#153 Kris Paronto - Inside the 13-Hour Benghazi Gunfight and the Hillary-Obama Cover-Up

Kris Paronto, a former Army Ranger and military contractor, shares insights into his upbringing, challenges, and career transitions that have shaped his life.

Paronto's childhood in Colorado

Kris Paronto discusses his upbringing in Alamosa, Colorado, a small town where he had a wonderful childhood characterized by active play and involvement in sports. Born into a lower-middle class family with Mexican immigrant grandparents, Paronto was heavily influenced by his ethnic heritage. He fondly remembers spending time on his grandfather's farm, engaging with migrant workers, and enjoying outdoor activities like riding dirt bikes and hunting.

Early struggles and military aspirations

Paronto encountered early challenges, including a difficult marriage and a personal crisis that led to a suicide attempt. Despite these tumultuous times, Paronto decided to pursue a military career after college when he realized he wouldn’t make it into the NFL due to his physical attributes. His journey started after being inspired by a 75th Ranger recruiting video at a job fair at Colorado Mesa College.

Military journey and personal struggles

Paronto enlisted in the Army, went through Ranger training, and eventually served in the 2nd Ranger Battalion. Adapting to military life brought its own set of difficulties. Paronto describes the initial stress of being a new private amid experienced soldiers, the fear of making mistakes, and the physical toll it took on his body, which included getting two hernias during parachute training.

Overcoming failures and building resilience

Paronto’s early military career was marked by personal issues. His marriage failed early on, leading to a bout of depression and a suicide attempt in 1996. Fortunatel ...

As a member of the Global Response Staff (GRS) team during the Benghazi attack, Kris Paronto played a critical role in responding to the crisis at the US consulate.

Paronto was part of the GRS team responding to the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya in 2012

On the night of the attack, Paronto, along with his teammate Boone, quickly readied their gear and prepared to defend the consulate against the attackers. They were engaged in locating all State Department personnel, including the Ambassador, in a burning building amidst intense heat and chaos. Despite the surprise assault by the attackers, Paronto and his team pushed back fiercely, making every effort to mount an effective defense and carry out rescue operations under extremely dangerous conditions.

Paronto and his team engaged the attackers, fought to defend the consulate, and tried to locate and rescue the ambassador

Amidst the mayhem, Paronto grappled with the gritty realities of combat, witnessing injuries and responding to explosions from grenades and RPGs. His team sought to secure the area, including closing a back gate to prevent breaches. Their dedication was clear as they fought their way through the violence, trying to provide strategic defense from various vantage points and clearing buildings in a disheartening environment with the goal of locating the ambassador. They pulled the body of Sean Smith from a window through smoke and flames, enduring the heartbreak of losing their own in the process.

Paronto recounts the chaotic events of the attack, including the difficult decisions and losses his team faced

With no outside assistance forthcoming, Paronto and his team were confronted with the grim realization that they were on their own. In poignant recollections, Paronto remembers moments when they had to resolve to leave the consulate to defend the CIA annex despite not having found the ambassador, which was a difficult decision that went against what soldiers hold most sacred: never leave a fallen comrade. Paronto's narrative reveals the grueling nature of close-quarter combat, the urgency of defending against attacks and strategic battles fought with limited supplies and backup.

Paronto was frustrated by the lack of support and unwillingness of those in command to allow the GRS team to fully engage the attackers

Throughout the attack, Paronto's frustration mounted due to the lack of support and the hesitancy of command to allow the GRS team to act decisively. This frustration was amplified by operational restrictions and internal con ...

The Benghazi attack has had a deep and personal impact on Kris Paronto's life, leaving him with intense emotions and challenging his relationships.

The Benghazi attack left Paronto feeling angry and resentful towards the government for its handling of the situation

Paronto expressed significant anger and frustration towards the government’s handling of the Benghazi situation. He was emotionally affected by the decision to leave the ambassador behind, and this internal conflict contributed to a burden he carries to this day. Paronto conveyed that this anger persisted for many years, affecting aspects of his personal life. He felt betrayed and resentful for the lack of support and security enhancements, which he believes contributed to the severity of the incident. His recounting of events indicates deep resentment toward the bureaucratic aspects of the mission, reflecting how he felt about the government's handling of the Benghazi attack. When the government narrative about what happened in Benghazi began to emerge, Paronto felt personally betrayed, intensifying his resentment.

Paronto also felt a sense of abandonment by the U.S. government during the attack, compounded by frustration with reprimands received for carrying out their tasks and the swift removal post-incident that prevented influencing the official report. The disrespectful handling of his deceased comrade's body after the attack further deepened Paronto's emotional scars.

Paronto eventually reached a turning point where he realized he needed to let go of the anger and bitterness in order to heal and rebuild his life

There was a pivotal moment for Paronto when he acknowledged that his anger was destructive, especially to his family. Paronto’s intense rage resulted in damaging his relationship with his wife and children ...

In the wake of his traumatic experiences in Benghazi, Paronto’s personal life spiraled into anger and detachment, severely affecting his relationships with his wife and children, eventually leading him to contemplation of suicide before making important steps toward reconciliation and peace.

Paronto's marriage and relationship with his children suffered in the aftermath of Benghazi due to his anger and detachment

Paronto divulged that anger over the incident in Benghazi spilled into his private life, leading his family to distance themselves from him and culminating in a divorce. Acknowledging this, Paronto describes the fallout, including heavy drinking, infidelity, and ultimately divorce from his wife, Tanya. With his older children, his anger was evident, profoundly impacting the familial bond, as contrasted with his behavior towards his youngest, who did not experience the same wrath. His older children, especially his son and daughter, were unhappy with him for having been absent for many years, he realizes that he was unfairly tough on them. The strain on the relationships was evident in the fact that Paronto’s children were initially unsure if he would be present consistently and were apprehensive about him being the "mean dad" who upset their mother.

Paronto hit a low point where he contemplated suicide, but was ultimately able to reach out to his estranged wife for help

At his lowest, Paronto considered taking his own life with a bottle of Tylenol. However, instead of succumbing to this ideation, he reached out to Tanya, his ex-wife, asking to spend the Christmas holiday with her and their children. Tanya’s immediate acceptance implied a significant step towards family reconciliation.

After reconnecting with his wife and family, Paronto was able to let go of the anger and bitterness he had been holding onto

This reconnection marked a critical turning point: Paronto began to address the anger threatening his relationships, sought space with Tanya, and reunited for family Christmas. Starting from scratch, akin to dating, the co ...