Special Operations.Com
SEAL
Team One
SEAL Team ONE is based in Coronado, CA. Commanded
by a Navy Commander (O-5), it has eight operational
SEAL platoons and a headquarters element. SEAL Team
ONE’s geographic area of concentration is Southeast
Asia. SEAL Team ONE deploys platoons to Naval Special
Warfare Unit ONE in Guam and conducts Deployments
for Training (DFTs) throughout the Pacific and Central
theaters.
History
SEAL Team One was commissioned on 1 January 1962.
The majority of Team One's plankowners were drawn
from the ranks of Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT)
11 and 12. Already skilled in underwater demolition
and diving techniques, the men were soon sent to a
wide variety of military schools in order to obtain
the skills that would be required of small infantry
units operating in the jungle. Having been
restricted to near shore operations while with the
UDTs, the SEALs would be expected to move further
inland than any previous naval commando unit.
This required an entirely new focus.
Almost immediately after its founding, two officers
were sent to Vietnam to determine in what capacity
the new force could provide both the Vietnamese and
U.S. forces in-country. This month-long survey
resulted in the recommendation that the naval commandos
provide traning for Mobile Training Team 7.
In March, this mission was expanded and two SEALs
were sent for a six month tour to train Vietnamese
in clandestine military operations. Shortly
thereafter, SEAL Team One would join Team Two in providing
a steady stream of advisors for the Mobile Training
Teams (MTT). The MTTs would prove invaluable
tools for instructing other Vietnamese units in the
techniques of jungle warfare and related skills.
It was also at this time - around 1962-63 - that
SEAL Team One personnel were detached from the Teams
to serve with the Central Intelligence Agency's Special
Operations Group (SOG).
SEAL Team One would continue to contribute heavily
to the U.S. forces in Vietnam until the withdrawal
of forces in 1975. Official Navy estimates concluded
that One was responsible for 1,000 confirmed kills,
and 370 probables. Additionally, three SEALs
were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions
in the Vietnam War, all from Team One:
Other SEAL Team One Deployments of Note:
May 1975 - SEAL Team One would again be called on
following the capture of the SS Mayaguez, a container
vessel, off the coast of Cambodia. Delta Platoon,
based in Subic Bay, Philippines, was placed on alert
in the event a rescue mission was initiated.
1982 - Platoon from ST1 assisted U.S. Secret Service
agents in the protection of Queen Elizabeth during
the West Coast portion of her tour in the United States.
Former SEAL Team One Member Pages and Bios
Brian
Curle - Former ST1, UDT-12 and UDT-13
C.J.
Caracci - ST1
Cdr.
Don Crawford - ST1
ST1 War Stories
Taking
a Giant Leap - Cdr. Don Crawford Goes From
The SEALs to the Third Grade
SEAL Team One Member Business
Web Sites
Navy
SEAL Teams.Com - Videos and more!
Back
