Couch was born in Mississippi and raised in Southern Indiana. He graduated from the
United States Naval Academy in 1967. After attending Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter
(DASH) controller training, he reported aboard the naval destroyer
USS Mansfield. He graduated from
Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) Class 45 in 1969, and was the class Honorman. He graduated first in his class at the Navy Underwater Swimmers School and the Army Free Fall (
HALO) School. As Whiskey
Platoon Commander with
SEAL Team One in
Vietnam,[1] he led one of the few successful
prisoner of war rescue operations of that conflict.
Following his release from active duty service in the
U.S. Navy, Couch served as a
maritime and
paramilitary case officer with the
Central Intelligence Agency. In 1997, he retired from the
Naval Reserve with the rank of
Captain. At that time, he held the senior command billet in the SEAL reserve community.
U.S. Armed Forces Nuclear, Biological And Chemical Survival Manual 2003
ISBN978-0465007974
The Finishing School: Earning the Navy SEAL Trident (2005
ISBN978-0609810460)
Down Range: Navy SEALs in the War on Terrorism (2006
ISBN978-1400081011)
Chosen Soldier: The Making of A Special Forces Warrior (2007
ISBN978-0307339393)
The Sheriff of Ramadi: Navy SEALs and the Winning of al-Anbar (2008
ISBN978-1591141471)
A Tactical Ethic: Moral Conduct in the Insurgent Battlespace (2010
ISBN978-1591141372)
Sua Sponte: The Forging of a Modern American Ranger (2012
ISBN978-0425253601)
Always Faithful, Always Forward: The Forging of a Special Operations Marine (2014
ISBN978-0425268599)
By Honor Bound: Two Navy SEALs, the Medal of Honor, and a Story of Extraordinary Courage Tom Norris and Mike Thornton, with Dick Couch (2016
ISBN978-1250070593)
References
^"There but for the grace of God. Dick Couch. United States Naval Institute. Proceedings. Annapolis: Aug 2001.Vol.127, Iss. 8; pg. 78
^"Paperbacks -- Seal Team One by Dick Couch," review by Kaganoff, Penny. Publishers Weekly. New York: May 10, 1991.Vol.238, Iss. 21; pg. 277.
^"Fiction -- Pressure Point by Dick Couch." book review by Steinberg, Sybil. Publishers Weekly. New York: May 11, 1992.Vol.239, Iss. 22; pg. 53. "Taut writing and crisp dialogue further enhance the appeal of one of the year's better adventure novels." "Violence-glorifying first novel."
^"Fiction -- Rising Wind by Dick Couch." book review by Braun, Patricia. The Booklist. Chicago: May 15, 1996. Vol. 92, Iss. 18; p. 1576
^"The Warrior Elite: The Forging of SEAL Class 228," book review by Doug Pricer. Military History. Herndon: Jun 2002.Vol.19, Iss. 2; pg. 70. "..an impressively researched look into the heart of a culture few Americans, including many military enthusiasts, truly grasp."
^"The Warrior Elite: The Forging of SEAL Class 228," book review by Jennifer M Price. Sea Power. Washington: Apr 2002.Vol.45, Iss. 4; pg. 99. "His insider's view draws the reader in and makes the book a fast and enjoyable read"