Warrior Shield Foundation, INC.

09/04/2026

What will you be doing on the 25th Anniversary of 9/11?

Twenty-five years later, we still remember the 2,977 lives lost, the heroes who ran toward danger, and the warriors who answered the call in the days, months, and years that followed.

If you’re in Central Florida, come hang with us at Warrior Weekend 2026.

Meet some of the 9/11 heroes, veterans, first responders, and warriors who have dedicated their lives to serving others. Share stories. Pay tribute. Stand together.

Because some gave all.

We will never forget.

Tickets and event details:
www.WarriorShield.org⁠

09/04/2026

Day Four from John “TIG” Tiegen

12 DAYS OF BENGHAZI: DAY 4

I was operating out of the Annex. We were not the State Department, we were not at the U.S. Consulate, and we did not operate under the same security structure.

By August 2012, the State Department mission in Benghazi had security “tripwires.” The tripwires I’m talking about applied to the State Department mission in Benghazi.

State’s own security people were also asking for more U.S. protection. In July, the Libya mission requested additional temporary-duty U.S. security personnel, and Eric Nordstrom was pushing to keep additional security teams in Libya. Instead of the U.S. security presence growing as the threat got worse, it was shrinking.

By August, those conditions were piling up. A State Department cable from August 16 said officials were reviewing the tripwires because of increasing violent incidents, organizations leaving Benghazi, the rise of potentially anti-Western militias, and weak Libyan security support.

The local armed security presence at the U.S. mission was no longer being provided. Requests for a daily police presence had gone unanswered. State officials were also raising concerns about their relationship with the 17 Feb.

That is what people need to understand when they hear the word “tripwire.” It wasn’t just some general warning. These were specific conditions that were supposed to trigger changes in how the State Department operated.

And by then, the State Department mission was already down to mission-critical personnel. There wasn’t much left to reduce.

So they were discussing another option: suspended operations.

That meant restricting outside movement and conducting business from inside the compound.

Think about where things had gotten by August.

Violence was increasing, militias were becoming more aggressive, local security support was breaking down, and other organizations were leaving Benghazi.

And State was already discussing what to do if normal operations could no longer continue. By August, the warning signs were no longer hard to see. They were right in their faces, but Washington didn’t want to see it or hear it.

We were less than a month away from September 11.

09/04/2026

🇺🇸 WARRIOR WEEKEND 2026 IS ONLY TWO WEEKS AWAY! 🇺🇸

The countdown is on. In just two weeks, we come together to honor our warriors, celebrate our veterans and first responders, and stand behind the people who have stood on the front lines for all of us.

And you DO NOT want to miss HERO FEST!

Join us for an unforgettable night of live music, patriotism, and camaraderie featuring Sean Holcomb, Ryan Weaver, and Bo Bice at Tuffy’s Music Box & Lounge in Sanford.

🎟️ GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE — ONLY $25!

Every ticket helps the Warrior Shield Foundation support our veterans and first responders.

Bring your friends. Bring your family. Come stand with our warriors.

🇺🇸 Two weeks. One incredible weekend. One mission.

🎟️ Get your tickets now at www.warriorshield.org

Warrior Shield Classic & Hero Fest Concert
Tuffy's Music Box & Lounge
BoBice
Ryan Weaver
Sean Holcomb Music
Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel, Orlando - Fan Page
Buds For Vets

09/04/2026

09/03/2026

A HUGE THANK YOU to Sub Zero Mission for sponsoring a hole at the Warrior Shield Foundation’s Inaugural Golf Tournament! 🇺🇸

Your support helps us continue our mission of giving back to the men and women who have served our country and protected our communities — our veterans and first responders.

There’s still an opportunity for your business or organization to sponsor a hole and show your support for those who have served and sacrificed.

Visit www.warriorshield.org to learn more and become a sponsor!

The Sub Zero Mission
Warrior Shield Classic & Hero Fest Concert
Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel, Orlando - Fan Page

09/03/2026

Day three from John “TIG” Tiegen

12 DAYS OF BENGHAZI: DAY 3

DERNA

Earlier in my time in Libya, I made 2 trips into Derna. We drove through the city, got out, and even walked the markets. At that point, we could still operate there.

That changed.

As the security situation deteriorated, Derna became a place we stopped going ourselves. The terrorist presence had grown to the point that the risk was no longer worth it. That wasn’t just our assessment either. Government testimony later described Derna as an area Americans generally avoided because it was known for harboring al-Qaeda sympathizers.

At the same time, we were getting reports about AQ activity, sightings and locations throughout eastern Libya. There were intelligence personnel whose job was to help locate and track those networks, including through electronic communications and signal collection.

