By David Kilby, Staff Writer
As the news continues to spread through the country and world, politicians and a few local war on terror veterans gave their comments on the death of Osama bin Laden.
”We’re glad he is no longer a danger to the U.S.,” said Chuck Corbett, senior vice commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 262 in Monroe, who served in the Navy in Afghanistan for six and a half months in 2002.
He said bin Laden’s death is good news since it removes a symbolic leader and figurehead, not only from Al Qaeda but for Islamic extremists.
”Anything thing that could shorten the war is a good thing,” he said. “It’s nowhere near the end all be all for the terrorism the U.S. is facing. I think (the U.S. military) still has the threat of the Taliban. They seem to have been rising up in the past two years and gathering strength as we put focus on the war in Iraq. The focus has shifted back to Afghanistan. We’ll be there until the president says otherwise. There are problems all over the world because extremists have learned that they can’t congregate in one area.”
Mr. Corbatt, who retired as a Navy chief petty officerin 2008, said at one time he was assigned to the Navy SEAL Team 6 unit, the Navy’s top counterterrorism team, that took down bin Laden.
He volunteered to be in the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, which provided intelligence for Navy SEALs. He said while working in the unit, he used various classified databases and target packages to provide information on locations, places or persons.
”It was a good day for the Navy,” he said, speaking of Sunday. “We’ve taken some of the wind out of the sales of the extremists who are plotting against us.”
He added it was smart for the military to bury bin Laden at sea since it prevents a new rallying point for jihadists from emerging.
”This will probably be a textbook operation, which will be taught to all special operation units the U.S. has,” he said. “There were no casualties and no injuries on the U.S. side. SEALs are one of the premier counterterrorist units, and the U.S. didn’t have to bomb the place. SEALs are highly intelligent individuals who understand the art of warfare, and it couldn’t be more perfect than in this raid on bin Laden.”
At a press conference May 2, Gov. Chris Christie commended President Barrack Obama’s administration and shared the personal meaning of the news.
”As for the killing of bin Laden, you know, so you will recall, I was nominated to United States attorney by President Bush on Sept. 10, 2001,” he said. “And the job that I accepted that day from the president became significantly different about 18 hours later.”
He added, “And for me it was also extraordinarily personal. My wife was two blocks from the Trade Center when the attack occurred. She had come through the Trade Center that morning with my brother who was working down at the New York Stock Exchange at the time.”
He said, “There is hardly a life that has gone untouched in New Jersey by the horrifying assault on American soil that took place on Sept. 11th. After years of waiting, justice has finally been delivered.”
At the Monroe Council meeting Monday, Mayor Richard Pucci said the successful mission is proof “we don’t give up. We cross all barriers when something needs to be done.”
He said there was a bit of irony in the fact that Sunday also was the beginning of Holocaust remembrance week in Monroe.
”It was a moving day for all of us,” he said. “(The death of bin Laden) is not something we celebrate, but it is something we’re proud of.”
He added, “The one thing we can do as Americans is never forget. Certainly, last night was a sign of how great a nation we are, and we take care of business when we have to.”
”We should always remember what human beings can do to other human beings,” said Henry Miller, council vice president.
”We’re a better world today because that man is no longer on the face of this earth,” he said, adding he would like to thank the men and women who “put themselves in harm’s way to put an end to this horror.”
Jonathan Bowker is a resident of Cranbury, a specialist in the Army and part of the 3rd Battalion 15th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, stationed in Fort Stewart, Georgia. He has been in the Army since 2008 and fought in Iraq.
”I really didn’t know how to take it in at first,” he said while offering his comments on bin Laden’s death. “I guess you can sort of say it was a state of disbelief as if it was too good to be true.”
He said he remembers Sept. 11 as if it happened yesterday, adding he was in a computer repair class at Princeton High School, “playing snake on the old Nokia phones” when he heard the news of the terrorist attacks.
He said as a freshman in high school for just a few weeks, at first it took him a while to comprehend the full severity of the attacks.
”I went on throughout the day going to my classes, but as the day progressed, more and more people started crying,” he said. “The other kids — my peers in the hallways — started leaving school crying. It was horrible, and, ultimately, one of the reasons I decided that I wanted to serve my country.”
