“Find Her, Thank Her”: Navy SEAL Veteran Jason Redman Breaks Down on Live TV in Tribute to the Unknown Nurse Who Saved His Life

In an emotional tribute on Memorial Day, retired Navy SEAL Jason Redman stunned viewers with a tearful revelation about the woman who saved him during the darkest moment of his life — and issued a heartfelt plea to find her.

America stood still this Memorial Day weekend as former Navy SEAL Jason Redman returned to national television with a powerful message not just of remembrance, but of gratitude — and unfinished business. Speaking live during a commemorative broadcast honoring the nation’s wounded warriors, Redman delivered a raw, emotional thank-you that cut through the screen and reached the heart of the country.

For the first time, the decorated combat veteran revealed that his survival during a critical moment in 2007 was not only due to military efficiency or battlefield protocol — but because of a young, unnamed nurse who refused to give up on him.

“I don’t know her name. I never saw her again. But she held my life in her hands — literally,” Redman said, voice cracking. “And she didn’t let go.”

A Life on the Line in Iraq

Redman, then a Navy SEAL team leader, was gravely wounded in Iraq during a mission gone wrong. He was shot multiple times in the face and arm, sustaining life-threatening injuries. While many Americans remember Redman for his resilience — including the now-famous orange sign he posted on his hospital door asking visitors to avoid pity and bring positivity — few knew about the silent figure behind his survival.

“I remember fading out in the medevac room. The last thing I saw was her eyes — focused, calm, unshakable. She kept saying, ‘Stay with me, we’re not done.’ I believed her,” he recalled.

What followed was a grueling series of over 30 surgeries, months of recovery, and a new mission: becoming a motivational speaker and author, inspiring veterans and civilians alike with his story of triumph over trauma. But one piece was always missing.

The Unknown Hero

Redman admitted during the live special that for years, he carried the guilt of not knowing the name of the nurse who “refused to let [him] go” on that operating table in the green zone trauma unit. He had been told her name was lost in the chaos of war records, possibly due to a field hospital transfer or classified personnel movement.

“She may not even know I made it. That I got married. That I watched my kids grow up,” Redman said, wiping away tears. “If you’re out there… I owe you more than I can ever repay.”

The crowd fell silent. So did the studio.

Then, the hosts of the program — visibly moved — joined Redman in his call to action.

A National Search Begins

Almost immediately after the episode aired, the hashtag #FindHerThankHer began trending on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Military groups, veterans’ organizations, and even healthcare unions began sharing the clip and offering resources to help track down the woman Redman described.

“This is more than a reunion story. This is a tribute to the silent warriors — our nurses, medics, corpsmen, and doctors — who never get the recognition they deserve,” wrote one user.

Others shared similar stories, opening a floodgate of testimonials from veterans saved by unsung medical professionals during wartime.

A Reminder of Dual Sacrifice

Redman’s story resonates because it embodies the shared sacrifice of America’s fighting forces and those who support them behind the scenes. While soldiers are often lauded for bravery under fire, the medical personnel who stitch them back together — sometimes under fire themselves — remain largely anonymous.

Dr. Renee Taylor, a military trauma surgeon and spokesperson for the Veterans Health Alliance, noted: “This nurse may not have had a rank that earned headlines, but she did something no medal can fully capture — she gave a man back his life.”

America Responds

Within 24 hours of Redman’s on-air plea, over 3,000 nurses and military healthcare workers had submitted leads to a volunteer-led search team created by retired SEAL colleagues and veteran support networks.

“There’s a good chance she doesn’t even know she’s the one,” said Marcus Ellison, a former Navy corpsman helping to lead the effort. “But we’ll find her. That’s what SEALs do.”

Redman later posted a video on his personal Instagram, thanking the public for the overwhelming support. “It’s bigger than me now,” he said. “If we find her, we remind every nurse, every medic out there — you are seen. You are remembered.”

The Power of a Thank You

In a country deeply divided on many fronts, Redman’s moment of gratitude has struck a rare, unifying chord. Viewers across political and generational lines found themselves moved not just by the heroism on the battlefield, but the humanity that saves lives quietly in its wake.

“It’s easy to say ‘Support the troops,’” one viewer wrote. “But Jason reminded us to support the people who support the troops too — the ones we don’t see, but who carry just as much courage.”

As of this writing, the nurse’s identity remains unknown. But the movement to find her grows by the hour. Redman, now 50, says he hopes to look her in the eye and finally say the words that have waited nearly two decades:

“You were my light in the darkest hour. Thank you for not giving up on me.”

Until then, the nation watches — and joins the search.