Words from a Hero

The best way to share this is from an email I sent to several folks requesting the transcripts. I went back to Alabama this past weekend - 478 miles - with only Ellyotte in tow just three days after having returned from two weeks there. My best buddy since 1999 was asked to speak as the guest of honor at the 9/11 remembrance ceremony at Troy University. I went back to not only see him, introduce him to Ellyotte but to also introduce him to the hundreds of students and faculty sitting on the floor of an overflowing auditorium. He is a true hero in every sense of the word. Below is the email I sent followed by my introduction/speech and then his brief transcripts.

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All,
Jeff provided me with his bullets but I promise, 2/3s of what he said was in the moment. There were some swear words, some mentions of actual kills he's had, he said the one regret he has in life is that he hasn't killed more terrorists, he has killed just at 500 terrorists with his own hands, and he couldn't stress more that we need to be VIGILANT and teaching our children how to be vigilant. Dark days are ahead of us and he looked at everyone and said over and over "they hate you, they want each and every one of you dead. Don't forget that."
He warns that our schools are extremely vulnerable. Said the best thing we can do for our children is order and read "Terror at Beslan: A Russian Tragedy with Lessons for America's Schools" by John Giduck.

He carries a 9mm with him - even sleeps with it. He is an example of paranoia because of experience - we can never be too careful. He spoke of the 22 buddies he lost last month - his best bud was the one who's dog laid at the base of his casket. Jeff was a pallbearer at that funeral. I am sure you all have seen the picutre of Hawkeye, the dog.

I am including my intro to him so you know a little more about him. He's an amazing American, we have no idea how fortunate we are to live in a country where men like Jeff Nichols serve us so selflessly.
Please pass along to those you think would be interested.

