, LOADED
WITH SECRET GEAR.
THEY HAD TO BLOW IT UP.
A MESSAGE WAS PASSED TO THEIR
EXPLOSIVES EXPERT, CALLED THE
E.O.D. MAN.
"PREP IT TO BLOW," THEY SAID,
BUT THE "IT" IN THE MESSAGE WAS
A LITTLE VAGUE.
>> Owen: WELL, THE E.O.D.
GUY THINKS HE MEANS PREP THE
HOUSE TO BLOW.
SO THERE WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF
THIS, AND HE'S LIKE, "OKAY,
ROGER THAT, PREP IT TO BLOW."
SO HE'S RUNNING AROUND THE FIRST
FLOOR OF THE HOUSE, SETTING HIS
CHARGES, GETTING READY TO BLOW
UP THE HOUSE.
AND SOMEBODY LOOKS OVER AT HIM
LIKE, "DUDE, DUDE, WHAT ARE YOU
DOING?"
HE'S LIKE, "AH, I'M PREPPING IT
TO BLOW."
HE'S LIKE, "NOT... NOT THE
HOUSE, THE HELICOPTER."
WELL, HE HADN'T GOT THE WORD
THAT THERE WAS A HELICOPTER EVEN
DOWN.
HE'S LIKE, "WHAT HELICOPTER?"
HE'S LIKE, "THE ONE IN THE
COURTYARD.
GO TAKE A LOOK."
SO HE RUNS OUTSIDE, SEES THE
HELICOPTER, AND THEN... AND THEN
THEY PROCEED TO... TO RIG IT TO
BLOW.
>> Pelley: IT WAS PAST TIME TO
GO.
TWO LARGE HELICOPTERS CALLED CH-
47s, FILLED WITH REINFORCEMENTS
AND FUEL, HAD BEEN STANDING BY
DURING THE RAID.
THE REMAINING BLACK HAWK WOULD
RETURN FOR HALF THE SEALS; A CH-
47 WOULD PICK UP THE REST.
>> Owen: THE BLACK HAWK THAT'S
PICKING US UP LANDS FIRST.
WE RUN THROUGH THE FIELD,
CARRYING THE BODY IN THE BODY
BAG, LOAD THE... THE REMAINING
BLACK HAWK, AND THEN WE SLOWLY
LIFT OFF AND MOVE AWAY.
WHILE THEY'RE WAITING FOR THE 47
TO COME IN, THE TIMER ON THE
CHARGES IS... IS TICKING DOWN.
>> Pelley: THE EXPLOSION ON THIS
HELICOPTER IS COMING.
HOW MUCH TIME HAVE THEY GOT?
>> Owen: NOT MUCH LEFT.
>> Pelley: MINUTES?
>> Owen: THEY'RE UNDER 30
SECONDS.
THEY'RE RUNNING DOWN.
THE TEAM LEADER IN CHARGE OF THE
DEMO TEAM, GETS A HOLD OF THE
COMMANDING OFFICER, GETS HIM ON
THE RADIO TALKING TO THE 47.
TELLS THE 47 TO DO A GO AROUND.
AS HE'S DOING THE... THE GO
AROUND TO THE SOUTH, BOOM, THE
CHARGE GOES.
OUR BLACK HAWK'S ALREADY GONE.
THIS EXPLODES.
BIG... BIG HUGE EXPLOSION.
THE 47 COMES RIGHT BACK AROUND,
LANDS.
THE GUYS LOAD ON, AND NOW
THEY'RE AIRBORNE AND WE'RE DONE.
WE'RE CLEAN FROM THE TARGET.
>> Pelley: THAT GLOW AT THE
COMPOUND WAS THE HELICOPTER ON
FIRE.
THE SEALS WERE ON THE GROUND 38
MINUTES, WHICH MEANT THEIR BLACK
HAWK HAD BEEN IN THE AIR,
WAITING A LITTLE LONGER THAN
PLANNED.
>> Owen: SURE ENOUGH, I'M
SITTING IN THE HELICOPTER, AND I
TURN AROUND AND LOOK IN THE
COCKPIT.
I SEE FLASHING RED LIGHTS.
WELL, I'M NOT A PILOT, BUT
ANYTHING FLASHING RED IN... IN A
VEHICLE IS TYPICALLY NOT GOOD.
