SEAL Team Six

Memoirs of an Elite Navy SEAL Sniper

By: Howard E. Wasdin, Stephen Templin

Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

When the Navy sends their elite, they send the SEALs. When the SEALs send their elite, they send SEAL Team Six—a secret unit tasked with counterterrorism, hostage rescue, and counterinsurgency.

In this dramatic, behind-the-scenes chronicle, Howard Wasdin takes listeners deep inside the world of Navy SEALs and Special Forces snipers, beginning with the grueling selection process of Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL - the toughest and longest military training in the world.

After graduating, Wasdin faced new challenges. First, there was combat in Operation Desert Storm as a member of SEAL Team Two. Then, the Green Course: the selection process to join the legendary SEAL Team Six (ST6), with a curriculum that included practiced land warfare to unarmed combat. More than learning how to pick a lock, they learned how to blow the door off its hinges.

Finally, as member of ST6, he graduated from the most storied and challenging sniper program in the country: the Marine Corps Scout Sniper School. Eventually, of the 18 snipers in ST6, Wasdin became the best—which meant one of the best snipers on the planet.

Less than half a year after sniper school, he was fighting for his life. The mission: capture or kill Somalian warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. From rooftops, helicopters, and alleys, Wasdin hunted Aidid and killed his men whenever possible. But everything went quickly to hell when his small band of soldiers found themselves fighting for their lives, cut off from help and desperately trying to rescue downed comrades during a routine mission. The Battle of Mogadishu, as it became known, left 18 American soldiers dead and 73 wounded. Howard Wasdin had both of his legs nearly blown off while engaging the enemy. His explosive combat tales and inside details of becoming one of the world’s deadliest snipers combine to make this the most thrilling and important memoir by a navy SEAL since Lone Survivor.

©2011 Howard E. Wasdin and Stephen Templin (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Real as it gets.

This took me awhile, but it’s an amazing story. Wasdin is the real deal and Porter reads it very well!

Love this book

This book is amazing I loved it so much. It was written by the main charter himself. And he even read the book. One of my favorites would totally recommend

The enthralling tale of a warrior-philosopher… until the editor falls asleep.

The first six hours mesmerize the listener with the clarity of prose, the explanation of fascinating detail, and, obviously, the riveting description of combat.

But during the last three hours some sloppy writing, bizarre and underdeveloped political and other views, and a lack of attention to detail predominate.

For instance, Wasdin critiques a ranger who was so overwhelmed by combat that the ranger couldn’t even comprehend Wasdin’s simple oral instruction. Then follows a lengthy explanation of how Wasdin’s brutally tough childhood conditioned Wasdin to maintain focus on everything around him. But literally in the next paragraph Wasdin fails to hear a command by a fellow seal because Wasdin was too focused on combat.

I appreciate Wasdin’s service to my country and stayed with him throughout the entire book — I only
wish the editor had as well.

Great book

Great book this Inspired me a lot hope more people read this I will Recommend this book to others

he has the guts to complete bud/s.

like the book recmond it. there is some language but realy a great book some funny mild crude humor.
good story tslks about the 2009 mersk alabama hijacking.
there is a movie called CAPTAIN PHILLIPS its about the 2009 hijacking of the ship. rated PG-13

He may of been the best sniper in seal history....

What did you love best about SEAL Team Six?

I loved how deep he went into mission operations and side stories that occured during missions and other classified activities. The story about the boy next door to the safe house in somalia and tales of having confirmed rat kills were just the cherry on top. Didnt sound like he was a team six member for very long but his stories about having a major role inside desert storm and ops inside somalia in a very short period of time were absolutely breathtaking. He also lets us peer into his childhood and the events that shaped him into one of the baddest men walking the planet. If it were not for my age and a few mistakes here and there this book would of single handedly inspired me to enlist. One of the best books I have ever listened to. Highly recommend.

What other book might you compare SEAL Team Six to and why?

Dont know,

Which character – as performed by Ray Porter – was your favorite?

Casanova, Little big man and Sourpuss.

Howard was the deal!

I had the pleasure of meeting Howard in1996 for tactical training leading up to the Olympics. I’m a Desert Storm Veteran and while reading book I felt like I was back in the SWA. Howard was like all other military members confident and leadership ability was well received. This book displays a good ole boy from the south change environments and adapted. This book displays teamwork and execution their skill sets. Howard is a great man and it was my pleasure to have him as my teacher. I learned more tactical techniques in that one week and I can say his training has saved my life several times. I’m a Marine veteran and a 28 year police officer. I want to thank you Howard for allowing me to learn just a drop of your knowledge. Semper Fi!

Front line perspective from a Navy

The book is tremendous! The audio quality is excellent! This book answers a few questions I had and will paint a different perspective than what Hollywood and the media portrayed. The book moves quickly and has enough detail to enable the reader/listener to paint a picture of what took place. I highly recommend it. The only reason I rated it a 4/5 stars is there are a few 'cuss' words (which was expected). I give the author credit for not using the "F" bomb and put a new twist on a substitute.

great -

I found this story to be interesting, informative, and exciting. I hope Wasdin writes another book soon.

Well written and well read.

The story is great, very informative. The reading was great also. Variation in voice, timing, organization. Thoroughly enjoyed this book!