Customer Reviews

Seals in Action

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
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A good book that covers the beginning of the Navy Seals way back when they were called frogmen (They pioneered scuba gear). Their disbandment after the war and their re-establishment by order of President Kennedy. I liked the chapter of the book about the Bull Frog of the Pond. The longest serving SEAL is the Bull Frog. The name of the Bull Frog featured in that chapter looked familiar until I saw an episode of "Survivor". It's RUDY before he retired from the service and played the game!!! Oh-Rah, Rudy!!!

This well written book starts out in WWII with the UDTs and takes you all the way to the Persian Gulf and beyond. Very descriptive chapters about BUD\S, SDVs(swimmer delivery vehicle), and SEAL Team Six! Also includes informative pictures troughout the book, eight pages of pictures in the middle of the book, and a very detailed glossary! This book is truly an inside look at the SEAL organization, traing and equipment. I highly recomend this book to anyone interested in learning about, or even becoming a SEAL!

SEAL stands for Sea Air Land, and is the name of an extremely well trained American Navy commando group. The author, Kevin Dockery, describes them in great detail. Mind numbing detail that is. For instance, while reading about the Vietnam War, you get to know every date when a platoon relieved another platoon, how many men and officers were in every team, and the time-stamp of almost every bullet fired. Instead of thoroughly describing a few characteristic SEAL operations, Dockery seems to prefer being complete, making the book read like a government report. What should he have written about then? Personally I think he should have written more about what goes on in the SEAL's mind when performing their highly dangerous and adventurous operations. What did they think and how did they feel when they ambushed a Viet Cong sampan (little boat) or tried to rescue the Governor of Grenada? The inner life of these super soldiers is still a secret after reading Dockery's book. In addition I would have preferred details about concrete SEAL techniques in swimming, sharp shooting, and men-to-men-combat. What is the right way to swim long distances with fins? What should you always remember in a knife fight? Finally, I don't know where the previous reviewer got his information, but there's no information at all in this book about the Persian Gulf (the last theatre described is Panama) and there is very little information on SEAL team six. I haven't read any other books specialized in the SEALs, but if you want to read a good book about special forces in general (including SEALs) then I would recommend "Black Hawk Down" by Mark Bowden or "The Commandos" by Douglas Waller.

"Seals in Action" by Kevin Dockery

Dockery tells us of the origin of the "frogmen" or U. S. Navy Seals and this book fascinated me. From the beginnings of the WWII Underwater Demolition Teams, to the modern day Seal Teams, the trials that these men endured must command respect. Why? I'll tell you exactly why. The evolution of all skills, whether military, or simply an advance in construction engineering, all come at the price of HUMAN SUFFERING, but even moreso for military duties. The suffering and hardships of Underwater Demolition Teams and their heirs, the SEALS is just part of the price they pay to do their job.

I knew a SEAL once, who had gone on "snatch" missions to free U.S. Flyers trapped in North Vietnamese prison camps. He told a little about the surprise the POW's felt to be literally yanked into the river and having a breathing apparatus shoved into their mouth. I respected the man. There was no question that every where he walked, he "owned" it. When we sat down to coffee, peace reigned supreme, and he was full of human kindness. I never heard him utter a harsh word toward anyone.

According to Dockery, In WWII, the CDU's (Combat Demolition Units) or NCDU's (Naval Combat Demolition Units) in the vital combat operations during the D-Day landings, 31 of 175 men of the NCDU were killed, and 60 wounded, at OMAHA beach alone. Seven men received the Navy Cross, the highest award, shy of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Since my father fought in this war, the combat operations of the NCDU's means something personal to me. These were men ready to lay their lives on the line to get the job done. No finer men walk the earth.

It isn't only combat that can be fatal to these men. Just Training alone, can result in fatality. Swamps, alligators, rattlesnakes, and unforseen accidents can all take their toll. These men train to the extreme.

Docker covers the combat operations in quite a bit of detail, so that you feel that you are there, that you know these men, wondering if they shall come back after swimming miles to an enemy beach, and then back. The simple possibility of just getting washed out to see is a reality. Now, the NCDU's are re-named; they are the UDT's (Underwater Demolition Teams) Dockery covers the campaigns at Tarawa, Kwajalein Atoll, Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Peleliu etc. These were all islands that U. S. Marines would have to land on. The lives of many Marines depend upon how well the UDT's do their job.

UDT's are working with explosive blocks 2" x 11", a mixture of 75% Tetrytol and 25% TNT, attached to a line of Primacord to demolish "Hedgehog" beach obstacles, and working from submarines.

The Korean War is covered, and on into the Vietnam War. Now the "frogmen" are U.S. Navy SEALS, and their acts of heroism are given in detail by Docker. The Grenada conflict is covered.

SEAL TEAM 6: The last of the book covers the counter-terrorism and rescure force known as SEAL TEAM 6.

The ACHILLE LAURO luxury liner was a ship pirated by militant Muslim terrorists on 7 Oct 1985, and followed shortly thereafter by the brutal murders of passengers. Shortly thereafter, SEAL TEAM 6 is summoned.

Manuel Noriega's PANAMA is the scene of the next SEAL action.

The book covers the most modern equipment that the SEALS use to operate out of submarines, including the amazing "MARK-series" of submersibles.

The book concludes with a lot of information on the training requirements of SEALS. SEALS always work as a TEAM. This fact is emphasised again and again.

This book is very informative, and I recommend it for those curious about the training, capablities, and accomplishments of an elite Naval unit. I came away from reading, better informed, and totally amazed to learn of all these things. This is genuinely, a 5 star book.