The first commanding officer of SEAL Team Six - the US military's vaunted counter-terrorism unit that would hunt down and kill Osama Bin Laden - died on Christmas night at age 81.
Richard 'Dick' Marcinko was tasked with designing the counter-terrorist team after the Iran hostage crisis in 1979.
Marcinko, along with another Navy representative, was on a task force to help free the American hostages in Iran, but were unsuccessful.
The mission, known as Operation Eagle Claw, highlighted deficiencies within the US military command structure and revealed the need for a full-time counter-terrorist team.
Marcinko launched the United States' third SEAL team in August 1980, calling it SEAL Team Six in order to fool the Soviet Union's KGB into thinking there were three other SEAL teams they didn't know about.
He hand-picked members from existing SEAL teams and Underwater Demolition Teams for the unit, which he commanded until July 1983.
SEAL Team Six later carried out Operation Neptune Spear in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and successfully killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in May 2011. Bin Laden was the architect of the 9/11 attacks - during which 2,977 people lost their lives after four planes were hijacked and two were flown into the World Trade Center in New York City - and one of the most wanted terrorist in US history.
Despite his successes, the commander ended up serving 15 months in jail after he allegedly conspired with an Arizona arms dealer to receive $100,000 for securing a government handgun contract. Marcinko denied the charges, claiming it was a 'witch-hunt' by the Navy's highest ranking officers who he embarrassed by exposing vulnerabilities within their units.
The National Navy UDT SEAL Museum, which confirmed his death Sunday afternoon on Facebook, said Marcinko played a 'very unique part in SEAL history, leaving a legacy like no other' and is remembered as the 'premier counterterrorism operator' in the US. The museum has issued condolences to his loved ones.
Marcinko's cause of death remains unknown at this time.
Marcinko (pictured) was tasked with designing the counter-terrorist team after the Iran hostage crisis in 1979. The mission, Operation Eagle Claw, highlighted deficiencies within the US military command structure and revealed the need for a full-time counter-terrorist team
Marcinko enlisted in the US Navy in 1958 and served two tours in Vietnam, working his way up the ranks to commander. He won 34 citations and medals including the Silver Star, four bronze starts with combat V, two Navy Commendation Medals and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star (Pictured: US Navy Special Warfare insignia)
His son, Matt Marcinko, posted a tribute to his father on Twitter after he died.
He included photos from his childhood where he was seen playing and walking the beach with his dad.
'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,' Matt tweeted.
'His legacy will live forever. The man has died a true legend. Rest In Peace Dad. I love you forever.'
Marcinko's son, Matt Marcinko, posted a tribute to his father on Twitter announcing his death
The post included several photos from his childhood, including one of the father-son duo playing at the beach
Marcinko, also known as 'Demo Dick,' was born in Lansford, Pennsylvania to a family of Slovak and Roman descent.
His family move to New Brunswick, New Jersey where he attended high school, according to Quad Cities Daily. He dropped out of high school when he was 18 and tried to join the military.
Marcinko initially tried to join the Marine Corps but was rejected because he did not graduate from high school.
He successfully enlisted in the US Navy in September 1958 with the classification of Radioman. He was accepted to the Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) Class #26 in June 1961 and graduated in October of that year.
The young military member continued his training after being accepted into Officer Candidate School. He graduated in December 1965 and was commissioned as an Ensign.
Marcinko dropped out of high school when he was 18 and tried to join the military. He initially tried to join the Marine Corps but was rejected because he did not graduate from high school. He successfully enlisted in the US Navy in September 1958 with the classification of Radioman
He remained focused on his education, earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Relations from Auburn University in Alabama and a Master’s of Arts Degree in Political Science from the US Navy Post Graduate School.
He was deployed to Vietnam in January 1967 and assigned to then assigned to SEAL Team Two in May.
Marcinko served two tours in Vietnam, working his way up the ranks to commander.
He won 34 citations and medals including the Silver Star, four bronze starts with combat V, two Navy Commendation Medals and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, according to NavySeals.com.
'The SEALs who knew Dick Marcinko will remember him as imaginative and bold, a warrior at heart,' retired SEAL Adm. Eric Olson, who commanded Special Operations Command from 2007 to 2011, told the Navy Times in wake of his death.
'He was a spirited rogue for sure, but we are better off for his unconventional service.'
The National Navy UDT SEAL Museum, which confirmed his death Sunday afternoon on Facebook, said Marcinko played a 'very unique part in SEAL history, leaving a legacy like no other' and is remembered as the 'premier counterterrorism operator' in the US
The commander prides himself at being 'good at war,' as he once told People magazine.
'Even in Vietnam, the system kept me from hunting and killing as many of the enemy as I would have liked,' Marcinko shared.
