book review 76 Book Review Scott McEwen and Richard Miniter, Eyes on Target: Inside Stories from the Brotherhood of the U.S. Navy SEALs, (New York, 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 SinGApore 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.