Lives lost in September 11 Benghazi attacks honored
Linda Sappington
Rain falls throughout the Benghazi Memorial Ceremony Sept. 11 in Bigfork.
Linda Sappington
Rod Douglas of the Montana Highlanders opens the ceremony with patrioric tunes.
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
Gerald Molen speaks during the memorial ceremony.
Linda Sappington
Linda Sappington
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Editor's note: Edits were made to this article online Sept. 29.
BIGFORK — As rain fell like tears, relentlessly dripping from the enormous tent that shielded those attending the Benghazi Memorial on Sunday, Sept. 11, the lives of four warriors who died in those attacks were honored.
In the evening of Sept. 11, 2012, Islamic militants attacked the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya. U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and Sean Smith from the Foreign Service Information Management Office perished from smoke inhalation. Hours later, in the early morning of Sept. 12, 2012, CIA contractors Glen Doherty and Tyrone S. Woods, both Navy SEALS, died during the gun battle. About 30 lives were saved through their response.
During the ceremony, Jeremy Mahugh, a U.S. Navy SEAL sniper and CIA operative, read a letter written by John Tiegen, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who fought to save those 30 lives.
“What happened that night was real, and it required every bit of our physical and mental strength, military experience, team effort and a will to survive and protect. Without fail … we chose to run towards the attack, not knowing what we would encounter — which proved to be surreal confusion,” Tiegen wrote. “In spite of our efforts, we lost Ambassador Stevens.”
Smith — a 10-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, a husband and father of two and a highly respected computer specialist also perished at the mission, Tiegen wrote. “Then after surviving that hellish night, early on the morning of the 12th… Tyrone Woods gave his all, sacrificing his life on a rooftop, fighting like the warrior that he was but succumbing to a mortar attack.”
Fellow SEAL and CIA operative Glen Doherty climbed the ladder to the roof, “which was to be his last act of loyalty to his friend, and perished next to Tyrone, his brother in arms,” Tiegen wrote. “They did not know they would fight their last battle together. As SEALS and as CIA operators, they lived a unique creed, even unto death: never quit, never give up, and be willing to give your life for others.”
After reading the letter, Mahugh said the general public should understand that “to die in defense of our country was a check that each of us wrote when we accepted our various assignments. Some like (the four) actually had that check cashed on behalf of the U.S.,” Mahugh said. “That may be understandable in most situations. In this Benghazi incident, it was not OK. This should never have happened, let alone lied about and covered up.”
Retired Army Reserve Chaplain Sam Birky read a letter written by Tyrone’s mother, Cheryl Croft Bennett. She wrote that Tyrone made it clear his line of work was dangerous, and that he may not come home.
“As time passed I realized I could not change destiny … I had to accept that I had not been able to protect him,” Bennett wrote. “As I move forward, I seek to shine a light on who Tyrone was … my brave boy … a beloved man … a fierce warrior.”
Love is willingness to put others before self, Birky said. “It was for love of country that ... (they) served this nation,” Birky said. “May we remind ourselves that love is of God … We are a nation today that has a shortage of love. Love is a willingness to make a positive difference.”
Tyrone Woods’ father lives in Bigfork. A bronze memorial honoring all four was erected on private land in 2013, spearheaded by Ventura California Fire Chief Bill Thomas and Flathead Lake Lodge’s Doug Averill.
While the service is usually held at the memorial site, it was moved to the lodge’s lawn due to the rain. The monument, speaker Gerald R. Molen said, is a very special way to honor and rejoice in their service and devotion to country. “Sadly … there are those who either don’t care, or who are blinded by ideology, inept politicians or simply corrupt values,” Molen said. “The men we honor here today deserve better. Their service cannot and should not ever be in vain.” Molen added that the memorial event also honored “the many Americans either murdered by Islamic terrorists or who sacrificed their lives to protect each of us” during the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
Molen, an outspoken Republican, Montana native and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, is also an Oscar-winning producer of films such as “Schindler’s List,” “Jurassic Park,” and “Rain Man.”
Bigfork High School’s band and Crossroads Church provided patriotic music following bagpiper Rod Douglas of the Montana Highlanders and bugle calls by Tim Mirklinger, MSgt. U.S. Marine Corps. Friends of the Lake County Boys and Girls Club provided volunteers.
