Richard Marcinko designed and developed the elite Navy SEAL Team Six in response to the 1979 Iran hostage crisis.
- Died: Saturday, December 25, 2021. (Who else died on December 25?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 81.
- We invite you to share condolences for Richard Marcinko in our Guest Book.
SEAL Team Six creator
Richard Marcinko was a decorated Navy SEAL who led one of the most succesful SEAL operations during the Vietnam War. He was one of two Navy representatives on a Joint Chiefs of Staff task force who worked on a plan to free Americans held in the 1979 Iran hostage crisis. After that tragedy, he was tasked with creating a full time counter-terrorism team. Marcinko named the team SEAL Six in order to make other countries think there were more teams than the original two SEAL teams. He was SEAL Team Six’s first commanding officer, leading them from 1980 until 1983. After retiring from the Navy in 1989, he became a successful author and motivational speaker.
Notable Quote
“It was embarrassing to think this almighty nation couldn’t get 50-some of their own people out of Iran.” “Everybody got egg on their face … and it was some retired admirals and generals went and looked at all the things that screwed up and basically came out and said we should … have a standing dedicated force for counterterrorism.” – 2019 interview with SOFREP
Tributes to Richard Marcinko
Full Obituary: New York Times
