Diplomatic Security agent David Ubben, who risked his life to help save his fellow Americans in last year’s terror attack in Benghazi, is still recovering at Walter Reed medical center.
Fox News was the first news organization to make direct contact with Mr. Ubben, who has had multiple surgeries at Walter Reed to save his right leg after it was shredded by mortar fire.
On Sept. 11, 2012, the Diplomatic Security agent went back into the smoke and flames at the Benghazi consulate multiple times until he found Foreign Service Officer Sean Smith, whom he believed to be already dead from smoke inhalation, Fox News reported.
Sean Smith’s mother Pat called Mr. Ubben a hero and said she hopes to meet him in person someday.
“Thank you very much for what you’ve done,” she said. “Why couldn’t the government have done the same thing? I think [Ubben] is a hero. He absolutely is a hero along with the two Seals that got it. There’s no reason for all these people to die.”
After recovering Smith, Mr. Ubben went back into the blazing consulate several times searching for Ambassador Chris Stevens, but could not locate him, Fox News said.
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Sources told Fox News that during the second wave of the attack, Mr. Ubben was on the roof of the CIA annex — along with former Navy SEALs Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty — defending the compound. Both Woods and Doherty were killed by mortar fire.
More hearings are scheduled on Benghazi this fall, and some lawmakers hope the agent, being one of the few survivors, will be well enough to testify, Fox News said.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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