undetected in the darkness, descending on the compound. the plan was to repel from the helicopters. but one of the blackhawks stalled. forcing a white knuckle hard landing outside the compound. >> we are very good at making it up on our feet because something will always go wrong. >> reporter: the s.e.a.l.s then moving toward the compound. they began a room by room search. in a smaller building first where they found the wive and children of two of bin laden's trusted couriers. next, the larger compound, where gunfire erupted. two men, bin laden's couriers, were shot dead. on the ground now nearly 40 minute, the s.e.a.l.s climbed the stairs to the upper floors. there he was, staring right at them. those deadly brown eyes. the beard. a man well over 6 feet tall. this had to be bin laden. the s.e.a.l.s shouted for bin laden to surrender. he resisted.