Posted on Sep 17, 2023
How a Native Alaskan became a legendary Navy SEAL
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When a patrol of Vietcong entered the ambush zone, the SEALs set off the claymores and opened fire with machine guns. But the rotten tree sent shrapnel and wood pieces flying, knocking two SEALs unconscious on the short leg of an L-ambush.
One of them was Solomon Atkinson.
Though Atkinson retired in 1973 and died in 2019, the Navy recently announced plans to name a ship after the SEAL. The USNS Solomon Atkinson will be a Navajo-class towing and salvage ship, a class the Navy has taken to naming after notable sailors who have Native American roots.
Though being the namesake of a ship is one of the Navy’s highest honors, Atkinson was never the kind to brag, according to Lowell “Bo” Burwell, a SEAL who served with Atkinson.
“If someone else didn’t tell you something about Sol, you’d never know it. He was not one to go pat his own shoulder. He just did things, and I think that was just his professionalism,” Lowell told Task & Purpose. “He did things because they needed to be done, not because he looked to gain some reward or pat on the back or his name on a plaque or something like that.”
One of them was Solomon Atkinson.
Though Atkinson retired in 1973 and died in 2019, the Navy recently announced plans to name a ship after the SEAL. The USNS Solomon Atkinson will be a Navajo-class towing and salvage ship, a class the Navy has taken to naming after notable sailors who have Native American roots.
Though being the namesake of a ship is one of the Navy’s highest honors, Atkinson was never the kind to brag, according to Lowell “Bo” Burwell, a SEAL who served with Atkinson.
“If someone else didn’t tell you something about Sol, you’d never know it. He was not one to go pat his own shoulder. He just did things, and I think that was just his professionalism,” Lowell told Task & Purpose. “He did things because they needed to be done, not because he looked to gain some reward or pat on the back or his name on a plaque or something like that.”
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Wow! What a warrior and human being!
It's awesome to name a ship after him, but a part of me thinks he should have a ship of the line (warship) named in his honor.
It's awesome to name a ship after him, but a part of me thinks he should have a ship of the line (warship) named in his honor.
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