Roy Boehm
Roy Boehm | |
---|---|
Lieutenant Commander | |
Unit | SEALs |
Commands held | UDT-21, Seal Team 2 |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Roy H. Boehm (April 9, 1924 – December 30, 2008) was born in
Career
At the age of 17, Boehm enlisted in the United States Navy in April 1941 to become a diver and saw action in the Pacific theater of operation during World War II from February 1942 until the conclusion of the war in 1945.
His first billet as a
Boehm was a veteran of one of the largest "all surface" sea engagements of World War II, the Battle of Cape Esperance at Guadalcanal.[2][4] During the battle, Boehm was serving on the destroyer USS Duncan when the ship received fifty-eight 6″ and 8″ shell hits at point blank range before going down. With shrapnel embedded in his head and body, he saved one of his shipmates from burning to death by plunging into the ocean.[4] Subsequently, he had to literally fight off sharks, which killed the sailor he tried to save.[4]
Boehm participated in the following campaigns and engagements:
After World War II, Boehm left the Navy briefly, but reenlisted after a few months of civilian life. He served as
After receiving his commission, in early 1960 Boehm developed, designed, implemented, and led the US Navy's
While forming the SEALs, Boehm was subjected to a Board of Inquiry five times (but never
Boehm's idea for a Naval commando unit went back to his time in the Pacific in World War II. He envisioned highly motivated and highly trained warriors like the Frogmen and UDTs operating beyond the beachhead.
Service in Vietnam
On November 4, 1963, Boehm arrived in South Vietnam to act as an advisor for Army of the Republic of Vietnam Underwater Demolition Teams. Rather than train for the conventional UDT mission Boehm employed his frogmen in the unconventional warfare role conducting recon missions, ambushes and raids against the Viet Cong (VC). He would also aid in the investigation of the successful VC underwater Attack on USNS Card, suggesting that the explosives and expertise used may have been provided by a group of deserters from his own unit. Boehm was eventually evacuated on medical grounds in late 1964 with viral hepatitis and a deformed kneecap. As an advisor in Vietnam, Boehm befriended and grew to respect one of his enemies, the commander of the VC 514th Battalion named Minh.[8]
Post Vietnam Service
Boehm assisted in the design and implementation of the Navy's first counterinsurgency course, for which he received the
Death
Boehm died December 30, 2008, at his home in Punta Gorda, Florida. He was 84. According to his wife Susan, he wanted his death to go unpublicized.[12] "He wanted no obituary, no funeral service and no fanfare," she said, "He just wanted to go in peace".[12]
On August 19, 2009,
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 19190 Cochran Boulevard FRNT in Port Charlotte, Florida, as the "Lieutenant Commander Roy H. Boehm Post Office Building"
— Public Law No. 111-59, enacted August 19, 2009
Military awards
- Valor Device
- Purple Heart
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Air Medal
Navy Achievement MedalPresidential Unit Citation(1942)Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation(1967)Navy Good Conduct Medal with three bronze service stars- China Service Medal
American Defense Medal- American Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
- Navy Occupation Service Medal
- National Defense Service Medal with one Bronze Star
- Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Stars
- Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
- Vietnam Campaign Medal
Presidential Unit Citation (Philippines)Korean Presidential Unit Citation- United Nations Medal
- Philippine Liberation Medal
United Nations Korea Medal- Vietnam Campaign Medal
- USN Expert Rifle Medal
- USN Expert Pistol Medal
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-671-53626-8.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7434-1006-9.
- ^ First Seal p. 44
- ^ ISBN 978-0-671-53626-8.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-425-20072-8.
- ISBN 978-0-671-53626-8.
- ^ ISBN 978-0380721665.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-671-86762-1.
- ISBN 978-0-8914-1408-7.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-671-53626-8.
- ISBN 978-0380721665.
- ^ a b Legendary 'First SEAL' passes away Charlotte Sun, retrieved January 3, 2008
- ^ "Bill passes to name post office for SEAL pioneer" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 15 September 2009. Charlott Sun newspaper, June 17, 2009
- ^ "Acts Approved by the President" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 September 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
External links