A Global Response Staff (GRS) contractor, known by the pseudonym "Jack Silva" from the book and film 13 Hours, has broken a 13-year public silence to release a firsthand account of the September 2012 Benghazi attack. His primary motivation is to defend the integrity of fellow contractor Kris "Tanto" Paronto ("Tig") and to correct the public record regarding the actions of two Delta Force operators on the scene.
Silva’s statement directly challenges the prevailing narrative and the basis for the high-level military decorations (the Navy Cross and Distinguished Service Cross) awarded to the two Delta operators.
The key claims from his eyewitness account are:
Rooftop Engagement: During the final mortar attack on Building C, the Delta operators were not in elevated positions on the rooftop and, according to Silva, did not discharge their weapons. He asserts it was "physically impossible" for them to engage attackers from their location.
Aid to the Wounded: After the mortars struck, Tig was the first person on the roof assisting the wounded Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty. Silva claims the Delta operators delayed providing aid for an "uncomfortably long time," only ascending after another contractor offered to leave his post to help.
Handling of the Fallen: Silva states he "100%" witnessed the Delta operators throwing the bodies of Woods and Doherty from the roof. He emphasizes that this occurred when the situation was "calm and very quiet," with no incoming enemy fire for at least 15 minutes.
Disputed Award Citations: The account refutes key elements of the operators' award citations. Silva contests the claim they were "continuously exposed to fire," reiterating they were not on the roof during the attack. He also disputes the description of them "shephering unarmed civilians," stating that everyone at the annex, including the cook, was armed.
Ambassador's Body: The operators did not leave the airport to retrieve Ambassador Chris Stevens' body. It was brought to the tarmac by a local militia while all U.S. personnel waited.
While critical, Silva expresses gratitude for the operators' heroism in flying into a hostile environment and believes they provided life-saving medical care inside Building C. His statement concludes by affirming his full support for Tig's version of events and the authenticity of the accounts presented in the book 13 Hours, hoping his testimony will allow "the truth to finally come out."
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