The recent death on Christmas Day of former Navy SEAL and founder of SEAL Team 6, retired Commander Richard “Dick” Marcinko, marked the loss of one of the SEAL community’s most famous (some might say infamous) and commanding personalities. Perhaps the most widely-recognized picture of Marcinko was the photograph that graced the cover of his 1992 bestseller, “Rogue Warrior.”
The flint-eyed, bearded, muscular Marcinko stares right through the camera lens and into your soul. His black, Trident-adorned shirt — unbuttoned to reveal a patch of steel wool chest hair — is so deeply charcoal-colored that it fades almost into the background, matched only by the deep dark of Marcinko’s merciless eyebrows. If the photo makes a hardened Marcinko look like he was just released from prison, that is because the photo was taken after Marcinko was, in fact, just released from prison.
Related: ‘The Line’ podcast dives deeper than usual on Navy SEALs
And therein lies the paradoxical essence of “Demo Dick” Marcinko: a fierce, dedicated American commando, who stood up one of the nation’s premier counter-terrorism and special missions units, and who was also a convicted felon who ran that same unit, at times, like an outlaw motorcycle gang.
I won’t completely rehash the formation of SEAL Team 6 here, as the official account can be found in a number of books and other documents. However, I will share a bit of the SEAL Team lore that surrounded Marcinko’s founding of ST-6, and its earliest days in the 1980s. Don’t, by any means, take this as gospel truth, but more as an oral history that has come down from contemporaries of Marcinko back in those first couple decades of the SEAL Teams.
When Commander Dick Marcinko was given the responsibility of forming SEAL Team 6 in the wake of the 1979 Iran hostage crisis, he was in a staff position at the Pentagon, having already previously served as the commanding officer of SEAL Team 2. He knew he needed to form the command quickly, and get it off the ground and operating, if it were to be seen as successful.
Related: The men with the green faces: The birth of the Navy SEALs in Vietnam
With that in mind, Marcinko took a core of SEALs from ST-2, who were part of a dedicated counterterrorism-trained unit within the team, and made them the initial nucleus of ST-6. Included in that Team 2-comprised nucleus was then-Lieutenant Commander Norman Carly, who was selected as the first Executive Officer (XO) of the Team, and thus Marcinko’s second-in-command. According to legend, Marcinko then hand-picked a variety of his “drinking buddies” and closest friends from SEAL Teams on both the East and West Coasts to fill out the rest of the Team.
Carly, as the first XO of ST-6, very much saw his job as keeping Dick Marcinko out of jail, according to some SEALs from that era. Not only did Marcinko encourage a flouting of Navy regulations with regard to grooming, uniform use, and military bearing and decorum, but he also played fast and loose with the law, seeing himself and his new unit as somehow exempt from the rules that governed the rest of the mere mortals. This attitude would, of course, later land him in jail, as he was convicted in 1990 of conspiracy to defraud the government. After he was released from incarceration, he would go on to write “Rogue Warrior” with co-author John Weisman (and the aforementioned cover featured a photo of the prison-hardened Marcinko).
Marcinko was known as a charismatic storyteller and, by all accounts, a magnetic personality. Even later in his life, this remained true, as he frequently regaled attendees of the SEAL reunions with his colorful and profane stories. He both inspired and demanded fierce loyalty and dedication from his men. During his time as ST-6 CO, this went so far as Marcinko springing surprise “training ops” on his men — ostensibly to test their response time to being called in for an urgent operation — that would quickly turn into beer-soaked benders punctuated by bar fights and brushes with the law. In Marcinko’s view, this was all in the name of building unit cohesion and camaraderie, and testing the toughness and resolve of his men.
Related: How Admiral McRaven got fired from SEAL Team 6 (and what we can learn from it)
Not surprisingly, some within ST-6 in those early days did not see it that way. Specifically, a handful of officers who served with Marcinko there were appalled by his behavior, and the willfully cavalier way that he ran the unit. SEAL Team 6’s second commanding officer, then-Commander Robert Gormly, reportedly described what Marcinko left in his wake as “a mess.” A later ST-6 commanding officer even allegedly went so far as to ban Marcinko from the ST-6 compound because his influence and attitude had become so negatively pervasive.
Suffice it to say, SEAL Team 6 went on to outgrow many of Marcinko’s worst impulses, while some would say that other facets of its creator’s influence would metastasize throughout the command well into the modern era. Regardless, the man’s impact on the SEAL Teams — and SEAL Team 6, in particular — was inarguably profound. Personalities like Dick Marcinko rarely come along, or leave as lasting an impression. Some of it was good, a lot of it was bad, and none of it will likely be forgotten within that community for a long time.
Rest In Peace.
