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HOLIDAY NEWSLETTER
Olivia Smith
December 19, 2025
This holiday season, our hearts are filled with gratitude for your support.
On behalf of Grey Bull Rescue’s 156-member team of Special Operations and Intelligence Community veteran volunteers, led by Bryan Stern, we wish to wish you and your families a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season.
As we have experienced this year and are constantly reminded, the world is a dangerous place and Americans are held consistently at risk between wars and natural disasters. Our team is thankful for much this year but most of all, thankful for YOU and YOUR support.
Grey Bull Rescue operates where others cannot, in the world’s most dangerous places, saving American and allies’ lives at the SPEED OF NEED. We are the last resort; after everyone else said “too hard” or “no,” Grey Bull Rescue deploys. Driven by patriotism, courage, integrity, and an unshakeable promise: we NEVER leave Americans behind. Ever. This holiday season, our team, fueled by you, KEPT this promise.
Your support has enabled us to complete more than 800 lifesaving rescue missions all over the world. Our team has saved the lives of over 8,400 men, women, children, babies, and even some pets from the worst conflict zones and disasters on earth.
Our 800th mission, which was completed just last week, Operation: GOLDEN DYNAMITE, the daring extraction of María Corina Machado from Venezuela was our most high profile operation. María gets to celebrate Christmas with her family, who she has not seen in over two years.
Over the past several years, you have watched Bryan and the team deploy into war zones, natural disasters, and global crises — rescuing Americans and allies from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Russia, Sudan, Haiti, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, Jamaica, and most recently Venezuela to extract María. Our team’s work here at home responding to hurricanes and wildfires is equally as dangerous and impactful.
This holiday season, fueled by your financial assistance, so many families get to enjoy the gift of life in peace with those they love, in safety.
Together, our team and your generosity, have given hope to so many when all hope was lost. We bring Americans from dark to light, from danger to safety, from far away to American soil.
You make these missions possible. Every rescue. Every reunion. Every life. YOU have touched.
Because of You: 2025 in Action
This year reminded us once again why your partnership matters. In 2025, our team deployed around the world on some of our most complex and urgent missions:
JANUARYOur team rapidly deployed into California’s devastating wildfires, evacuating families trapped by smoke and fast-moving flames partnering with Elon Musk and SpaceX. |  |
MARCHWe rescued two young girls, adopted by Americans, trapped in the gang violence of Haiti in a daring helicopter rescue named Operation: LITTLE BIRD. This led to an entire program rescuing American adopted children from Haiti. |  |
JUNEAs the Iran–Israel Missile War went full scale, we were first on the ground and rescued nearly 2,000 Americans by sea, air, and land under active missile fire from Iran — not a single American left behind in Operation: OLIVE SHIELD. |  |
JULYDuring Operation: GRAHAM CRACKER, we deployed deep into the Syrian war zone, where Americans were being murdered in the streets by Bedouins, to rescue three U.S. citizens where others said “too hard”. |  |
OCTOBER-NOVEMBERIn Operation: ISLAND CROSS, we were first in Jamaica and opened up Montego Bay Airport on Day 1 in response to Cat-5 Hurricane Melissa, rescuing 343 Americans on the first day…at the SPEED OF NEED. As lifesaving ops concluded, we delivered critical aid, including generators, starlinks, and medical supplies. |  |
NOVEMBER-DECEMBEROur team deployed throughout the Western Hemisphere ahead of rapidly escalating conflict against Venezuela narcos. This led to closed airspace and Americans trapped which activated Operation: LATIN SHIELD. With aviation, maritime, and ground assets positioned — and secure communications in place — our teams stand ready for rapid evacuation of Americans as the conflict develops. |  |
DECEMBERDuring Operation: GOLDEN DYNAMITE, Bryan and the team conducted a highly sensitve clandestine extraction of María Corina Machado, the most prominent opposition leader in the Western Hemisphere and sworn enemy of Nicolas Maduro. Her profile alone paired with chronic counterintelligence concerns led one of the most daring rescues in the last 40 years. Our team conducted and integrated ground, martime, and air operation under unmatched threat levels. Despite those conditions, the team successfully extracted her from a safe house in Venezuela and safely to Norway to receive her Nobel Peace Prize. |  |
WHY YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS
Grey Bull Rescue is entirely donor-funded. We do not receive any government funding to conduct our missions.
That independence is what allows us to move quickly, operate globally, and make decisions based on urgency—not bureaucracy. Every mission is made possible by individuals who believe that saving American and Allied lives should never be delayed by paperwork or red tape.
Support doesn’t go to overhead. It goes to real operations. Real action. With real impact.
Your generosity today fuels the missions of tomorrow. You can help prepare our team for deployments, rescues, and evacuations in 2026 — ensuring we’re ready before the next crisis begins when American lives are at risk.
Thank you for your support this year. Your generosity has given the gift of life to so many. Warmest wishes for a joyful holiday season and a wonderful new year.
With deepest gratitude and patriotism,
Bryan Stern & Grey Bull Rescue