One of my principal tasks while on the staff of Commander, Naval Special Warfare Group, Pacific (CNSWGP) was presentation of the command brief. I did so in 1970-71 both as Assistant Intelligence Officer and as Intelligence Officer. I think LT Webber, the Intelligence Officer when I arrived, was happy to hand it off.
It was typical that high-ranking officers (Captains and above) about to assume duties in WESTPAC that might include oversight of or interaction with units of Naval Special Warfare to visit the command beforehand. In addition to meeting with top brass of the command, and perhaps a tour of the spaces, they would have the pleasure of listening to a LTJG . . . me.
I gave the brief in a small “auditorium” in a building on NAB Coronado. The command brief was a prepared text that gave some of the history of the Naval Special Warfare community, described its size and structure, and gave information about the various tasks assigned to and completed by Naval Special Warfare units. Visitors only had to hear it once. I had to hear it over and over and over. This was not difficult duty, but it was somewhat tedious.
Most of the brief, though, was more interesting than my recitation. A movie! Just the year before (1969), the Office of Information at the Naval Photographic Center had produced for the Chief of Naval Operations a film entitled, “Men with Green Faces.” It was filmed by US Navy Combat Cameramen of the Atlantic and Pacific Fleet Combat Camera Groups. And yes, it’s on YouTube.
Just under a half-hour long, the film focused on the SEALs. It again gave a little bit of history, showed training, etc. But it was film from in-country Vietnam that added realism and interest. There may have been film from actual missions, particularly involving PBRs (Patrol Boat, River) and helicopter gunships. But the footage that showed SEALs on the ground, on patrol, was pretty clearly staged. Besides the fact that a real mission would have been dangerous for camera operators, the “missions” in the film were in daylight and SEALs operated more commonly at night. Interesting, though, to see the technology of 50+ years ago.
(Rewatching it after so many years, I was surprised anew that the movie never explained its title. As I remember being told, “men with green faces” was the moniker given the SEALs by the Vietnamese. Another interesting element of the film is the music behind the closing credits. Nothing like the more martial, Sousa-like music in the rest of the film. To me, the closing seemed something I would consider like “bebop.”)