Combat Swimmer (39 page)

 

Those are my concluding thoughts. But though the final section of this book has been written, the final chapter of Bob Gormly's life has not. I've dodged many bullets of all types and survived. I've been “dinged” in combat and punished by my many years of rigorous and dangerous SEAL training—and after-hours activities. I'm not unique. Anyone who's survived nearly thirty years in the SEAL business will understand what I mean. We all have the same aches and pains. I tell people that had I known, when I was younger, that I would live this long, I'd have taken much better care of myself. As the doctor who performed my retirement physical explained to me after viewing my head-to-foot X rays, “Your problem, Captain, is not that you have the body of a sixty-five-year-old man. Your problem is that you still have the brain of an eighteen-year-old.”

No problem—lock and load.

AC-130
—U.S. Air Force gunship designed to interdict targets on the ground and provide close air support. The aircraft is a basic C-130 modified with special weapons and electronics.

ACU-2
—An organization in the Atlantic Fleet that operates specialized craft employed during amphibious landings.

AH-6
—U.S. Army light attack helicopter. Hughes 530 variant, affectionately dubbed “Killer Egg” because of the shape of the fuselage and the numerous weapons the helo can carry.

AN PVS-2
—Vietnam-era Night Vision Device (NVD). Commonly called the “Starlight Scope” because it used ambient light to provide a magnified image, much as a telescope would do during the day. Newer versions are binocular.

APD
—Converted World War II destroyer designed to carry underwater demolition teams.

auger stake
—Device with a helix-twisted bottom, commonly used to anchor dog chains in the backyards of America; UDT adapted them to anchor survey lines during submerged reconnaissances.

barilyme
—Carbon dioxide-scrubbing chemical used in the Emerson closed-circuit scuba.

Blackhawk
—UH-60 helicopter. The basic troop-carrying helo for the U.S. Army.

Boat Support Unit
—During the Vietnam era, the organization that ran most SEAL boats. The organizations are now called Special Boat Squadrons.

BTR-60
—Russian armored personnel carrier. The BTR-60PB version is equipped with a ZPU-1 heavy machine gun.

BUDS
—Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL. Present-day organization that runs basic training for all who seek to become SEALs. When I went through it, it was called UDT Replacement Training. Before that, it had other names, but it's always had the same purpose: to provide only the best-qualified men to the Seal Teams.

bunker works
—System of bunkers, connected to allow movement through the system.

Capewell
—MC-1 military static-line parachute canopy-release system. Located where the two canopy risers attach to the jumper's harness, capewells have a two-trigger assembly for each riser; the triggers must be pressed simultaneously to detach the riser from the harness and are often difficult to press when there is tension on the canopy.

CINC
—Commander in chief; a four-star officer from any of the services, in command of a major DoD organization comprising forces from more than one service. Examples are CINCPAC, CINCLANT, and CINCSO-COM. In the chain of command, CINCs report directly to the Secretary of Defense.

Claymore mine
—Antipersonnel mine used extensively in Vietnam. The ball-bearing-covered explosive is “shaped” so that it can be aimed toward the enemy.

closed-circuit scuba
—Underwater breathing apparatus that emits no bubbles as the combat swimmer breathes. Designed for clandestine operations in enemy waters. The diver is a part of the system. The system uses a carbon-dioxide scrubber to keep the breathing medium pure oxygen. Two types of closed-circuit rigs have been used by the Teams since 1963: the American-manufactured Emerson and the German Draeger.

combat swimmer
—Navy SEAL. The term is used to differentiate between standard Navy divers, who normally conduct noncombat missions, and members of a SEAL Team, whose mission involves swimming into combat.

compass board
—Clear plastic board with a compass mounted in it, used to keep one's bearings underwater. Watches and swimmer reels may be attached.

CTF-116
—Commander, Task Force-116. The U.S. Navy organization whose mission included interdicting Vietcong operations in the riverine areas of the Mekong Delta and the Rung Sat Special Zone. SEALs, PBRs, and Seawolf light helo fire teams operating in those areas were under the command of CTF-116.

davit
—Cranelike device installed on most Navy ships, used for stowing the ship's boats and getting them in and out of the water.

