Wikipedia

Draft:Ephraim Mattos

  • Comment: Sorry, this still fails to demonstrate that the BLP meets the General Notability Guideline WP:GNG. Hteiktinhein (talk) 09:43, 4 January 2026 (UTC)


Ephraim Mattos (born May 1992) is an American humanitarian, businessman, author, and former United States Navy SEAL.[1] After leaving the military in 2017, he volunteered as a medic with the Free Burma Rangers, where he was injured while assisting civilians during the Battle of Mosul.[2] He founded and serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Stronghold Rescue & Relief,[3] a nonprofit organization that provides medical and humanitarian assistance in conflict‑affected regions such as Iraq and Myanmar.[4] Mattos is the author of the 2018 memoir “City of Death.”[5]

Ephraim Mattos
BornMay 1992 (aged 33)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Education
Occupations
Known for
  • Founder of Stronghold Rescue & Relief
  • Free Burma Ranger volunteer: 2017 Mosul rescue
  • United States Navy SEAL
Military career
Branch
United States Navy
UnitUnited States Navy SEALs
Conflicts
War in Afghanistan
Awards Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with V Device

Before joining the Navy, Mattos was raised in a fundamentalist religious community in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[6] He enlisted in the United States Navy in December 2010 and successfully graduated from Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training in 2012.[7] During his six-year military career, he served as a sniper and lead climber, completing a combat deployment to Afghanistan.[6] He was honorably discharged from the military in April 2017 at the age of 24 to transition into humanitarian work.[1] In 2025, he earned a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University.[3]

In 2017, Mattos volunteered as a medic and humanitarian worker with the Free Burma Rangers, serving during the 2017 Iraqi and Syrian military campaigns against ISIS, including the Battle of Mosul in Iraq, where he was injured by ISIS gunfire while rescuing civilians.[2] The incident received international media coverage, and he wrote about the incident in his 2018 memoir, "City of Death."[8]

Following his work with the Free Burma Rangers, Mattos founded the nonprofit organization, Stronghold Rescue & Relief, to provide aid in "gap areas" where larger NGOs are unable to operate.[9] As of 2026, the organization maintains a 4-star rating for transparency and has focused its primary operations on the civil war in Myanmar.[10] His work in Southeast Asia includes the establishment of an ambulance and medical evacuation network in the jungle regions of Kayin State.[11] Since 2023, his team has significantly expanded medical transports for civilians caught in the conflict.[12]

Early life and education

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Ephraim Mattos was born in May 1992, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[6] He was raised in a fundamentalist religious community in city, and has described his upbringing as being part of a strict, isolated environment.[12] Mattos graduated from high school in 2010.[6] After completing his military service and starting his humanitarian work, he pursued higher education at the Harvard Kennedy School.[3] In 2025, he earned a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University.[6] During his graduate studies, his research focused on humanitarian logistics and crisis management in non-permissive environments.[11]

Military service

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United States Navy SEAL

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Mattos enlisted in the United States Navy in December 2010 at the age of 18.[6] He successfully completed Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training in 2012, apart of BUD/S class 237.[7] During training, he was a classmate of fellow Navy SEAL and future YouTuber, John B. Allen, where Mattos rebuked him during an underwater test for showing discomfort.[13][14] During his six-year career, he served as a sniper and lead climber, completing a combat deployment to Afghanistan.[6]

Mattos has stated that his experiences in Afghanistan—particularly an incident where two children were sent to his patrol wearing school backpacks, likely containing explosive devices, leading him to prepare to fire; but they stopped and withdrew before a attack[13]—contributing to his decision to transition from military operations to humanitarian work.[12] He honorably discharged from the Navy in April 2017 with the rank of Special Warfare Operator Second Class.[1] Following his service, he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with "V" device for valor.[3]

Humanitarian work

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Volunteer for the Free Burma Rangers

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In early 2017, shortly after completing his service in the United States Navy, Mattos joined the Free Burma Rangers (FBR) as a volunteer medic and humanitarian worker alongside partners in Iraq and Syria.[2] He operated in conflict zones providing humanitarian aid, emergency medical care, and civilian evacuation support during the Iraq and Syria military campaigns against ISIS.[15]

While serving with the group in Mosul, he took part in a series of civilian rescue and medical relief operations conducted in areas affected by ongoing urban combat.[7] During one such operation, he was injured while assisting in the evacuation of civilians trapped near active fighting. Footage of the incident was later circulated by international media outlets.[6]

After his recovery, Mattos remained involved with the Free Burma Rangers until his founding of Stronghold.[14]

Founder of Stronghold

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He left the Free Burma Rangers to found Stronghold Rescue & Relief, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing aid in "gap areas" where larger NGOs are often unable to operate due to security concerns.[9] As of 2026, Mattos still serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Stronghold, which has shifted its primary focus to providing medical evacuation and logistics in the civil war in Myanmar.[10] His work in Southeast Asia includes the establishment of a specialized ambulance and boat network to evacuate wounded civilians from jungle regions in Karen State.[11] The organization has maintained a high rating for financial transparency and credibility.[12]

Personal life

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He publicly disclosed his struggle with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and recovery from "Operator Syndrome," a health condition common among special operations veterans.[12] He has publicly expressed his Christian faith.[12]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 Larsson, Göran (17 November 2022). "Those Who Choose to Fight the Islamic State: Autobiographical Accounts of Western Volunteers". Terrorism and Political Violence. 34 (8): 1758–1773. doi:10.1080/09546553.2020.1837118. ISSN 0954-6553.
  2. 1 2 3 ""I was waiting to get hit:" Milwaukee man shot by ISIS while trying to save Iraqis in Mosul". FOX 6 Now Milwaukee. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "linked in page/ephraim mattos".
  4. ↑ "Stronghold Rescue & Relief". Stronghold Rescue & Relief. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  5. ↑ Mayes, Brian (9 October 2018). "Former Navy SEAL Ephraim Mattos, Shot By ISIS, Details His Experience with Free Burma Rangers in New Book 'City of Death'". Nashville Publicity Group. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Koss, Maddie. "Milwaukee Navy SEAL veteran shot while helping humanitarian group rescue girl from ISIS gunfire". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 Charters, Justen (10 November 2018). "How A Former Navy SEAL Fought ISIS to Preserve Life in Iraq | Coffee or Die". www.coffeeordie.com. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  8. ↑ McKay, Hollie (29 June 2017). "ISIS gunned down pregnant women, babies, former Navy SEAL recalls". Fox News. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  9. 1 2 "Mosul Rescue Video". Stronghold Rescue & Relief. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  10. 1 2 "Charity Navigator - Rating for Stronghold Rescue & Relief". www.charitynavigator.org. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 "Tactical Medicine News Blog". MED-TAC International Corp. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "#30 - Ephraim Mattos (Navy Seal / Humanitarian) 🇺🇸 | Fortitude". Ausha. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  13. 1 2 MrBallen (6 May 2021). Navy SEAL goes rogue in Iraq (*MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY*). Retrieved 2 January 2026 – via YouTube.
  14. 1 2 HappyScribe. "Transcript of The City of ... | Your Podcast Transcripts". Podcasts - Your Podcast Transcripts. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  15. ↑ "Iraq and Syria". Free Burma Rangers. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
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