IT WAS GAS GAUGES.
WE'RE ABOUT TO RUN OUT OF FUEL.
>> Pelley: DURING THEIR ESCAPE,
THE SEALS WERE FORCED TO LAND IN
PAKISTAN.
ONE OF THE CH-47s WAS WAITING ON
THE GROUND AND REFUELED THEIR
BLACK HAWK.
>> Pelley: THE PAKISTANIS DIDN'T
GET YOU ON THE WAY IN, BUT
YOU'RE CONCERNED THEY'RE GOING
TO GET YOU ON THE WAY OUT?
>> Owen: SURE.
WE'VE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.
>> Pelley: WHEN DID YOU KNOW
THAT YOU WERE OUT OF PAKISTAN?
>> Owen: THEY RADIOED OVER.
CAME ON OVER THE RADIO SAID,
"HEY, WE'RE BACK... WE'RE BACK
IN AFGHANISTAN."
>> Pelley: AND YOU THOUGHT WHAT?
>> Owen: BIG SIGH OF RELIEF,
AND, "WOW, WE MIGHT HAVE
ACTUALLY PULLED THIS OFF.
THIS IS CRAZY."
>> Pelley: WAS THERE EVER A
POINT, MARK, IN WHICH YOU SHOOK
HANDS WITH EACH OTHER, SLAPPED
EACH OTHER ON THE BACK?
>> Owen: YEAH, ONCE WE LANDED.
EVERYBODY KIND OF HUGGED AND
HIGH-FIVED AND TOOK A COUPLE
PHOTOS.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS OUR... OUR
FIVE-MINUTE "HEY, COOL, WE
PULLED THIS OFF, GOOD JOB," AND
THEN IT WAS BACK TO WORK.
>> Pelley: IN HIS BOOK, OWEN
DESCRIBES HOW THEY LOADED THE
BODY ONTO A PICKUP TRUCK AND
BROUGHT IT TO A HANGAR WHERE
VICE ADMIRAL McRAVEN, HEAD OF
JOINT SPECIAL OPERATIONS
COMMAND, WAS WAITING.
THEY UNZIPPED THE BAG.
STANDING NEARBY WAS THAT C.I.A.
ANALYST WHO HAD SPENT YEARS ON
BIN LADEN'S TRAIL.
>> Pelley: MISS 100%, THE WOMAN
WHO TOLD YOU THAT SHE WAS 100%
CERTAIN THAT THEY HAD OSAMA BIN
LADEN?
>> Owen: RIGHT.
SO WE'RE ALL IN THE HANGAR.
IMMEDIATELY, WE SAW HER, AND,
YOU KNOW, SHE STARTED CRYING.
AND IT WAS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT
EVENT IN HER LIFE, I'M SURE.
>> Pelley: SIX HOURS LATER, THE
PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED IT TO THE
WORLD.
>> President Obama: TONIGHT, I
CAN REPORT TO THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE AND TO THE WORLD THAT
UNITED STATES HAS CONDUCTED AN
OPERATION THAT HAS KILLED OSAMA
BIN LADEN, THE LEADER OF AL
QAEDA.
>> Owen: YEAH, WE WATCHED IT
LIVE.
IT WAS... THEY HAD SOME TVs SET
UP IN THE HANGAR THAT WE WERE
AT.
AND... LITERALLY STILL IN
YOUR... IN YOUR CAMOUFLAGE
UNIFORM, OUR GEAR KIND OF SET TO
THE SIDE, AND... AND WE HEARD IT
WAS COMING ON.
WE WENT AND GATHERED AROUND AND
WATCHED THE ADDRESS.
>> Pelley: WHAT DID YOU THINK?
>> Owen: NOW THE WORLD KNOWS
THAT WE'VE GOT HIM.
>> Pelley: WHEN YOU LANDED BACK
IN THE UNITED STATES, WHAT DID
YOU THINK OF ALL THE MEDIA
COVERAGE?
>> Owen: IT WAS ALL SURREAL
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THIS HAD ALL
BEEN SO HUSH-HUSH LEADING UP TO
IT.
WE WENT AND DID IT, AND NOW IT
WAS THE BIGGEST NEWS STORY EVER.
