Rogue Warrior is the Autobiography of Richard Marcinko. The founder of SEAL Team 6 (The Navy's Counter-Terrorist unit) and Red Cell. The book is a non-stop roller-coaster of action, whether on the battlefield, in training, or his love life off it (which is mostly snippets, the focus is decidedly on his military career).
The book covers his early life briefly and quickly moves onto the meat of the book. His Naval Career starting as the shipman who'd snort spaghetti through his nostrils so his whole team could eat together (hard to find a whole unoccupied table on a ship) through to him bodysurfing out of an ambush in Cambodia.
The book really is an action packed read and recommended for someone who'd like to read a story more pulse pounding than any other and gives a glimpse into the life of a Navy SEAL who has risen through the ranks to become one of the world's premier special forces operatives.
It is interesting to read to get into the mindset of a man who is a Special Forces genius. Someone who has taken the Special Forces mission of subterfuge and mayhem quite seriously and has devised plenty of way for said mayhem to be carried out. As the founder of Seal Team 6 [Now known as Naval Development Warfare Group/ likely under another name now] the parts he can reveal about his activities are quite frankly mind blowing.
One thing he did gripe about was the political leash he found constantly around his neck.
His men have trained constantly from day one to track, and terminate the bad guys. But find themselves unable to do so because of the political masters. When I was younger and read the book I couldn't understand why they were kept on such a short leash. As one ages it is quite clear. They are a useful tool for a government to have (as Marcinko mentions, they're all expendable) but which is used with precision. In line with the prevailing political agenda.
The missions he has participated in are fascinating. As part of a SEAL team in Vietnam conducting ambushes and snatch and grab missions against guerrillas, Naval Attache to Cambodia - where he he nearly died planting demolition charges on a wreck blocking passageway on a river (as boats slowed down to avoid it, the Khmer Rogue opened fire) , to Lebanon as a special security adviser to the Embassy (where he claims his advice was disregarded - advice which could have prevented the bombing) , to his formation of Seal TEAM 6.
In conclusion, the book is a rollicking good read. I haven't been able to comment much on it as it really is like reading an action movie on paper. Except he is a far more impressive action hero having done it all in real life. As a book reviewer comments on the cover "Makes Arnold Schwarzenegger look like a wuss"
The book covers his early life briefly and quickly moves onto the meat of the book. His Naval Career starting as the shipman who'd snort spaghetti through his nostrils so his whole team could eat together (hard to find a whole unoccupied table on a ship) through to him bodysurfing out of an ambush in Cambodia.
The book really is an action packed read and recommended for someone who'd like to read a story more pulse pounding than any other and gives a glimpse into the life of a Navy SEAL who has risen through the ranks to become one of the world's premier special forces operatives.
It is interesting to read to get into the mindset of a man who is a Special Forces genius. Someone who has taken the Special Forces mission of subterfuge and mayhem quite seriously and has devised plenty of way for said mayhem to be carried out. As the founder of Seal Team 6 [Now known as Naval Development Warfare Group/ likely under another name now] the parts he can reveal about his activities are quite frankly mind blowing.
One thing he did gripe about was the political leash he found constantly around his neck.
His men have trained constantly from day one to track, and terminate the bad guys. But find themselves unable to do so because of the political masters. When I was younger and read the book I couldn't understand why they were kept on such a short leash. As one ages it is quite clear. They are a useful tool for a government to have (as Marcinko mentions, they're all expendable) but which is used with precision. In line with the prevailing political agenda.
The missions he has participated in are fascinating. As part of a SEAL team in Vietnam conducting ambushes and snatch and grab missions against guerrillas, Naval Attache to Cambodia - where he he nearly died planting demolition charges on a wreck blocking passageway on a river (as boats slowed down to avoid it, the Khmer Rogue opened fire) , to Lebanon as a special security adviser to the Embassy (where he claims his advice was disregarded - advice which could have prevented the bombing) , to his formation of Seal TEAM 6.
In conclusion, the book is a rollicking good read. I haven't been able to comment much on it as it really is like reading an action movie on paper. Except he is a far more impressive action hero having done it all in real life. As a book reviewer comments on the cover "Makes Arnold Schwarzenegger look like a wuss"
