Richard Marcinko, the first commander of the vaunted SEAL Team Six, the unit of elite Navy commandos who developed many of the training and tactics still used today, died Christmas day at the age of 81, NBC News reports.
Formed after the aborted attempt to rescue the American being held hostage in Iran in 1979, SEAL Team Six was a designated counter-terrorism unit whose mission expanded to different types of offensive attacks. Marcinko commanded the unit from August 1980 to July 1983. A two-time Vietnam war veteran, Marcinko also served in Cambodia and Iran.
“To the outside world, he was the Rogue Warrior and Demo Dick but to us he was and always will be a husband, father, and loving Opa,” his wife, Nancy, said. “For over thirty years he proudly devoted his life to serving his country as a Navy Seal. After he retired, he continued to mentor and encourage young Seals while inspiring and entertaining many with his books and personality.”