Recon Marines or Navy Seals??

Had a buddy who was a recon Marine in 1959-60. Was the Navy Seal program in force at that time or did it come later/earlier? TIA

 

Had a friend who said he was a Navy Seal during Korean war. Roger C.

 

I was at Camp Del Mar, Oceanside, Ca in 1964. It was a Marine training base, including Recon. There were 5 man Seal teams training with the Recon guys at that time. On board the USS point Defiance in 1965 off the coast of So, Vietnam we had a Seal team on board, we exercised with them in the morning. Then they continued most of the day. Incredible stamina.

 

Thank you both. My buddy was destined to be a recon Marine early in life. When we were in the first grade he told a young lady the truth about where babies came from and she ran all the way home crying. The spinster we had for a Principal probably found the story very interesting.

 

Back then Seals were UDT.Underwater demolation team Located between Cornado,Calif and San Diego on what was called the Silver Strand.In 55,56,57 my dad was a Naval pilot flying seaplanes out of North Island on Coronado.He would drive by the UDT school at about 110 miles per hour in our 54 Buick ,then pull over and asked if I wanted to drive.Eleven years old.I was scared to death,just told him no.Afraid he would make me drive that fast.Mike

 

Thanks for the info Mike. I worked with some former Navy fliers that flew the old Martin Mars seaplane. Beautiful as they were their cruise speed was just a bit faster than your Dad's Buick.

 

In 1959-1960, should've been UDT, as firewater said above. Switched to SEALs in 1962.

 

Were the UDT teams active in Korea? Roger C.

 

We were with a seal group in 66 doing some training, they were just as tough as the marines. But not sure about them In a bar fight..

 

My old friend Curt was a frogman in WW11 Pacific. He brought back a Jap phone from an island. Never got any stories from him. Good guy.

 

Yea,my dad called them frogmen.He also didnt tell me any stories until he was 92 years old.Mike