In memory of .. HARRY BEAL, the first Navy SEAL in American history.

Navy Seals are probably one of the first special operations forces everyone knows about.
With a large reputation and appearances in important missions and media
To the point of appearing in many movie formats
But how many people know "who" was the first person to be called a SEAL?
In history, who was the first person to create this legend?



Harry M. Beal. Born August 16, 1930.
and grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
He joined the Navy in 1948 and was assigned
Commissioned aboard the destroyer USS Shenandoah
Before joining the underwater demolition team in 1955

At that time, there were only 500 soldiers.
Who participated in the high-level training that can be called training for the mission
One of the most brutal and dangerous in the Navy.

And that's the training, destroying underwater mines to clear the way.
Soldiers can land on land, with information from the mission.
The Normandy landings in 1944, which at that time
It can be said that more than 52% of the military force was injured or died almost immediately.
Where their feet touch the beach ground, the mine-clearing unit
And help clear the way for the landing craft, nicknamed
"Frogmen" and another nickname is "The Naked Warrior"
Due to the small number of uniforms and the missions both in water and on land.
All the time, but that's not really the beginning of the SEAL unit.



In January 1961, President John F. Kennedy launched the program.
Provide special naval operations personnel to be stationed on both coasts.
(East Coast and West Coast) by selecting the best officers
The first 100 men from the active-duty underwater demolition team

The selected officers will be transferred to work in the name of
The Naval Special Warfare Operations Unit is known as
"The United States Navy Sea, Air, and Land Teams"
Or "SEALs", in that era there were only 2 teams, the West and East teams.
and later changed to the name "Seal Team 1 and Seal Team 2"

Harry Beal was the first officer to raise his hand and immediately apply to join the unit in 1962.
The reason why he was the first to raise his hand was because his friends teased him that Harry was not smart enough.
To apply for this unit after hearing the details of the unit's mission.

Harry Beal may not have been the only SEAL during that era, but here's why
He was chosen as the first Navy SEAL officer in history.
Because he was one of the founders of Seal Team 2 and was the first to go through training.
According to the unit's standards before anyone else in the generation, even being included in the list
The first graduate to be listed in the Navy Seal yearbook.



And with him being in Seal Team 2, which is the training team
And stationed on the East Coast, which has been counted as
It is also 3 hours faster than the West Coast, which makes it possible to say that
He was the first official SEAL officer in history.
Real US military stuff

Harry Beal received a diploma
Known as "Plank Owner / Plank Holder"
Which is considered a very valuable certificate.
For Navy personnel

Because that is the confirmation that the officer
Beal is the "first officer assigned to the unit".
It was received at the same time as Rudolph E. Boesch, who was inducted.
To be the first commander of the Seals unit from the President.



One of the most important missions Harry Beal carried out at that time was a rescue mission.
Major John Glenn, the first American astronaut to travel into space.
which traveled with the spacecraft "Friendship 7" in that mission when the spacecraft
Reentry into the Earth's atmosphere resulted in the spacecraft crashing into the northern area.
of the Atlantic Ocean and was rescued by Harry Beal's team.

Beal was the one who took Major John Glenn out of the capsule.
By themselves and bring them to safety. It is considered a mission to help astronauts.
This is the first time in the history of the US military.



The SEALs are a special forces unit that was created to deal with
Modern-day special warfare, especially in the first combat mission of the SEALs.

It involves working with the Green Beret Special Forces in support of missions.
Involved in secret naval operations, including receiving primary missions
To fight and deal with guerrilla warfare in particular.

In addition to combat missions, the SEALs are also one of the teams that
Trained allied forces during the Vietnam War and carried out important missions.
There are many things , such as destroying targets, capturing important targets.
Until he was nicknamed by his enemies as "The Green-Faced Warrior".
Due to the camouflage characteristics of the face that blends in with the environment
And kill the enemy with silence and speed, creating fear in the enemy.
It was very important at that time.



Harry Beal retired in 1968 at the age of 38, considered to have served his time.
Beal's career spanned over 20 years, and after his retirement he was
Return to live a peaceful and simple life in your hometown with your children and wife.

Until he passed away peacefully on January 27, 2021.
Mayersville's city council named a bridge after Beal.
To commemorate the heroism and bravery that Beal performed during his time in the military.

In the classic words of a SEAL, that's what it means to be a SEAL.
It doesn't mean that he is the strongest or the biggest, but that
A person who can face any problem and fight to overcome its limits.
That is the true potential and strength of the SEAL officers.

That's certainly true for the tall Harry Beal.
At just 5 feet (152 centimeters), he wasn't the biggest of the bunch.
Or the strongest, but with his mind and determination that made him
Become one of the few operators to rise above the crowd.
Who has entered one of the highest levels of special operations that few can enter?

And he has spent his whole life proving his ability and potential to face
All problems and overcome your own limitations in performing your missions that ordinary people do.
It could not be done and became a legend that will be passed down to the next generation.
And the way of the warrior in the future....

To us and those like us, damn few.
"To us and those like us, of whom there are few."
- Robert Burns, Ayrshire Poet

Source: Remembering Harry Beal, the First Navy SEAL | SOFREP
Source: Harry Beal, one of the first modern-era Navy SEALs, has died (taskandpurpose.com)
Source: Navy SEAL History | Navy SEALs
Source: The Men With Green Faces - National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum (navysealmuseum.org)
Source: https://t.co/9c3vDIxcMU" / Twitter
Source: First Navy SEALs In Vietnam | SOFREP


Translator and editor: Ronnakrit " Viking " Sripumma
On February 23, 2021