What most people don’t know is that I watched some of those reports get ignored. If Bob found out we were taking personnel out specifically to help locate or track AQ activity, he would shut it down.

I’m not going into names, equipment, specific locations or methods. There is no reason to. The important part is that we were not operating blind. The terrorist presence was there, people on the ground were seeing it, and there were opportunities to learn more about what those networks were doing.

Here is something else most people probably don’t know.

On September 11, 2012, when the attack in Benghazi began, an unarmed Predator was already flying over Derna conducting an intelligence collection mission. Once Benghazi came under attack, that Predator was redirected to us.

Think about that. By September 11, Derna had become dangerous enough that we had stopped going there ourselves, yet the United States was still collecting intelligence over the city. Members of Ansar al-Sharia in Derna were later identified by the State Department as having been involved in the Benghazi attacks.

The threat didn’t suddenly appear on September 11.

We had been watching it grow.

The question was never whether the warning signs existed.

The question is what was done with them.

Tomorrow we keep going.

09/03/2026

We are incredibly grateful to every company and organization that has stepped up to support the Inaugural Warrior Shield Classic. Your generosity is helping us make a meaningful difference for the veterans and first responders we proudly serve.

⛳ BUT THERE’S STILL AN OPPORTUNITY!

You can become a HOLE SPONSOR and have your company or organization represented at this incredible event. It’s a great way to showcase your business or organization while demonstrating your commitment to the men and women who have served and protected our communities.

Be part of the Warrior Shield Classic and help us honor our warriors and support our heroes!

For ticket information and Hole Sponsorship opportunities, visit:

www.WarriorShield.org⁠

Warrior Shield Classic & Hero Fest Concert
Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel, Orlando - Fan Page

09/03/2026

🇺🇸 THIS IS MORE THAN A WEEKEND — IT’S A MISSION. 🇺🇸

Join us for Warrior Weekend 2026 and Hero Fest Concert as we come together to honor the men and women who have served our nation, protected our communities, and continue to stand on the front lines for all of us.

This will be a weekend filled with patriotism, brotherhood, great music, and an unforgettable celebration of our American heroes. Most importantly, your support makes a difference.

Tickets are selling FAST and this is your chance to be part of something bigger than yourself.

🎸 Hero Fest Concert
🇺🇸 Warrior Weekend 2026
🤝 100% of proceeds go directly to supporting our warriors.

Bring your family. Bring your friends. Bring your patriotism.

Stand with those who stood for us.

🇺🇸 GET YOUR TICKETS NOW — BEFORE THEY’RE GONE! 🇺🇸

www.WarriorShield.org⁠

One weekend. One mission. One powerful way to give back to our warriors.

Warrior Shield Classic & Hero Fest Concert
Tuffy's Music Box & Lounge
BoBice
Ryan Weaver
Sean Holcomb Music
Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel, Orlando - Fan Page
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09/03/2026

09/02/2026

Day two from John “TIG” Tiegen

12 DAYS OF BENGHAZI:
DAY 2

By June 11, 2012, the British had already been getting warning signs in Libya. On March 18, the British School in Benghazi was robbed at gunpoint. On April 2, a British armored diplomatic vehicle was attacked after driving into a protest. On June 8, two grenades were thrown at a parked British diplomatic vehicle in Sabha.

I had left Benghazi 5 days earlier, on June 6, the same day the U.S. consulate was attacked. When that call came in, I remember thinking, “You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m flying home today.” If it had turned into a full-on attack, I would’ve missed that flight home.

Then came June 11.

The British Ambassador’s convoy had been using the same route repeatedly, which made their movements predictable. After a meeting that day, the convoy was returning through Benghazi when it was ambushed with an RPG and small-arms fire. Two British security personnel were wounded.

Once again, Bob told the GRS team to stand down.

This time, the Team Leader made the difference. He made the decision to go anyway. The GRS team rolled out, responded to the attack, and our medic treated the wounded British security personnel.

That matters because leadership matters. Same Chief of Base. Same kind of hesitation. Different Team Leader. Different decision.

By that point, the British had already been changing how they operated in Benghazi because of the security situation. After the June 11 ambush, they suspended their Benghazi mission altogether. When they later returned for day missions, their vehicles and weapons were stored at the U.S. consulate.

Think about that. The British had already been targeted multiple times. Their Ambassador was then ambushed. They changed the way they operated and reduced their exposure even further.

The United States stayed.

Did they change their security posture or start listening to the guys on the ground?

Nope.

And we were still 92 days away from September 11.