I am
most grateful for living in America
and enjoying the freedoms its democracy provides. It’s an emotion under attack
these days. But that doesn’t change the warm feeling I have whenever the red-white-and-blue
is displayed on patriotic holidays like the Fourth of July, and whenever I
stand respectfully for “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the start of a concert or
ballgame. I felt that same heartwarming emotion this past February when I
toured The National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum (aka “The Navy SEAL Museum”), just
outside Fort Pierce, Florida.
The
Navy SEAL Museum’s
tagline is “If you got any closer, you would have to enlist,” and after
touring, I understood just how fitting it is. The museum showcases the role of the
Navy underwater demolition teams (UDT) and the sea, air, land (SEAL) teams,
formerly known as “frogmen.” Trained in scuba diving and swimming underwater,
these special warriors got their nickname in the World War II era because of the
special suits they wore. Green, smooth, and paired with fins, they looked like
man-sized frogs. In 1962, the mission of Navy frogmen evolved and expanded to
operate on sea, air, and land. Thus, the name “Navy SEALS” was born.
The
museum is home to a most unusual up-close collection of rare artifacts,
equipment, and weapons used by these elite warriors from World War II through
current engagements in Afghanistan.
I felt like I was entering the secret world of special warfare.
The Tour Begins
Since
no one is going anywhere too fast these days, let me take you on a virtual tour
of the only museum dedicated solely to preserving the history of the U.S. Navy
SEALs and their predecessors. Hopefully, one day, you can tour it in person.
Navy
SEALs are known to use the best weaponry available in the world, both now and
in the past; if they couldn’t buy it, they made it. The museum exhibits many
unique handmade and custom-configured knives and firearms, such as the M1917
Browning machine gun used in WWI, WWII, and the Korean War.
The
museum’s World War II memorabilia include the official document of surrender by
Japan.”
On August 6, 1945, the
bomber Enola Gay dropped the first atomic bomb, “Little Boy,” on the city of Hiroshima. On August 9, a second atomic bomb, “Fat
Man,” was dropped on the city of Nagasaki.
The Japanese surrendered on August
14, 1945. Between August 14 and September 2, UDTs went ashore to
look for and destroy Japanese beach defenses. On September
2, 1945, Japanese representatives signed the official
“Instrument of Surrender” aboard the battleship USS Missouri, bringing the
hostilities of the six-year World War II, to a close.
The
museum has a number of outdoor displays, as well. One of them is a landing
craft used by the UDT in the Pacific during World War II and the Korean War,
called The Landing Craft Personnel (Large) or LCP
(L), aka “the Shark Tooth Boat.” It was used mostly to ferry troops from
transport ships to attack enemy-held shores.
Baby Boomer Era Displays
Also
outdoors was the Patrol Boat River (PBR),
that was used during the Vietnam War, from March 1966 until the end of 1971.
The construction of these armed boats, manned by a four-man crew, was perfect
for operating in shallow rivers that have a lot of weeds. They were used to
stop and search river traffic to prevent weapon shipments, and often became
involved in firefights with enemy soldiers on boats and on the shore.
There
are three gutted SEAL Delivery Vehicles (SDVs) on display, as well. These are
mini-subs that are free-flooding. That means that the SEALs are surrounded by
sea water during the entire mission and they must wear compressed air tanks.
SDVs are used to secretly enter enemy shores and can transport up to six
combat-equipped SEALs and underwater weapons. Some SDVs were used in the
Vietnam War in 1972. Others were used for secret demolition missions during
Operation Desert Storm and to secure off-shore gas and oil terminals during
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Seeing
the Apollo space craft exhibit brought back nostalgic childhood memories of
watching the first U.S.
moon landing in July 1969. This display is comprised of the actual training
devices used by the UDT Frogmen recovery teams during the Apollo and Gemini
space missions. The Frogmen played an important role, leaping into the water
from a helicopter to recover the still warm space capsules that had just
splashed down into the ocean after a fiery 1,000-mile-an-hour drop from space.
They wrestled a flotation collar around the capsule to keep it from sinking and
then popped the hatch to make sure the astronauts were okay. After
decontaminating them, the Frogmen helped lift the astronauts into the rescue
helicopter. Bill Shepherd was the first SEAL in space in 2000. The jumpsuit of
the second SEAL astronaut, Chris Cassidy, is on display at the museum.
Fighting for Freedom in the Middle East
It
was exciting to go aboard the Mark V Special Operations Craft (SOC), an 82-foot, 52-ton boat that could hold five
crew members, 16 SEALs, and mission equipment such as weapons and missiles.
Specially designed to absorb some of the pounding and stress from high seas, it
was first used in August 1996 and served in multiple operations in the Middle East.
Various
SEAL vehicles that were used in operations in Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq are displayed
at the museum, too. They include the 1987 Model 998 HMMWV High Mobility
Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle HUMVEE, a prototype of the ones used by SEALs
today. HUMVEEs replace the Jeeps used since WW II, and are designed to protect
passengers from Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). They are equipped with a
machine gun, missiles, and grenade launchers, and are considered among the most
capable all-terrain vehicles in the world. They are used as troop carriers,
command vehicles, weapons platforms, ambulances, and for psychological
operations.
The
Light Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle (LATV) on display saw action in Jalabad, Afghanistan. Able to go
from 0 to 30 mph in four seconds, reaching speeds of 80 mph, it is small and
lightweight but mighty. It was used to assist the teams in their missions, for
it could be transported by helicopter and dropped into even the roughest of
terrains.
I
also saw three-passenger Desert Patrol Vehicles (DPV) – aka Fast Attack
Vehicles – that were used by Navy SEALs in Operations Desert Storm, Enduring
Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. The first Americans to enter Kuwait City during Operation
Desert Storm were Navy SEALs in DPVs. They were perfect for operating in the desert
environments and rough terrain that is typical to Afghanistan and Iraq. DPVs
typically operate in pairs for mutual support during combat search-and-rescue
missions and other operations behind enemy lines. They are armed with machine
guns, anti-armor rocket launchers, and other SEAL weapons.
It
was also amazing to see the Sikorsky UH-60 “Black Hawk,” a four-bladed,
twin-engine, medium-lift utility helicopter, which was flown in Iraq,
Afghanistan, Somalia, Columbia, Poland, Okinawa, and the Horn of Africa.
Commissioned in 1991, it was shot down three times. It flew 5,090 flight hours;
its gross weight is 11,500 pounds, and its maximum weight is 24,500 pounds. This
is the very Black Hawk that rescued U.S. citizen Jessica Buchanan and
Danish citizen Poul Hagen Thisted on January 25, 2012. A team of Navy SEALs raided a compound
12 miles north of Adow, Somalia, killing nine Somali
pirates and freeing their hostages.
Also
fascinating is the U.S.-flagged cargo ship, Maersk Alabama. Four Somali pirates hijacked the
Maersk Alabama on Wednesday, April 8, 2009.
After ordering his crew to lock themselves in a secure room, Captain Richard
Phillips surrendered himself to the pirates and boarded this lifeboat. He was
held hostage in Somalia for
five days before expert Navy SEAL snipers rescued him. You can see the bullet
holes in the lifeboat from the SEALs’ open fire, which killed three
pirates.
Time
did not allow me to view every exhibit at the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum,
but before leaving I was fascinated by an actual Navy SEAL Medical Kit used in
Iran, in 1987.
Thank
you, Navy Frogmen and Navy SEALs for your selfless, devoted service to our
country!