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Good evening. I am Katie Beall, oldest daughter of Chancellor and Mrs. Jack Hawkins. It is my honor to be able to introduce my best friend, Navy SEAL Jeff Nichols, to you all tonight.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” Those of us who witnessed the horrors of Sept 11, 2001 and then made the difficult choice to serve our nation can best identify with that statement.
The majority of you in the audience tonight were in grade school when the American way of life changed forever.  Tonight, you are being introduced to true, selfless American heroes. You are literally in the presence of greatness and of men who have sacrificed so much for your freedoms.
A native of Iowa, Jeff Nichols came to Troy University on a baseball scholarship. He graduated from Troy University in 2002 with a degree in exercise physiology.
 Jeff joined the Navy in October 2002 and was chosen to be a candidate for the Basic Underwater Demolition School. He completed  Basic Army Air-Born Parachute School and then was sent to SEAL Qualification Training in San Diego where following an intense 6 months, he earned the official title of SEAL in May 2004. Out of 164 SEAL candidates that started the training in Jeff’s class, only 22 completed.
In his 8 years of service, Jeff has completed 12 combat deployments to half a dozen countries. He was deployed 306/365 days in this past year alone. Jeff has been awarded multiple combat awards with valor. He is a SEAL sniper, a SEAL explosives breacher, is a static line and freefall parachute jumpmaster, a Naval master parachutist and he is a certified strength and conditioning specialist.
My friendship with Jeff began when we both transferred to Troy University in 1999. From Day 1 of meeting, Jeff told me that he was going to be a Navy SEAL. There was never any mystery to what he dreamed of becoming.
We immediately bonded over our love for our country and through our shared dreams of serving our great nation. We were kindred spirits from the beginning: we’d go to baseball parties and spend hours in a corner talking about and planning our military futures . I like to remind him that we were the “weird ones” but he thinks we were normal and everyone else was different!
I commissioned as an active duty Air Force intelligence officer through AFROTC here at Troy University in May 2002. Through our years at Troy, Jeff supported me 100% and encouraged me daily to push forward towards my dream of military service. It was during my vulnerable years at Troy University that he became a hero of mine.
Aside from my father, a Vietnam veteran, Marine Corps officer who was awarded 2 purple hearts and a bronze star, and my own husband, a highly decorated Air Force intelligence officer, Jeff is my hero. These three men are examples of true heroes and to be able to call Jeff my friend is an honor. He is loyal; a devoted father to his 4 year old son, Mason; a proud Trojan; and a one of the most amazing Americans I have ever known. Ladies and gentleman, let’s welcome Navy SEAL Jeff Nichols.
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Thank You’s Dr. Hawkins Mrs. Janice Hawkins Troy For Troops Committee All those involved in getting me back to Troy Schaughnessy Introduce Myself Name, 2002 Grad from Troy Navy SEAL w/ numerous combat deployments Numerous awards for Valor Most Importantly I am an AMERICAN and a Father of a 4 year old little angel. Troy for Troops message Before I Proceed I did not come here to recruit for the Navy Comments expressed are not Troy’s, US Gov, or the Navy’s Comments are mine and mine alone If anyone is offended come and see me afterwards and we can talk. Keep in mind if you have enough confidence to come and see me afterwards I have lost 29 of my friends in 4 yrs and 22 last month. We can all guess how that little talk will go. 1. It is often pointed out to me how different a life I live and have lived. Which is why relating you to all became the one question I had. I am not too far removed from you all are. My life was decided while I was here at Troy. I remember where and why I decided to Join the Navy and become a SEAL. WHEN, WHERE, WHY. I AM PRETTY HARD ON MYSELF. I NEEDED THIS CHALLENGE SO I COULD LOOK MYSELF IN THE MIRROR, AND ULTIMATLY LEAVE MY LEGACY TO MY FAMILY, GRANDSON….. I was also here at Troy on Sep. 11th. WHERE AND WHEN. Sept. 11th has lived with me every day since then, TRULY!!! 2. I have two Goals this evening. 1/make a point and not be all over, 2/ Not to package my opinions as fact, but give you a sense of how sep 11 changed lives. 3. I was given guidance in the form of topics to address (which I will) such as +personal experiences +career Experiences +broad effects of 911+why 911 matters. ****Bring light not Darkness***** All good things, but one overriding fact still remained with me through all my soul searching. We were attacked “WE WERE ATTACKED” NO AMOUNT of feel good stories will make up for the anger I have on that topic. Pres Bush Said “we will not make the distinction between those who carried out these terrorist acts and those that Harbor them”. He also said “I can hear you, the rest of the world can hear you, and soon those responsible for knocking down these towers will hear all of us soon” I HAVE LIVED BY THESE QUOTES I HAVE SPENT THE LAST 9 YEARS NOT MAKING THAT DISTINCTION. Because I know you are all thinking one of these questions? 2 most common – breath hold – killed someone – how does it make you feel. 911 is why I am here / why I am always gone/ why I fight / kill / and why my beliefs and values are continually being shaped, and reinforced. And it didn’t end for me when UBL was killed. In the past 9 years. Every time I have bled, every time I have pushed myself to my physical limits, every time I have been scared, and every time I have cried has been because of 911. 4.Broad Effects of 911 5. Perspective on Leadership and World Security. Janet Napalitano. Said “one of our greatest threats to homeland security is our returning vets” and yet we have more than 2 dozen know terrorist training camps inside our boarders right now. Most all of them formally established post 911. Perspective---Weak as it has ever been- we as a country have become so dependent on others (who are not experts) who present their opinions as fact. 911 taught us (or should have) that everyone need to take a proactive and not a reactive stance in protecting and caring for our freedoms so many have bled for. Troy for Troops/ Students/Parents Be Proactive and not reactive Learn to love our country, it’s never too late! Stand up for our Freedoms (not an excuse to be pathetic) Be a good role model for all children (example: national anthem) Conclusion 911 matters to so many. It is my generations Pearl Harbor. For those few who are still alive who lived through that, and the even fewer who were serving or there, my LOVE and ADMIRATION goes out to them. I know how they all felt. This time around my brothers and I were the ones who took up arms. HERE IS WHERE I HAVE A HARD TIME PACKAGING MY THOUGHTS INTO FACT….BECAUSE I JUST CANT. All of you will look back at this statement and remember it. Sep 11th 2001 was just the beginning for us and the world. A lot of eyes have been opened (on both sides) and so many eyes have turned away. Darker days are coming unless we find the love for our country we once had. They are already here, they are just waiting. Waiting for what….Waiting for us to be weak and divided. We are pretty divided right now. So next time someone asks you what your political affiliation is…..say it proud, look them into the eyes and say………… I AM AN AMERICAN.