Master Chief (Diary of a Navy SEAL) [Mass Market Paperback]

Alan Maki (Author), Gary Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 31, 1996

IT'S HARD TO BE HUMBLE
WHEN YOU'RE SERVING WITH THE VERY BEST
For UDT/SEAL team member Gary R. Smith, just being part of an elite military organization wasn't enough--he had to be in the thick of the action. Because in bloody, violent Vietnam he learned there's no stronger bond than the one forged in the gut-wrenching chaos of combat. During ambushes, PRU combat patrols, and extractions from hot LZs, Smith depended on the courage and sacrifice of his fellow SEALs, who time and again placed their own lives on the line so that he might survive.
In MASTER CHIEF, Gary Smith covers his fifth tour in Vietnam and his rise to the highest enlisted rank, master chief petty officer. Characteristically, Smith holds nothing back when describing life during wartime in one of the world's toughest fighting units.
Based on the author's own experience, as well as his own and others' diaries, letters, and documents, and on extensive interviews, MASTER CHIEF is an outstanding memoir of a warrior who answered the call to arms when
his country needed him.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

IT'S HARD TO BE HUMBLE
WHEN YOU'RE SERVING WITH THE VERY BEST
For UDT/SEAL team member Gary R. Smith, just being part of an elite military organization wasn't enough--he had to be in the thick of the action. Because in bloody, violent Vietnam he learned there's no stronger bond than the one forged in the gut-wrenching chaos of combat. During ambushes, PRU combat patrols, and extractions from hot LZs, Smith depended on the courage and sacrifice of his fellow SEALs, who time and again placed their own lives on the line so that he might survive.
In MASTER CHIEF, Gary Smith covers his fifth tour in Vietnam and his rise to the highest enlisted rank, master chief petty officer. Characteristically, Smith holds nothing back when describing life during wartime in one of the world's toughest fighting units.
Based on the author's own experience, as well as his own and others' diaries, letters, and documents, and on extensive interviews, MASTER CHIEF is an outstanding memoir of a warrior who answered the call to arms when
his country needed him.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1st edition (July 31, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804110913
• ISBN-13: 978-0804110914
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.8 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #319,421 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Military > Naval
  • #13 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Asia > Southeast Asia
  • #22 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > World > 20th Century

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, March 29, 1999

By 

M. Tanner - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Master Chief (Diary of a Navy SEAL) (Mass Market Paperback)

Gary Smith tells about his five tours of duty as a Navy Seal in Vietnam through three different books: Death in the Jungle, Death in the Delta and Master Chief. All of these well written books are exceptional in that they not only tell the story of terror filled seconds during battle, but Smith also talks about the sheer boredom and mundane tasked that must be done. His stories about killing VC - VC ants that is, while waiting on ambushes are funny in otherwise near death incounters. Smith is able to talk about the inhumane acts that occur in war just as he is able to talk about the fun times. I was brought to tears while reading about the mother and baby killed during an ambush of a Junk and equally shed tears of laughter when he cooked "Venison" that barked!

Smith does an exceptional job interspersing Vietnamese words and phrases in all three books which gives the read a sense that Smith was a professional that took the time to increase his advantage by learning their language. The one criticism I can point out is that he listed too many of the overnight ambushes. It became hard to distinguish one from another after awhile. I also get the feeling that there is much more to tell about his tour with the PRU but that it might bring up too many unpleasant memories.

Finally, Smith makes a one sentence statement that Captain Gormly was one of the best COs he ever served under which speaks volumes about both warriors. A Very good set of books and I recommend these to anyone interested in getting a birds eye view of war from a Seal's perspective.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not one of the better SEAL books......., March 22, 2002

By 

Mike "Squirrel Nutkin" (Fairfax, Virginia USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Master Chief (Diary of a Navy SEAL) (Mass Market Paperback)

Having read my way through a good portion of books on the SEAL mission in Vietnam, I would have to say this one ranks pretty low. The author seems to be unfocused and the story floundering for a bit. Actually, to be honest, i never finished the book, a rare thing for me, but I just couldn't take it anymore. Don't worry about this one for your SEAL list.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This book was OK., April 10, 2001

By 

S. Taylor - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Master Chief (Diary of a Navy SEAL) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book was OK. I think though there should have been a glossary or something in the back of the book for all the Vietnamese words he used! I couldn't keep them straight. As well as he himself kept jumping inbetween calling his commanding officer Mr. name and Dai Uy. It got confusing as to whether he was talking about the same guy. Enjoyed reading about all of the missions!