THE MISSION
Operation Green Faces is a 501(c)(3) non profit charitable organization dedicated to preserving the oral histories of UDT & SEAL Team operators in the Vietnam War following their creation in 1962.
Named after the alias given to SEALs by the Vietnamese- “men,” or “devils in green faces”- Operation Green Faces’ final product will be the definitive oral history of the U.S. Navy SEALs and UDT in.
This is the only current consolidated effort to record the deployments of Vietnam era SEALs, UDT, and supporting units including the Seawolves and Brown Water Navy- the men who fought, sweat, and bled themselves.
Where are they now? And who is left?
Our mission is to not only fill in the historical gaps in Naval Special Operations Vietnam history but also to conduct a “roll call” and reconnect those men who have lost communication with their brotherhood through the years.
No one knows how many members of the first Navy SEAL team, men nicknamed “plank owners,” are left alive or where they are. We can’t stress how many times we’re heard the words, “I wish I knew who else was left. Do you know? Can you find out?”
With the help of a few Vietnam Frogmen themselves, we’re going to conduct a final “roll call” of 1962 plank holders.
By attending reunions, musters, and good ol’ word of mouth we’ll reach out to the Vietnam Era frogmen and remind them, their story is a priceless part of Naval Special Warfare history and they deserve their moment to speak their truth.
Where does the final product go?
When completed, the primary home of the oral history library will be the National Navy UDT SEAL Museum. Full high-definition copies of the library will be sent to the Library of Congress and the United States Naval Special Warfare Command in Coronado.
It is our hope that through WARCOM and the National UDT SEAL Museum these stories will be made readily available to active duty Navy SEALs and the public for educational purposes.
Our Vietnam veterans have one last service to perform for the American people… to tell the full story of the Vietnam War.
For decades, America has been unwilling and uninterested in revisiting such a painful and polarizing war. Our education system has glossed over the war entirely, some schools skipping it completely. Truly, the majority of the next generation of American citizens know nothing of the highly emotional and divisive conflict beyond a few old Hollywood movies. Perhaps they have a relative or neighbor friend who served but likely those men chose not to fully share their experiences, influenced by the climate of protest, confusion, and anger they returned to immediately after the war itself.
We can only change this if we pay priority and respect to the living memory of the men and women who served in Vietnam.
Time is our enemy.
Every month this already small community of Vietnam Frogmen loose another brother to either old age or poor health.
When their memories are gone, so goes any chance of learning from the soldiers and sailors who lived America’s most divisive war.