First SEALs
Page 24
122“It was the . . . valuable work.” “History of the Maritime Unit.”
122“lack of German . . . sabotage activities.” Ibid.
122“rough but accurate . . . German fortifications.” War Report of the OSS, II:70.
122“take charge of . . . and demolitions equipment.” “History of the Maritime Unit.”
123“The duke and . . . could operate.” Morde letter, NARA.
123“The main charge . . . the stern.” Washington to Algiers, Incoming message/cable, June 9, 1944, NARA.
124“because of commitments . . . this matter.” Washington to Algiers, Incoming message/cable, May 1, 1944, NARA.
124“Lt. Kelly immediately . . . of Italy.” “History of the Maritime Unit.”
CHAPTER 16: OSSINING
125“Considerable [enemy] personnel . . . at traffic.” “History of the Maritime Unit.”
126“intelligence information, which . . . high priority.” Ibid.
126“not adept at . . . up bridges.” Morde letter, NARA.
126“They are cocky . . . and gratitude.” Ibid.
127“Handling other trainees, . . . field man.” Training records, NARA.
127“to destroy two . . . of Pesaro.” “History of the Maritime Unit.”
128“four Nazi armored . . . several days.” Ibid.
128“A seven hundred . . . downed airmen.” Ibid.
128“all personnel escaped without injury,” Ibid.
128“Although the Maritime . . . in Italy.” Ibid.
129“excellent point to land.” Packard Mission Report, NARA; also after-action debriefing, NARA.
129“The region was very . . . natural hiding-place.” Ibid.
129“[Crossing the highway] . . . stopped us.” Ibid.
130“was of the . . . and urgency.” Ibid.
130“were of tremendous help . . . their breakthrough.” Ibid.
CHAPTER 17: SWIMMER COMMANDOS
131Opening scene from author interview with Gordon Soltau and various memos on Operation Betty.
131“reduce the striking power.” “History of L-Unit,” NARA.
132“Right before D-Day, . . . was scrubbed.” Ibid.
132“The most conspicuous . . . definite missions.” “History of the Maritime Unit.”
133“It was obvious . . . than this.” Ibid.
133“when he became . . . Lambertsen unit.” Ibid.
133“Dampness and cool . . . of depth.” “History of L-Unit.”
134The acronym SDV can refer to “swimmer delivery vehicle” or “SEAL delivery vehicle.”
134“whenever a particular . . . never materialized.” Ibid.
136“the [OSS swimmers] . . . by then.” Edwin P. Hoyt, SEALs at War (New York: Dell Publishing, 1993), no page number available.
137“in distress and . . . swim further.” Operatives, Spies, and Saboteurs; also “Report on Burrfish” and “Report on Mission to Yap,” NARA.
137“they abandoned all . . . no success.” Ibid.
139“I jumped up . . . get closer.” Author interview.
139“perfectly at home . . . very nice.” Ibid.
139“Just remembering it . . . around us.” Ibid.
139“Get your goddamn . . . of there!” Ibid.
140“I held my . . . the charge.” Ibid.
140“Boom!” Ibid.
140“It was sickening . . . little bellies.” Ibid.
140“This was a . . . your life.” Ibid.
141“As we swam . . . cannon fire.” Ibid.
141“When you get . . . back in.” Ibid.
141“We had a . . . went by.” Ibid.
142“Why didn’t you . . . clandestine mean?” Ibid.
142“We weren’t there . . . the bushel.” Ibid.
142“It ran pretty . . . underwater demolition.” Ibid.
143“Where are the . . . Forces refined.” Ibid.
143“Shooting wasn’t our . . . their fires.” Ibid.
144“If we were . . . a hook.” Ibid.
144“several wires and old wreckage.” Ibid.
145“expressed a desire . . . [OSS] again.” “History of the Maritime Unit.”
145“expressed his appreciation and satisfaction.” Ibid.
145“obtained hydrographic and . . . of chaungs.” Ibid.
146“This area abounds . . . possibilities.” Ibid.
146“a siege of . . . training course.” Ibid.
146“Johnny . . . paddy [rice] farmer.” “Methods of identifying members of the Caprice Party,” August 17, 1945, NARA.
147“You are not . . . my life.” Author interview.
CHAPTER 18: THE DUPONT MISSION
152“I am an . . . help you.” Persico, Piercing the Reich, 120.
