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Naval History and Heritage Command

Hampton Roads Naval Museum

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  • Vietnam Conflict 1962-1975
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<p>SEAL color photo</p>
Caption: Petty Officer Second Class Thomas Keith of SEAL Team 2 keeps watch along a stream with his Stoner 63A assault rifle in 1968. (National Archives and Record Administration)

 

 

SEALs

The Navy established two counterinsurgency SEAL (Sea, Air, and Land) teams in 1962. SEALs conducted covert operations to great effect in Vietnam. Often operating in small six-man squads, they carried out ambushes, reconnaissance patrols, and special intelligence operations. SEAL Teams One and Two killed or captured 4,000 enemy combatants, saved countless lives through their intelligence operations, and received five Presidential Unit Citations. Forty-eight SEALs lost their lives in Vietnam and three received the Medal of Honor.