Eddie Gallagher knows what it feels like to have a target on your back, both on and off the battlefield.
decorated Navy SEALJoe, now retired, served his country for more than two decades in war zones overseas, fighting terrorists who were determined to kill him and harm America. Then, after returning home from his eighth and final deployment in 2017, Gallagher was accused of war crimes, targeted by both prosecutors and the media, and imprisoned for nearly eight months before his name was cleared.
Now, as co-founder of the Pipe Hitter Foundation, a nonprofit that provides financial and legal assistance to “veterans, police officers and their families,” Gallagher aims to help others fighting similar battles. Raising money.
The pipe hitter has gone to bat for other controversial figures such as Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, whose 17-year career ended in a court-martial in 2021 for questioning senior military leadership amid the failed withdrawal from Afghanistan. Had gone viral. The second one is Cmdr. Eric Ramey, a Navy physician who was serving as the senior medical officer at the Basic Training Command (BUD) at the time Seaman Kyle Mullen He died after completing “Hell Week” training in California.
Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher found not guilty of murder and attempted murder
Retired Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher founded the Pipe Hitter Foundation to help veterans and law enforcement members who are wrongfully accused of crimes. (Eddie Gallagher)
Gallagher told Fox News Digital, “What we do is support active-duty military, law enforcement and first responders. If they’re being unfairly accused of doing their job, we take action. ” “We provide emergency relief assistance to their families when they are going through that stressful time.”
On October 12, the Pipe Hitter Foundation will hold its first fundraiser at an event called “Operator for a Day” at Stronghold SOF Solutions in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Gallagher is teaming up with former New York Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik and other highly trained military special operators to provide firearms training to civilians, show how to fight from vehicles and conduct a live demonstration of a special operator close-quarters combat.
The Pipe Hitter Foundation “Operator for a Day” fundraiser will be held at Stronghold SOF Solutions’ facility in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Here is a photo of the two-story live-fire shoot house at the site, where close-quarters combat could be demonstrated. (Citadel SOF Solutions)
“What we’re going to do is have all the retired special operators coming in to help give instruction, and we’re going to do some basic pistol, rifle carving courses, some vehicle stuff. We’re really going to make it a lot Going to have fun,” Gallagher said. “People who come will just experience what some of these people they’re supporting go through on a daily basis.”
The retired SEAL said he hopes the event will give attendees a greater appreciation for what Navy Seals and Green Berets This is what they go through when they risk their lives for their country.
Tickets with ammo are $3,000 per person, although there are group discounts. While it’s not cheap by any means, Gallagher says the money will serve those who served the American people first.
Navy SEAL found not guilty of murder, reinstated to rank by Trump: Where is he now?
Gallagher was acquitted in a 2017 war crimes trial related to the death of an ISIS fighter.
“The big thing I like is that we help mentor those people through that process. We’re able to share our experiences about things we’ve been through, and it’s helpful for them.” Does a lot, because when you are put in a situation like this, there are very few people who know how it really feels and how much pressure it puts on you and your family when the government is targeting you, ” Gallagher said.
It’s personal for Gallagher. In 2017, he was found not guilty of murder of a Islamic State Fighter but convicted of being photographed with the corpse of a dead prisoner. The Navy reduced his rank from chief petty officer to petty officer first class and considered revoking his SEAL trident insignia.
According to the shooting range’s website, Stronghold SOF Solutions’ flat range can support .50 caliber munitions. (Citadel SOF Solutions)
former president trump Gallagher’s story gained attention after receiving national media attention. intervened On its part to restore its previous rank in 2019. They also prevented the Navy from seeking further disciplinary action against him and fired Thanks to Navy Secretary Richard Spencer for his handling of the matter.
After his acquittal, Gallagher filed a lawsuit against His former lawyers are accused of delaying his case for allegedly increasing his legal bills. He also accused prosecutors of acting illegally and unethically.