Read more from Sandboxx News:
- Navy SEAL community loses another legend: Bob ‘The Eagle’ Gallagher
- How the Navy SEALs could build better leaders (by copying the Fire Service)
- The three Navy SEAL astronauts you don’t know
- Before the Navy SEALs came the Underwater Demolition Teams
- Why Navy SEALs hate the Charlie Sheen movie ‘about’ them
Feature image: Composite from “Rogue Warrior Dick Marcinko” Facebook page
Richard Marcinko was and is a great man many a mans lives were saved by him thru up front leadership!!He was unconventional in every battle plan but they all worked.My uncle Joe Dimartino served with him.The best story was seal team 6 having a fire fight and after walking thru every dead Vic would get 2 shots
I’m really enjoying the theme/design of your site.
Do you ever run into any browser compatibility problems?
A small number of my blog audience have complained about my site not working
correctly in Explorer but looks great in Firefox.
Do you have any solutions to help fix this issue?
BEST WAYS TO GET YOUR EX LOVER BACK AND RESTORED YOUR BROKEN MARRIAGE OR RELATIONSHIP FROM SORROW TO HAPPINESS.
Help me thank DR LARRY for helping me get my ex husband back to me and my family. This great powerful spiritual man restored my sorrow to happiness. My husband left me some years ago for another woman and they both planned to get married. I am so surprised he just came back to me one cool afternoon on Saturday, begging and crying for me to take him back and to forgive him for breaking up our marriage home and forsaking me and the children. Dr Larry is a true spiritualist savior . He brought my husband back” if you have any worries or you have any problem in your marriages or relationships you can reach him via:
Email: assurancesolutionhome@gmail.com
whatapp: +1(424)-261-8520
I still can’t believe that my ex boyfriend came back to me and this time he loves me more than ever, all thanks to Dr Unity for your help. So I promise to tell the world about you great work.. If your marriage or relationship is been broken, please contact right now for urgent help.
Here his contact…WhatsApp him: +2348055361568 .
Richard Marcinko was truly an amazing person. He told it like it is. Stood up and called out certain things. My family will always respect and honor people like him. God Bless you Richard.
My father was frogman. Served and new demo dick in Vietnam. A COWARD- A TERRORIST. RICHARD IS AN AMERICAN HERO IN THE SEAL COMMUNITY.
FOR YOU TO SAY THIS STUPID CRAP. HERES A REDPONSE
YOU ARE A NO-LOAD PUSS HEADED- NO BRAINS-DIPSHIT.
Next time you see your Dad, tell him thanks! We need like those men now!
May he rest in peace and may God bless him and keep him. A loyal and Patriotic American.
A coward and a terrorist. Good riddance.
@Rigelio007,,,,,,coward??? Terrorist???? That’s what YOU are!!! And with that dipshit flag you post!!!! I am a Navy retired combat vet, are you???? Even if you spent 4 years in,,,,,you still wouldn’t understand shit!
If u can call him and coward that makes u a piece of shit
You fucking scum , people like you make me sick , how dare you disrespect my fellow brother in arms , coward? Your one ignorant piece of shit
HEY SLAP NUTS ROGELIOOO7?
DO THE WORLD A FAVOR. PULL OUT YOUR BOTTOM LIP AND SWALLOW YOURSELF. YOU MFING IDIOT. MY MIDDLE FINGER SALUTES YOU NIMROD. GET BENT YOU NEVER BEEN, NEVER WILLBE WORTHLESS P.O.S.
Rogelio007 is a fake! He one of those people who use a Confederate flag symbol for the purpose of stirring the pot, ignore this FUDB!
clearly you don’t know anything , but you and many many others owe your lives and the freedom you enjoy to men like Richard M. Its because of him and his foresight in creating such a specialist unit that makes America great. So show some respect if not just remain humble and shut up
Well Each of us stand before God at the end… but for Gods grace there go you or I.
Jesus, this is what passes for an “article”? Some hearsay from former officers? I wonder how much of his behavior that could be seen as negative stems from his combat missions in Vietnam?
This man was a pioneer, he is what we need today in the military, we do not need the powder puff version of the military that some politicians want us to be. The politicians that send us to war and then routinely leave us hanging out to dry when they change their mind are the problem. Commander Marcinko should be the mold that all seal commanders are made from.
You are full of crap.
Here here. Was at galley 3038 he was noticeable as a young sailor. He became Americas patriot. A legend now gone. We loose
People like Marcinco and Curtis Lemay are what our country needs in times of war. The only rule of war is win. We have lost that mindset, unfortunately other countries haven’t. Pray for peace.
You left out Colonel David Hackworth, who coined the very appropriate term “Perfumed Princes”.
Jeff B.
