Retired Navy Adm. William H. McRaven, who led Joint Particular Operations Command in the course of the 2011 Navy SEAL raid that killed Osama bin Laden, has been awarded $50 million for charitable use from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancé Lauren Sánchez.
McRaven, in flip, stated the $50 million will go to charities that assist the youngsters of veterans and those who work on veteran psychological well being and mind points.
The cash comes as a part of the Bezos Braveness and Civility Award, which the tech billionaire funds. Actress Eva Longoria additionally obtained the award, in accordance with a press launch. Established in 2021, the award is supposed to acknowledge leaders who pursue options “with braveness and civility.”
“I’m extremely honored to obtain this award from Lauren and Jeff,” McRaven stated in a press release. “Their beneficiant present will actually change the lives of numerous veterans and their households. Nothing is extra inspiring to people who serve than understanding that their sacrifice is acknowledged and genuinely appreciated.”
McRaven is the primary Bezos winner intently related to veteran and army initiatives. After leaving the army in 2014, he served because the Chancellor of the College of Texas, his alma mater, Each he and his spouse are on the board of the Particular Operations Warrior Basis. McRaven has additionally labored with the Mind Well being Challenge, which focuses on mind analysis for veterans.
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McRaven informed CNN that he plans to make use of the cash to teach youngsters of fallen veterans, particularly particular operators; assist veterans’ psychological well being and mind efficiency; and develop future army leaders by means of training.
Activity & Objective couldn’t attain McRaven for touch upon Friday.
McRaven is among the many greatest identified senior commanders from the wars of Afghanistan and Iraq. He took over the Joint Particular Operations Command, or JSOC, in 2008, which has purview over the nation’s most elite fight items, together with Navy Particular Warfare Growth Group, DEVGRU – generally known as SEAL Crew Six – and the Military’s Delta Drive.
Because the JSOC commander, he oversaw the particular operators who rescued Richard Phillips, captain of the Maersk Alabama, from Somali pirates in 2009 and was answerable for planning and briefing President Barack Obama on the bin Laden raid two years later.
McRaven served as a SEAL all through his profession, together with as a squadron commander with DEVGRU and the commander of SEAL Crew Three.
After Navy SEALs landed in Afghanistan following the bin Laden raid, Obama requested McRaven if he may affirm that the al Qaida chief had been killed, McRaven informed CNN in a 2016 interview.
McRaven ordered a SEAL who was two inches shorter than bin Laden to lie down subsequent to the physique. He then informed Obama that he was 99% positive that the physique was bin Laden’s as a result of the stays had been a few inches taller than the SEAL.
“Invoice, let me get this straight,” Obama replied, as recalled by McRaven to CNN. We’ve got $60 million for a helicopter, and also you didn’t have $10 for a tape measure?”
Shortly afterward Obama gave McRaven a tape measure mounted on a stand.
McRaven completed his Navy profession serving as commander of U.S. Particular Operations Command from 2011 to 2014.
Previous recipients of the Bezos Braveness & Civility Award embrace Van Jones, José Andrés and Dolly Parton.
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