I joined the Navy as an enlisted man in 1968, completed the training for UDT/SEAL Teams and was assigned to Underwater Demolition Team 13. I served in Vietnam, was wounded in action, and received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry and several other decorations. My Navy career encompassed over 45 years, during which I worked for numerous Navy SEAL officers.
I met Commander Ryan Zinke around 1998 when he was the Executive Officer at Naval Special Warfare Center. He was my immediate supervisor and a breath of fresh air. About 99 percent of the time during my Navy SEAL career, I worked for the officers. CDR Zinke was the 1 percent of the SEAL officers I worked with. His office door was always open and he displayed a kind of respect that I had not experienced before (or after). I can tell you without hesitation that Ryan Zinke was the finest officer I ever knew during my military career. He took care of his troops and always led from the front. He never hesitated to take on the most difficult missions. He understood the evils of the global terrorist threat and ensured our Special Forces had the right training and equipment necessary to win. He embodied the ethics of hard work, discipline, and commitment to excellence. Above all he listened to his troops and was unafraid to buck the system when the system was wrong. CDR Zinke was never a “yes man.” That is exactly what Washington needs.
Chief Mike Sandlin (ret) SEAL Team FIVE
Terrebonne, Oregon