First SEAL [Mass Market Paperback]

Roy Boehm (Author), Charles W. Sasser (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1998

He's the godfather of the U.S. Navy SEALs -- the founder of the boldest, brightest, baddest bunch of commandos on the face of the planet. Now Roy Boehm tells how he mastered survival as a warrior -- and changed the course of twentieth-century warfare.

Roy Boehm was fated for heroism from the moment he shipped out with the U.S. Navy, eight months before Pearl Harbor. His brilliant fighting career would lead him from the sea battles of the South Pacific to the killing fields of Vietnam.

As World War II came to a close and the Cold War began, Boehm saw the need for an unconventional warrior. Drawing on his expertise as a diver and member of the Navy's Underwater Demolition Teams, he created a force capable of attack from sea, air, or land. This unique dedicated and ruthless unit would become the legendary Navy SEALs. With the impact of a depth charge, First Seal delivers a no-holds-barred look at what it takes to be one of that rare breed of men who live for war...or die for their country.

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

The high-adventure story of the legendary Boehm--founder and guiding spirit of the famed SEALs, a highly decorated veteran of three wars--and his tumultuous 30-year career in the US Navy. Boehm, with journalist and former Green Beret Sasser, reviews his military memories: He entered the Navy as a teenage WW II recruit in the risky Underwater Demolition Unit; in the Battle of Cape Esperance, after his ship was sunk, he had a fight with a man- eating shark during which he lost his wounded buddy and Boehm himself made a narrow escape. Later he infiltrated Castro's Cuba on an intelligence-gathering mission. He blames JFK for losing his nerve in the Bay of Pigs disaster and calling off US air strikes, thereby exposing Cuban insurgents to death and capture. Boehm believes that the perception that America lacked the courage to resist aggression encouraged the Communists, resulting in the Berlin blockade, Communist infiltration of Latin America, and the Vietnam War. Boehm also believes that inter-service rivalry and bureaucratic inertia were the biggest obstacles to creating the new commando force he envisioned. He fought the system as hard as he fought US enemies, incurring five courts-martial (which were eventually canceled). Called into President Kennedy's office to explain his behavior, Boehm persuaded Kennedy to give him authority to create the most elite special force in the world--the SEALs. Fighting in Vietnam, the carefully selected, courageous, dedicated, adventurous SEALs outclassed the Viet Cong in merciless raids and ambushes. Boehm blames the politicians and high brass for losing the war. According to Boehm, his frank honesty and refusal to compromise where lives were at stake held back his career, and he left the Navy still a lieutenant. Strong, exciting reading, laced with military profanity and humor. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Stephen Coonts Roy Boehm was the real James Bond, slick, tough... he pulls no punches.

Clive Cussler First Seal bristles with danger, intrigue, and surprise. Rapid-fire action from beginning to end. And it's all true. Roy Boehm fought as few dare and lived to write the tale.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Star; Reprint edition (August 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671536265
• ISBN-13: 978-0671536268
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #429,068 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Military > Naval
  • #66 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Leaders & Notable People > Military > General
  • #66 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Professionals & Academics > Military & Spies

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Roy Boehm, a true American Hero, March 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: First Seal (Hardcover)

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"

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular book, November 24, 2004

By 

EagleStorm (Manila, Philippines) - See all my reviews

This review is from: First SEAL (Mass Market Paperback)

I first checked out this book at Borders years ago, but didn't come around to reading it until my father was given a copy by some SEALs in the Phil. Navy, after he served with them in Mindanao.

Well, First Seal by Roy Boehm and Charles Sasser is an interesting book. SEAL history won't be complete without the story of the man that started it all: Roy Boehm, the so-called Godfather of all SEALs. His narrative perfectly captures the high tension of World War II and the impending dangers the Cold War brought. From large-scale conflicts the US military was geared for, to the low-intensity conflicts and unconventional warfare it wasn't quite familiar with, Boehm had amazing insights about the nature of unconventional warfare. As early as the late 1950's, he already figured out that Vietnam would be America's next battlefield. He also delved deeply on the Bay of Pigs invasion (further detailed on in Grayston Lynch's Decision for Disaster).

Boehm has an eye for some personal details about his early years in the Navy, and vividly retells the stories about his wartime service. The chapter where he lost his close friend to a shark made for some horrifyingly painful reading.

It was a surprise for me that Survivor and Combat Missions' Rudy Boesch (yes, that's him) was also mentioned in the book because he was one of the first members of SEAL Two.

Just like Richard Marcinko's commentaries about the Navy establishment and politics in his Rogue Warrior book series, Boehm also drives home his all-so-true writings on the same subjects, given the numerous courts-martial he faced and the red tape he had to cut through, simply because he pulled out all the stops to make sure that the SEALs he would form will be just as good as the Army's Special Forces.

It's a very sad fact that true-blooded Warriors like Roy Boehm are getting fewer and fewer everyday. Boehm is indeed a man who would rather get down and dirty in the mud battling the enemy than lead from behind a desk, because leadership in battle is about being out in front of your men, and defined in just two words Boehm takes to heart: FOLLOW ME!

I just found this book this afternoon after disappearing somewhere inside the house for three years, and I couldn't wait to read it again. It's a really cool book. Read it, you won't be disappointed.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An honest book by a true American Hero and Patriot!, August 5, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: First Seal (Hardcover)

No false bravado or bragadocio here. This book is simply an honest book by a real man, not a created myth. Roy Boehm was tasked with creating the Navy SEAL's, but that is just one of several amazing stories outlined in a military career that covered World War II through Veitnam. A shark pulling his injured friend from his arms after their ship is sunk, swimming into Cuba to verify missles during that crisis, an assassination of a double agent in the Dominican Republic and creating the SEAL's are just some of the stories. Oh yeah, he suck's his wife's drunken bald parakeet "Fluffy" up in a vacuum too! Slow to accept praise, quick to accept blame, honest to a fault and at times laugh-out-loud funny this book is a story about a unique individual who did some amazing things and thank God for the United States, he was on our side! A great read!