âWith the Taliban launching its annual spring offensive, Brendan and his platoon started to see more action in May (2010), just as he had predicted in his email to Tom and Janet (Manion). Surrounded by jagged cliffs, extreme poverty, and acute desolation, which many of the younger SEALs had never experienced, it was Brendanâs responsibility to keep them optimistic, focused, and sharp. But considering that the SEALs were sleeping on a (base) âin the middle of nowhere,â thousands of miles from home, setting a positive tone was never an easy task.
âRather than barking out orders to the SEALs under his command, Brendan was âLoon-Dog.â The enlisted SEALs, or âE-Dogs,â as they were nicknamed, loved working for the 29-year-old lieutenant, because even though Brendan was an officer, he still thought of himself as just one of the guys.
âDuring his deployment, Brendan spent roughly the equivalent of two full weeks on âover watchâ missions above three districts in northern Zabul province, where the lieutenant and SEALs under his command would look down from the cliffs to make sure their brothers in arms operating below were safe from lurking Taliban and al Qaeda fighters. But after only a day or two on the high ground, Brendan was concerned that his primary responsibilities as an officer and squad commander werenât enough of a contribution to his platoon.
âWhen there was extra gear to carry, the officer threw it on his back instead of ordering enlisted SEALs to carry it. Regardless of the command structure or rank, Loon-Dog treated everyone with the same respect.
âWhen things got dicey on the battlefield, however, there was no mistaking who was in charge, like one day when gunfire rang out beneath the over watch position Brendanâs SEAL team had established above a small, Taliban-controlled Afghan village.
ââIncoming!â Brendan yelled.
âAs bullets pounded the mountain rocks that were shielding his team, who took cover as soon as they heard their leaderâs unmistakable voice, Brendanâs commanding officer (CO) asked for a status report over the radio.
ââWeâve got enemy fire coming from just outside the village,â Brendan said. âNobodyâs been hit, and weâre prepping the counterattack.â
 âSir?â Brendan repeated what he had said a few times before realizing the signal was dropping in and out, as it had been for most of the day.
ââLieutenant,â the CO repeated. âIf you copy, call me on the SAT (satellite) phone.â
âAs soon as Brendan heard the order, he broke his crouch and stood up. The SAT phone was a few yards in front of the boulder that was protecting him.
ââWhoa, Loon-Dog,â exclaimed a surprised fellow SEAL. âBe careful, sir.â
âBrendan knew his CO wouldnât ask him to call unless it was extremely important, and for all he knew, retrieving the satellite phone could be a matter of life and death. Without blinking, Brendan hustled toward the phone, picked it up, and returned to his position as bullets whizzed by.
ââLoon-Dog ⊠you all right?â (Brendanâs teammate) said.
ââIâm OK,â said Brendan, acting more like he was taking an afternoon stroll than engaging in an intense firefight.
âBrendan then told his CO that his men were ready to strike back at the enemy. Moments later he aimed his sniper rifle at the enemy position. When the day was over, the Navy SEALs had once again disrupted the Talibanâs plans.â
- See more at: http://www.stwnewspress.com/opinion/x787225702/TOM-SILEO-Loon-Dog-led-Marine-troop-by-example-under-fire#sthash.Ncdn0ANx.dpuf
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