The United States of America has said good bye to absolutely one of her defenders and consummate Patriots; Lt. Commander Richard Marcinko passed from this evolution onto the next phase and coincidentally on the same day,(200+ years) as a man I hold in the same regard as Mr. Marcinko. Perhaps the name will ring familiar, one Virginian. Thomas Jefferson. Not much we see on this side is coincidence; both sins of Life,Liberty and vanguards of the pursuit of everything protected under that magnificent standard bearing the greatest colors gracing one, The Red,The White,and The Blue banner laden heavy with stars. As well, the symbol of our great nation and her benevolent, ways forged in fire to have Peace the final piece. The majestic and mighty Bald Eagle ,head held so high and ready to stand to the last in defense! That most mighty raptor also is the main focus in and upon the insignia of this world’s finest division of an armed force; the eagle bearing a pistol in one claw, King Neptune’s trident in the other, but; and this is the only instance this is seen , as by mandate of the U.S. Congress. That majestic head is bowed in acknowledgement and the most solemn, silent
reverence to the men of the Teams who gave all ,the ultimate sacrifice that we may live free. The Trident badge. Wanted by many, earned by very ,very few, respected by all,lastly; feared by all who would rise up in arms against us. Godspeed Commander, rest peacefully now as we still here do every night in our beds. That peace existing only because of the rough men of your beloved UDT/SeAL fraternity ready to do the ultimate ,every occasion the klaxon blares it’s unique tone. Your watch complete, your every order carried out; your every assignment done in totality, your country loved you, your sacrifices will never have been in vain; your memory never ,EVER, sullied or defiled by a,” no-load, desk driving, pus-nutted geek.” Sharing geographically the same ,close knitted, hard working , God fearing and only of it’s kind region. The Anthracite ,(hard coal) region the heart of Liberty’s being; Northeast Pennsylvania. You and I were/are neighbors of one kind, Carbon County where you were brought into this life , Schuylkill County for this writer, I’ve been through that place you so poignantly regale to your readers in Rogue Warrior, the Lofty Tunnel bored through the bottom of that solid summit of hard rock, that coal train highballing through that tiny tube,(as it seemed to that lad!) hurtling past that boy pressed so tightly against the tunnel wall, ……only you know what ran through that magnificent mind then, now just as tightly I pray God holds thee in his mighty Grace and looks at His work and is well pleased, and the final order passed down; Thou hast done well loyal servant, go to thy rest.✝️🇺🇸☸️🔱
Man, that Adderall hits hard, doesn’t it?
Well said! And so eloquent… I spent eight years in the Navy, as a Hospital Corpsman, and (8408,) Cardiopulmonary Technologist, from 1974 -1982. It was a pleasure to serve in the USN.
Marcincko. Demo dick come back stop joking around. Chief Gallagher you guys earned it. Easiest day was yesterday. Booyah. Iceman Edward. P. Bronx / bklyn . Nyc.
The loss of a great man. It’s going to happen too us all some day, you just hate seeing it. God Speed Sir.
Of course commander Marcinko was despised by the ring knockers (Annapolis educated officers). They are all trained at the same school… in the same methods. Embarrassed by Marcinko’s street smarts, creative approach and the very obvious loyalty of his men, they could not help but be jealous of his assignment and success. He was the first. There was no manual…. In fact, he had to throw out the manual, grooming standards, foreign made weapons, Draeger rebreathers. None of it was standard issue. And training with the CT units of other friendly countries cost a fortune, but that is real life. Often working in another jurisdiction that the US Navy might not have full control of. And Red Cell.. it was a career ender for some commanders. Not Marcinko’s fault. The fault lies with the Navy’s lack of flexible mindset…to see the exercise for what it was…a positive learning exercise that could save lives. And where did that inflexible mindset come from…Annapolis.
My brother-in-law, last name Dresdner, was in Seal Team 6 more than 35 years ago. He was not a great guy, but a hell of a Seal!!
I see that flawed men even the most flawed can be the real hero’s that we need to put down the truly evil! I see the types that are disloyal, dishonest, stab you in the back types like the men who lied to get Chief Gallagher in trouble are in ST-6 and other’s have moved up in the teams and I would give trade every one of those for one Demo Dick or Chief Gallagher!
It’s hard to argue with his logic about many things even. Bad guys don’t have a rule book. It does seem an impossible task to combat terrorism while abiding by the “white hat good guy ” rule set. That is what Marcinco was tasked with. He learned how the bad guys thought and then used that knowledge to combat them. I was always taught that two wrongs don’t make a right but it seems to me that in counter terrorism and in regards to dealing with it in matters of national security that may be exactly what it takes. In terms of another 9-11 type attack occurring I know that I’d sleep better knowing people like Richard Marcinko was out there hunting bad guys and keeping up safe. I’d argue that him breaking a few rules or hurting a feeling now and then was worth the price of safety. Some of the lessons taught by the Rogue Warrior helped create the person I am today and I doubt I’d found the success I have without them. I was never a seal or even in the military. Regardless his ideology of never giving up and embracing pain and hardship as necessary for achieving one’s goals still rang true in my life. I’d much rather live in a world where society was formed by people like Demo Dick. We lost a true American hero on Christmas, regardless of what people like Pinky Prescott thought of him.
I admire the SEALS and Richard Marsinko . They are the best hands down.