Book Review: SEAL TEAM SIX

Hello Everyone,

   How is all going on? Enjoying the week? Reading anything new? Here is a review of SEAL Team Six: Memoirs of Elite Navy SEAL.      
     Just when the world went on a high about the death of Osama Bin Laden in a assault by SEAL Team Six, we had access to SEAL TEAM SIX Memoirs of Elite Navy SEAL by Wasdin Howard E. and Stephen Templin. Co-Incidence or not, the book gained some popularity immediately. So I too was interested, tried it couldn't complete it. But eventually after trying hard enough I completed the book recently.
 Authors :
DR. HOWARD E. WASDIN graduated with BUD/S Class 143. After the Battle of Mogadishu, where he was awarded the Silver Star, Wasdin medically retired from the Navy in November, 1995, after 12 years of service. He lives in Georgia.

STEPHEN TEMPLIN completed Hell Week, qualified as a pistol and rifle expert, and blew up things during Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training. He is now an associate professor at Meio University in Japan.
Plot:

     The book tells us a story, of Mr. Wasdin Howard E. of his childhood, harsh spanking he used to receive, the hard work he used to do as a teenager in watermelon field, his love, his  SEARCH and RESCUE  job  in Navy, how professional he was as a SAR swimmer, his training as a SEAL, his operations, operations of other seals, how he entered the operation DESERT STORM, how he managed a few operations, how he dealt with kindness to those in need, how he took down a few evil men with great SNIPER shots, how he earned the respect of DELTA boys, how he went in into battle of Mogadishu (known to all as operation BLACK HAWK DOWN), how bad he was hurt, his treatment and rehabilitation, how he went into depression, how he came back, why he resigned and took up police service and how he joined college to become a chiropractor.

     Now, what do I say about the book? I don't like it at all. I feel the authors did a shitty job. I prefer to read Lone Survivor The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10. This book covers SEAL training, spirit of SEALS and such better. I almost felt that SEALS are demigods after reading the book. I prefer to read Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War to know about the battle of Mogadishu. The military men of USA won my respect and laurels only after reading Black Hawk Down. Black Hawk Down introduced me to the military man's heart, spirit and hard-ships.

Cons: 

     Pitiful and Pathetic work by the authors of SEAL TEAM SIX. Not much gore, Not much training intensity, Couldn't catch the spirit of military men, couldn't show a reason why I must keep on continuing, half the way down I was bored and didn't feel like going forward at all. I completed the book, only because I am a freak of military stuff. I must say, that the book must depend on the timing of release for sales and on some of the cool parts of excerpts available online. I am sure, this book will be soon forgotten but a few jokes from it may live forever like this one here and this one here

Pros:
  Though the plot and narration of book are pitiful, the book captures the spirit of military-men, the bond between men-in-arms, the pain they undergo, how they need to work hard, how they have to look after their careers, their lives, their martial problems and all.  There is quite some humour here and there. I guess you can read that part. 

Do I recommend the book? No, not for someone who knows the SEALS, who is die-hard fan of military stuff. If you are a newbie into the military world, you  may give this book a try. Though I prefer not. Better to read Lone Survivor and Black Hawk Down.

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with warm regards

Abhishek Boniapalli