SEAL Story of - SEAL Teams

By Mack Boynton

I am probably the only one left alive who can shed some light on the early formation of SEAL Teams. Most of the meetings were internal, information seeking conferences with CNO, UDT representatives, BUPERS, and to a lesser extent, COMPHIBPAC and COMPHIBLANT. Primary players were CNO. UDUONE. LIDUTWO and BUPERS.

In 1956 west coasts UDT consisted of COMUONE, Doug Fane, UDT ELEVEN, LCDR Mack Boynton, UDT TWELVE, and LCDR Bob Barrows.

The Korean Conflict was over and the future of the UDT teams was uncertain. UDT teams were commissioned during WW II when it became apparent during the amphibious landings that reconnaissance and demolition were of paramount importance.

The Korean Conflict brought a new concept for UDT's. The old premise that the UDT responsibility ended at the high water mark was a thing of the past. The UDT's became involved in behind the lines operations, inland raids, targeting railroad tunnels, disrupting emery movements and the total destruction of Hingham. CNO was on a fact gathering mission and wanted input from COMUDUONE and COMUDUTWO on what the future of theTeams wouldbe in this new type of warfare.

I was CO UDTELEVEN when CMDR Archie Kuntze (BUPERS) called me about a new billet he was establishing and wanted me to come to Washington, DC for a two year tour. He did not want Doug Fane working on this project. He also brought COMUDUTWO, LCDR Don Gaither up from Little Creek. I agreed to the transfer and CMDR Kuntze set me up in an office at Main Navy at Navy Department on Constitution Avenue in Washington. My primary duty was in BUORD with collateral duties at CNO, and as liaison officer with another government agency that was interested in limpet mines. From the time of my arrival in Washington, meetings started with CNO. Always the same three people attended, CMDR Kuntze, Don Gaither, UDUTWO, and me, representing UDUONE. CMDR Kuntze was well versed in UDT operations in Korea as he was CO of the Begor and a big supporter of the UDT Teams. After two years of meetings on the future of UDT's it was recommended that new units should be commissioned, consisting of the operational experience that UDT had established, and incorporating the new warfare concepts learned during the Korean Conflict.

UDT's had been denied opportunities in training such as Jump School, material allowances, boats and diving equipment by the old slogan, "It's not in your missionl" We emphasized that the new units would no longer be bound by this thinking. Starting out with new units with a new mission was the way to go.

During my tour we established a new, broader flexible mission, unit formation, personnel allowances, material allowances, and financial backing. CNO agreed with Don Gaither and my recommendations (sic) that UDT personnel become the foundation of the new units and eventually, the UDT's would be decommissioned when the new units were formed. This was not a project that would commence rapidly, but as world conditions changed, and with backing from President Kennedy, and as budgetary conditions improved, the new concept moved forward.

In 1958 I was ordered back to the Teams for my last tour of duty as CO, UDT TWELVE and COMUDUONE. When I left Washington, I had a last lunch with CMDR Kuntze and he remarked, " ... during your tour as COMUDUONE, you will see the new unit formed, a lot of what we have accomplished during the last two years will bear fruit."

The issue of the First SEAL has been the subject of an on-going discussion - Archie Kuntze requested that I nominate a CO for SEAL Team ONE. I immediately recommended Dave Del Giudice; and, with COMPHIBPAC's blessings, we commissioned SEAL TEAM ONE on I January 1962. Dave's excellent article, "What A Tangled Web We Weave" covers the entire subject in detail and with that, the matter should Rest In Peace.

(Mack M. Boynton, August 16,2007)