Sister Of Bin Laden Operation's Mastermind Reflects On Her Brother
AUSTIN (CBSDFW.COM/KRLD) – The sister of the Naval officer who planned the mission on the Osama bin Laden compound may have been worried when her brother joined the SEALs years ago, but she "wasn't surprised at all" that he was asked to plan the important mission.
"He has been committed to the armed services and our military all his life," Nan McRaven said. "He's doing absolutely what he loves to do and he's serving his country."
Vice Admiral William 'Bill' McRaven, 55, graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in journalism in 1977. Nearly 34 years later, he would begin mapping out how to kill or capture the FBI's most wanted man.
His sister, a public affairs consultant and Austin resident, said she knew from the time her brother headed up UT's ROTC program that he would go on to great things. She stressed that he's been dedicated to the military for as long as she can remember.
"He has been committed to the armed services and our military all his life," she said.
The Senate Arms Service Committee is scheduled to present Vice Admiral McRaven with his fourth star for his service at the end of the month. His sister said they've spoken since the mission.
"He is just very, very proud of the team and he is honored to have served his country and the President."
Editor's note: CIA Director Leon Panetta has revealed Adm. McRaven's name in multiple interviews this week. McRaven planned the operation, and that information has been public at least since Tuesday. Panetta said McRaven was in Afghanistan during the raid on bin Laden's compound and not at the compound itself. We have changed the wording in this article to clarify McRaven's role.
