book review 76

Book review

Scott McEwen and , Eyes on Target: Inside Stories from the Brotherhood of the U.S. Navy SEALs, (, Center Street), 2014, 320 pages

By Delson Ong

INTRODUCTION of one of the most feared fighting units in the world. Through this The United States (US) Navy’s book, both Scott McEwen and Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly Richard Miniter have pulled back known as the Navy SEALs, are the veil that has so often concealed recognised worldwide as a the heroism of these patriots, reputable special operations force. and hope to change the reader’s It therefore comes as no surprise perception of the SEALs. to find many books out there that document almost everything about THE BROTHERHOOD them, from past to present. With “The only thing that SEALs hate that being said, Eyes on Target: more than terrorists are ‘fake Inside Stories from the Brotherhood SEALs’—civilians, or even other of the U.S. Navy SEALs feels like a service members, who pretend book that does not receive enough to be a part of their sacred credit for the amazing stories that brotherhood.”1 are documented. Eyes on Target: Inside Stories The book contains accounts from the Brotherhood of the U.S. of major SEAL operations— Navy SEALs starts off with a small from the Abbottabad raid to the introductory chapter to provide Benghazi attack, just to name a readers with an understanding few—all of which are presented of the NAVY SEALs. Author Scott in a chronological and concise McEwen pens down his encounter manner. The authors touch on of a SEAL impersonation incident the background stories of several that he witnessed firsthand, which retired SEALs officers, all of whom illustrates clearly the fact that contributed greatly to the history the brotherhood is scarily sacred,

POINTER, Journal of the armed forces Vol.43 No.2 book review 77 and for good reason. Because the This book is the first to tell his tale undertook after becoming a full- road to becoming a SEAL (termed (or most of it), to illustrate the fledged SEAL, Drago would find as ‘evolution’) is an arduous and openness of SEALs to new talents out that his unique history was daunting one, it is only right that as Drago is a Polish immigrant, and constantly an unexpected asset the SEALs see the need to protect he was much older than other men in the SEALs. Although he was an immigrant, Drago says that he ‘their own kind’. The SEAL Code and when he enlisted to join the SEALs. the SEAL Creed are also included in owes everything to America. For Drago, he did not believe in being this introduction, albeit briefly, to The book covers much of Polish-American, or for that matter, cement the readers’ understanding Drago’s childhood, even including being Something-American. You are of the Navy SEALs. his childhood story about a either an American, or you are not. quarrel between his parents. This And I am an American.’5 ORIGINS OF THE NAVY SEALS quarrel taught him one thing: Every obstacle can be overcome John Fitzgerald ‘Jack’ Kennedy, with persistence and creativity.3 OPERATION EAGLE CLAW or more commonly known as John From young, he was a disobedient Readers are treated to a very F. Kennedy, set in motion a lot of child, refusing to follow rules. vivid and detailed description of events during his stint as President His determination to get into the the timeline of events that took of the United States (US). He is SEALs was beyond comprehension, place. Operation Eagle Claw was more widely known for the tax cuts something incredibly admirable an operation ordered by the US that triggered the 1960s economic about him. During his training President at that time, Jimmy Carter, boom, as well as the developments to become a SEAL, Drago’s leg to attempt to end the Iran hostage in the Space Race to land the first was so swollen by flesh-eating crisis in Tehran, Iran’s capital city.6 men on the moon.2 What is lesser bacteria that his shoe increased Some 52 American diplomats and known is that John F. Kennedy was by a staggering three sizes, from US Marines were taken hostage on integral in the creation of the US a size ten to size thirteen and a 4th November, 1979 by an armed Navy SEALs as well. He imagined a half. Even that, however, could mob that had surged into the US 7 mobile commando force that could not stop him. When asked why he embassy compound in Tehran. The stalk, hunt and kill in any terrain was so determined, these were his scheduled rescue plan took months exact words: to materialise, but eventually it was on earth, operating from ships, aborted due to various reasons. submarines and the aircrafts of the “I did not come here to try to be US Navy. Hence, in 1962 he signed a SEAL. I came here to become The Mission That Was Not Meant off on the creation of a new type a SEAL. I did not come here to To Be of frogman—the SEALs. try, and I am not trying it. I am Operation Eagle Claw was going to become a SEAL unless set to commence on 24th April, Drago I get kicked out of training, or 1980, some five months after the His true name is never revealed, I break myself. I will become a American diplomats and US Marines 4 as he remains under threat from SEAL.” were taken hostage. Although the terrorists. Nevertheless Drago’s crewmen that were involved were story illuminates a key chapter His determination stunned confident that their individual in the development of the SEALs. everyone. In the missions that he parts would work as expected, no

