Today we have round one of a fascinating Combat Story interview with John Dailey, a former Marine Force Recon operator who was one of the very few selected to help stand up what was known as ”Detachment One,” which would lead to the creation of the Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) that we know today. 

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The eighty-six-man “Detachment One” was formed with a two-year charter to train and deploy as a “proof-of-concept” to assess the viability of a larger Marine Special Operations contribution in support of the Global War on Terror. The Commanding Officer—Colonel Robert J. Coates, a Marine Force Recon legend—was given his pick of personnel and one of the four team leaders he selected was Gunnery Sergeant John Dailey. Their sole stipulation in finding the right recruits was that they be: “Tough, rugged bastards with strong backs and hard feet.” We know they got it right because we’ve interviewed some of those early warriors on this show, like Elliot Ackerman and Jason Lilley, to name a few.

John has written a book that will be released in August 2024, aptly titled ‘Tough Rugged Bastards: A Memoir of a Life in Marine Special Operations’ that describes both John’s experiences and the beginning of MARSOC from his perspective on the ground. I hope you enjoy this experience of combat and the weight of the Marine Corps on the shoulders of a small group of men like John, as much as I did.

Find John Dailey Online:

https://www.amazon.com/Tough-Rugged-Bastards-Special-Operations/dp/163758735X

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🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes:

00:00 Intense Combat Introduction
00:33 Meet Your Host: Ryan Fugit
00:52 Introducing John Daly: Marine Force Recon Operator
01:45 John Daly's Book: Tough Rugged Bastards
04:16 A Marine's Perspective on Writing
05:29 Colonel Robert Coates: A Marine Legend
09:32 The Formation of MARSOC
14:39 John Daly's Path to the Marine Corps
20:44 Early Days in the Marine Corps
28:45 Sniper School Challenges
35:30 Reflecting on the Simplicity of the Past
36:24 Joining the Sniper Platoon
37:30 Marine Security Guard Duty
38:34 Life at the Embassy
42:38 Meeting My Future Wife
46:41 Returning to the Infantry
47:13 First Force Recon Company
51:01 Deployment During 9/11
55:32 First Engagement in Afghanistan
01:05:11 Analyzing Combat Experiences
01:10:29 Listener Comments and Reviews