Combat Swimmer: Memoir of a Navy Seal [Hardcover]

Robert A. Gormly (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1998

They have been called "The Silent Option" and the "elite of the elite." They are the Navy SEALs and their real-life exploits have become the stuff of military legend. Robert Gormly, the highest-ranking SEAL ever to tell his story, takes the reader into the night, into the water, into the battle. "Combat Swimmer," "Shooter," "Operator"--all of these describe Gormly and his fellow SEALs as they went on some of the most hair-raising missions ever assigned. Gormly did two tours of duty in Vietnam. He commanded teams in Grenada, the Persian Gulf, and the mission to capture the hijackers of the Achille Lauro. Combat Swimmer shows the reader the meticulous planning that goes into each top-secret mission--and how those plans can sometimes go awry--usually at the cost of human lives. This book provides a compelling look into the mind and life of a man who, though unsung and unknown to the average citizen (SEAL operations are top secret), stands as a true American hero.

* Written in the bestselling tradition of Richard Marcinko's Rogue Warrior and Roy Boehm's First Seal.
* Gormly is the highest ranking SEAL to write of his experiences.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This book is at once a memoir, a history and a warning. Gormly has been part of the SEAL community virtually since its emergence. In Vietnam as a junior officer, he met the absence of strategic policy with a tactical approach: killing as many Viet Cong as possible. Even in retrospect, Gormly concludes that the most effective U.S. approach might have been attacking the enemy's infrastructure by eliminating the "cadres" who spread and enforced Communist ideology by terrorist means. The limited political sophistication of this approach is suggestive, particularly in the context of Gormly's progress through the Navy's special operations system from 1968 to his assignment as commander of SEAL Team 6 in 1983. When Gormly relieved the notorious Richard Marcinko, he inherited a unit that had made a policy of pushing envelopes and ignoring rules. His description of the intraservice politics involved in taming the organization without breaking its morale is as good as anything in print on the challenge of maintaining effective special operations forces in the contexts of a democratic system. His account of the 1985 capture of the Achille Lauro's hijackers reveals a delicate balance of roles and responsibilities in managing doctrine and training considerations, tactical issues and policy questions. Gormly is no knight without fear and reproach in the mold of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan. He is a warrior for the working day, not always right and not always wise. But in a harsh world, it will comfort many to know that men with Gormly's spirit, character and patriotism wear this country's uniform. 8 pages of b&w photos, not seen by PW.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

In this literate and straightforward memoir, Gormly details the events of an exciting, 29-year career in the Navy, almost all of which was spent as a SEAL. His recollections of fighting the Viet Cong in the Mekong Delta are exciting and give one a glimpse of how nasty guerrilla wars are. Of special interest will be his accounts of the SEAL's performances in Grenada in 1983 and in covert actions against the Iranians in the Persian Gulf. Adams Morgan's performance is as straightforward as the text. His delivery is deliberate and has a confidence that is almost cocky. For popular and military collections.AMichael T. Fein, Catawba Valley Community Coll., Hickory, NC
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult; First edition (June 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525943269
• ISBN-13: 978-0525943266
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #617,465 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Three Soldiers' Stories, June 13, 2005

By 

Richard Tsuyuki - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Combat Swimmer: Memoir of a Navy Seal (Paperback)

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A exciting look at the inside of the SEAL Teams!, March 29, 2000

By 

Scott Carmichael - See all my reviews

This review is from: Combat Swimmer: Memoir of a Navy Seal (Paperback)

Captain Robert Gormly takes the public on an inside tour of the SEAL community. Through BUD\S, two tours in Vietnam, and becoming CO of SEAL Team Six, Captain Gormly tells the true stories of it all! Go along with SEAL Team Six as they retake the Achille Lauro. Set ambushes in the jungles of Vietnam. Experiance Hell Week. With Combat Swimmer, you can! For the future Frogmen, this one is for you!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than the other, similar books, December 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Combat Swimmer: Memoir of a Navy Seal (Hardcover)

A very enjoyable book. It has more interesting detail about operations than books like "Rogue Warrior," without the obscenity, which may dissapoint some readers. Gormly is rough on Marcinko, even going back to the Vietnam period... "he was leading from the rear." Ouch! Gormly oversaw, and participated in, so many high profile military conflicts that it is a "must read" for anyone who likes combat books.