2024 Lincoln Day Dinner – Special Guest: 13 Hours in Benghazi – John ‘Tig’ Tiegen

John “Tig” Tiegen stood among the select few warriors who prevented the September 11, 2012 attacks on the US Consulate and CIA Annex in Benghazi from becoming another tragic “Alamo” scenario.

Enlisting in the Marines at 17 through the delayed entry program, Tig’s dedication was evident when he left his classroom abruptly upon receiving the recruiter’s call, gearing up for boot camp.

Transitioning from his Marine service, Tig ventured into contracting with private security firms before his interest piqued in the CIA Global Response Staff. Despite lacking the CIA’s requisite 8 years of Special Forces experience, Tig, with four years in the Marines, persisted until he was granted an opportunity to “try out.”

Tig and his wife, Margaret, founded the Beyond the Battlefield Foundation, aiming to aid fellow warriors and their families however possible. While primarily focused on procuring service dogs for veterans, their assistance extends even to funeral arrangements for WWII veterans. Their outreach seeks both volunteers and donors fervently.

During his fourth assignment in Libya, Tig found himself at the forefront of the annex security team during the September 11 attacks. Despite generally warm relations with the Libyans, confusion lingered among neighboring locals mistaking the CIA annex for a British facility.

As the anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks dawned, Tig sensed no ominous signs. Yet, upon receiving the consulate’s distress call, he and a small team journeyed from the annex, bracing for uncertain encounters. Repelling two assaults, they eventually evacuated consulate staff back to the annex.

Tig and his team defended the annex against three subsequent attacks, each involving 20-30 assailants. While many present were trained in weaponry, only six GRS members and three State Department security personnel actively engaged in combat.

Reflecting on his experiences, Tig contributed to the film “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi,” finding it reasonably accurate by Hollywood standards and, importantly, a respectful tribute to the four fallen men.