<P> As part of the Special Operations Group, or SOG, UDTs successfully conducted demolition raids on railroad tunnels and bridges along the Korean coast . The UDTs specialized in a somewhat new mission: Night coastal demolition raids against railroad tunnels and bridges . The UDT men were given the task because, in the words of UDT Lieutenant Ted Fielding, "We were ready to do what nobody else could do, and what nobody else wanted to do ." (Ted Fielding was awarded the Silver Star during Korea, and was later promoted to the rank of Captain). On 15 September 1950, UDTs supported Operation Chromite, the amphibious landing at Incheon . UDT 1 and 3 provided personnel who went in ahead of the landing craft, scouting mud flats, marking low points in the channel, clearing fouled propellers, and searching for mines . Four UDT personnel acted as wave - guides for the Marine landing . In October 1950, UDTs supported mine - clearing operations in Wonsan Harbor where frogmen would locate and mark mines for minesweepers . On 12 October 1950, two U.S. minesweepers hit mines and sank . UDTs rescued 25 sailors . The next day, William Giannotti conducted the first U.S. combat operation using an "aqualung" when he dove on the USS Pledge . For the remainder of the war, UDTs conducted beach and river reconnaissance, infiltrated guerrillas behind the lines from sea, continued mine sweeping operations, and participated in Operation Fishnet, which devastated the North Koreans' fishing capability . </P> <P> President John F. Kennedy, aware of the situation in Southeast Asia, recognized the need for unconventional warfare and special operations as a measure against guerrilla warfare . In a speech, to Congress, on 25 May 1961, Kennedy spoke of his deep respect for the United States Army Special Forces . While his announcement of the government's plan to put a man on the moon drew most of the attention, in the same speech he announced his intention to spend over $100 million to strengthen U.S. special operations forces and expand American capabilities in unconventional warfare . Some people erroneously credit President Kennedy with creating the Navy SEALs . His announcement was actually only a formal acknowledgement of a process that had been under way since Korea . </P> <P> The Navy needed to determine its role within the special operations arena . In March 1961, Admiral Arleigh Burke, the Chief of Naval Operations, recommended the establishment of guerrilla and counter-guerrilla units . These units would be able to operate from sea, air or land . This was the beginning of the Navy SEALs . All SEALs came from the Navy's Underwater Demolition Teams, who had already gained extensive experience in commando warfare in Korea; however, the Underwater Demolition Teams were still necessary to the Navy's amphibious force . </P> <P> The first two teams were formed in January 1962 and stationed on both US coasts: Team ONE at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, in San Diego, California and Team TWO at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, in Virginia Beach, Virginia . Formed entirely with personnel from UDTs, the SEALs mission was to conduct counter guerilla warfare and clandestine operations in maritime and riverine environments . Men of the newly formed SEAL Teams were trained in such unconventional areas as hand - to - hand combat, high - altitude parachuting, demolitions, and foreign languages . The SEALs attended Underwater Demolition Team replacement training and they spent some time training in UDTs . Upon making it to a SEAL team, they would undergo a SEAL Basic Indoctrination (SBI) training class at Camp Kerry in the Cuyamaca Mountains . After SBI training class, they would enter a platoon and conduct platoon training . </P>

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