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First Seal Review

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(More customer reviews)This is my first review and probably my last. My reason is to take exception to the comments of the reviewer from Dayton, Ohio. Not that Roy needs me to defend him, but in fairness a response is warranted.
First Seal is an insight into one of America's greatest warriors. SEAL's are regarded as probably the finest unconventional warriors in the world and First Seal brings you the man responsible for them. This is an excellent book, especially for those seeking insight into their foundation. Yes, there are personal attacks, yes there is profanity, and it is not for the light of heart. But honesty is something not viewed through rose colored glasses either.
The Navy is an institution, and as such viewed the SEAL's as a "necessary evil". That Roy succeeded and accomplished as much as he did is a tribute to his tenacity and his perserverance.
But in addition to the story of the SEAL's, is Roy's story and that is what First Seal is about. Roy has done more and seen more than any of us could imagine.
Don't dwell on the perceived inaccuracies, but read the book as it was intended. Roy's exploits are legendary and his men always knew where he was when things got tough, at the front of it all !!
And as for the comment that there is no "I" or "Me" in "Team", remember.... There is no "We" in "Leadership"

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SEALs: UDT/ SEAL Operations In Vietnam Review

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(More customer reviews)"SEALs" is the book version of a historical master's thesis written by Tim Bosiljevac, a highly respected career SEAL officer (and former enlisted Army Ranger). His work is essentially a diary of SEAL operations in Vietnam. It moves chronologically through the arrival of UDTs in the early 60's to the departure of US forces in 1975. The book's matter of fact description of numerous operations, taken from SEAL Team logs, allows the reader to appreciate the complexity of the intelligence gathering systems employed by the SEALs to generate their own target lists. The detailed descriptions of equipment carried and the synopses of patrol orders allows will appeal to Soldiers interested in finding out how the "best of the best" prepared and executed missions in the Rung Sat. This book is highly recommended for current and former Special Operators.

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The definitive book on U.S. Navy SEALs' role in Vietnam. Accounts of combat missions reveal incredible acts of skill and valor by SEAL troops under fire. Sixteen pages of rare photos show SEALs in training, on patrol in VC territory and moving up canals in the Mekong Delta.

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The Real Team: Rogue Warrior Review

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(More customer reviews)I've read all of the Rogue Warrior books, plus the Marcinko book on leadership. I was hoping this book would be about non-fictional accounts of the missions in which these SpecOps warriors participated. However, there is very little here on missions except for oblique references, probably to classified missions. Mostly it covers why each got into the SEALS, and how they enjoyed working under Marcinco due to his management abilities and his confidence in his troops. This is a good backgrounder if you're a manager and want to know how to lead the troops, and it fits in with the Rogue Warrior's other management books. But you'll be disappointed if you were looking for shootin' and lootin', in which case you should stick to the Rogue's fiction books.

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Seals in Action Review

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(More customer reviews)A good book that covers the beginning of the Navy Seals way back when they were called frogmen (They pioneered scuba gear). Their disbandment after the war and their re-establishment by order of President Kennedy. I liked the chapter of the book about the Bull Frog of the Pond. The longest serving SEAL is the Bull Frog. The name of the Bull Frog featured in that chapter looked familiar until I saw an episode of "Survivor". It's RUDY before he retired from the service and played the game!!! Oh-Rah, Rudy!!!

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Warriors of the TridentFrom the bullet-swept beaches of Normandy to the streets of Panama...From the rugged Korean coast and the jungles of Vietnam to the tiny, troubled island of Granada. For half a century, whenever and wherever America's military was called into action, the SEALs were there.Here is the riveting and complete true story of the U.S. Navy's remarkable Sea Air Land commandos -- their evolution from World War II underwater demolition teams to the awesome counterguerrilla/counterterrorist strike force in operation today. Now the SEALs' most memorable engagements are brought to vivid, explosive life through breathtaking eyewitness accounts and afteraction reports -- PLUS an unforgettable inside look at their training, organization, equipment...and the fighting men who, with skill, dedication, and extraordinary courage, have earned the right to proudly wear the Trident insignia.

