FROGMAN DOWN: REMEMBERING Neil “FIFI” Roberts - Battle of Roberts Ridge (Battle of Takur Ghar)

FROGMAN DOWN: REMEMBERING NEIL “FIFI” ROBERTS (Aug 16, 1969 – Mar 04, 2002) - Battle of Roberts Ridge (Battle of Takur Ghar)

On March 4, 2002, SEAL Team SIX Operator, ABH1 (SEAL) Neil “FIFI” Roberts (32), sustained mortal wounds while during the opening phase of OPERATION ANACONDA, high in the mountains of Eastern Afghanistan. Neil was poised to exit the ramp of a MH-47 Chinook Helicopter for a nighttime insertion when the aircraft was hit by rocket-propelled grenades. As it maneuvered to evade the explosions, FIFI was thrown from the helicopter into hostile enemy territory. He immediately engaged the overwhelming Al-Qaeda forces with his light machine gun, expending all of his ammunition. Neil killed an untold number of enemy Al Qaeda fighters, before he was Killed In Action (KIA). Prior to this assignment, FIFI was assigned to SEAL Team FOUR, having graduated BUD/S Class 184.

Prior to deploying, FIFI assured his wife in an “open-in-the-event-of-my-death letter”:

"I died doing what made me happy. Although I sacrificed personal freedom and many other things, I got just as much as I gave. My time in the Teams was special. For all the times I was cold, wet, tired, sore, scared, hungry and angry, I had a blast…"

Neil’s untimely death left behind his wife (Patty), his son (Nathan), his mother (Janet), and his six brothers and five sisters.

RIP my Brother, we love you, we miss you, we will never forget you. Long Live The Brotherhood. INVICTA. #LLTB #Hooyah #TeamsAndShit #TheUncommonMan #Fearless #NavySEALs