Customer Reviews

Walking Point: The Experiences of a Founding Member of the Elite Navy Seals

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I'm not a military man but enjoy reading about special forces, SEALs, etc.. What I liked about this book was Watson's down to earth style of writing. It was not written like a book. Rather, it feels like you're listening to a story around a campfire or at the bar. While it chronicled his Vietnam and other experiences in detail, I was particularly impressed with the different chapters devoted to such things as family life, gear, weapons, etc.. Actually, I think my favorite chapter was the one on "sharks and other critters" that the SEALs encounter. Now that's interesting! I enjoyed the book so much I went out and got his first one, Pointman, which I'm getting ready to read after I finish up "The Teams." Possibly the only boring part of this book to me was the great detail given to describing the weapons used in Vietnam. I'm just not that interested in the differences between a 20 and 30 round magazine, but for those who are into this, it's a great read.

This is a great book! Anyone who has any Navy SEAL interests or has read Point Man MUST read this book! It is excellent! You get an idea of what Vietnam must have been like... in vivid detail! This book is a must!

This book is amazing. The story of the U.S. Navy SEAL's! For anyone who has read any of the Rouge Warrior series or First SEAL this is the book for you!

This is a great account of what it was realy like in Nam. Told by one of the founding members of Seal Team Two, Watson delivers with a fully packed punch. He tells of encounters with such detail it's hard to stop reading. You won't be able to put it down once you start.

"Walking Point" Is a well written overview of not only the inception of the U.S.Navy SEAL's, but also of one of its 'Plank Holders' (Chief James Watson). Few alive can walk with their heads held higher than this Patriot!!!

Buy his book.

Very well written. Chief Watson's description of the attention to detail and the reliance of each team member as a unit was superb. The tension of these people operating out in the field is palpable and can be felt in his writing. Well done and thanks for a good read Chief.

with all due respect reader from miniapolis, u are wrong in everything u said. Chief Watson is a great SEAL...after successful ops SEALs always went to a bar to party and bond...its called UNIT INTEGRETY...after enough partying all SEALs within a unit should be able to finish each other sentences and trust each other with their lives (which they may have to sometime). And the way u put it is that Chief Watson sucker punched the guy for no reason...well if u read the book, the Chief was a guest in the O Club and some other chief (also a guest) came over to one of Watson's superior officers (a LT) and said "Your one of those Loud mouth SEALS arent you?" and then Watson even asked the LT's permission before punching him...then when the XO escorted him out he told Watson that he would have loved for him to stay but it would make him look bad...so in conclusion until u have gone to war and been out in the jungle with someone trying to kill you, or until u have had all of ur body messed up by a mine then please dont go badmouthing a war hero...thank you

James Watson's "Walking Point" is adolescent, narcissistic and self-serving. And it is poorly written, boring and old hat. Fully the first half of the book is superficial storytelling about the fraternity-like partying, drinking and womanizing, laced with a good dose of "just how damn tough SEAL team members are." "Walking Point," as a title, is a gross misrepresentation, obviously chosen only to sell the book to those unaware and not at all an honest title concerning the content. This book is a rip off, and its just too bad there is no way to get a refund. Are there no ethical marketing standards in the publishing business? It is surprising there aren't more negative reviews-readers are probably falling over from boredom and simply lack the energy. Attempting to read this will take away valuable time from reading something of substance, and in that sense, "Walking Point" is a double crime.

Welcome to the original SEALs where author James Watson could be expected to break all Ten Commandments in order to get the job done. PROVIDED THE JOB IS DRINKING! In all the other Special Forces books I read with amazement how Force Recon Marines, Snipers, Delta Force and Rangers spent up to a week in the jungle gathering intel while avoiding not only booby-traps, ambush and detection from the enemy but tigers and leopards. Watson's idea of a mission in Vietnam was going out for 2 hours in Levi's blue jeans then getting back to base to get drunk before dark. Basically "Charlie" had very little fear of this alcoholic with a green face. He once looked so exhausted his superior suggested he stay in while his men go on patrol. Was he overworked? Obviously not as his men weren't. He was exhasted from spending all his free time drinking rather than resting or sleeping. So when they came to tell him his men were under fire guess where he was? In the bar getting drunk of course. I have the utmost respect and gratitude for those who served with pride in the Vietnam War because preserving freedom is always a just cause. Unfortunately that cause never occurred to shoot-first-Watson who killed a newborn baby at its mother's breast with a shotgun then blamed the enemy for bringing his family to a war. Whose country did he think it was? Watson was far too busy lying to superiors, stealing from anyone and cheating to increase rate (rank) to do any recon for his "missions."

I have read over a dozen books on Special Forces (all nonfiction) and James Watson's two books: Walking Point and Point Man were by far the worst. Forcing myself to finish this diatribe was far more painful than any training Watson endured to become a SEAL back in the days when you smoked between sneaking out of exercises. Basically it's a self-serving story profiling how chronic alcoholism increases delusions of grandeur and the self-glorification of an undisciplined wannabe tough guy. Not only was James Watson an unprofessional soldier but he tends to brag about it. A real man doesn't sucker punch a fellow soldier in a bar then give himself a pat on the back.

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