
Behind the Bastards Part Two: Richard Marcinko: The Founder of SEAL Team 6
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Jul 16, 2026 A deep dive into brutal Vietnam-era missions and CIA-linked Phoenix operations. A look at internal SEAL rivalries between professional operators and assassins. Stories of ritualized violence, trophy taking, and a commander who cultivated a wild persona. The origin and controversial formation of SEAL Team 6, its intense training culture, alcohol-fueled leadership problems, and financial and ethical scandals.
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SEALs Operated As Rogue Phoenix Killers
- The SEALs in Vietnam often operated as quasi-independent killers tied to the CIA's Phoenix program rather than disciplined naval forces.
- Andrew Sage and Robert Evans describe nightly ambushes, torture-led intel loops, and widespread civilian killings that blurred combatant lines.
Boy Scouts Versus Pirates Split SEAL Culture
- Within SEAL culture there were two factions: 'Boy Scouts' who emphasized professionalism and 'pirates' who embraced assassination and brutality.
- Robert Evans and Andrew Sage use the terms to explain why some SEAL units committed systemic atrocities while others tried to constrain violence.
Platoon Rituals Escalated Into Murder And Theft
- Michael Beenan's platoon in the Mekong Delta shifted from targeting Viet Cong to robbing and murdering villagers, even ritualizing throat-cutting.
- Andrew Sage cites Beenan's account of stealing victims' money for drugs and prostitutes and instructing blood rituals.