154“refresher course.” Taylor, résumé of activities, NARA.
CHAPTER 19: “I WAS PROMISED THIS MISSION, AND I WANT IT”
156“a flat cultivated . . . excellent cover.” Jack Taylor, “Dupont Mission Report,” May 30, 1945, NARA.
158“I was promised . . . want it.” Persico, Piercing the Reich, 125.
158“were in their . . . their integrity.” Taylor, “Dupont Mission Report.”
158“could be depended . . . an emergency.” Ibid.
158“entirely abnormal . . . four bodies.” Ibid.
159“I pulled down . . . front yard.” Ibid.
159“To our amazement . . . previous run.” Ibid.
159“To our utter . . . an investigation.” Ibid.
159“I stepped in . . . containers.” Ibid.
160“a medium-sized marsh . . . sleeping bag.” Ibid.
160“continued past Nougledel . . . Leithe Geb.” Ibid.
161“As it was . . . the hayloft.” Ibid.
161“Buchleitner and family . . . by others.” Ibid.
162“a locomotive factory . . . January [1945].” Ibid.
162“housed several hundred . . . ever seen.” Ibid.
162“two trains of . . . human beings.” Ibid.
162“was being widened . . . themselves working.” Ibid.
163“Political information showed . . . (people’s army).” Ibid.
164“would go to . . . as machinery.” Ibid.
164Living up to . . . his girlfriend. “The Overseas Target,” OSS History Vol II, 318.
165“Suddenly, the door . . . his head.” Taylor, “Dupont Mission Report.”
CHAPTER 20: VIENNA CAPTIVITY
169Quotes in this chapter come from Jack Taylor, “Dupont Mission Report Part II: Capture, Gestapo and Vienna Prison.”
CHAPTER 21: DECIMA MAS STRIKES BACK
175Unless otherwise specified, quotes in this chapter come from Staff Officer (Intelligence) Leghorn, “Unsuccessful Limpeteer Attack on Leghorn. 18th–19th November, 1944,” Report, November 25, 1944, NARA.
178“Explorer Theodore . . . without saying.” Theodore Morde, “In the Lost City of Ancient America’s Monkey God,” Milwaukee Sentinel, September 22, 1940, 28–29, news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19400922&id=yjBQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Nw0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6930,4275460.
179“Frankly I am . . . this war.” Morde to Lichtman, letter, January 22, 1945, NARA.
179“Mines go off . . . the harbor.” Ibid.
179“ten Lambertsen Diving . . . each unit.” Lt. G. M. Kaydouh, USNR to Col. Edward J. G. Glavin, letter, October 4, 1944, NARA.
180“boatman . . . chests.” Lupo Team Report, NARA.
180“[One agent] lost . . . genital organs.” Ibid.
CHAPTER 22: THE EIGHTH ARMY DETACHMENT
183“Captain Thiele personally . . . serious damage.” Captain Thiele’s Citation for Legion of Merit, NARA.
184“flair for handling . . . and airplanes.” Ibid.
184Walkiria Terradura, a . . . years to come. “Walkiria’s War: The True Story of Walkiria Terradura,” www.walkiriaswar.com/story4.html.
185“unusually frank and . . . highly reliable” Monteleone Personnel File, NARA.
186“The San Marco . . . be trained.�
�� Author interview and Operatives, Spies, and Saboteurs, 132.
186“The men would . . . Corsini Canal.” Robert Young, “The OSS’s Eighth Army Detachment in Italy: A Few Men and Their Radio,” The OSS Society Journal, Summer/Fall 2010.
187“We landed the . . . German voices.” Author interview.
187“As soon as . . . German battery.” Bionda Mission Report, Bionda Radio File, and reports related to the operation, NARA.
187“We didn’t hear . . . got captured.” Author interview.
188“Since the last . . . the region.” Bionda Mission Report; author interview.
188“scarce in clothing . . . 12 October.” Bionda Mission Report.
188“I immediately reached . . . an explosion.” Ibid.
188“During the time . . . excellent work.” Ibid.
189“the best piece . . . of Italy.” Alphonse Thiele, History of the Eighth Army Detachment, 1945, NARA.
190“One cannot overstress . . . one’s disposal.” Ibid.
190“This was the . . . returned safely.” Ibid.