POINTER, Journal of the singapore armed forces Vol.43 No.2 book review 78 one saw the big picture. Nothing would spend months drawing hard The description of how SEAL Team they did could have prepared lessons from this bitter tutorial. Six looked like, in my opinion, was them for what happened on that But the mission succeeded in one particularly well-written. fateful day. aspect: the failure of Operation Eagle Claw led to the creation of Neither did the typical military Everything went as planned on SEAL Team Six. hierarchy exist in here—everything the day itself, but shortly after they worked in reverse. In Team Six, landed at Desert One (a desolate Richard Marcinko – Founder of senior enlisted men ran day-to- and uninhabited location located Seal Team Six day operations, not the new guys. 200 miles from Tehran), their cover In the wake of Operation Eagle And despite having a higher rank, was blown. The element of surprise Claw, founder of SEAL Team Six, officers had to earn the respect of was gone, but that was just the Lieutenant Commander Richard these men. In any other place in start of a chain of unfortunate Marcinko, was tasked with the the Navy, men would salute the events that would befall the design and development of a full- superiors. But in SEAL Team Six, it rescuers. Eight helicopters were time dedicated counter-terrorist would be unwise for an officer to deployed in this mission that team. At that time, the Navy had buck the senior enlisted men even required a minimum of six, and as only two SEAL teams, and Marcinko if they were technically under him. luck would have it, engine failures deliberately named the new unit To quote the author, SEAL Team Six took out two helicopters. A haboob SEAL Team Six, in an effort to trick seemed like a ‘world turned upside (a dense dust storm that moves others into thinking that the US down’.10 across the desert) further reduced had three other SEAL teams that the number to five. There existed they were unaware of.9 BATTLE OF BENGHAZI no possibility that five choppers Also known as the 2012 would suffice as the required What was unique was the way Benghazi Attack, the event took minimum was six, especially when that SEAL Team Six worked. It place on 11th September, 2012, the most difficult portion of the functioned very differently from where Islamic militants attacked mission was still ahead of them. other special task force units, However, the worst was yet to almost as though they were part the American diplomatic compound come. As they were departing, one of a separate organisation. In SEAL in Benghazi, Libya and killed US 11 helicopter moved in to one of the Team Six, there exists a very unique Ambassador Christopher Stevens. C-130s to refuel, but the chopper culture, all thanks to Marcinko Four chapters were dedicated to got too close for comfort and they himself. Normally, we would expect this significant event in American collided into each other, setting Navy personnel to look like your and Navy SEAL history The first two 8 off a fireball. typical military types, with tightly explained the event as it happened, shaved hair and polished boots. and the third proposed several SEAL TEAM SIX However, the officers and the men rescue scenarios that could have The hostages were freed after of this special unit looked nothing taken place. Amazingly, the fourth 444 days of captivity, ending the like that. All of them sported chapter consists of a detailed Iran Hostage Crisis. Yes, the rescue beards, long hair, and even tattoos, timeline of events of the Benghazi mission was a failure in many ways, making any normal-looking naval Attack, which was pieced together and the US Defence Department officer look like an oddball instead. by the authors themselves.

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There was no distinction, to the very principles hammered into president. In my opinion, there the men in the various SEAL Teams, them through years of discipline certainly is a pride in being a whether or not the people involved and thousands of man-hours of SEAL. However, therein lies the in the Battle of Benghazi were no training. problem as well—one can never longer active-duty SEALs when be too easy in letting others in on they had fallen. They were SEALs Casual Use of Seal Teams Led To what they do. at one point in time, and they died Tragedy 12 trying to save American lives. With bin Laden taken down, CONCLUSION Many SEALs were angry with the the heroic deeds of SEAL Team Six Credit has to be given to President, and the entire chain of were trumpeted in the headlines command, but this is not the only of every major news organisation the authors for the way the time that the SEALs would find around the world. The glorification book is written. Despite having their fellow team mates involved of their victory made them targets to document many operations in tragedies that could have been as well, and the SEALs knew it. involving the Navy SEALs. There prevented. are indeed many books on the The aftermath of the raid was Navy SEALs, but this book is the THE ESSENTIAL REALITY the biggest single loss of life first of its kind that treats them as In the crackle of radio static or a in SEAL history. Three months characters in their own right. There flash of text, team mates they have after the raid, a helicopter was are many other operations and known for years—could suddenly shot down by a rocket-propelled characters not mentioned here, but grenade in Afghanistan, killing all be gone. This is the essential they are definitely worth reading thirty-eight members on board, reality that every SEAL has to face, up on as well. For aspiring readers including 15 members of SEAL that death stalks them just as they who are interested to find out more bring it to their nation’s enemies.13 Team Six. Families of the victims about the Navy SEALs, this is the and the public faulted the Obama book to start with.  Of the many special units that administration for the casual use could be chosen to execute Osama of SEAL Teams. Only two days after bin Laden, the SEALs were sent in was killed, US ENDNOTES to bin Laden’s lair. Although it has Vice President Joe Biden’s reckless been a hot debate topic among comments violated the operational 1. McEwen, Scott and Miniter, Richard, Eyes on Target: Inside special operators, one thing is for security needed for covert missions Stories from the Brotherhood of the sure: being handpicked to visit when he singled out SEAL Team Six U.S. Navy SEALs, (New York, Center America’s number one enemy is a as responsible for the death of Street, 2014), ix. testament to the effective combat bin Laden. 2. Ibid., 6. capability of the Navy SEALs. The 3. Ibid., 57. bulk of the chapter on the bin Although it is impossible to 4. Ibid., 63. Laden raid was cleverly written, say with certainty that naming the whereby the authors broke up the executioners led to their deaths, 5. Ibid., 69. SEAL creed into parts to show how there is no doubt that the Obama 6. Operation Eagle Claw, (Wikipedia) the SEALs operate under pressure, administration’s actions broke the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Operation_Eagle_Claw where their actions are guided by trust between the SEALs and the

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7. McEwen, Scott and Miniter, Richard, Eyes on Target: Inside Stories from the Brotherhood of the U.S. Navy SEALs, (New York, Center Street, 2014), 20.

8. Ibid., 37.

9. Richard Marcinko, (Wikipedia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Richard_Marcinko

10. McEwen, Scott and Miniter, Richard, Eyes on Target: Inside Stories from the Brotherhood of the U.S. Navy SEALs, (New York, Center Street, 2014), 46.

11. 2012 Benghazi Attack, (Wikipedia) https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/2012_Benghazi_attack

12. McEwen, Scott and Miniter, Richard, Eyes on Target: Inside Stories from the Brotherhood of the U.S. Navy SEALs, (New York, Center Street, 2014), 142.

13. Ibid., 191.

POINTER, Journal of the singapore armed forces Vol.43 No.2