The hijacking of the MAERSK ALABAMA by pirates off the COAST OF SOMALIA brings back memories of my hand-in-hand experiences with the U.S. NAVY S.E.A.L. s.
Right from the beginning of this incident, I told my sons that if ever an attempt to rescue the Alabama's skipper would be put into action, there is only ONE Special Forces unit that could successfully this clandestine type operation. That job was tailor-made for the Navy S.E.A.L.s
And I was RIGHT. Watching the dramatization of this rescue operation through CNN triggered "flashbacks" of my experiences with the S.E.A.L.s during my tour of duty in Vietnam.
Watching the dramatizations of the S.E.A.L. s operations on television or the movies are TRULY exciting as well as entertaining. With the special effects and the scripted "lingo", the scenes become as REAL as possible. However, these CINEMATIC scenes are NOT ENOUGH to exude the TRUE ambiance of FEAR and DANGER that surround these covert operations.
Mere words aren't enough to express how it feels when adrenaline rushes into your veins when anticipating the unexpected attacks by the enemy during the INSERTION and EXTRACTION or RECOVERY operations of the S.E.A.L. s team inside enemy territory. Truly speaking, I can say that the only person(s) that PARTICIPATED or took part in these operations can convey this intrinsic feeling. Unquestionably, these are the PBR (Patrol Boat River) SAILORS.
A part of the PBR's duties were the INSERTION and RECOVER/EXTRACTION of S.E.A.L. s inside enemy territories along the Mekong Delta and it's tributaries. Most of the operations are done during the hours of DARKNESS. Hence, the Boat Captain's knowledge of the river's CONTOURS or TOPOGRAPHY were very instrumental during the first stage of the operation - that is, the "droppin-off" or INSERTION. It was imperative that the drop-off was done in a designated place of insertion. This was Charlie's territory, and there was absolutely no place for error.
The S.E.A.L. s team leader picks the drop-off point, which from previous reconnaisance patrols was the "safest" spot, although safety was not always guaranteed. This spot was then marked on the GRID CHARTS to get the coordinates. There after, it's all up to the Boat Captain's expertise to ensure that the drop-off be in the proper coordinates, no more, no less.
RECOVERY/EXTRACTION or "pick-up is not necessarily done that same night. It could be a day or DAYS depending how bad a situation the S.E.A.L. s encounter while inside the enemy's territory. There is no DESIGNATED hour nor location for this "pick-up. On the PBR's, all ears are on the radio waiting for the "pick-up call". Most pick-ups that PBR's 142 and 139 have done were during the NIGHT PATROLS. The SAFEST spot for these pick-ups were the MIDDLE of the RIVER. The S.E.A.L. s team leader directs the boats to their location and when within VISUAL range, the team leader will intermittently FLASH an INFRA-RED light for the boat crew to spot through the "starlight". When all the S.E.A.L. s are safely aboard, only then do all the ANGST and ANTICIPATION end. O n out way home, conversation is often punctual. Besides the question of "Are you guys alright?" and " Is everyone on board?" there were NO OTHER questions that needed to be asked.
My job was to make the "pick-up" and bring them home safely. Whatever happened during the S.E.A.L. s operation would be discussed in the briefing room, and not on my boat. I do respect the CONFIDENTIALITY of their job, and I'm sure that this was the same with the S.E.A.L. s.
HOWEVER, there ARE times when MUTUAL RESPECT results in FRIENDSHIP, and friendship often OVERRIDES confidentiality. This was between myself and a Navy S.E.A.L. by the name of "Fraley". We enjoyed sharing our experiences each time we meet in the mess hall and at the NAVY HEADQUARTERS at My Tho. There were two (2) operations that we often shared our experiences, which would result in laughter, and these were:
(1) the S.E.A.L. operation at the Upper Cua Dai, wherein a WHOLE VIETCONG WEDDING ENTOURAGE was CAPTURED. This included the BRIDE, GROOM, SPONSORS, GUESTS, and the officiating PASTOR. HOW they DID it? Only the S.E.A.L. s knew.