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Good to Go: The Life and Times of a Decorated Member of the U.S. Navy's Elite Seal Team Two Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a frank and honest look at the exploits of a Navy SEAL.
While his actual combat exploits I have no way of proving true, his revealing and in-depth look at his own personal failures and in service power struggles surely don't all have happy endings, and the author is unflinching in his appraisal.
His time in country could of ended on his first mission. He first got tangled in the tow rope, and the boat pulling away dragged him underwater before he cut himself free, struggling with his gear and swimming back to shore. He then mistakenly interpreted a hand signal and made his first killing as a scared SEAL when he silently intercepted a VC lookout and knifed him. He was told to keep silent. He then got seperated from his recon platoon and made his way back to the rendevous point by himself while being pursued, and all the while he was unsure of which way to go. This was the start of three tours of duty that saw much action and direct combat with VC and NVA. This elite soldier found himself in the business of hand to hand combat many times, and his stories are told as if this author actually relished the amount of violence he was able to bring to bear. A warrior who looked for action, he later leaves this theater and sees firsthand the rivalry and disrespect he and other warriors feel for those officers spent little or no time in Vietnam and looked disdainfully upon those who actually fought there. This jealously, and the countering lack of respect, almost cost the author his Navy career on more than one occasion. In the end it proved his undoing in the military.
A very interesting tale of an insiders view of Vietnam, this book also explores his personal struggles and the bonds he forged in combat.

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Brave Men Dark Waters: The Untold Story of the Navy Seals Review

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(More customer reviews)While the book didn't keep me awake at night like others, it was a decent historical account of the SEALs. It gives important and relevant perspective, drawing from many sources, which I believe adds to the credibility of the book and author. It provides details of specific missions, but in a historical, rather than a story telling way. In other words, if you're looking for a book that deals specifically with the stories of the individual missions, this one isn't for you. It gets into the politics behind the SEALs a bit and is a good first SEAL book to read.

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US Navy SEALS Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a must read book for those people fascinated with the Seal Teams. It is especially interesting due to its many detailed pictures (recent and present). The author is successful in describing the physical and mental aspects of becoming a Seal. The reader will quickly find out what it takes to become a Seal, the different positions held within a Seal Team, and the various weapons and equipment that Navy Seals use. If a person wishes to learn more about the US Navy Seals this is without a doubt the book to buy.

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This action-packed account of the U.S. Navy's elite fighting force attests again and again to the old SEALs saying: "The only easy day was yesterday." A revised and expanded edition, U.S. Navy SEALs contains more than 100 color photos of today's SEALs during the training that pushes them to their limits, and in the midst of real missions that test their, and the nation's, mettle, from Vietnam through Grenada, Panama, and Desert Storm.--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Death In the Jungle: Diary of a Navy Seal Review

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(More customer reviews)Speaking as a former member of the military i can tell you that this book tells it like it is. Unlike some of the other books of this type where the author either A: is a reporter and never served in the military or B: The author thinks that he is the best that ever was and that he was never afraid. The B type are usually entertaining but not very real. This is a great daily account of Gary's 1st tour in Vietnam. He tells it like it is from the rides to town through sniper fire to get a beer to the death the he caused and witnessed in the jungle. I have read many books about the Navy Seals both A and B versions and in my opinion this book is in a class by itself.

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This is the riveting combat diary of Navy SEAL Gary Smith who,during his 32 months in Vietnam, engaged in 257 combat missions. This book is a realistic look at the men, the weapons and the tactics of the guerrilla war fought by Smith and his fellow SEALs in the canals and swamps of Vietnam. Includes 16 pages of never-before-published photos.

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One Perfect Op: An Insider's Account of the Navy Seal Special Warfare Teams Review

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(More customer reviews)I was disappointed with this book. Firstly, all `real' missions with the exception of the Grenada invasion are described only in the vaguest terms, apparently to preserve operational secrets. It's lowers the drama and credibility when Chalker describes a mission without even naming the continent on which it took place. Even harmless details like how many SEALs where on a particular raiding team are absent from the accounts of `real' missions.
The breadth of the book is devoted to describing training missions that Team 6 undertook against U.S. Naval bases to test their security. Playing hide-and-seek with security guards and rent-a-cops in training exercises hardly makes for a riveting read.
Chalker also mentions in only passing his experience at SEAL training, or BUD/S, which in the hands of a real writer would easily be worthy of a full book itself. Predictably, he refuses to shed any light on the controversy that landed his mentor Richard Marcinko in jail.
And this isn't an emotional account. We have no real insight into what makes warriors like Chalker tick or the pressures they face. All we know about life outside the Teams is that they drank and brawled a lot. And, oh yet, he got a divorce. (That's almost the way Chalker described it.)
For a more thoughtful and profound look at what it takes to be a member of the U.S. Special Operations community, take a look at Mike Yon's Danger Close. To learn what it takes to become a SEAL, read The Warrior Elite. For an action-packed thriller, stick with one of Marcinko's books.

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US Navy Seals in Action. Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is very informative for the special forces/military lover or someone just interested in how America's elite soldiers train and operate. US Navy SEALs in Action shows the reader first hand how SEALs train and operate through amazing pictures and captions. This book also gives information on the equipment used by SEALs and the origin of the SEAL teams.

