Forged by War: The Navy SEALs, on History

The Navy SEALs are most renowned for their successful operation taking out bin Laden. Yet, they have completed thousands of missions that military experts consider far more dangerous and complex. But still, bid Laden was a big one. To commemorate Veterans’ Day, History [Channel] chronicles the SEALs’ history, from their roots in the Navy’s WWII-era Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs) through their triumph at Abbottabad in Forged by War: The Navy SEALs, written and produced by Zachary G. Behr, which premieres this Wednesday.

Naturally, Forged by War starts with the raid on Abbottabad, but it rewinds to WWII after the opening credits roll. The UDT was a new innovation, created just in time to get an incredible amount of work. It was the UDT who cleared the mines from eight out of the twelve possible Normandy beach landing sites, armed only with knives (because water-proof ammunition had not yet been developed).

After the Korean War, the American military shrank to dangerous levels. However, JFK saw value in small, agile, elite units, so he supported the development of special operations units, as we now know them. Frankly, the Navy SEALs were enormously effective (and feared) during the Vietnam War. However, funding and resources for special ops were again drastically slashed after the American pull-out (because politicians never learn from history), which many of the on-camera commentators partially blame for the disastrous Operation Eagle Claw Iranian hostage rescue operation.

Eventually SEAL Team Six was created to conduct exactly that kind of mission. Giving credit where it is due, Forged in War explains the formative role played by late Commander Richard Marcinko (who went on to become a controversial author and media personality) shaping the unit’s ethos. In fact, Marcinko is a prominent presence, through archival footage.

Indeed, Forged in War features an impressive cast of experts, including retired SEALs Howard Wasdin and Rick Kaiser, who were both awarded Silver Stars for their valor during the Battle of Mogadishu. Other notable participants include Rep. Ryan Zinke (a retired SEAL), former CIA director Leon Panetta, Mark Bowden (author of Black Hawk Down), and commercial shipping Captain Richard Phillips, who was the subject of the Tom Hanks movie.

While Behr and company primarily set out to celebrate the SEALs’ history, the way they explain bin Laden’s behind-the-scenes efforts to arm and advise Somali warlords like Mohammed Farrah Aidid will be eye-opening stuff for many viewers. Bowden and other talking heads cogently explain how the Battle of Mogadishu set off a chain of events that eventually led to Abbottabad. That means the focus occasionally strays from the SEALS, but in a way, it helps viewers appreciate their accomplishments even more.

Arguably, SEALs have recently enjoyed a boom in media visibility thanks to series like The Terminal List, SEAL Team, and Marshals. Yet, they remain largely misunderstood. This History special is a great place to start. It celebrates their courage and dedication, in a rigorously historically-based, non-partisan fashion. Very highly recommended, Forged by War: The Navy SEALs airs Wednesday night (11/11) on History.