(2) The second one was at the Western Banks of the Upper Ben Tre River. This was the LARGEST WEAPONS and AMMUNITIONS cache ever captured in the area. I could not (and STILL NOT) believe seeing those crates of WEAPONS abd AMMUNITIONS, still UN-OPENED with the country manufacturer's name (East Germany and People's Republic of China, PROC) still stamped on them.
There WERE Vietcong CASUALTIES in that operation, but there is one (1) incident that has stayed with me, and that I can still recall VIVIDLY in my mind. This was about a Vietcong "AMAZON" who tried to JUMP a S.E.A.L. from BEHIND. With quick reflexes, this Navy S.E.A.L. , SICKLE in hand, turned and stopped her in her tracks. The S.E.A.L. was the last thing she ever saw, and after a few seconds, she wasn't jumping anymore. It was an ugly sight that blended in perfectly with the picturesque of that brutal war. The stench of DRIED-UP BLOOD made you realize that what you saw was no illusion, but the harsh reality of war. A war that was VOID of AGE, ETHICAL CONDUCT and GENDER.
Even the dead had NO guarantee of staying intact and resting peacefully.
"Fraley" and I could have had a lot more stories to share, had it not been due to the sad fact that "Fraley" was accidentally KILLED by his own "BOOBY-TRAP". You see, he once told me about a "flashlight" he was converting into a "bopby-trap". I am not sure if this was the SAME one that blew up while he was still putting it together. I could not believe that a slightest error woul;d have cost him his life.
"Fraley" will ALWAYS be a part of my Vietnam experience. I've shared HIS stories with my sons, and with my friends, as well. Each time the question of "WHO'S THE BEST SPECIAL FORCES UNIT?" comes up in the conversation, WITHOUT HESITATION, my answer is ALWAYS...The Navy S.E.A.L. s
Next: L.R.R.P. United States Army Long Range Reconnaisance Patrol
Right from the beginning of this incident, I told my sons that if ever an attempt to rescue the Alabama's skipper would be put into action, there is only ONE Special Forces unit that could successfully this clandestine type operation. That job was tailor-made for the Navy S.E.A.L.s
And I was RIGHT. Watching the dramatization of this rescue operation through CNN triggered "flashbacks" of my experiences with the S.E.A.L.s during my tour of duty in Vietnam.
Watching the dramatizations of the S.E.A.L. s operations on television or the movies are TRULY exciting as well as entertaining. With the special effects and the scripted "lingo", the scenes become as REAL as possible. However, these CINEMATIC scenes are NOT ENOUGH to exude the TRUE ambiance of FEAR and DANGER that surround these covert operations.
Mere words aren't enough to express how it feels when adrenaline rushes into your veins when anticipating the unexpected attacks by the enemy during the INSERTION and EXTRACTION or RECOVERY operations of the S.E.A.L. s team inside enemy territory. Truly speaking, I can say that the only person(s) that PARTICIPATED or took part in these operations can convey this intrinsic feeling. Unquestionably, these are the PBR (Patrol Boat River) SAILORS.
A part of the PBR's duties were the INSERTION and RECOVER/EXTRACTION of S.E.A.L. s inside enemy territories along the Mekong Delta and it's tributaries. Most of the operations are done during the hours of DARKNESS. Hence, the Boat Captain's knowledge of the river's CONTOURS or TOPOGRAPHY were very instrumental during the first stage of the operation - that is, the "droppin-off" or INSERTION. It was imperative that the drop-off was done in a designated place of insertion. This was Charlie's territory, and there was absolutely no place for error.
The S.E.A.L. s team leader picks the drop-off point, which from previous reconnaisance patrols was the "safest" spot, although safety was not always guaranteed. This spot was then marked on the GRID CHARTS to get the coordinates. There after, it's all up to the Boat Captain's expertise to ensure that the drop-off be in the proper coordinates, no more, no less.
