Richard Marcinko

Name	Richard Marcinko
Caption	Then-LCDR Richard Marcinko as Commanding Officer of SEAL Team 2
Born	November 21, 1940
Placeofbirth	Lansford, Pennsylvania
Nickname	Dick, Rogue Warrior, Demo Dick, Shark Man of the Delta, and The Geek.
Allegiance	United States of America
Serviceyears	1958–1988
Rank	Commander
Branch	United States Navy
Commands	Seal Team 2Seal Team 6Red Cell
Awards	Silver StarLegion of MeritBronze Star with Valor Device and three Gold StarsNavy Commendation Medal (2)Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star
Laterwork	CEO of SOS Temps, Inc. and Red Cell International, Author, Talk Show Host

Richard "Dick" Marcinko (born November 21, 1940), is a former United States Navy SEAL and author. He was the first Commanding Officer of SEAL Team Six and Red Cell. After leaving the Navy he became an author, radio talk show host, military consultant, and motivational speaker.

A number of nicknames have been ascribed to Marcinko, including "Rogue Warrior", "Demo Dick", "Shark Man of the Delta" and "The Geek".

Career

Marcinko was born in Lansford, Pennsylvania. He is of Slovakian descent. After attending Admiral Farragut Academy in Toms River, New Jersey, Marcinko enlisted in the United States Navy in 1958. He later received a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Master of Arts degree in political science from Auburn University.

Vietnam

On May 18, 1967 Marcinko led his men in an assault on Ilo-Ilo Island, where they killed a large number of Vietcong and destroyed six of their sampans.

Marcinko returned to Vietnam with SEAL Team 2 after a few months stateside as OIC of Eighth Platoon. During the Tet Offensive, Marcinko ordered his platoon to assist US Army Special Forces at Chau Doc. What began as an urban street battle turned into a rescue mission of American nurses trapped in the city's church and hospital. While typically a two-year command in the Navy at the time, Marcinko commanded SEAL Team Six for three years, from August 1980 to July 1983.

Red Cell

After relinquishing command of SEAL Team SIX, Marcinko was tasked by Vice Admiral James "Ace" Lyons, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, with the design of a unit to test the Navy's vulnerability to terrorism. This unit was the Naval Security Coordination Team OP-06D, unofficially named Red Cell.

Prison

Marcinko served time in federal prison under charges of defrauding the government over the price of contractor acquisitions for hand grenades. Marcinko maintains that he was the subject of a witch-hunt for his work with Red Cell and that the fraud committed revealed the weaknesses of military security. Marcinko has detailed his arrest and confinement in the last chapters of his autobiography.

See also

Tiger team

Dennis Chalker

Harry Humphries

References

External links

"Interview with the Sharkman" by W. Thomas Smith Jr.

Liberty Watch Interview (MP3) Liberty Watch show 7-17-05 "America Armed & Free"

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/crime/2011/05/04/ng.seal.team.6.founder.hln

Category:American military personnel of the Vietnam War Category:American military writers Category:American talk radio hosts Category:Admiral Farragut Academy alumni Category:Auburn University alumni Category:Naval Postgraduate School alumni Category:People from Pennsylvania Category:Recipients of the Bronze Star Medal Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit Category:Recipients of the Silver Star Category:Recipients of the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry Category:United States Navy officers Category:United States Navy SEALs Category:United States Naval Special Warfare Command Category:1940 births Category:Living people