190“In all, fifteen . . . on shore.” Ibid.
190“be incorporated into . . . Ops Officer.” War Report of the OSS, Vol II, 102.
190“It is gratifying . . . their own.” Thiele, History of the Eighth Army Detachment.
CHAPTER 23: STELLA
Quotes in this chapter come from the Stella Mission Report, NARA.
CHAPTER 24: INDIANA JONES
195“This coast is . . . ten men.” Morde to Lee, letter, January 1945, NARA.
195“showed an appreciation.” Thiele, History of the Eighth Army Detachment; War Report of the OSS, Vol. II, 102.
195“inland, supplying the . . . red cabbages.” Morde to Lichtman, letter, January 22, 1945, NARA; also “Full Report on Destruction of P-584,” NARA.
198“For three and . . . said so.” Hayden, Wanderer, 330.
199“I don’t mean . . . the war.” Ibid., 229.
CHAPTER 25: SURVIVING
Quotes in this chapter come from the Dupont Mission Report.
CHAPTER 26: MAUTHAUSEN
Quotes in this chapter come from the Dupont Mission Report.
CHAPTER 27: LAST ACTS
215To lay the foundation . . . partisan resistance. War Report of the OSS, 115.
215“impossible . . . transport organizations.” Thiele, History of the Eighth Army Detachment; other reports on the Eighth Army Detachment and Company D, NARA.
215“Activity of partisan . . . this development.” Kesselring to subordinates, telegram, February 26, 1945, in War Report of the OSS, Vol. II, 114.
216“resulted in the . . . firing a shot.” Hearn’s Citation for Bronze Star Medal, NARA.
217“[MU will] move . . . this material.” Kelly, “Operational Report, Company D 1–15 March, 1945,” March 18, 1945, NARA.
CHAPTER 28: GOD BLESS AMERICA
219“I was so . . . without fainting.” Taylor, Dupont Mission Report.
219“Terribly optimistic rumors . . . eventually died.” Ibid.
220–221“started the evacuation . . . and sugar.” Ibid.
221Unbeknownst to Taylor . . . the camps. Ibid.
221The rest of . . . April 28. Transcripts of Mauthausen-Gusen Camp Trials, NARA.
222“American P-38s came . . . coming fast.” Taylor, Dupont Mission Report.
222“stressed the fact . . . liberation.” Former Staff Sgt. Albert J. Kosiek, “Liberation of Mauthausen (and KZ Gusen I, II & III),” THUNDERBOLT—The 11th Ard. Div. Association, Vol. 8, No. 7, May–June 1955, webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://www.nizkor.org/hweb/camps/gusen/kosiek1x.htm.
223“From beginning to . . . presenting arms.” Ibid.
223“that an American . . . Bless America.” Taylor, Dupont Mission Report.
CHAPTER 29: SUNSET
228“dispatched upstream, swimming . . . the way.” Operation Caprice V reports and memos, August 1945, NARA.
228“comprehensive film report . . . wooden craft submersible.” Donovan, Commendation recommendation, NARA.
CHAPTER 30: “THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I’VE EVER BEEN IN THE MOVIES”
229“I’m lieutenant senior . . . this lager.” The original version of the film resides in NARA. An online version of the film can be found at www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/mauthfilm.html.
230“Five or six . . . in time.” Ibid.
230“The boys rustled . . . the morning.” Kosiek, “Liberation of Mauthausen.”
231“running down SS . . . the area.” Taylor, Dupont Mission Report.
231“death books.” Ibid.
231“outstanding . . . the best war-crimes evidence.” Persico, Piercing the Reich, 312, and Harry Cimring, American Dental Association, “In Memoriam” article; various documents related to the trial located in NARA.
EPILOGUE
233“Will you describe . . . eating.” Transcripts of Mauthausen-Gusen Camp Trials, NARA.
234All quotes are from the transcripts of Mauthausen-Gusen Camp Trials, NARA.
235All quotes are from the transcripts of Mauthausen-Gusen Camp Trials, NARA.
236“For the safety . . . UDT missions.” Francis D. Fane, The Naked Warriors: The Elite Fighting Force That Became the Navy Seals (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1995), 279.
236“It had been . . . we turned.” Ibid., 290–291.
236“There was a . . . Roman Coliseum.” Ibid., 291.
