24 Facts About Richard Marcinko

Richard Marcinko was a US Navy SEAL commander and Vietnam War veteran.

Richard Marcinko was the first commanding officer of SEAL Team Six.

Richard Marcinko successfully enlisted in the United States Navy in September 1958 as a radioman.

Richard Marcinko served with UDT-21 until he was selected for an officer commission in 1965.

Richard Marcinko was later reassigned to SEAL Team TWO in June 1966.

Richard Marcinko received a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations from the Auburn University at Montgomery and a Master of Arts degree in political science from the US Naval Postgraduate School.

In January 1967, Richard Marcinko deployed to Vietnam with 2nd Platoon, SEAL Team Two for a six-month tour of duty.

On May 18,1967, Richard Marcinko led his men in an assault on Ilo Ilo Hon, where they killed a large number of Viet Cong and destroyed six of their sampans.

For leading this mission, Richard Marcinko was awarded the Silver Star, the first of his four Bronze Stars, as well as a Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.

Richard Marcinko returned to Vietnam with SEAL Team Two after a few months stateside as officer-in-charge of 8th Platoon from December 1967 to June 1968.

Richard Marcinko personally selected the unit's members from across the existing SEAL and Underwater Demolition Teams, including a special counter-terrorist tactics section of SEAL Team Two, codenamed MOB-6.

Byers was convicted of conspiracy and conflict of interest on October 20,1989, but Richard Marcinko was acquitted of conflict of interest.

Richard Marcinko was convicted of conspiracy to defraud the government on January 24,1990.

On March 9,1990, Richard Marcinko was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison and fined $10,000 under charges of defrauding the government over the price of contractor acquisitions for hand grenades.

Richard Marcinko maintained that he was the subject of a witch-hunt for his work with Red Cell and that the fraud committed revealed the weaknesses of military security.

Richard Marcinko published a VHS and DVD movie account of his "Red Cell" operations.

Richard Marcinko's experiences led him to write his autobiography, The New York Times best-selling Rogue Warrior, and subsequent fictional sequels, most of which are co-written with ghostwriter John Weisman.

Richard Marcinko was a spokesman for the Zodiac boat company's Zodiac Maritime Training Academy, and served as a consultant on FOX's television series 24.

Richard Marcinko briefly collaborated with Strider Knives on a series of knife designs referred to as the "RW" signifying "Rogue Warrior" from 2008 to 2010.

Richard Marcinko died from a heart attack at his home in Fauquier County, Virginia, on December 25,2021, at the age of 81.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant, Junior Grade Richard Marcinko, United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as Platoon Leader of 8th Platoon, SEAL Team Detachment Alfa, on 14 and 15 May 1968.

Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Richard Marcinko ordered artillery to stand by and directed air strikes on the Viet Cong within 300 meters of his own position.

Richard Marcinko partnered with Bethesda Softworks to publish Rogue Warrior for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

Richard Marcinko himself is the protagonist and is voiced by actor Mickey Rourke.