FROM TARAWA TO THE SEALS

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

The Second World War ushered in new methods of warfare. Just as Vietnam introduced Air Assault and the use of the helicopter, WWII promoted the need for amphibious warfare.

Although the Marines had been working diligently to develop the means and methodology for amphibious assault since the 1930's, the US was behind the curve in this new technology as the war began. As in any learning experience of this magnitude, mistakes were made. The corrections of which led to new equipment and new methods. Close air support and the Higgins Boat are just two such examples.

In the island hoping campaign in the Pacific, one of the most glaring debacles occurred at the Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands. In all previous amphibious assaults, US forces were unopposed on the beaches, opposition came inland. On Tarawa, the 4,500 man Japanese force was well prepared with heavy fortifications and artillery.

What made Tarawa so unique was the unpredictability of the tides and the failure of the Naval Task Force Commander to heed the advice of his New Zealand Liaison Officer who knew the tides would be unsuitable on the day of the landings. The Higgens Boats needed 5 feet of water over the reef to reach the beach. The tide was a paltry 3 feet, only the LVT "alligators" could get across. But even if the LVTs made it to the beach, they couldn't breach the seawall. Under intense fire, many of the un-armored LTVs were holed by enemy fire and couldn't float. They were stuck 500 yards off shore. By the end of day one, half the LTVs were out of service.

The 76 hour battle resulted in 3,166 US casualties. Of 3,636 Jap defenders only one officer and 16 enlisted surrendered. Of the 1,200 Korean slave laborers only 129 survived.

The unprecedented US losses on Tarawa led to congressional investigation and public outcry. The failures at Tarawa also demonstrated to the Navy the need for hydrographic reconnaissance and underwater demolition as an adjunct to any amphibious assault. This led Rear Admiral Richard K. Turner to direct the formation of the Underwater Demolitions Teams and subsequently evolved into todays SEALs.

Todays Navy SEAL must undergo Basic Underwater Demolition/ SEAL training or BUDS. BUDS consist of three phases of training introduced by a four week indoctrination. INDOC is all physical, swimming, running and PT. First Phase is physical conditioning and teamwork. Hell Week occurs during this phase. After Hell Week is learning the basics of hydrographic recon, cartography and small boat navigation.

Second Phase is the dive phase where candidates learn the various methods, dive science and equipment required as a frogman.

Phase Three is the Demolitions and Tactics Phase. Candidates are taught weaponry, explosives, combat tactics and basic small unit infantry skills.

BUDS graduates go on to parachute training, military leadership and supervisory training. Afterwards is the 18 week SEAL Qualification Training, completion of which earns the candidate the coveted SEAL Trident.

Much of SEAL training takes place at the Special Warfare Center at Coronado Island. A large part of Phase Three takes place on San Clemente Island off California.

Throughout my Navy career, I had occasion to come in contact with SEALS in various classes and in the field. Seabees are often called upon to support SEAL facilities particularly on San Clemente Island where we deploy a detachment of SEABEES on a regular rotating basis.

Photos:
1. On our way to inspect projects on San Clemente Island.

2. View of the Island from the air.

3. San Clemente Base.

4.SEAL training facility.

5. Brass "FROG" on hill for SEAL class 244.

 

[VaTom]

Great post by OLDNAVYMCPO ! A lot of people don't know about how / why the UDT teams were formed. My uncle was in the Seabees early in the war. He volunteered for the UDT teams that were drawing men from those units was they had experience with demolitions. Trained at Fort Pierce, Florida (where the UDT / Seals museum is today) and then Hawaii prior to being deployed for combat. GM2c Turner was assigned to UDT #4. Participated in the invasion of Guam and other islands. He won a Bronze Star for his actions at Guam. In summer of 1945 his team was back stateside training on the west coast training in the cold waters in preparation for the invasion of mainland Japan. They didn't have wet suits back in the day and covered themselves in grease to ward off the chill of the cold water.

Uncle Fred passed in 1971 at the age of 51 when I was 18 and I never got to speak to him about his service. He was a hell of a swimmer and had a swimming pool in his backyard in Ohio.

 

[VaTom]

Updated my original response with a picture of my uncle. Attached is the Bronze Star citation for the Guam Invasion. Notice that this was war time so the location is not named.

Proud of all our American heroes that served!

 

[Big Cholla]

A little known fact about the development of Underwater Demolition Teams is that the first 'frogmen' deployed in the Pacific were Army! The 13th Combat Engineers of the 10 Division were trained in UDT work in 1942. An Uncle of mine was among the first to be sent in to enemy held beaches a few days prior to the actual invasion. He and his men were to blow up any obstruction placed in the shallow waters that would cause the landing craft to be caught and made vulnerable to mortars. My Uncle swam as a UDT operator first and then was on the first wave of five different island invasions in the Pacific. So, he made ten landings on five islands. He was awarded the Silver Star for his efforts on one invasion.

I was a SCUBA diver when I was talking with him about his UDT work and it came out that the only equipment they were furnished were a bathing suit and a face mask. I was incredulous. He never saw a snorkel or a set of fins until years later.

He was a little miffed that the Pathe News never mentioned that the ARMY was well represented in those so called "Island Invasions" by the Marines. ...........

 

[ContinentalOp]

Don't forget the Office of Strategic Service's (OSS) Operational Swimmer Group/Maritime Unit. I don't know if they actually used it in operations, but I believe they were one of the earliest developers of the Lambertsen Amphibious Respiratory Unit (LARU), a predecessor to modern SCUBA equipment.

 

[VaTom]

Army and Navy teams were also at Omaha and Utah Beaches on D-Day.

 

[richardw]

Yes, the task of scouting beaches and access routed fell upon the UDT after Tarawa. And SEALS are quite prepared to do that duty today. However, there is a much overlooked other group that is routinely better positioned to do that duty. They are Force Reconnaissance Marines. Much different from battalion recon Marines. Force recon Marines go through training that parallels that of seals. The reason that they would be more likely to get the beachand access scouting duty is that there is a contingent of Force Recon Marines with ever Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). So they are directly connected to the amphibious assault Marines. I do not think that SEALS are assigned to every MEU?

More important than who does the job is that it gets done competently. SEALS or Force Recon will do that for sure.

 

[tlawler]

Roy Boehm post office

First Seal Roy Boehm retired to Punta Gorda, Fl. I never did meet him before he passed away, but I saw him around town a few times. Our local post office in Murdock was dedicated in his name when he passed. One of these days I'm going to make it over to Ft. Pierce and visit the UDT museum.