Customer Reviews

SEAL!: From Vietnam's Phoenix Program to Central America's Drug Wars

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What I like about SEAL! is that it describes how Mike Walsh went from Vietnam painted-face, hard-living Commando to a leader of men with a sense of discretion and valor. His maturity as a fighting leader carries the day as he leads reconaissance missions on Grenada that did not go awary and even standing firm on ground truth before the pressures of senior leaders, which he did before the Panama raid on Noriega's plane at Punta Paitilla. LTCDR Mike walsh is a great military leader and human being we should all strive to emulate. The way he wanted to run the Punta Paitilla missions should be "SOF 101" for every warrior.

The best scene in the book, is the story of the SEAL who gets injured and is paralyzed. Walsh describes the invisible drive that makes a man a Navy SEAL, and that how when EVERYONE had counted this man "out", gone from the teams forever, that he slips from his chair into the pool and begins to swim and while everyone is stunned, raises his arm and cries HOOOYAHH!, the SEAL war cry. I don't do the scene justice so you are going to have to read it, but it makes the book entirely worthwhile.

As the book ends, Walsh describes boldly his change to a new set of values and he makes no hesitation to describe how his belief in God makes him a better SEAL and human being. If I could order every man and woman in the U.S. military to read this book, I would!

Airborne!

First and foremost this is a true life story that depicts events of an extraordinary nature. I can account for the fascination this book inspires because, not only am I ex military, I happen to know personally one of the individuals who fought aside our author in Vietnam. And yes, this person is pictured and mentioned in the book.

My (above mentioned) friend was the person who gave this book to me to read. After reading it I was very surprised to hear his reactions to my questions regarding the hardships endured during Vietnam. The one comment that sticks out in my mind was his answer to my question, 'How were you able to deal with the intense fear and stress of these kill missions?' to which he said something to the effect of, 'Well it is always never more (fear or stress) than we think it will be.' I was shocked at the matter-of-fact like manner in which those words rolled out of his mouth. But I had to agree with him because I could relate having been in the military.

When we read about the absolutely incredible events these guys went through we are amazed that they could do it. However when you are trained (mentally and physically) you deliver when the chips are down.

That's what this book is about, delivering when the chips are down. Coming through, overcoming, and succeeding. This is a true story of what great leadership is. What honor and valor truly mean in the heart of the skilled soldier.

I recommend this book to anyone searching for true stories of leadership in action, tremendous courage, teamwork, and behind the scenes information of the political corruption during the Vietnam war.

This is a story tellers book. Mr. Walsh has 26 years of incredible experiences to tell. He has been to hell and back, but at all times he succeeds in keeping his feet on the ground. Not even a book so honest and to-the-point as this can tell the real warriors story. The experience of combat and war can not be described in words. But Michael Walsh does it anyway. And very well, too. We read about his life during 26 years of naval special warfare - the life of a man who took his job very, very seriously. The North Vietnamese had a ransom on him, but if they had known who they were dealing with it would have been multiplied several times. Mr. Walsh covers the 26 years with a good personal pen, not afraid to be emotional. He does not need bravado to tell his story. It comes with little words that hang in there for you to think about. And the humor which is so important for spec warriors. After reading his book, I think I understand the tremendous sacrifices he gave - the risk, the dedication, the hardship, the loyalty to buddies and unit. I am truly impressed. I know that Mr. Walsh has skipped many good stories from his years as a SEAL. Some of them you can find in Greg Walkers "In the Hurricane's Eye" where he describes some of Mr. Walsh's rock solid personality in some very amusing and well-told stories. As another reader said: If you read this, Michael Walsh, please start volume 2. There's room for a lot more of this kind. Jan Holm

SEAL is still one of the best memoires available today!!!
After completing this work, I was blessed to locate and actually spend some time with the author.
Put succinctly, Mike Walsh possesses more personal integrity, patriotism, and courageous resolve than most anyone above ground today.
His book is a gift to Americans concerned with guts, veracity, and acquiring an education from perceptions only viewable through the eyes of a highly intelligent and intrepid warrior.
The California clown that offers the "get over yourself" review below obviously is blind to understanding that even a humble man
like Mr. Walsh, tasked with attempting to record his extremely extraordinary life, will seem (to an ignoramus) to be boastful.
Mike Walsh is not a boastful man.
SEAL is the truthful product of a matured, religious individual whose personal discipline, devotion to country, and unpoliticized insights offers this nation's youth a measuring stick for honor.
Although my service was with the army, I would follow this naval 'Commander' into hell if he so desired.
SEAL is strong evidence that Mike Walsh knows all about that arena.
Americans need to read this one.
It'll make your chest stick out a bit further.

