By Water Beneath the Walls

The Rise of the Navy SEALs

By: Benjamin H. Milligan

Narrated by: Kaleo Griffith

Length: 22 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

A gripping history chronicling the fits and starts of American special operations and the ultimate rise of the Navy SEALs from unarmed frogmen to elite, go-anywhere commandos - as told by one of their own.

“Deeply researched, well organized, and incredibly engaging.... This is our legacy with all the warts, the challenges, and the heroics in one concise volume.” (Admiral William H. McRaven, number one New York Times best-selling author and former commander, United States Special Operations Command)

How did the US Navy - the branch of the US military tasked with patrolling the oceans - ever manage to produce a unit of raiders trained to operate on land? And how, against all odds, did that unit become one of the world’s most elite commando forces, routinely striking thousands of miles from the water on the battlefields of Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, even Central Africa?

Behind the SEALs’ improbable rise lies the most remarkable underdog story in American military history - and in this audio, former Navy SEAL Benjamin H. Milligan captures it as never before.

Told through the eyes of remarkable leaders and racing from one longshot, hair-curling raid to the next, By Water Beneath the Walls is the tale of the unit’s heroic naval predecessors, and the evolution of the SEALs themselves. But it’s also the story of the forging of American special operations as a whole - and how the SEALs emerged from the fires as America’s first permanent commando force when again and again some other unit seemed predestined to seize that role.

Here Milligan thrillingly captures the outsize feats of the SEALs’ frogmen forefathers in World War II, the Korean War, and elsewhere, even as he plunges us into the second front of interservice rivalries and personal ambition that shaped the SEALs’ evolution.

In equally vivid, masterful detail, he chronicles key early missions undertaken by units like the Marine Raiders, Army Rangers, and Green Berets, showing us how these fateful, bloody moments helped create the modern American commando - even as they opened up pivotal opportunities for the Navy.

Finally, he takes us alongside as the SEALs at last seize the mantle of commando raiding, and discover the missions of capture/kill and counterterrorism that would define them for decades to come.

Written with the insight that can only come from a combat veteran and a member of the book’s tribe, By Water Beneath the Walls is an essential new history of the SEAL teams, a crackling account of desperate last stands and unforgettable characters accomplishing the impossible - and a riveting epic of the dawn of American special operations.

©2021 Benjamin H. Milligan (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Fascinating.... Written with gusto and based on years of research, this history spans eight decades. Fast-paced and packed with colorful personalities and close-quarters gunfights, it vividly details the lineage of the SEALs. This tour de force confirms what we all suspected: SEALs are slightly crazy, and our nation is safer for it.” (Bing West, number one New York Times best-selling coauthor of Call Sign Chaos)

“By Water Beneath the Walls is the SEAL book we needed. A deep dive into the SEALs’ roots, it is written with style and insight that could come only from someone who is part of the community. Milligan uses razor-sharp analysis and masterful storytelling to leave us with a clear understanding of not only how the SEALs came into being, but, more important, why.” (Kevin Maurer, number one New York Times best-selling coauthor of Lions of Kandahar and No Easy Day)

Detailed Account and very well written

A fantastic book I have enjoyed every minute of it. The detailed accounts throughout the years keeps you engaged and entertained well written and well read.

Amazing book

I’ve read dozens of military history books, and Ben managed to do something that very few others have done: write an in-depth history book that reads like a novel. I laughed, cried, and learned a ton while listening to this book. If you have any remote interest in military special forces history, just read the book!

Great informative story

Definitely a must listen. Learning the story of all these operators is great. Very informative and kept me hooked the whole time!

The Unbiased Truth

The numerous element within the story have an untold number of details, but the author does an excellent job of maintaining focus, highlighting key information, and telling the valor of the many Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines this book is about in a way that a Veteran or civilian could have equal awe.

thankful to have heard about the author and the book in the Jocko Podcast!

Most Thorough Historical SEAL Anthology

Thorough, yet riveting history of how and why the most improbable branch of the US military came to develop the world’s most elite commando unit.

Detailed and entertaining telling of real history

This is a well written historical text that covers quite a breadth and depth of military action and the individuals who were involved. The content and style made it a joy to listen to on several long road trips as well as in shorter daily sessions.

Excellent story

If you’re interested in history and not the self righteous ramblings of a former SEAL this is the book for you.
This author is not interested in the game associated with service, instead he prioritizes the importance of the legacy that built the reputation of the SEAL teams today. 10/10 would recommend.

Brilliant.

An amazing well researched and unbiased account of the origins of the Frogman and their sister services special operations predecessors. Hooyah Ben!

Full history of US Special Operations

Great book documenting Spec Op's history, across the branches of service! I always wondered how the SEALS missions pushed them so far from the water, this book does well to explain it & is in keeping with my observations of how under/fouly utilized Spec Ops were during my years of service. Glad they are now under their own command & their missions are understood/respected by the brass that employs them.

Great book on the history of the SEALS

Excellent book. I learned so much. The author did a great job pulling together the history of how the Navy SEALS came into existence.