Richard is a motivational speaker and a business instructor. "Demo Dick" was the United States' premier counterterrorism operator.
After serving in the US Navy for a year in the mid-'60s, he graduated with degrees in international relations and political science and earned 34 medals and citations, including a Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, and four Bronze Stars. His military resume is just the beginning.
It's easy to see why his record and reputation are exceptional, even among the ranks of American special operators. He is still teaching business executives as well as US and foreign hostage-rescue teams. He was a consultant on the show. His memoir is a New York Times best seller.
"I'm good at war, I'm good at it," he told People Magazine. The system kept me from hunting and killing as many enemies as I would have liked.
1. There was a bounty on his head.
The US Navy.
The North Vietnamese Army took notice of the success of the platoon leader and his team. His assault on Ilo Ilo Island was considered the most successful in the history of the navy.
During his second tour, he and his team collaborated with the Army Special Forces. The hospital personnel were caught in the crossfire as the brawl raged around them.
The 50,000 piastre bounty was placed on his head by the NVA because of his success. They never paid the bounty.
2. The Marine Corps rejected him.
At 18 he joined the military, but he didn't join the Navy until later. The Marine Corps rejected him because he didn't graduate from high school.
He enlisted in the Navy as a commander. After graduating from the Navy's postgraduate school, he became an officer.
3. The Navy's counterterrorism operation was designed by him.
You know you've made it when they make a video game about your life story.
The US Navy and its special operations structure decided that they needed to change after the failed attempt to free hostages in Iran. One of the people who helped design the new system was Marcinko. His answer was the creation of a team.
4. The Russians were fooled by his numbered team.
The United States and the Soviet Union were locked in the Cold War when he created the newest SEAL Team.
He didn't trust anyone to keep the creation of his new unit a secret, so he numbered it Seal Team Six in order to fool the KGB into thinking there were more than one Seal Team.
5. His job was to get into American bases.
The Navy needed to know where their operational sensitivities were weakest. The Navy was desperate to know if they could be penetrated. Vice Adm. James Lyons wanted to create another unit.
The Red Cell is a unit of 13 men. The other came from Marine Force Recon. They were to break into secure areas, nuclear submarines, Navy ships and even Air Force One.
Red Cell was able to leave without notice. The reason? Military personnel were replaced by private security guards.
6. He was in jail for 15 months.
AUMAlumni is a video on YouTube.
The Navy said that he was involved in a kickback scandal, in which he was accused of conspiring with an Arizona arms dealer to get a government contract for hand grenades.
The charge was the result of a witch hunt and blowback for exposing so many vulnerabilities and embarrassing the Navy's highest ranking officers, according to the testimony of the accused. He was sentenced to 21 months.