He added, “It was kind of a rage, an anger, a hatred that went through me, I wanted to do something about it.”
He said originally he wanted to join the New York City Fire Department after the attacks and eventually would become a volunteer fireman in Cranbury right after high school, and he still volunteers there today.
”I know that a lot of people lost family members in the initial attacks of 9/11 (and) in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan where to this day, since 2001, 2,443 service members have lost their lives looking for this man and going about their missions dealing with Al Qaeda,” he said. “Yes, it took 10 years to do so, but we found him. Hopefully, it gives a lot of people some closure.”
He said he and the Armed forces “serve every day” for the memory of all those who were lost in either the terrorist attacks or the military operations that followed.
”The war on terror is not by any means over,” he said. “We found Osama bin Laden, and we have dealt a huge blow to Al Qaeda, but there will always be a sense of terrorism in the air.
He added, “We’ve been in far too much war for the past 10 years. I think some people deserve a break. I think the main priority is bringing troops back.”
Cranbury lost one of its own in the 9/11 terrorist attacks when Todd Beamer went down with United Airlines Flight 93, the plane that crashed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Mr. Beamer, who lived in Cranbury and Hightstown before that, is known for coining the phrase “Let’s roll.” Those were the last words heard over the phone by a GTE supervisor who spoke with Mr. Beamer just before he and other passengers forced the terrorist hijackers to crash the plane.
District 14 Congressman Rush Holt also said in a statement that he is proud of the U.S. military, but reminded citizens the fight is not over.
”Today, America’s military and intelligence services demonstrated why they remain the best in the world. Osama bin Laden’s removal will not immediately end the threat of terrorism against the United States, but his death represents a crippling blow to the organization responsible for the 9/11 attacks.”
He added, “While our fight against terrorism continues, Osama bin Laden’s reign of terror has come to an end, sending a clear signal that even in the face of immeasurable horror, democracy and freedom continue to prevail.”
The Islamic Society of Central Jersey said it is grateful to the U.S. Special Forces and President Obama for bringing down the mastermind of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
”We hope that bin Laden’s death will bring some measure of closure to the families of 9/11 (victims), many of whom are Muslim Americans, including members of the ISCJ community.
”We join all Americans in expressing our relief and echo President Obama’s sentiment that we must remain vigilant against terrorists of all persuasions.”
Yvonne Zirrith is a resident of Monroe and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 262 in Monroe. She is the officer in charge of the Navy security forces unit in Philadelphia, has been in the Navy for 21 years and was deployed for one year to Iraq.
”The first reaction was I was very proud of the Navy SEALs,” she said. “It was something that needed to be done. It’s comforting for me, especially since I’m still in the service.”
She said all soldiers made sacrifices, especially Colin Pascik, a 21-year old Monroe resident and lance corporal in the Marine Corp who lost both his legs in the war in Afghanistan back in August 2010.
She said it’s good to know the military is making some progress in the war on terror, but added there’s still much work to be done.
”We haven’t gotten his second in command, and we’re still dealing with Libya,” she said, adding terrorism still is “spreading like weeds.”
”Until we can really start dismantling their leadership and the way they operate, we’re still going to keep deploying troops,” she said.
She said anything can happen now, but, hopefully, the death of bin Laden makes terrorists feel less safe.
”The key is to be vigilant and on our toes and pay attention to what’s happening around you,” she said.
Ms. Zirrith, 38, who has two children, also said now is a time for the camaraderie and bonding of Americans and the county’s military members.
”It’s a good thing for us and, hopefully, it will be a good thing for VFW. Veterans don’t have to be from World War II.”
She said the Monroe VFW is about serving and giving back to veterans.
”Many people see VFW as an old man’s organization,” she said. “It’s hard for us to attract 25 year-olds coming back from Afghanistan.”
She added, “We’re losing so many World War II and even Korean veterans now. We’re trying to get members who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq and anyone else who would be eligible and get them to join.”
Anyone interested in learning about the post can visit www.vfwpost262.org.

