Rudy Boesch was born on January 20, 1928, in Rochester, New York. He joined the U.S. Merchant Marine in 1944, and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy on March 5, 1945. After receiving Underwater Demolition Team Training at Fort Pierce, Florida, he served aboard the barracks ship USS New Yorker (APL-11) in the Pacific at the end of World War II. Boesch's next assignment was aboard the destroyer USS Massey (DD-778) from December 1946 to March 1949, followed by service with United States Naval Forces Europe in London, England, from May 1949 to January 1951. He then served with UDT-2 (redesignated UDT-21 in May 1953) at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia, from January 1951 to January 1962. Boesch was then selected as one of the original members of SEAL Team TWO, where he served at NAB Little Creek from January 1962 to January 1988. During this time, he deployed twice with SEAL Team TWO to Southeast Asia between 1968 and 1970. MCPO Boesch's final assignment was as Command Master Chief Petty Officer of United States Special Operations Command at MacDill AFB, Florida, where he served from January 1988 until his retirement from the Navy after 45 years of active duty on August 1, 1990. Rudy later became famous as a contestant on the television show Survivor in 2000. He and his wife Marge had three children together-Ellen Marie, Patricia Ann, and Barbara Jean. Margorie Boesch died on November 1, 2008, and Rudy died on November 1, 2019.

The Sailor's Creed:

I am a United States Sailor.

I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and I will obey the orders of those appointed over me.

I represent the fighting spirit of the Navy and those who have gone before me to defend freedom and democracy around the world.

I proudly serve my country's Navy combat team with Honor, Courage and Commitment.

I am committed to excellence and the fair treatment of all.