DEFCON
—Defense Condition. Denotes a graduated alert system used by the U.S. Military. DEFCON 5 is the normal, peacetime condition. DEFCON 1 is the highest state of alert, meaning war is imminent.

Desert One
—The unsuccessful 1980 operation to free American Embassy personnel held hostage by the Iranians.

dry run
—Very dangerous helo maneuver, making a strafing run without firing, in order to scare the enemy into keeping their heads down—usually attempted
after
the helo has used up its ammunition.

DZ
—Drop zone. The area on which parachute jumpers land. For SEALs, it is often a spot in the ocean.

E & E
—Escape and evasion. Used to describe specific training provided American military people who, by nature of their assignment, are more vulnerable to capture by the enemy. All combat aviators and SEALs receive some form of this training. SEALs have a primary role in establishing E & E networks designed to rescue downed aviators.

free-fire zone
—In the Vietnam War, a geographic area in which U.S. forces were allowed to open fire without having first received fire. Normally, any area so designated was under the control of the enemy.

frogman
—Analogous to “combat swimmer.” Originally, a term designating any member of an Underwater Demolition Team. Now often used by Team members to denote one of their own who is a good operator.

“Green Team” training
—SEAL Team Six slang for the period of time every new member spends learning to do things that other SEAL teams don't do.

gun target line
—The line of bearing between the gun and the target. Naval guns, though very accurate on bearing (direction), are notoriously inaccurate on range (distance), so being near the GTL is risky.

Hagensen pack
—Pack specifically designed to carry twenty pounds of explosives.

H-hour
—Term used to describe the precise time to begin military operations.

H & I fire
—Harassment and interdiction fire, usually done by ground-based artillery. An indiscriminate method of bothering the enemy. Used extensively in Vietnam to unsettle Vietcong and North Vietnamese Army units in their sanctuaries.

hot-refuel
—Refueling without shutting down the engines. This is done only under combat conditions.

IBL
—Inflatable Boat Large. An eleven-man rubber boat formerly used to transport UDT swimmers.

joint
—Term that describes multiservice actions or organizations—e.g., “joint operations”; “joint commands.” Operation Urgent Fury was a joint operation in Grenada. SOCOM is a joint command.

Junk Force
—South Vietnamese organization that operated wooden-hulled indigenous craft called junks. In the Mekong Delta, some junk force units fought hard and distinguished themselves.

K-Bar knife
—Basic tool and last line of defense for SEAL swimmers. Used by frogmen (and U.S. Marines) since World War II. The K-Bar's sturdy seven-inch steel blade has been used in combat and for more mundane purposes such as opening tin cans. Through the years, it has become a symbol of the SEALs and a highly treasured item for SEAL “wannabes.”

LANTCOM
—Atlantic Command. Historically commanded by a Navy admiral or Marine general (CINCLANT), it's responsible for all U.S. military operations in the Atlantic theater.

LANTFLT
—U.S. Atlantic Fleet. The Navy organization charged with carrying out naval operations within a prescribed geographic area that includes the Atlantic Ocean. With the “CINC” preceding it, the acronym refers to the commander in chief of the Atlantic Fleet.

LCPL
—Landing Craft Personnel Large. A thirty-six-foot steel-hulled boat formerly used by UDT to transport swimmers from their host ships to an amphibious landing beach.

Lizard Line
—Long rope (the length can vary) used to keep a large number of SEALs together during submerged swims. Sometimes, double loops are woven into the line at staggered intervals so swim pairs can hang on as they swim.

LSSC
—Light SEAL Support Craft. Vietnam-era boat.

LZ
—Landing zone; short for “helicopter landing zone.” Area designated for landing helos. Usually describes an area free of obstructions but could be anywhere a helo can land.

