Rogue Warrior [Hardcover]

Richard Marcinko (Author), John Weisman (Foreword)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Special-warfare devotees will find this to their liking: an insider's account of the Navy's amphibious commandos known as SEALS, by one of the group's most controversial veterans, along with Weisman (coauthor of Shadow Warrior ). Marcinko describes his combat adventures in Southeast Asia in the '60s; his command of SEAL Team Six, one of the most effective counterterrorist outfits in the world, in the '70s; and his pioneering leadership in the '80s of Red Cell, a unit designed to test the Navy's vulnerability to terrorists. Super-macho in outlook and behavior, Marcinko delights in recalling the traditionally gross behavior of the SEALS as well as his own unique experiences such as eating the brains of a live monkey to impress his Cambodian allies. The super-secret Red Cell successfully penetrated many key U.S. naval installations, creating so much havoc that Marcinko was arrested. He is evasive about the conspiracy charges brought against him but reveals that he is currently serving time in a federal prison. Marcinko's anti-authoritarian behavior, as he improvises his own doctrine of unconventional warfare, makes for entertaining reading. Military Book Club selection.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

An autobiography of a career naval officer who dropped out of high school, enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and spent his ca reer struggling to win acceptance for special warfare SEAL (sea-air-land) units within the Navy establishment from the late 1950s to the present. Marcinko provides detailed descriptions of the early transformation of underwater demolition teams (UDT) into SEAL units. With interesting vignettes about training and actual missions during the Vietnam War, he gives a close-up view of this specialized and little-known brand of warfare. Marcinko's participation in the Iran hostage rescue attempt in 1980 and the U.S. invasion of Grenada in 1983 provide a perspective vastly different from the accepted versions of these events. However, the overuse of salty language throughout the book that lends new meaning to the phrase "curse like a sailor" and Marcinko's polemical accounts of his struggles to win acceptance for specialized warfare within the Navy are unfortunate. Not a necessary purchase. Military Book Club main selection.
- Harold N. Boyer, Marple P.L., Broomall, Pa.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books; 1St Edition edition (March 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671703900
• ISBN-13: 978-0671703905
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (168 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #174,906 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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  Books > History > Military > Intelligence & Espionage

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!, February 1, 2003

By	microjoe - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Rogue Warrior (Mass Market Paperback)

For sheer adventure and excitement, this is hard to beat. The autobographical 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 neccesity 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 tempermant that made him so effective against the enemy were a detriment when dealing with the whitewashed pencil pushers at the pentagon. It is tough tobe 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, was in the Seals with Marcinko and as part of his own book tells the story 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.

32 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievable, but true Autobiography, February 26, 2000

By	Redbeard "deac73" (Riverton, NJ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rogue Warrior (Mass Market Paperback)

I have actually read all of Capt. Marcinko's books to date; however, this book is the best by far because its his true-life adventures in the World Of SPEC War. Growing up not too far from where Capt. Marcinko was born, I became fascinated with his story. To read of his adventures and his antics and to see what was done to him in return is unbelievable. What makes it scary is that it is true. I'm not going to go into the scemantics of the writing style or break down the entire book for you, but what I am going to do is tell you the truth... Yes, this book may be hard for some of you to read. Yes, he may be an egocentric adrenaline junky, but first and foremost, he is a soldier, who has served his country and fought for the freedom we all take for granted. In the times in which we live, we need a true hero like Dick Marcinko to make us proud to be Americans, because we have so few hero's to look up to now. If you don't like his abrasive philosophising and his "take the world by the balls" attitude then all I have to say is "Doom on You". Dick Macinko is a true hero and a present day warrior and its men like him who have served our country in times of need, and who have fought and given up their lives for our country, that makes me proud to be an American.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ignore the Chad Reynolds review unless you want a laugh!, November 11, 2005

By	David A. Porter (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Rogue Warrior (Hardcover)

Firstly before I review the product one has to wonder at the sheer lack of intelligence and research demonstrated by Chad Reynolds review. I am suprised that he hasn't deleted his review as of yet as it's so stupid. To rebuff: the intial chapter is a training exercise, as Marcinko points out at the end of the chapter. Marckino/Wiseman or whoever put it all together is just using a literary device to... tell a story. As for the jumping from 19,000ft. That is nothing. I used to work at 18,000ft... on the ground - it's called Skiing! Special Ops people can perform HALO and HAHO jumps at 30,000ft, because they use oxygen apparatus. What is Chad going on about here? He does not know what he is talking about.

Chad Reynolds claims to be a full commander and I honestly hope that this isn't a reflection on the rest of the US Navy. For all you Marcinko insiders maybe Chad Reynolds = Pinky! He might want to do his research before he posts, or try reading the book! However there are definately some knowledgable US Navy personnel, one of who is clearly Richard Marcinko.

I happen to own all of this series and even my girlfriend reads them now. They are ripping yarns, made much better by Marcinkos clever insights and understanding of the topics. He is clearly a first rate spec ops leader and a great soldier as well. The book gives you a wonderful grasp of the subject from an insiders perspective not seen in your Tom Clancy/Dale Brown type novels. It is similar in some ways to Charlie Beckwith's Delta Force book. Its very much written from the perspective of a guy in the know. Because it is an insiders perspective it covers the more gritty and violent aspects of war, with all the sailor language included. While this might be difficult for us to accept having not been in his world, it gives a great appreciation for the things that he has done to serve his country and his men. The free world needs people like Marcinko and Beckwith (to make up for all the Chads and Pinkys), and I am thankful for those that can live in it and freely do so to defend out freedoms. A worthy read.