Synopses & Reviews
Written with the unprecedented cooperation of the Naval Special Warfare community, here is the definitive history of the U.S. Navy SEALs, a thrilling chronicle that reveals the inside story behind the greatest combat operations of our nations most celebrated warriors. New York Times bestselling authors Dick Couch—former SEAL, Vietnam veteran, and highly respected military writer—and award-winning author William Doyle draw on exclusive interviews with more than 100 special operators (including multiple Medal of Honor recipients), as well as thousands of pages of declassified documents to create a vivid, unparalleled portrait of the SEALs in action.
Navy SEALs: Their Untold Story charts the dramatic evolution of the frogmen from their origins in World War II, when the daring Naval Combat Demolition Teams, Underwater Demolition Teams, Scouts and Raiders commando units, and OSS Operational Swimmers proved instrumental at D-Day, Okinawa, and many other critical campaigns. In the Korean War, the Navy UDTs cleared mines and scouted landing sites ahead of the main American forces. After their official founding in 1962 by order of President John F. Kennedy and early covert operations in Cuba, the SEALs came of age in the jungles of Vietnam, where they specialized in executing the most daring missions. Couch and Doyle trace their transformation in the 1980s and 1990s—when Americas special operations teams were centralized under the U.S. Special Operations Command—including untold accounts from Panama, Grenada, Somalia, and the first Gulf War. Finally, we follow their rise to preeminence in Iraq and Afghanistan after 9/11.
The SEALs and their forefathers have shaped the tides of history; from fighting Hitler to eliminating Osama bin Laden, the frogmen of the U.S. Navy are the spearhead of American military might: the toughest, most highly trained, best equipped—and most invisible—band of warriors. Now many of these quiet professionals, speaking for the first time, reveal what its like to be the men living on the knifes edge. Navy SEALs: Their Untold Story gives these legendary warriors the epic chronicle they deserve.
Review
“Dick Couch, himself a SEAL warrior professional, is THE most respected and prolific writer on all forms of American military special operations. Couch and award-winning author William Doyles book is required reading for todays special operations warriors and those who wish to know more about the Navy SEALs.” Admiral ROBERT J. NATTER (USN, Ret.), former Commander in Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet and Commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Ciommand
Review
“These patriotic sailors do whatever it takes to defend Americas freedom, even if it means paying the ‘ultimate sacrifice, as so many have. I will always cherish the memories and lasting friendships I share with my fellow Trident-wearing brothers who are brought to life in these pages.” Master Chief Bill Bruhmuller (USN, Ret.), founding member of SEAL Team Two
Review
“Captures the essence of Naval Special Warfare from our storied beginnings to the current fight and gives us a glimpse of what the future might bring for the 21st Century Navy SEALs.” Admiral WILLIAM J. McRAVEN (USN, Ret.), former Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command
Review
“Couch and Doyle precisely depict many missions, including the famed rescue of Capt. Richard Phillips and the killing of Osama bin Laden. … Entertaining, no-nonsense balancing of legends and martial reality.” Kirkus Reviews
Review
“[The] definitive history of the U.S. Navy SEALs and their forefathers. ... I will always cherish the memories and lasting friendships I share with my fellow Trident-wearing brothers who are dramatically brought to life in these pages.” Master Chief BILL BRUHMULLER (USN, Ret.), founding member of SEAL Team Two
Review
“Essential reading for military buffs. ... Compelling. ... Underscor[es] the bravery that Navy SEALs have engaged in with each operation.” Library Journal
Review
“I am impressed. If you want to read one book about Navy SEALs, this is it.” Master Chief RICK KAISER (USN, Ret.), Executive Director of the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum and former Naval Special Warfare Development Group training chief
Review
“The first comprehensive history of the special operations force. ... Couch and Doyle do a great job of putting the entire story into context.” Military.com
Synopsis
Themostcomplete history of the U.S. Navy SEALs from their roots in World War II to their celebrated efforts in the War on Terror written with the unprecedented cooperation of theNaval Special Warfare community. The book will tie-in with a fall 2014 PBS series.
Over the last fifty years, a small Navy unit has evolved into the world s most celebrated fighting force: the U.S. Navy SEALs. Until now, their stories have been sealed in the chambers of operational secrecy and the brotherhood of SEAL anonymity.Drawing on exclusive interviews with more than 100 former special operators, highly respected retired SEAL Dick Couch andaward-winning authorBill Doyle record their stories inNavy Sealsand give us the epic chronicle these legendary warriors deserve.
Navy Sealscharts the SEALs story, from their origins in the daringNaval Combat Demolition Teams, Underwater Demolition Teams, Scouts and Raiders commando units, and OSS Operational Swimmersof WWII to their coming of age in Vietnam and rise to glory in Iraq and Afghanistan after 9/11.Illustrated with 40-pages of photographs, here are the greatest missions of the world s most legendary special operators in their own words.
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Synopsis
The most complete history of the U.S. Navy SEALs—from their roots in World War II to their celebrated efforts in the War on Terror—written with the unprecedented cooperation of the Naval Special Warfare community. The book will tie-in with a fall 2014 PBS series.
Over the last fifty years, a small Navy unit has evolved into the worlds most celebrated fighting force: the U.S. Navy SEALs. Until now, their stories have been sealed in the chambers of operational secrecy—and the brotherhood of SEAL anonymity. Drawing on exclusive interviews with more than 100 former special operators, highly respected retired SEAL Dick Couch and award-winning author Bill Doyle record their stories in Navy Seals and give us the epic chronicle these legendary warriors deserve.
Navy Seals charts the SEALs story, from their origins in the daring Naval Combat Demolition Teams, Underwater Demolition Teams, Scouts and Raiders commando units, and OSS Operational Swimmers of WWII to their coming of age in Vietnam and rise to glory in Iraq and Afghanistan after 9/11. Illustrated with 40-pages of photographs, here are the greatest missions of the worlds most legendary special operators—in their own words.
About the Author
Dick Couch graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1967 and served as a Special Warfare Officer with the SEALs. While a platoon leader with SEAL Team One in 1970, he led one of the only successful POW rescue operations of the Vietnam War. In 1972 he entered the Central Intelligence Agency, where he served as a maritime operations case officer. Couch has spent five of the last fifteen years embedded with American special operation components. His nonfiction books include
The Warrior Elite: The Forging of SEAL Class 228,
The Finishing School,Down Range, Chosen Soldier,
Sua Sponte, and
Always Faithful, Always Forward. He has lectured at the Air Force Academy, West Point, Naval Academy, FBI Academy, and U.S. Marine War College.
William Doyle is the coauthor, with former U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, of American Gun: A History of the U.S. in Ten Firearms. His other books include A Soldiers Dream: Captain Travis Patriquin and the Awakening of Iraq, An American Insurrection, Inside the Oval Office, and A Mission from God (with James Meredith). He served as director of original programming for HBO, and he is coproducer of the PBS special Navy SEALs: Their Untold Story.