Jocko Podcast 512: Into the Delta. Charlie Platoon, SEAL Missions in Vietnam. With Hal Kuykendal and Tom Boyhan
37 snips
Oct 29, 2025 
Tom Boyan and Hal Kirkendall, former U.S. Navy SEALs from Charlie Platoon, share gripping stories from their time in Vietnam. They delve into the intense training at BUD/S and the bond formed within their platoon. From ambush tactics and close air support to life after service, they reflect on how past experiences shaped their civilian lives. The duo emphasizes the importance of leadership, teamwork, and preserving the SEAL legacy, blending harrowing tales with lessons learned for future generations.
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Measure Real Contact Rates
- Tom audited 3,000 after-action cards and found SEAL ops made contact only ~30% of the time.
- He used that metric to set realistic expectations about operational results.
First Night Contact And Air Support
- Hal called fire and directed Seawolves overhead on their first major contact, killing multiple VC.
- The squad inserted by LSSC and used helicopter gunship support for extraction.
Skimmer Ambushed; Aircover Saved Them
- During an ambush a skimmer took numerous hits and the Seawolves arrived within minutes to suppress enemy fire.
- The quick-aircraft response likely saved multiple lives on that mission.
