“In the Navy, if you’re not on a ship or a submarine, or in Naval Aviation, you’re considered a second class citizen. In those early days, we had to struggle to be recognized,” recounted Capt. Norman Olson, U.S. Navy retired, about the development of the Navy’s SEAL (Sea, Air and Land) teams. “We didn’t know what we were doing. So, I guess we were very lucky.”
He was describing the evolution of underwater demolition teams to “frog men” and then to SEALS that is detailed in his new book, Air Capabilities of the U.S. Navy SEALs during a Saturday morning book-signing at Evans Prairie Country Club. For example, he told how he developed the procedures to modify water-tight equipment for the first airborne drop into the ocean.
In addition, the book’s co-author Tom Hawkins, another senior leader of the UDT and SEAL programs, also offered his historical perspectives.
“Not many people know that SEAL teams had been trained to deliver nuclear weapons. These teams were under the command of Capt. Olson,” Hawkins said. “They had to secretly slip in, set the detonator’s timer and quickly get to a waiting submarine. Fortunately, we only had to train, and that responsibility was dropped.” Capt. Olson quickly added, “I wanted those bombs out.”
A long-line of veterans and other appreciative Villagers queued up to purchase the book and to personally thank both authors for their service.
During the question and answer period, Capt. Olson was asked, “what did you expect to happen during those first open-water first jumps? His modest answer: “We knew we were going to get wet.”