WE GOT ON A BUS.
THEY DROVE US BACK TO WORK.
I DIDN'T EVEN GO IN.
THEY TOLD US WE HAD A COUPLE
DAYS OFF.
AND I GRABBED MY KEYS, WENT AND
GOT IN MY TRUCK, AND... YOU
KNOW, I PUT IT IN THE BOOK.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I HIT TACO BELL
ON THE WAY HOME, HIT THE DRIVE-
THRU, A COUPLE TACOS.
AND... YOU KNOW, ATE IT IN MY
CAR RIGHT THERE AND THEN, AND
THEN DROVE HOME.
>> Pelley: YOU WERE PART OF THE
TEAM THAT KILLED OSAMA BIN
LADEN, AND THE FIRST THING YOU
DO WHEN YOU GET BACK TO THE
UNITED STATES IS GO TO TACO
BELL?
>> Owen: TWO TACOS AND A BEAN
BURRITO.
IT'S ROUTINE.
>> Pelley: LIFE HAS BEEN
ANYT
>> Pelley: DAYS AFTER RETURNING
FROM THE RAID IN ABBOTABAD,
PAKISTAN, MARK OWEN'S SQUADRON
BOARDED AN ANCIENT C-130
TRANSPORT PLANE FOR ONE MORE
MISSION.
THE MEN WONDERED WHY THE PLANE
WAS SO OLD.
THEN THEY FOUND OUT THE PLANE
HAD BEEN USED IN 1980 IN THE
FAILED ATTEMPT TO RESCUE THE
AMERICAN HOSTAGES IN IRAN.
SOMEBODY THOUGHT IT WAS A
FITTING PIECE OF AMERICAN
HISTORY TO CARRY THE MEN TO
THEIR SECRET MEETING WITH THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> Obama: THE TERRORIST LEADER
WHO STRUCK OUR NATION ON 9/11
WILL NEVER THREATEN AMERICA
AGAIN.
>> Pelley: PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS
MAKING A SPEECH AT FORT
CAMPBELL, KENTUCKY, AND HE MET
WITH THE BIN LADEN TEAM
PRIVATELY.
ALL OF THE MEN WOULD RECEIVE A
SILVER STAR FOR VALOR.
DID THE PRESIDENT ASK YOU GUYS
WHICH ONES OF YOU HAD SHOT OSAMA
BIN LADEN?
>> Owen: YEAH.
HE ASKED... HE ASKED WHO... WHO
WAS THE ONE, AND... AND WE TOLD
HIM WE WOULDN'T TELL
>> Pelley: YOU WOULDN'T TELL
HIM?
WHY NOT?
>> Owen: PULLING A TRIGGER'S
EASY, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE POUNDS
OF PRESSURE ON YOUR TRIGGER
FINGER.
AND I'VE DONE IT MILLIONS OF
TIMES, AND... AND IT'S NOT THAT
HARD, YOU KNOW.
SO IT'S NOT ABOUT WHO THAT ONE
PERSON WAS.
IT'S ABOUT THE TEAM, OR... THE
HELICOPTER PILOTS, OR THE... THE
INTEL FOLKS THAT TEED THIS WHOLE
THING UP.
WHO CARES WHO THE ONE PERSON IS?
DOESN'T MATTER.
>> Pelley: I WONDER, IN WRITING
THIS BOOK, WHETHER YOU'RE
WORRIED THAT SOME OF YOUR FELLOW
SEALS WILL BE ANGRY WITH YOU?
>> Owen: I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT AN
OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FROM THE
GUYS WHO KNOW ME.
TO QUOTE ONE OF MY FRIENDS, HE
SAID, "HEY, IF ANYBODY CAN TELL
THIS STORY AND DO IT RIGHT, IT'S
YOU."
AND I'M NOT TAKING THAT AND
TRYING TO TOOT MY OWN HORN.
THEY KNOW I'M DOING IT RIGHT.
>> Pelley: YOU SAY IN THE
PREFACE TO THE BOOK THAT IF A
READER IS LOOKING FOR SECRETS,
THIS ISN'T THEIR BOOK.
>> Owen: ABSOLUTELY NOT.
