The most highly trained warfighters the nation had ever produced put their lives on the line repeatedly some operators exceeded one thousand combat operations in order to execute the radically ambitious campaign.
And despite their overwhelming advantage in terms of training and technology, sooner or later, significant losses were inevitable. And Delta Force paid a heavy toll indeed for its collective heroism.
The situation was so dire that DEVGRU assaulters were redirected from Afghanistan to help augment Delta troops and serve as substitute Unit assaulters. Meanwhile, the British SAS put together a collection to donate to the widows and orphans of Unit KIA.
Robert Horrigan who had played such a pivotal role in Operation Anaconda in early 2002— was widely considered the quintessential Delta Force recce operator. While Horrigan was on his eighth combat deployment in 2005 with nearly two decades of SOF experience under his belt he was killed in action.
In June of 2005, Master Sergeant Horrigan was forty years old and only weeks away from returning home. Once back in the States, he was set to file his retirement papers, move back to Texas with his wife and daughter. There he would focus full- time on his passion as a bladesmith, making knives with his brother.
Horrigan was the first man through the door of a building in Al Qaim a known Zarqawi compound. As he burst through the room, he was shot and killed instantly. Another Delta operator, Michael L. McNulty (who also had an identical twin), was gunned down as well and would die hours later.
Retired Unit assaulter Larry Vickers said, “Bob went in and the dude was hiding in a corner. It was the last building in a compound and the guy was there waiting for them. Bob went in and didn’t see him. The guy had zeroed in on him. They went in and the guy shot him and the other guy from the corner.“ #IgRecon #CAG #TheUnit #SpecialMissionsUnit #Operators #Shooters #RIP #RestInPeace #Army #USArmy #Iraq #JSOC #CounterTerrorismRevolution #HunterKiller #Military #RoninTactics #CAGMain @cagmain_1776
I hope their families find solice and may their souls reek vengeance on their enemies and their magazine always be full in Valhalla!