MC-1
—Military static-line parachute system. Jumpers attach their static lines to a cable inside the aircraft. When they jump, the static line deploys the parachute. The “round” canopy is modified to allow the jumper to turn into the wind before landing.

MT-1
—Military free-fall parachute system used by SEALs and special forces. Highly maneuverable “square” canopy acts much like an aircraft wing, allowing jumpers more maneuverability and forward speed than the MC-1 system.

Mike Force
—American Special Forces—commanded unit composed of Vietnamese or Cambodian troops; operated throughout South Vietnam.

MX-300/360 radio
—Small handheld UHF or VHF radio used by SEALs for short-range communications. Manufactured by Motorola.

NAVAIRLANT
—Naval Air Forces, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. With the letters “COM” preceding it, the acronym refers to the commander of the force.

NAVFORV
—Naval Forces Vietnam. This organization, based in Saigon, commanded all naval forces operating within the prescribed military boundaries of Vietnam. With the letters “COM” preceding it, the acronym refers to the commander of the force.

NAVOPSUPGRU
—Naval Operations Support Group. The forerunner of Naval Special Warfare Groups. Commanded UDTs, SEAL Teams, and Boat Support Units.

NAVPERS
—Bureau of Naval Personnel, the organization responsible for assigning all Navy officers and enlisted.

NAVSPECWARCOM
—Naval Special Warfare Command. The naval-component command of the U.S. Special Operations Command. Commanded by a rear admiral, NAVSPECWARCOM is responsible for the care and feeding of all naval special warfare forces.

NAVSPECWARGRU
—Naval Special Warfare Group. Commanded by a SEAL captain, it's the organization responsible to COMNAVSPECWAR-COM for the command and control of SEAL Teams.

northern gun line
—Geographic area off the coast of northern South Vietnam, patrolled by U.S. Navy ships that provided gunfire support for Marines in the I Corps, as well as interdiction fire into Vietcong base areas.

NVD
—Night Vision Device. Commonly called a “Starlight Scope,” it uses ambient light to provide nighttime images much as a telescope would during the day.

OIC
—Officer in charge.

OPNAV
—Acronym used to identify the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations.

P-3
—Land-based antisubmarine-warfare aircraft, the four-engine P-3 Orion was a superb hunter of Soviet submarines.

PACFLT
—U.S. Pacific Fleet. The Navy organization charged with carrying out naval operations within a prescribed geographic area that includes the Pacific Ocean. With the letters “CINC” preceding it, the acronym refers to the commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet.

PACOM
—Pacific Command. Historically commanded by a Navy admiral (CINCPAC), it's responsible for all U.S. military operations in the Pacific theater.

PBR
—River patrol boat. Thirty-two-foot fiberglass boat widely employed on the rivers in Vietnam. Twin .50-caliber machine guns forward plus a single .50-caliber and M-60 machine gun (among other weapons) aft made this a formidable craft for river interdiction. SEALs often used PBRs as insertion craft.

PHIBLANT/PHIBPAC
—Amphibious Force U.S. Atlantic/Pacific Fleet. With the letters “COM” preceding it, the acronym refers to the commander of the force.

platoon
—Normally the largest operating entity in a SEAL Team. During Vietnam a SEAL platoon contained up to two officers and twelve enlisted men. Present SEAL platoons comprise two squads of one officer and seven enlisted.

point man
—First person in a combat patrol. In a SEAL patrol the point man is responsible for ensuring that the patrol does not walk into an enemy ambush. He is also the first man to encounter any mines or booby traps. After the patrol leader, the point man bears the most responsibility for the safety of the patrol. During Vietnam, SEAL point men were some of the best in their platoon or squad.

Popular Force
—Irregular South Vietnamese organization formed to protect villages from the Vietcong. Popular Force units seldom operated beyond their villages and hamlets.

PRC-25
—Man-portable VHF radio. The basic field radio for SEALs in Vietnam.

OPAREA
—Acronym for “operating [or “operations”] area.” Refers to an area in which military operations are conducted. “Area of operations” and “AO” are interchangeable terms.