Eddie Gallagher (Navy SEAL)

Edward R. Gallagher (born May 29, 1979) is a retired United States Navy SEAL.

Born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on May 29, 1979, Gallagher graduated from Bishop Dwenger High School.

He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1999.

Gallagher had eight overseas deployments, including service in both the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan.

He was trained as a medic, a sniper, and an explosives expert.

He graduated from the United States Marine Corps Scout Sniper.

He was attached to a U.S. Marine Corps unit until he enrolled in Basic Underwater Demolition/ SEAL (BUD/S) class 252 to become a Navy SEAL in 2005.

Following SEAL Qualification Training (SQT), he received the NEC 5326 as a Combatant Swimmer (SEAL), entitled to wear the Special Warfare Insignia.

During his service, he was decorated for valor several times, including two Bronze Stars.

He received positive evaluations from his superiors within the SEALs, and served as an instructor in the SEALs BUD/S program for recruits.

Gallagher goes by the nickname "Blade".

Gallagher was involved in controversies and investigations, but received few formal reprimands.

He was the subject of an investigation into the shooting of a young girl in Afghanistan in 2010, but was cleared of wrongdoing after being investigated by close comrades who had deployed with him.

He allegedly tried to run over a Navy police officer with his car in 2014, after being detained at a traffic stop.

By 2015, Gallagher had acquired a reputation as someone who was more interested in "fighting terrorists", but less interested in complying with rules.

During his eighth deployment in 2017, Gallagher's aggressiveness seemed to be amplified during the Battle for Mosul.

Here, his mission was to serve in an advisory role, versus taking part in direct action.

Gallagher was the subject of a number of reports from fellow SEAL team members, stating that his actions were not in keeping with the rules of war, but these reports were dismissed by the SEAL command structure.

Only after the reports gained visibility outside the SEAL community, were they acted upon and referred to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).

Prosecutors alleged that Gallagher's sniper work during his 2017 deployment became "reckless" and "bloodthirsty".

He allegedly fired his rifle far more frequently than other snipers; according to testimony, the other snipers in the platoon did not consider him a good sniper, and he took "random shots" into buildings.

Other snipers said they witnessed Gallagher taking at least two militarily pointless shots, shooting and killing an unarmed elderly man in a white robe as well as a young girl walking with other girls.

Gallagher allegedly boasted about the large number of people he had killed, claiming he averaged three kills a day over 80 days, including four women.

Gallagher also was reportedly known for indiscriminately spraying neighborhoods with rockets and machine gun fire with no known enemy force in the region.

A charge of obstruction of justice was brought against Gallagher for alleged witness intimidation.

According to the claim, Gallagher allegedly threatened to kill fellow SEALs if they reported his actions.

The Navy cited his text messages as attempting to undermine the investigation, with messages sent to "pass the word on those traitors", meaning cooperating witnesses, and to get them blacklisted within the special warfare community.

This resulted in him being confined in the brig for a time with heavy restrictions on his ability to communicate, although this confinement was later lessened.

He came to national attention in the United States after he was charged in September 2018 with ten offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

In the most prominently reported offense, he was accused of fatally stabbing an injured 17-year-old ISIS prisoner, photographing himself with the corpse, and sending the photo to friends.

On September 11, 2018, Gallagher was arrested at Camp Pendleton and charged with premeditated murder, attempted murder, obstruction of justice, and other offenses.

On October 18, Lieutenant Jacob Portier of Gallagher's platoon was also charged with failing to properly notify his superiors within the chain of command, to include the destruction of evidence.

Gallagher pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him.

Gallagher was accused of multiple offenses during his final deployment to Iraq and during the Battle for Mosul.

The most prominent accusation and the best-attested to was the murder of a prisoner of war, a war crime.

Khaled Jamal Abdullah, a captured 17-year-old fighter of the Islamic State, was being treated by a medic.

According to two SEAL witnesses, Gallagher said "he's mine" over the radio, then walked up to Abdullah and allegedly proceeded to stab him with his hunting knife without explanation.

Gallagher and his commanding officer, Lieutenant Jake Portier, then posed for photographs of them standing over the body with some other nearby SEALs.

Gallagher then text messaged a friend in California a picture of himself holding the dead captive's (ISIS) head by the hair with the explanation "Good story behind this, got him with my hunting knife.”

On July 2, 2019 Gallagher was convicted of posing for a photograph with the corpse, but was acquitted of all other charges after Special Operator Corey Scott, a member of Gallagher's team granted immunity as a witness against him, testified that he, not Gallagher, killed the prisoner.