Former Navy SEALs, Green Berets on a private mission to rescue Afghans during evacuations
A team of former Green Berets and SEALs took on a daring mission to rescue some Americans in Afghanistan.
Convinced “that our own government didn’t do this, “We did what we should do, as Americans,” he said.” former Navy SEAL Jason Redman told ABC.
“I just want to get my people out” – Maj. Jim Gant, a retired Green Beret told ABC on their mission dubbed “Task Force Pineapple” They operated where active duty service members in uniform could not do so without grater risk.
After the first phase of the mission, to rescue an Afghan Commando was a success, the team remained to rescue others, guiding several hundred Afghan special operators, assets and enablers and their families into the airport in Kabul overnight to the evacuation aircraft.
Moving in darkness the group said it worked unofficially with knowledge and support from with the United States military and U.S. embassy to move people.
The team was in theater during the suicide attack and ISIS gunfire when team members were injured in the suicide bombing near the airport that killed 13 Servicemembers, dozens of other innocents.
“The whole night was a roller-coaster ride. People were so terrified in that chaotic environment. These people were so exhausted, I kept trying to put myself in their shoes,” Redman said.
“This Herculean effort couldn’t have been done without the unofficial heroes inside the airfield who defied their orders to not help beyond the airport perimeter, by wading into sewage canals and pulling in these targeted people who were flashing pineapples on their phones,” he told ABC where one can read the full feature, “US special operations vets carry out daring mission to save Afghan allies.”
Another of the team was retired Green Beret, Army Maj. Jim Gant, known as “Lawrence of Afghanistan,” who was the subject of a 2014 “Nightline” investigation. Dan O’Shea, a retired SEAL commander was involved in the mission.
“I have been involved in some of the most incredible missions and operations that a special forces guy could be a part of, and I have never been a part of anything more incredible than this,” Gant told ABC News. “The bravery and courage and commitment of my brothers and sisters in the Pineapple community was greater than the U.S. commitment on the battlefield,” Gant told ABC.
Retired Navy SEAL Lieutenant Jason Redman, who has written several books and gives motivational speeches was a prominent member of the team who had been injured, endured multiple surgeries, and would not give up.
On September 13, 2007, during a special ops mission as Assault Force Commander to capture an Al Qaeda High Value Individual, Retired Navy SEAL Lieutenant Jason Redman’s Assault Team came under heavy fire. Despite being shot several times, including once in the face, he and his team fought valiantly to do what he does best—overcome, Redman told U.S. Veteran’s Magazine
“I wouldn’t have made it through SEAL training if I didn’t have some level of mindset that I could overcome adversity, but it really got tested several years prior to getting shot,” Redman said. “It was through leadership failure and having to push forward despite a whole lot of people not believing in me and, as a matter of fact, being resentful that I just didn’t leave. That, by far, was the longest and hardest road I have ever fought—much harder than my injuries.
“Having climbed out of that hole and built back my professional leadership and tactical reputation over the last several years, both in training and in combat, put me in a position that when I was wounded, don’t get me wrong it sucked, but I was like, you have climbed out of worse holes so this is no different.”
Jason spent his first two years in the Navy working as an Intelligence Specialist working for and around Naval Special Warfare. During Boot Camp he had tried out and was accepted for Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL training (BUD/S) and he reported to BUD/S in January of 1995. He enjoyed a full year of friendly instructors, relaxing times on the beach, and endless nights under the Coronado moon before graduating with BUD/S class 202 in December of 1995.
He was commissioned in May of 2004 as a Naval SEAL Officer.
Jason immediately reported to his new SEAL Team and was directly assigned as an Assistant Platoon Commander. His platoon deployed to Afghanistan in July of 2005 and conducted numerous combat operations that directly contributed to the Global War on Terror.
In May of 2006, he graduated from the grueling US Army Ranger Course of Instruction to further his tactical knowledge and increase his understanding of Joint Operations and Army mission planning. In May 2007, Jason deployed to Fallujah, Iraq and served as Mobility Force Commander and Assault Force Commander for over 40 Direct Action missions throughout western Iraq.
On September 13, 2007 while acting as Assault Force Commander on an operation to capture an Al Qaeda High Value Individual LT Redman’s Assault Team came under heavy machine gun and small arms fire and he along with two other Teammates were wounded in the ensuing firefight. Despite being shot twice in the arm and once in the face, as well as multiple rounds to his helmet, Night Vision Goggles, body armor, and weapon, Jason and his Team fought valiantly winning the fight, ensuring everyone came home alive.
His website reports that Jason is the New York Times bestselling author of “The Trident: The Forging and Reforging of a Navy SEAL Leader” and has appeared on multiple national news networks, including Fox News, CBS, CNN, and CBN. As an actor he played the lead role in The Perfect Day film and a supporting character on an episode of Hawaii 5-0.