50 of 57 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
WOW!, February 1, 2003
UPDATE ALERT: The reviews on this page are being used for more than one book. Most of the reviews are from the Marcinko Autobiography, and for some reason thay have been added to other books by the author. As you read these, don't blame the reviewers if you are reading about the wrong book. On to my own review...
For sheer adventure and excitement, this is hard to beat. The autobiographical account of one of the original creators of the deadly Seal Team covert operations squads. Richard was a former frogman and UDT member. He was also a wild, drinking, swearing, fighting guy whose outrageous courage and antics led him from a man with little education, to a top official in the US Navy Seals. On the way he broke the rules, rankled officers, and pushed for the best treatment and gear he could get for his men. By necessity these man lived hard and fought hard.
In the end of his career he claims the navy went after him on a personal agenda to drive him out on drummed up criminal charges, jealous officers and so forth. It may be true, and it may also be that the exact skills and temperament that made him so effective against the enemy were a detriment when dealing with the whitewashed pencil pushers at the pentagon. It is tough to be a stone cold killer in peacetime and just turn that aggression on and off.
To hear another persons opinion on what happened to Marcinko, read "Brave Men Dark Waters" also sold at Amazon.com. It's author, Orr Kelly, says he was in the Seals with Marcinko and as part of his own book tells his version of Marcinko as an out of control egotist, a real rogue warrior. Read these and other books, and you be the judge. Regardless, I could not put this book from Marcinko down, very exciting.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
If you're scared, then go to church!, June 23, 2001
I actually read this book in 1996, so it has been a while. I can tell you that it influenced me to enter the military to find a life that most people never experience. After being in the service I can tell you that the language in this book is par for the course, it is the nature of being in an environment where quick responses are valued and the majority of your training really does f*$!ing suck. So if you are scared or offended by the language then just suck it up and try to deal with it. If it is too much then put the book down and be glad you never joined the service, it may have been too "rude" of an environment for you. There are alot of important lessons to be learned if you pay attention to why the training is set up the way it is and why you lead from the front. While Marcinko is arrogant you have to love the man's style. From the outside I can easily see how he could irritate the people not directly under his command. On the other hand there are very few things in the military as valuable as a leader who is willing to put you through the most realistic training possible and do it with you. There is no doubt whatsoever that Marcinko leads from the front! The more people we have like him the better.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hardcore, April 21, 2000
CDR Marcinko bears all in his first book of a widely successful series. As the first Commanding Officer of the highly secretive Seal Team 6, his adventures took him across the globe. The reader is included in the story in the clever style of writing that Marcinko delivers. He "talks" to you, as though he were standing right beside you. But Marcinko is not Rambo. He is not invincible, nor does he think he is. His adventures leave him (and his team) battered and bruised. In an embarrasingly blatant story about himself, he leaves out the hype and glory, and instead finds himself slammed, smacked, dropped, whacked, dinged, scraped, and coming back for more. He tells how his missions consistently go FUBAR, and how the everpresent Command Master Chief Murphy (of Murphy's Law fame) is along for the ride to ensure all his plans are ruined. His "shocking" language is just what you'd expect from a mustang sailor. This book is not a Hollywood creation... it's not even a movie (yet). If you want to hear it from someone who was there, this is it. This book is a ride.
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