237“The day . . . far off.” Ibid., 293.
237“additional unconventional warfare . . . universal capability.” Rear Adm. William E. Gentner, memorandum, March 10, 1961.
237“I am directing . . . and reoriented.” John F. Kennedy, “Special Message to the Congress on Urgent National Needs,” speech delivered May 25, 1961.
THE FIRST SEALS AFTER THE WAR
239“For extraordinary heroism . . . Allied Arms.” Jack Taylor’s Navy Cross Citation, NARA.
240Details on Jack Taylor’s death from an ADA “In Memoriam” article written by Taylor’s dental partner, Harry Cimring.
240“I can no . . . bodily fluids.” Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, directed by Stanley Kubrick, 1964.
243“It is recommended . . . this agency.” William Donovan to the Adjutant General of the War Department, “Recommendation for the Award of the Legion of Merit to Commander H.G.A. Woolley, D.S.C., Royal Navy,” letter, June 21, 1945, NARA.
247Information on Hans Tofte from James Barron, “Hans Tofte, World War II Spy Later Dismissed by the C.I.A.,” New York Times, August 28, 1987, www.nytimes.com/1987/08/28/obituaries/hans-tofte-world-war-ii-spy-later-dismissed-by-the-cia.html.
248“I screwed my . . . a thing.” Author interview.
248“senior hotties at . . . American Veterans].” Ibid.
INDEX
Adriatic, intelligence gathering in, 97–99, 104–106
Aegean Sea, Axis in, 59, 62–63
Agents, covert insertion of, 12–14, 69
Aimone, Duke of Aosta, 120
Albania
Operation Picnic I, 109–113
rescue of American nurses in, 93–97, 102–104
resistance groups, 95
supplying partisans in, 95
Alexander, Lt., 43–44
Alexandria Harbor, 6
Decima MAS attack on, 119
Allies, end of war in Europe, 226
Ambassador Hotel, as training site, 36
American nurses, interception of plane and later rescue of, 91–97, 102–104
American Volunteers Ambulance Corps, 42
American Weekly, 178
Angelike (caïque), 62
Angleton, James Jesus (“Artifrice”)
Borghese and, 225–226
capturing high-value targets from Decima MAS, 217
vetting Italian operatives, 120–122
Angaur, preparation for invasion of, 138–140
Annapolis Natatorium
test of Browne’s di
ving mask at, 25–26, 32
test of LARU at, 32
Anton, Tabornak Wattay, 171
Anzio, invasion at, 122
“Aqua-Marines,” 34–35
Arakan Coast (Burma), reconnaissance in, 141–143
Area A, 18
Area B, 18
Area C, 18
Area D, 17–21
training course, 20–21
Underwater Swimmer Group training at, 36–37
Area F, 18, 52
Area WA, 74
Army Rescue craft, 86
Auda-class Italian submarine, 5–6
Austria
area of operations, 157
recruitment to support Allies in, 151–154
See also Dupont mission
Ball, John, 137–138
Ballists, 95–96, 102–103
Bank, Aaron, 237
Bari (Italy)
German attack on, 87–89
interception and rescue of C-53D Skytrooper plane, 91–97, 102–104
as Maritime Unit site, 69, 70–71
Barracks heads (Blockeldesters), 208
Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training, 42
Battle of Fallujah, 185n, 249
Bazett, Henry, 27, 28
Berg, Moe, 185
Bertoncin, Marcello, 176
Biagioni, Louis, 208
Bionda mission, 187–189
Black, Robert, 137–138
Blue Beach (Angaur), 139
The Blue Book (magazine), 241
Bodine, Les, 141
Booth, John
death of, 77n
life after war, 248
missions in Pacific, 141–143, 144, 145
Operational Swimmer Group II and, 75, 77, 79
Borghese, Junio Valerio Scipione (“The Black Prince”)
deal with Allies after the war, 225–226
death of, 249
joining German side when Italy switched sides, 176
as leader of Decima MAS, 6, 8, 117, 121
life after war, 249
Brac, 97
Brenner Assignment, 248
Smith and, 104
Brenner Pass, 104
Britain, deployment of Operational Swimmer Group L to, 79
British Eighth Army, Eighth Army Detachment and, 184–186, 190
British forces
dislike of supplying Yugoslav partisans, 99–100
Maritime Unit coordination with, 145