Navy SEALs trace their history back
to the SeaBees at the beginning of WWII. SeaBees were the Navy construction
batallions from whom the NCDU's drew their volunteers. SeaBees were a good
source of men since they had already been trained in the fine art of demolition.
NCDU's distinguished themselves quickly during Normandy
and other such amphibious assaults where they blew a path for the Marines.
Towards the end of WWII NCDU's were consolidated
into UDT's, which saw action in every corner of the Pacific. They often
left signs ashore for the Marines that read something like, "Welcome, U.S.
Marines" to play on the Marine's pride of always being the first ashore.
Then in early 1962, President John F. Kennedy created
the U.S. Navy SEAL's. Experts in sea, air
and land operations, USN SEAL's were capable of meeting the enemy on his
own turf using unconventional tactics.
SEAL's distinguished themselves in Vietnam where
they took the night back from charlie.