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Warrior Soul: The Memoir of a Navy SEAL Review

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(More customer reviews)Chuck can take simple words and twist them into a visual image that needs no further input. Going from the mundane hurry up and wait mentality of typical military ops, he takes you from humorous bar scenes to the horrors of terrorism and the mayhem resulting from underestimating the enemy and complacency. Political correctness takes its toll in attitudes, men, and the morale of entire countries. This can be read between the lines. Chuck pulls no punches and lays it out for anybody to see. The men who do the fighting and the ones who create the need for these men to fight are not generally on the same sheet of music. Politics and appeasement are the enemies. WARRIOR SOUL is not just another 'SEAL' book in typical fashion. I DO NOT compare it to the other books by former SEALs. This one is in a class by itself. Thanks for a great book and thanks for your service to our nation. Grab a copy of WARRIOR SOUL and devour it.

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Combat Swimmer: Memoir of a Navy Seal Review

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(More customer reviews)I've never served in the military, but I have great respect for those who follow that kind of life. I also have great interest in history, military strategy and tactics, and behavior in combat situations. I therefore checked out the following special-forces-related books from the library: Rogue Warrior, by Marcinko, Combat Swimmer, by Gormly, and Inside Delta Force, by Haney.
Marcinko's book is a classic testosterone-driven, adolescent Hollywood adventure story. I mean that in a (mostly) good way. The author's focus is on himself, on his grand escapades, and his ability to destroy his enemies, whether at war or in the chain of command. It makes for a fun read, although I never knew how much Marcinko might be inflating his exploits.
Gormly is in many ways the anti-Marcinko. Of course they knew each other, and Gormly goes into some detail about inheriting Marcinko's SEAL team and getting the house back in order. But more than that, Marcinko represents the unihibited ego, breaking all the rules and doing whatever he wants. Gormly is all about responsibility and chain of command. Don't get me wrong; he's not at all boring, but definitely comes off as a stiffer sort of character. I'd rather work for Gormly (more job security; less likely to get killed unexpectedly) but I'd rather have a beer with Marcinko (though too much of that, and you probably increase your chances of getting killed unexpectedly).
Haney strikes somewhat of a balance. He's more individualistic than Gormly, but more disciplined than Marcinko. He's also the best writer of the three, with a good mix of gritty reality and genuine philosophical reflection. That's probably why I liked his book the best. Marcinko's book is a fun ride, like a blockbuster action movie, but in the end didn't leave me with much to think about. After reading Gormly's book, I admired the man a great deal but didn't particularly like him. Haney provides all the adventure but he's clearly more of a thinker than the other two, and I can imagine a long, fascinating evening's conversation over a bottle of scotch.
I suspect that you would find all three types of individuals (and many more) in the military, and you probably need all of them to get the job done. All three memoirs are highly entertaining and quick reads. Which you prefer probably depends to some extent on your own personality.

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Weapons of the Navy Seals (Battlegear) Review

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(More customer reviews)If anyone is interested in becoming Navy SEAL, then buy this book. (p.s. I never really bought this book.)

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Fred J. Pushies. Of all the U.S. military's special forces, none carry the same name recognition, nor capture the public imagination like the U.S. Navy SEALs. In battle gear fashion, the book also includes a chapter describing the techniques SEALs use, as well as glossaries of terms and military abbreviations.

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Encyclopedia of Navy Seals (Facts on File Library of American History) Review

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(More customer reviews)A glorified cut & paste job, replete with factual errors, clumsy paraphrasing and garbled information. In terms of the book's title, the central error is the continuation of the "first SEAL" myth first promulgated by this author and Roy Boehm. Boehm was not the first, nor did he originate SEAL teams. Readers seeking the documented facts should read the article "What A Tangled Web We Weave" by retired Navy Capt. David Del Giudice (1st CO, SEAL Team One) in the 2nd Quarter, 2002 BLAST, magazine of the UDT-SEAL Assn.
Otherwise, I would suggest that readers consult Sasser's bibliography and read the original works for required information.

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From the jungles of Vietnam to the sands of Iraq, the United States Navy SEALs are an effective special operations force. Organized into unconventional forces that range from as few as six men to as many as a platoon of 100, the SEALs draw their name from SeaAirLand, the three elements in which they work with deadly efficiency. This volume offers a look at this unique organization. The introduction traces the history of the SEALs, from the World War II demolition teams to the actual formation of the force in 1962 under President John F. Kennedy, as well as their evolution into the counter-terrorists and guerilla fighters of the 21st century. More than A-Z entries offer comprehensive coverage of different aspects of the force including its organization, history, personnel, equipment, weaponry, and relevant terms.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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