RECOVERY/EXTRACTION or "pick-up is not necessarily done that same night. It could be a day or DAYS depending how bad a situation the S.E.A.L. s encounter while inside the enemy's territory. There is no DESIGNATED hour nor location for this "pick-up. On the PBR's, all ears are on the radio waiting for the "pick-up call". Most pick-ups that PBR's 142 and 139 have done were during the NIGHT PATROLS. The SAFEST spot for these pick-ups were the MIDDLE of the RIVER. The S.E.A.L. s team leader directs the boats to their location and when within VISUAL range, the team leader will intermittently FLASH an INFRA-RED light for the boat crew to spot through the "starlight". When all the S.E.A.L. s are safely aboard, only then do all the ANGST and ANTICIPATION end. O n out way home, conversation is often punctual. Besides the question of "Are you guys alright?" and " Is everyone on board?" there were NO OTHER questions that needed to be asked.
My job was to make the "pick-up" and bring them home safely. Whatever happened during the S.E.A.L. s operation would be discussed in the briefing room, and not on my boat. I do respect the CONFIDENTIALITY of their job, and I'm sure that this was the same with the S.E.A.L. s.
HOWEVER, there ARE times when MUTUAL RESPECT results in FRIENDSHIP, and friendship often OVERRIDES confidentiality. This was between myself and a Navy S.E.A.L. by the name of "Fraley". We enjoyed sharing our experiences each time we meet in the mess hall and at the NAVY HEADQUARTERS at My Tho. There were two (2) operations that we often shared our experiences, which would result in laughter, and these were:
(1) the S.E.A.L. operation at the Upper Cua Dai, wherein a WHOLE VIETCONG WEDDING ENTOURAGE was CAPTURED. This included the BRIDE, GROOM, SPONSORS, GUESTS, and the officiating PASTOR. HOW they DID it? Only the S.E.A.L. s knew.
(2) The second one was at the Western Banks of the Upper Ben Tre River. This was the LARGEST WEAPONS and AMMUNITIONS cache ever captured in the area. I could not (and STILL NOT) believe seeing those crates of WEAPONS abd AMMUNITIONS, still UN-OPENED with the country manufacturer's name (East Germany and People's Republic of China, PROC) still stamped on them.
There WERE Vietcong CASUALTIES in that operation, but there is one (1) incident that has stayed with me, and that I can still recall VIVIDLY in my mind. This was about a Vietcong "AMAZON" who tried to JUMP a S.E.A.L. from BEHIND. With quick reflexes, this Navy S.E.A.L. , SICKLE in hand, turned and stopped her in her tracks. The S.E.A.L. was the last thing she ever saw, and after a few seconds, she wasn't jumping anymore. It was an ugly sight that blended in perfectly with the picturesque of that brutal war. The stench of DRIED-UP BLOOD made you realize that what you saw was no illusion, but the harsh reality of war. A war that was VOID of AGE, ETHICAL CONDUCT and GENDER.
Even the dead had NO guarantee of staying intact and resting peacefully.
"Fraley" and I could have had a lot more stories to share, had it not been due to the sad fact that "Fraley" was accidentally KILLED by his own "BOOBY-TRAP". You see, he once told me about a "flashlight" he was converting into a "bopby-trap". I am not sure if this was the SAME one that blew up while he was still putting it together. I could not believe that a slightest error woul;d have cost him his life.
"Fraley" will ALWAYS be a part of my Vietnam experience. I've shared HIS stories with my sons, and with my friends, as well. Each time the question of "WHO'S THE BEST SPECIAL FORCES UNIT?" comes up in the conversation, WITHOUT HESITATION, my answer is ALWAYS...The Navy S.E.A.L. s
Next: L.R.R.P. United States Army Long Range Reconnaisance Patrol
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