As a platoon leader in Vietnam, Marcinko and SEAL Team Two were so successful the North Vietnamese Army placed a 50,000 piastre bounty on his head, payable to anyone who could prove they killed him.
Marcinko's May 18, 1967 assault on Ilo Ilo Island has since been recognized as the most successful SEAL operation in the Mekong Delta, WeAreTheMighty.com reported.
During the operation Marcinko and his men killed a large number of Viet Cong soldiers and destroyed six of their sampan boats.
While on his second tour, Marcinko ordered his platoon to assist the US Army Special Forces during the Tet Offensive at Chau Doc in an effort to rescue American nurses and a schoolteacher trapped in the city.
The SEAL team rescued the trapped personnel as an 'all-out urban brawl' raged around them.
Despite his successes, Marcinko (pictured) ended up serving 15 months in jail after he allegedly conspired with an Arizona arms dealer to receive $100,000 for securing a government handgun contract. Marcinko denied the charges, claiming it was a 'witch-hunt' by top ranking Navy officers who he embarrassed by exposing vulnerabilities within their units
'In Vietnam, I'd discovered who could kill and who couldn't in combat,' Marcinko wrote in his book, Rogue Warrior.
'Less than half of SEAL Team Six had ever been in combat. So there was only one way to find out who'd pull the trigger, and who'd freeze – which was to play this thing out and see who did his job and who didn't.'
The commander claims Navy SEALS were in high demand during the Vietnam War, noting there were 'no jumps or free falls'.
Marcinko said he preferred to use local boats to penetrate enemy lines in an effort to prevent them from recognizing the sounds of American boats.
During an interview with SOFREP made public in 2019, Marcinko shared that he wasn't prepared when he got his 'first taste of urban combat.'
He said he was underprepared to go from fighting in to the jungle to in the city during the fall of Saigon.
'Here we are in camouflage gear, faces painted, just came off patrol, running around the capitol city in commandeered Jeeps with 50 calibers on, shooting rooftop to rooftop,' Marcinko said.
'It was my first taste of real urban warfare that I wasn't ready for with the ricoches and going through doors and windows. But that certainly set the stage that we weren't doing enough damage.'
The commander claims Navy SEALS were in high demand during the Vietnam War, noting there were 'no jumps or free falls'
During an interview with SOFREP made public in 2019, Marcinko shared that he wasn't prepared when he got his 'first taste of urban combat.' He said he was underprepared to go from fighting in to the jungle to in the city during the fall of Saigon
He continued: 'If you look at the body count of SEALs versus VC or NVA it certainly is a big hit. You know, you crank out SEALs fast, you win a lot of wars that way, but they certainly had a lot more numbers coming down the trail - they had it set up that they could last a lot longer.'
The commander explained how he had several close calls while fighting, but managed to stay alive.
'I don't have any purple hearts…I always got the other guy first!' he said.
Marcinko was also tasked by Vice Admiral James Lyons to create an operation team that could infiltrate an area and leave without any notice.
He created the Naval Security Coordination Team OP-06D, also known as Red Cell, which was trained to break into secure areas, nuclear submarines, Navy ships and even Air Force One. The team was comprised of 13 men, 12 of whom were from SEAL Team Six and one from the Marine Force Recon.
Near the end of his career, he was involved in what the Navy termed a 'kickback scandal'. They alleged Marcinko conspired with an Arizona arms dealer to receive $100,000 if he secured a government contract for hand grenades.
Marcinko claimed the charge was the 'result of a witch-hunt' and 'blowback for exposing so many vulnerabilities' in the Navy.
He was sentenced to 21 months in jail over the 'kickback scandal,' of which he served 15 months.
Marcinko co-founded FUBAR Silver Tequila which is known for being a 'solid, bold, sweet and fruity tequila'
A video game, titled Rogue Warrior, was designed after his life and military career
Action figures were also made in his likeness
After retiring from the Navy, Marcinko became CEO of a private security firm.
He authored a collection of books, an autobiography and the four-month New York Times business bestseller Leadership Secrets of the Rogue Warrior: A Commando's Guide to Success.
He also founded Richard Marcinko Inc., a motivational training and team-building company, and Red Cell International, Inc., which conducts vulnerability assessments of high-value properties and high-risk targets.
A video game, titled Rogue Warrior, was designed after his life and military career. Action figures were also made in his likeness.
He also co-founded FUBAR Silver Tequila which is known for being a 'solid, bold, sweet and fruity tequila'.
The brand, keeping with Marcinko's military background, often promotes the product with images of pretty women dressed in camouflage, LongIslandTequila.com reported. Sometimes the models are seen hanging out with Marcinko and co-founder George Harris.
FUBAR has also used camouflage packaging on its bottles.
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