Richard Marcinko, also known as the Rogue Warrior passed yesterday at the age of 81 his family has announced.
Marcinko enlisted in the Navy in 1958 after being passed over by the Marine Corps. He was commissioned as an Ensign in 1962 and was assigned to SeAL team two. In 1967 he was sent to Vietnam. At one point the Viet Cong had a 50,000 piastre bounty on his head.
In the aftermath of Operation Eagle Claw, the attempted rescue of American hostages held in Iran, Marcinko was tapped to lead the Navy’s counter-terrorism efforts. That led to the formation of DEVGRU also known as SeAL team 6. Marcinko was also instrumental in the formation of the RED CELL, and probed the defenses of various military installations.
Marcinko earned a Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with V device and two oak leaf clusters and a Navy Commendation medal during his service.
Dick’s time in the service was not without controversy. He served 15 months of a 22 month sentence in federal prison after being convicted on a charge of attempting to defraud the government. Marcinko maintains he was the victim of a witch-hunt because of the findings of the RED CELL team.
Fair Seas and following winds CDR Marcinko.