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HOLLADAY -- American and Pakistani forces captured one of Osama Bin Ladin's right-hand men in Pakistan this week. The U.S. military is calling his capture a turning point in the war, and a Marine from Utah played a big role in the arrest.
Stephanie is never quite sure when she'll get a call from her son, Bryan. Satellite phone access is rare in Afghanistan, where he's serving. But Feb. 16 was a special day.
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"Yesterday was my birthday, so he called me in the morning," Stephanie said.
The call started as they usually do, with a mother's first question about the safety of her son.
"I asked him, like I always do, ‘Are the bullets flying?' [He said,] ‘No, Mom. They're not flying. It's OK,'" she recalled.
Then Bryan had a birthday surprise.
"‘I was part of the team that captured a top Afghan, one of the Top 10 Taliban, 10 most-wanted men,' [he said]. I said, ‘Oh, my gosh!'" Stephanie said.
Bryan was one of about 15 U.S. Marines who captured Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a top leader for the Taliban in Afghanistan. He was found in Pakistan, and Bryan led Baradar out by his arm and into custody.
Related:
Captured Taliban leader could shape stalemated war
he capture and interrogation of Taliban commander Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar could help unravel the Afghan insurgency, but it's less likely to lead U.S. forces to Osama bin Laden."I said, ‘Are you telling me that bullets weren't flying then?' And he said, ‘No, Mom. They were all asleep,'" Stephanie said.
Family members started searching online for news of the arrest, and came across a report from CNN. It had video of Bryan shortly after Baradar's capture.
"I couldn't be prouder. I couldn't be prouder. It's just so exciting!" Stephanie said.
When he comes home in May, Bryan will have more exciting news. He will be getting married Aug 6.
Bryan's call was the perfect present, but Stephanie said she has a birthday wish for her youngest child.
"I would say, like I always do, ‘Be safe. Be happy. Sleep as much as you can. And I hope you get a good square meal tonight, and I miss you, and I love you," Stephanie said.
Bryan is serving his second tour overseas. He plans to attend Utah Valley University when he comes back to finish his degree in criminal justice.
