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Snubbed by SEALs: A Delta Force operator on working with SEAL Team 6

Navy SEAL operators in Afghanistan. (Image courtesy of YouTube.com).

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A U.S. Navy Admiral “owned” the Balkan State of Bosnia under the behavioral tutelage of the United Nations Peace-Keeping organization. He was the sheriff, the police chief, the governor, the president of the country until such time humanitarian order could be restored in the civil war-ravaged nation. There to offer Personal Security Detail (PSD) services was a 12-man team of Navy SEALs from SEAL Team-6 (ST-6), also known as DEVGRU, Dam Neck, VA.

The day came for the Admirable to be replaced by an army general to take over the country, but the General didn’t want SEALs at his back; he wanted his own men — he wanted Delta to fill his PSD role. I embraced the thrill of being on the first of many teams of Unit (a nickname for Delta) men to deploy in-country for the mission.

A piece of good news met with us during our preparation to deploy to Bosnia: the detachment leader (Petty Officer Kevin S.) was a SEAL that we all already knew from days of working with ST-6 in British Guyana. The Guyana mission had been an 11 on the one-to-ten ANSI Scale of Misery. Conditions like that typically just make for better bonding. Kevin was an amazing man, drawing the admiration of all the men in my squadron.

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Comments

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  • Avatar
    Thomas G

    You issue a cautionary tale regarding all things naval and then go full nautical...viz. " I already liked the cut of his jib that day...."

  • Avatar
    George E. Hand IV

    John R, I certainly sure as hell remember the route very well. My only uncertainty is the exact point where I made the X where the lead car came to rest with blown tires. I remember passing one major intersection once we were on track heading west out of our sliding right turn. The other point that supports this, is that the route to the airport in Sarajevo from the Embassy (residency) building was the most frequent rout we ran the boss on, so I became very fam with that route, more so than any other. I was to the point that I recognized specific citizens at different locations along that route at specific times of day. Finally, Sir... I speak seven foreign languages on conversational level, and have a working knowledge of at least five others, thought I strangely cannot, at any given time of day, remember where I put my wallet or car keys... aha. John, the year was 1996-ish. I don't have quite a photographic memory, but it is pretty solid. Thanks for participating in the forum with us. I really (REALLY) appreciate those brothers and sisters who take time to chime in! My compliments, geo sends

  • Avatar
    Yankee Papa

    JF, "Should have just fucking walked..." They might have, but they were in no hurry... -Yankee Papa-

  • Avatar
    George E. Hand IV

    Nice insight on your part, AndyT. Bird of a feather... I think in the case of the Admiral, a Boy Scout troop with butter knives would have been more effective than DevGru in Bosnia. Now... do I really MEAN that? Yes I do. Thanks for gracing this forum, Sir. geo sends

  • Avatar
    Mic-Mac

    Always entertaining Alan T! Hope you are well.