Royal Thai Navy SEALs Welcomed to NYC
Who can forget the June and July 2018 cave rescue of members of a junior football team trapped in Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand? Twelve members of the team, aged eleven to sixteen, and their 25-year-old assistant coach entered the cave on 23 June after soccer practice. Shortly afterwards, heavy rains partially flooded the cave, trapping the group inside.
After days of pumping water from the cave system and a break from the rain, the rescue teams hastened to get everyone out before the next monsoon rain, which was predicted to start around 11 July. Between 8 and 10 July, all of the boys and their coach were rescued from the cave by an international team.
Sadly, there was one fatality, Saman Kunan, a 37-year-old former Thai Navy SEAL who died of asphyxiation on 6 July while returning to a staging base in the cave. No greater love…
Why bring this up now? Our very own Master Chief sends:
On March 6th the Navy SEAL Foundation and The National September 11 Memorial & Museum welcomed the Royal Thai Navy SEALs to NYC. The Thai Navy SEALs captured the worlds attention last summer when they pulled off one of the most daring and complicated waterborne rescues in human history.
Members of the Thai Navy SEAL group included their Admiral and wife, several senior officers, three Chief Petty Officers who conducted the multiple dive operation and are credited with the rescue, and the Gold Star wife and sister of the Thai Navy SEAL who tragically died during initial phase of rescue.
The Thai Navy SEAL group stopped by O’Hara’s for steaks, Irish stew and a few pints and were greeted like rocks stars … both bars and entire restaurant area erupted in cheers when the word passed who was in the house … then off to FDNY Ten House where they were again greeted with open arms. The entire crew of Ten House took photos and gifted t-shirts to our Thai Brothers and Sisters. Special thanks to the secret squirrel guy code named “Flea” (with a cool job and plane) who is handling Thai Navy SEAL group on their trip to NYC and other locations … pleasure to meet you Sir!
Hat tip to the Master Chief for showing the flag, and the head’s up for a great story.
Category: Search and Rescue, The Warrior Code, Valor
Excellent!
The Thai Navy folks I worked with during COBRA GOLD 92 were absolute professionals and great shipmates.
Thanks to “Flea” for helping make this happen. Thanks to Master Chief for letting us know it happened.
What say we send all the fake seals to train up with the Thai SEALS? We had a prime candidate right recently if memory serves.
Put them on cave rescue duty…
They can practice on the one that the kids were trapped in…
Without an air bottle, they’re so super tough, they wouldn’t need that stuff !!!
BZ to all these team members. They are awesome sauce!
yes send all the Fake SEALS,SF,Rangers,USMC Force Recon ,LRRP,USAF Pararescue Jumpers to Thai
land for 3 years in miserable conditions.