On December 26, 2021, the National Navy UDT SEAL Museum introduced the passing of Richard “Dick” Marcinko. Also often called “Demo Dick,” Marcinko was a retired Navy SEAL Commander, Vietnam Veteran, and well-known as the primary commanding officer of the legendary SEAL Team SIX, died Saturday on the age of 81, based on an announcement from his son.
“Last night, Christmas evening, we lost a hero, who’s also known as The Rogue Warrior, the retired Navy SEAL commander AND the creator of SEAL Team Six, my father, Richard Marcinko,” tweeted Matt Marcinko on Sunday. “His legacy will live forever. The man has died a true legend. Rest In Peace Dad. I love you forever.”
Biography of Richard Marcinko
After dropping out of highschool, Marcinko tried to enlist within the Marine Corps however was rejected for his lack of a highschool diploma. In September 1958, he efficiently enlisted within the Navy as a radioman till he was accepted into Underwater Demolition Team/Replacement coaching in June 1961. Marcinko graduated Class 26 in October that very same 12 months. He served with UDT-21 till he was chosen for fee as an officer in 1965. Marcinko commissioned via OCS in December 1965 and was reassigned to SEAL Team TWO in June 1966. His training included a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Auburn University at Montgomery and a Master of Arts degree in Political Science from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School.
Platoon Leadership
In 1967, Marcinko deployed to Vietnam with 2nd Platoon, SEAL Team TWO for a six-month tour of obligation. On May 18, he led his platoon in an assault on Ilo Ilo Hon the place they killed numerous Viet Cong fighters and destroyed six of their flat-bottom sampan boats. The assault would develop into often called the Navy’s most profitable operation within the Mekong Delta. For his management within the operation, Marcinko was awarded the primary of his 4 Bronze Stars, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and the Silver Star.
After his first tour in Vietnam, Marcinko served as Officer-in-Charge of eighth Platoon for stateside obligation for a couple of months earlier than he returned to Vietnam in December 1967. During the Tet Offensive, Marcinko ordered his platoon to help U.S. Army Special Forces at Châu Đốc. The SEALs engaged in an city road battle earlier than conducting a rescue mission to avoid wasting American nurses and a schoolteacher who had been trapped within the metropolis’s church and hospital.
Following his second tour in Vietnam, Marcinko served a two-year stateside workers task. He was later promoted to Lt. Cdr. and assigned because the Naval Attache to Cambodia in 1973. Afterwards, Marcinko returned stateside and took command of SEAL Team TWO from 1974 to 1976.
During the Iran Hostage Crisis in 1979, Marcinko was considered one of two Navy representatives on the Joint Chiefs of Staff Terrorist Action Team process pressure. TAT was assembled to develop a plan to free the American hostages in Iran. The plan developed was the ill-fated Operation Eagle Claw. Following the failed rescue, the Navy realized the necessity for a full-time, devoted counter-terror workforce and tasked Marcinko with its creation. Moreover, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Thomas B. Hayward chosen Marcinko to function the primary commanding officer of the brand new unit.
Marcinko named the brand new counter-terror unit SEAL Team SIX. At the time, the Navy solely had two SEAL Teams. Marcinko reportedly chosen the unit’s identify to confuse hostile nations, particularly the Soviet Union, into believing that the United States had no less than three different SEAL Teams that they weren’t conscious of. To kind SEAL Team SIX, Marcinko hand-picked sailors from the prevailing SEAL Teams and Underwater Demolition Teams together with he particular counter-terror ways part of SEAL Team TWO, MOB-6. SEAL Team SIX would function the Navy’s equal to the Army’s Delta Force. Although the everyday command within the Navy on the time was two years lengthy, Marcinko commanded SEAL Team SIX for 3 years from August 1980 to July 1983.
After leaving command, Marcinko was chosen by Deputy Chief of Naval Operations Vice Adm. James “Ace” Lyons to design one other new unit. This time, Marcinko’s goal was to develop a unit to check the Navy’s vulnerability to terrorism. This new unit grew to become often called the Naval Security Coordination Team OP-06D, unofficially referred to as Red Cell. Marcinko left the Navy in 1989 as a Commander after 31 years of service.
Marcinko’s impression on the Navy SEALs and American Special Operations is not like another. He is taken into account the United States’ premier counterterrorism operator and leaves behind a legacy of tier-one operators to this present day.
