I have read a couple of article over the past couple of days about the author and his book. As far as the author goes, it is said that he wrote it, not because he had an ax to grind per se. But after the mission and he got home he decided he was getting out, and his team basically treated him like shit afterwards. That is when he decided to write the book. (I will try to find the article to post).

Secondly, yesterday I read another article that said the SEAL Foundation would accpet NO money from him as far as charitible contributions. He has pissed off his brothers, and at least that charity is not willing to have it's name connected with this book in any form, shape or fashion.

Cut my head off and put it in the team room safe with the dusty red side drives...oh shoot, did chief close the safe and sign the SF-701? That head in there is starting to smell funny! :D

Anybody remember this article? It was in the Sunday papers nationwide on 2, Aug 1981.

Those are B and C Company 1-7th guys with full flashes - MID guys with the recognition bars. The NCO above the word "Berets" is Jerry Infanger, the TmSgt for the C/1-7th PIG Team.

And so it goes...

Richard :munchin

I actually have a copy!

Just go to the 7-11 and get some of those little pine tree smelly things and it will be ok.

I read nothing like that in the book. He basically said he was burned out and tired of putting the Navy first and second, and his personal life and health third, time for the young guns to carry on. There was no animosity towards anyone in the military anywhere. Any bad blood is not coming from him unless in an interview, he's just been thrown under the bus, no wait, the "Speeding Train" as he puts it. He asked to get off and his command and team mates tried to keep him. The idea for the book came as a refute to all the politicians and former SEALs (Marcinko) taking credit and talking too much.

There is no direct mention of him donating to any specific charity only that he is donating a majority of the proceeds to charity. He asks others to make a sacrifice and donate or contribute time to veteren's organization. He lists three all related to Navy SEALs.

He also is not "retired" he just got out with 14-years, ten spent in combat rotations.

+1,I really liked your review of the book.From what I have seen all the QP's have shown a great deal of decency with regards to this matter.The media on the other hand has pounced upon this issue and created BS rumors like he was treated like shit by his own team.When I read about the experiences of the QPs on this board,it is impossible to believe an SF,SOF unit will treat their own like crap because he wants to leave after putting in a long time.

Thank you for providing your insight. I am interested in reading the book and will after your review.

In all the years I have been a member on military community boards, I have heard it over and over... OPSEC / PERSEC and the importance. It is for this reason, I understand some of the concerns and criticism expressed towards this SEAL by his brothers. So much is at stake for individuals and our country. I guess what I don't fully understand, is the animosity and personal attacks prior to reading what is contained in the book. I believe any legal ramnifications will be his to bear, as they should be, if he violated the terms.

I can't help but wonder if he would have taken the same actions, if this administration had not already broken the cherry (to public after the mission and to movie industry for the film).

Just remember, it's only one side of the issue and it's his side in the book. I'm only trying to view this as someone less interested in the politics of it and more interested in the actions related to the history of this event.

Yes,that is what the book is about-the men,the event and also how he was feeling throughout the op as an individual.

Please do correct me if I am wrong but I think politics and military never mix well.I believe the last thing you guys want is to be treated like celebrities,your work is way too serious for that.Its serious enough that is beyond the understanding of average folks like us and the media always ruins it when they portray it.

Anyone plan on watching the 60 minutes interview tonight...

I haven't watched, but have been listening while doing other things. And I feel some shame in doing so. I'll admit I was more interested in his attitude than waiting to see if he jumped further across the line than he already has.

He certainly must have just pissed off the EOD guy on his team. Told an anecdote about blowing up the chopper that made his team mate sound... less professional than I am certain he is. Gave credit to the perimeter team for the specific difficulties they faced, but IMO, he shared several key details that are meant to feed the mass media madness, and nothing more.

There is a little bit of axe grinding going on.

No Easy Day....Easy read.
 

I waited to chime in on the actual book until I had read it. I missed the interview last night. I too have wondered about his motives and I don't think you are going to find them in the book. He tells the story and it is a fast easy read. Whether or not you agree with the writing of the book on the basis of "He's a professional" or "He signed a NDA", it has been written. Now the question is...did he violate OPSEC?

I have signed NDA's and none of them would prevent me from writing a book on my experiences. Two things, I would still have my book vetted AND I didn't go and shoot UBL. That being said I didn't see anything in the book that wasn't already open source and there were a lot of things we know about that he didn't mention in the book. Even if it was all open source it would still depend on what his NDA said, which....we don't know. I remember the days when you couldn't even mention the word JSOC, when you had to put on and take off your IR tape on the aircraft on infil and exfil, and the days when you couldn't talk about FAST roping, nowadays it's everyday vernacular.

I found one thing very interesting was that Adm McRaven was mentioned to be an awesome commander but very political in the book. Adm McRaven has been one of the biggest outspoken critics of "OPSEC" violations (and I'm sure this book) and yet he held a news conference where he was admonished by the former Delta boss for flapping his own gums. Even if you don't like that he wrote the book based on our community silence, he shouldn't be hunted down by our own. Many here have said he has become PNG within the community, isn't that enough?

Timely. Good cue to remind folks that just because something becomes "open source" doesn't mean it was declassified 30 seconds after WaPo printed it, or it hit FB or your publisher wrote you a nice advance. Right, wrong or indifferent, classified is classified, applying as well to any handling instructions appended to UNCLAS.

I finished the book last night and it was a good read. I will not opine on OPSEC as my opinion is pretty much worthless. However my gut tells me the current administration would like to crucify this guy in order to divert attention away from the leaking and other nonsense that has gone on.

One interesting comment in the book that occurred at least twice - the author thought killing UBL would guaranty Obama was re-elected. I cannot say that I agree. He also said that none of the folks on the team were fans of Obama. They were pretty pissed about how the administration tried to take all the credit on the Somalia pirate incident.