Co-founded by decorated Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher, the Pipe Hitter Foundation provides financial and legal support to veterans, police officers, and their families facing unjust accusations and prosecution.
Decorated Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher, now retired, knows the sting of being targeted on and off the battlefield. After serving his country for over two decades in combat zones, Gallagher found himself at the center of a war crimes trial in 2017. Despite being acquitted of murder and attempted murder, Gallagher was imprisoned for nearly eight months before his name was cleared.
Undeterred by his ordeal, Gallagher co-founded the Pipe Hitter Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides financial and legal support to "veterans, police officers, and their families" who are facing unjust accusations for performing their duties.
Pipe Hitter: Ex-Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher Fights for Unjustly Accused Service Members
"We support active-duty military, law enforcement, and first responders who are being unjustly accused for doing their job," Gallagher told Fox News Digital. "We provide emergency relief aid to their families while they're going through that stressful time."
The foundation has extended its support to controversial figures such as Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, who was court-martialed in 2021 after questioning senior military leadership amid the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, and Cmdr. Erik Ramey, a Navy physician accused of negligence in the death of Seaman Kyle Mullen during BUDs training.
Pipe Hitter: Ex-Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher Fights for Unjustly Accused Service Members
"What we're going to do is have all retired special operators coming in to help instruct, and we're going to be doing some basic pistol, rifle carving course, some vehicle stuff," Gallagher said about the foundation's upcoming "Operator For a Day" fundraiser. "For the people that do come, it's just going to give them a taste of what some of these individuals that they are supporting go through on a daily basis."
Gallagher emphasized the importance of mentoring those facing unjust accusations, sharing their experiences to ease the pressure and isolation they may feel. "When you're put in a situation like that, there's very few people who know exactly what that feels like and the amount of pressure that's put upon you and your family when the government is targeting you," he explained.
Pipe Hitter: Ex-Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher Fights for Unjustly Accused Service Members
After his acquittal in the war crimes trial, Gallagher sued his former attorneys for allegedly delaying his case to inflate his legal bills. He also accused the prosecutors of unethical conduct. The prosecutors were awarded a Navy Achievement Medal, which was later rescinded by President Trump.
In 2020, Gallagher retired from the Navy to focus on the Pipe Hitter Foundation with his wife, Andrea. The foundation has assisted numerous military and law enforcement personnel, including Ben Darby, an Alabama police officer accused of murder after shooting a suicidal individual. After serving 20 months in prison, Darby's conviction was overturned on appeal, and he ultimately pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received probation.
Pipe Hitter: Ex-Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher Fights for Unjustly Accused Service Members
"He was able to go back to his family," Gallagher said of Darby. "The frights are never over there either. He has to overcome all of the fake news and just the way he was demonized in the media."
The foundation is currently involved in Ramey's case, where the Navy physician faces an inquiry related to Mullen's death. Gallagher believes that Ramey and other officers are being unfairly targeted and that he is at risk of losing his medical license.
Pipe Hitter: Ex-Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher Fights for Unjustly Accused Service Members
"They're trying to hang those two out to dry," Gallagher said. "When we saw this happening, we knew exactly what it was. And so we're supporting Dr. Ramey and hopefully pressuring the Navy to do the right thing and drop these charges against him."
Gallagher argues that everyone is innocent until proven guilty and that no one, especially those who serve their country, should be vilified before having their day in court. He believes that the military justice system is outdated and corrupt, leading to excessive punishment and discouraging potential recruits.
Pipe Hitter: Ex-Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher Fights for Unjustly Accused Service Members
"We have a huge recruiting crisis going on," Gallagher said. "And I think it's due to the fact that these young men and women, who are coming up out of high school or in college, are seeing the way people in the military were treated."
He hopes that the Pipe Hitter Foundation's work will inspire young people to serve their country by providing support to those who have been unfairly accused and mistreated. "If they can see that there are groups out there who support these people, hopefully that will give them some hope to stand up, raise your right hand, and want to serve the country."
Pipe Hitter: Ex-Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher Fights for Unjustly Accused Service Members
