United States Navy Officer. He was the founder of the United States Navy special forces unit known as the SEALs (for "SEa, Air and Land"). At age 17 he enlisted in the Navy for World War II, became a diver, saw action in the Pacific Theater, and was wounded at the Battle of Guadalcanal. He served as Chief Boatswain's Mate aboard the "USS Wooster" during the Korean conflict, providing fire support for the Inchon landing and the Chosin Reservoir retreat. He obtained a commission in the late 1950s, and in the early 1960s designed and implemented the concept for the irregular warfare teams later called SEALs, that included training in diving, demolitions, martial arts, parachuting, sailing, and intelligence gathering. As the first Officer in Charge of SEAL Team Two, he was famed as the Navy's "First SEAL", which became the title of his 1998 autobiography. While forming the SEALs, Boehm was subjected to numerous Boards of Inquiry for offenses such as unauthorized modifications to equipment and purchasing weapons on the open market because it took too long to obtain them through official channels, but the investigations ended when he received direct authorization from United States President John F. Kennedy. Following his experience founding the SEALs, he was named head of the River Patrol Craft Division in Vietnam, where he organized and trained sailors for small unit combat in and near rivers. After retiring as a Lieutenant Commander in 1972 he became a pilot and powered paraglider enthusiast and was active in veteran's organizations. His awards included the Bronze Star Medal with "V" for valor and Purple Heart.
United States Navy Officer. He was the founder of the United States Navy special forces unit known as the SEALs (for "SEa, Air and Land"). At age 17 he enlisted in the Navy for World War II, became a diver, saw action in the Pacific Theater, and was wounded at the Battle of Guadalcanal. He served as Chief Boatswain's Mate aboard the "USS Wooster" during the Korean conflict, providing fire support for the Inchon landing and the Chosin Reservoir retreat. He obtained a commission in the late 1950s, and in the early 1960s designed and implemented the concept for the irregular warfare teams later called SEALs, that included training in diving, demolitions, martial arts, parachuting, sailing, and intelligence gathering. As the first Officer in Charge of SEAL Team Two, he was famed as the Navy's "First SEAL", which became the title of his 1998 autobiography. While forming the SEALs, Boehm was subjected to numerous Boards of Inquiry for offenses such as unauthorized modifications to equipment and purchasing weapons on the open market because it took too long to obtain them through official channels, but the investigations ended when he received direct authorization from United States President John F. Kennedy. Following his experience founding the SEALs, he was named head of the River Patrol Craft Division in Vietnam, where he organized and trained sailors for small unit combat in and near rivers. After retiring as a Lieutenant Commander in 1972 he became a pilot and powered paraglider enthusiast and was active in veteran's organizations. His awards included the Bronze Star Medal with "V" for valor and Purple Heart.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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