Prosecutors in the case were awarded the Navy Achievement Medal just eight days after Gallagher was acquitted of most charges. Trump immediately revoked the medals and described the lawyers’ actions as “disabled,
Former Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher, acquitted in war crimes case, says new book ‘reveals the truth’
Gallagher retired in 2020 to establish the Pipe Hitter Foundation with his wife Andrea. The 501(c)(3) organization has since assisted several military and law enforcement personnel accused of wrongdoing, such as Ben Darby, an Alabama police officer after he shot and killed a man who threatened suicide. Was accused of murder.
Darby shot and killed Jeff Parker on April 3, 2018, after Parker called 911 and threatened suicide. The incident was captured on video and a review board deemed Darby’s actions appropriate. However, the Madison County District Attorney brought murder charges against the officer and Darby was ultimately convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
The Pipe Hitter Foundation assisted Darby as he appealed his case. After spending nearly 20 months in prison, an appeals court overturned the conviction and Darby was released. The officer later pleaded guilty to murder and a judge sentenced him to three years of probation in 2023. AL.com reported,
“He was able to get back to his family,” Gallagher said of Darby. “You know, the fear never ends. She has to get over all the fake news and the way she was maligned in the media.”
Trump announces Navy will not take away Eddie Gallagher’s SEAL trident as lawyer blames admiral
The Pipe Hitter Foundation fundraiser will provide attendees with military special operations training to show what a day in the life of a Navy SEAL looks like. (Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Eric S. Logsdon/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
Pipe Hitter recently became involved in the Ramey case as the Navy doctor now faces investigation related to Mullen’s death.
The Navy autopsy said Mullen was suffering from acute pneumonia and had an enlarged heart. An investigation released last year found widespread failures in medical care, poor oversight and the use of performance-enhancing drugs in the BUD training program, the Associated Press reported. Remy and the commander of Naval Special Warfare Training Command, Capt. Brad Geary, were among the officers deemed responsible following the death of the BUD student.
The Pipe Hitter Foundation states that the Bureau of Naval Medicine had already investigated and determined that Ramey met the standards of care and that he was exonerated.
“They’re trying to hang them both out to dry,” Gallagher said. “When we saw it happen, we knew exactly what it was. And so we’re supporting Dr. Remy and hope that the pressure on the Navy to do the right thing and drop these charges against him Because he is in danger of losing his medical license.”
These cases are difficult, but Gallagher argues that everyone is innocent until proven guilty and no one deserves to be vilified before getting their day in court, especially those who willingly serve their country. If service members are demonized, fewer people will want to serve, Gallagher said.
“I think it’s a bigger problem than people know,” he said. “I met people when I was locked up. I met little kids who didn’t deserve to be there. They made a mistake in life, you know, and the excessive punishment in the military is ridiculous. You have these kids five to six Were serving years for showing up late for formation or failing a drug test.”
He said that if some of those teenagers had gone to college instead of volunteering for military service, they would have been free.
Click here to get the Fox News app
“There’s a terrible epidemic of excessively punishing people in the military just to keep up their prosecution rates. So, that’s a big problem. I think the UCMJ, which is the Uniform Code of Military Justice, is an old and antiquated system. , and it’s very corrupt the way it runs.”
Gallagher said military justice reform is one of the pillars of the Pipe Hitter Foundation’s mission. Their hope is that their work supported by Saturday’s fundraising will encourage young men and women to volunteer.
“We have a huge recruiting crisis going on here. And I think it’s due to the fact that these young men and women, fresh out of high school or college, are seeing how people in the military How they are treated, especially over the last few years with the entire COVID vaccine mandate and all the individuals they illegally kicked out and then invited back in without apology years later.
“Young men and women are paying attention. So, if they can see that there are groups out there that support these people who are being falsely accused or grossly abused, then there’s hope.” That this will give them some hope to stand up, raise their right hand and want to serve the country.”
Fox News Digital contacted the Pentagon for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Nick Givas contributed to this report.