The only thing wrong with this is that it is Mr. Walsh's only book. It is one of the better books I've read on Viet Nam. It is one of the few Spec Ops books that continues on to the near-present. I've given away most of the war story books after reading them. This is one I've kept and read several times. I highly recomend this book.

I served with Commander Mike Walsh During his tour of duty in Panama 84-86 I was attached to Naval Station Panama Canal, Combat Craft Unit. I was Boat Captain of PCF-4.(Patrol Craft Fast) As a Gunners Mate Guns Petty Officer First Class. Commander Walsh was a true professional. A great man on or off duty. I read this book in one day. Truly one of the best books that I have read in my life. Made me feel that I was back in Panama conducting support for the various Special Warefare Units that worked with. Iam proud to say that I knew Commander Walsh. A man that never forgot where he came from...

This book was riveting! It provided historical value with a personal component that truly engages the reader. The book gave insight to why certain missions were successful, and how some missions went wrong. Lt Mike Walsh has helped me to realize that our nation is not asleep! Now that we are engaged in war with Iraq, I was able to imagine the in's and out's of the recent successful SEAL mission to secure the two oil wells on 3/21/03. And finally, Lt Walsh's personal life-changing testimony is wonderful! Thanks, Lieutenant!

An all to brief account of a "lifer" navy seal and special warfare operator. From Vietnam to Lebanon and from Panama to Central America, Walsh was there. Big gaps in the time line and only one "war story" per deployment. Very opionnated and not afraid to tell it lke it was. For all his time in the service of Uncle Sam, I'm sure the book could have been two or three times longer on the page count. Mr. Walsh, if you read this, please begin work on Vol. 2. A good companion book to D. Young's THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE, Navy Seal's in Vietnam

I've read quite a lot of SEALs memoirs of late and I have to say that this ranks right up there with them. Its a given that the elite men and women of our country will also have rather big egos and think of themselves and the people that work with them as the best the world over (NASA and Delta memoirs come to mind), so it doesn't surprise me in the least that this is the overall feel of this memoir. In fact if it tried to be something different I may very well suspect the content. That being said SEAL! is a great addition to any special forces library.

The bulk of the book follows his time in Vietnam since, of course, this information is a lot older and thus declassified. It is always interesting to read what the special forces did in Vietnam simply because they oftentimes went places that no one else could go, and accomplished things that others couldn't. What comes to mind are the infiltration of enemy camps, prisoner snatches, harassment of their finance structure by eliminating their tax collectors and procuring their funds for themselves. There is a ton of detail that that make this memoir worth it just for the Vietnam War history buffs, let alone SEALs.

What makes this memoir particularly interesting is that he tells everything exactly as it is, without all the whitewash that you may find in others (Marcinko comes to mind. Although I don't necessarily doubt most of the stuff that he did, I certainly suspect the embellishments that were used in order to make himself seem larger than life. You don't get that feel with Walsh). From his arguments with his superiors in Grenada, to his confrontation with Marcinko, to his kidnap and torture in Panama at the hands of Noriega's goons. You always feel that Walsh is being honest and straightforward, even with stuff that could ultimately lessen his own image. This is something rare that I have come to treasure in memoirs because it lends all that much more credibility.

If you are a special forces history buff than this is certainly a memoir that you should add to your list. If you are a Vietnam War history buff than this should definitely add this to your list. Overall, I would highly recommend Walsh's memoir to anyone interested in his line of work. A definite recommend.

5 stars.

The story of an extraordinary man doing his daily job. This book provides insight into the elite fighting groups who defend our freedom. Included in this book are various pictures of Lt. Cmdr. Michael J. Walsh, USN, who is now retired. If you want to know what goes on behind the scenes, behind the news stories, read it.