I'M NOT TALKING SECRETS, I'M NOT
TALKING TACTICS.
I DON'T EVEN GET INTO ANY OF
THAT STUFF.
BUT I REALLY TRY AND GIVE THE
READER A SENSE OF... OF WHAT
IT'S LIKE TO BE... TO BE THERE.
>> Pelley: PUBLICLY, THE
PENTAGON IS NOT HAPPY ABOUT "NO
EASY DAY."
THEY HAVE A DIFFERING ACCOUNT OF
BIN LADEN'S FINAL MINUTES,
SAYING HE THAT HE WAS FIRST SHOT
WHEN THE SEALS WERE INSIDE HIS
BEDROOM.
SPOKESMAN GEORGE LITTLE SAID
LAST WEEK THAT OWEN SIGNED A
SECRECY AGREEMENT AS A SEAL AND
SHOULD'VE SUBMITTED HIS BOOK FOR
EDITING BY THE GOVERNMENT.
>> Little: THE AUTHOR IS IN
MATERIAL BREACH OF HIS SECRECY
AGREEMENTS WITH THE UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT.
WE BELIEVE THAT SENSITIVE AND
CLASSIFIED INFORMATION IS
CONTAINED IN THE BOOK.
I DON'T THINK I COULD BE ANY
CLEARER THAN THAT
>> Pelley: BUT OWEN INSISTS
THERE'S NOTHING IN THE BOOK THAT
COMPROMISES THE SECRETS OF THE
UNITED STATES OR THE SAFETY OF
THE SEALS.
AND THERE WAS ONE MORE THING HE
WANTED TO SAY: THE RELEASE WAS
TIMED TO THE ANNIVERSARY OF
9/11.
>> Owen: MY WORRY FROM THE
BEGINNING IS, IT'S A POLITICAL
SEASON.
THIS BOOK IS NOT POLITICAL
WHATSOEVER.
IT DOESN'T BAD MOUTH EITHER
PARTY, AND WE SPECIFICALLY...
CHOSE SEPTEMBER 11th TO KEEP IT
OUT OF THE POLITICS.
YOU KNOW, IF THESE CRAZIES ON
EITHER SIDE OF THE AISLE WANT TO
MAKE IT POLITICAL, SHAME ON
THEM.
>> Pelley: THE BIN LADEN RAID
WAS MARK OWEN'S LAST.
A FEW MONTHS LATER, HE WENT TO
NEW YORK AND SAW GROUND ZERO FOR
THE FIRST TIME.
>> Owen: OUR TEAM PLAYED A SMALL
LITTLE PIECE.
SOME PEOPLE WOULD ARGUE BIGGER.
BUT, YOU KNOW, TO US, IT'S
VERY... WE WERE JUST DOING OUR
JOBS.
NOT A BIG DEAL.
WE WERE JUST LUCKY TO BE AT THE
RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.
BUT THEN, GOING TO NEW YORK
AND... AND WHERE THE WORLD TRADE
CENTER STOOD AT ONE POINT, AND
IT WAS... IT'S JUST VERY, VERY
EMOTIONAL.
>> Pelley: NEARLY 3,000 PEOPLE
WERE KILLED RIGHT THERE ALONE.
>> Owen: IT WAS EMOTIONAL.
IT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'M JUST READY TO MOVE ON.
FULL CIRCLE.
>> Pelley: YOUR TEAM HAD AVENGED
THOSE DEATHS.
>> Owen: ABSOLUTELY.
>> Pelley: WHEN WORD OF THE
BOOK, "NO EASY DAY," CAME OUT
LAST MONTH, A CABLE NEWS CHANNEL
LEARNED MARK OWEN'S REAL NAME
AND REPORTED IT.
SINCE THEN, OTHERS HAVE REPORTED
HIS NAME.
WE WILL NOT.
OWEN INTENDS TO DONATE MOST OF
THE PROFITS FROM THE BOOK TO
CHARITIES THAT SUPPORT FAMILIES
OF FALLEN TROOPS.
HE WANTED US TO KNOW THAT HE
THINKS OF WHAT HE'S WRITTEN AS A
PUBLIC SERVICE-- TO GET THE
HISTORY STRAIGHT-- AND AS A
TRIBUTE TO EVERY NAVY SEAL,