Bin Laden was living in a million-dollar compound in an upscale residential neighborhood. No U.S. troops or civilians outside the compound were killed. Bin Laden was buried at sea in the Navy tradition.

I know my father, Col. Bernard W. Marschner, USAF (Ret.), is looking down from heaven with a smile on his face on the performance of the U.S. military in carrying out this mission.

By the time he retired from the military, he had served in WWII as a Darby’s Ranger (an elite Army special forces-type unit) and had morphed into a “rocket scientist” for the Air Force. One of the darkest days of his life was the failed mission of the U.S. military in attempting a rescue operation of embassy personnel in Iran in 1980. The military had failed in its duty to protect the country’s citizens.

That same year my husband and I were making career changes and were considering where we would make our new home. By that time, Dad had moved on to a university career and had visited San Diego on a number of occasions.

He suggested we relocate to San Diego because of its great weather, beaches, and universities. I responded that I wasn’t interested in San Diego, which I called a “hot, Navy town.” I thought the climate must have been hot, because how could a city south of L.A. have a temperate climate?

Having grown up as an “Air Force brat,” the Navy was considered somewhat of a stepchild within my circle of friends, particularly when it came to airplanes.

It was widely believed that the Air Force had the best and brightest pilots and those Navy pilots couldn’t hit the side of a barn! These attitudes are akin to sports or family member rivalries—there is teasing, competition, and misunderstanding within the “family.” However, when danger or threats occur we all become one. When the Olympic competition starts, it’s USA vs. the world.

In spite of some doubts, I did move to San Diego in 1980. As it happened I lived for a number of years in Coronado Cays, located on the Silver Strand south of the Hotel Del Coronado.

Every morning I would drive north on the Strand to my job in downtown San Diego. I started to notice handsome, youngish men (late 20’s and 30’s) jogging in their brown T-shirts. They were not the typical serious joggers—who tend to be skinny specimens.

Instead these joggers had the physiques of divers or gymnasts with their well-defined upper body muscles. After growing up on Air Force bases, I was accustomed to seeing recruits jogging or parading so I knew these men were not your usual recruits either.

One day I noticed another thing about these men: they looked SMART. Finally, it made sense; these were the SEALs, who were cross-training by jogging on the beach.

That’s why these runners were so special. To be successful, SEALs must be in extremely good physical condition and must have razor sharp mental skills as well.

After the jogging SEALs, I began to notice the ubiquitous presence of the Navy SEALs in Coronado. One day I was driving home from work and I was startled when I looked to right on the sand dune not 50 feet away. There was a military tank with its gun pointing in the direction of the highway.

Other days I would notice the Navy building tent cities on the sand. When having lunch at Il Fornaio, I would see these Navy men in all manner of boats, usually zooming by at high speed. One summer afternoon, I was boating on the bay with my brother and his children. Then, out of nowhere, Navy SEALs parachuted into the water near our boat. My nephews are still talking about the experience years later.

The SEALs often demonstrate their prowess at the Glorietta Bay July 4 celebrations. NAS North Island is one of the busiest airports in the world so the sky over Coronado is often buzzing with helicopters and airplanes.

Having lived here for many years, I now know that I was wrong in thinking that San Diego had a hot climate but I was right that San Diego was a Navy town. This month, as the successful mission of the SEALs was disclosed, I and San Diego are honored to have such brave and effective warriors training and living in our midst.

I know that the Colonel and Father is happy that his daughter moved to San Diego and revels in the success of our SEALs – even if they are Navy men!