Combat Swimmer

Memoirs of a Navy Seal

By: Captain Robert A. Gormly, USN - Ret.

Narrated by: Adams Morgan

Length: 9 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

Subtitled "Memoirs of a Navy Seal", Captain Robert A. Gormly tells his amazing story as the leader of the US Navy SEALs, taking us into the night, into the water and into battle on some of the most hair-raising missions ever assigned. Rising through the chain of command within the SEALs from platoon leader to commanding officer, Gormly's journey began with a chance meeting on a Virginia beach. Qualifying for the Navy's elite Underwater Demolitions Unit -- the precursor of the SEALs -- Gormly became an expert at underwater reconnaissance and guerrilla-style warfare. As a member of the newly formed SEAL Team Two, Gormly was trained to a fine fighting edge just in time for the war in Vietnam.

The SEALs created a legend that would grow throughout the war -- and earn an enemy bounty for anyone who could capture or kill a US Navy SEAL. But behind the myth and mystique was a remarkable fighting machine, a team of soldiers who knew their job and maintained their discipline in the face of firefighters, ambushes, and missions gone horribly wrong. In Gormly's vivid, gut-wrenching descriptions, the Mekong comes alive, as hours of careful stalking explode into incredible fusillades of violence -- including one in which Gormly's hand was nearly shot off. His unprecedented acts of heorism and daring brought Gormly recognition as well as numerous awards for both the success of his strikes and his ability to bring his men back alive.

In a career that included two tours of duty in Vietnam, as well as top-secret missions in the Persian Gulf, Gormly examines war from a strategic point of view as well as from his own personal experience. With insight and eloquence, he goes on to chronicle SEAL life after Vietnam, including what is perhaps the most graphic description ever of SEAL action in the chaotic invasion of Grenada.

©1998 by Robert A. Gormly (P)1998 by Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Bob Gormly tells his story with remarkable wit, wisdom, drama, and grace. Combat Swimmer is a superb and fascinating story about the US Navy SEALs, from one of the best of the breed." (Hans Halberstadt, author of Inside the US Navy SEALs)

Good

I found the book to be interesting and follows alot of stories I heard first hand from operators. I would have liked a little more details relating to the actually strikes.

Not much fight in this book

Not the book you want to read if you want to hear tales of non stop action about the intensive close quarter conflicts that the navy seals are renowned for. You will enjoy this book if you want some action and want to learn about the ins and outs of the navy seal fight for funding and recognition as a viable and finely tuned fighting unit from Vietnam through the conflicts in the middle east.

Combat Swimmer

This book provides a somewhat interesting insight into US Navy UDT and SEAL operations prior to and throughout the Vietnam War era. The author paints a self-portrait of a brave, physically and mentally hardened Navy SEAL Officer. He considers himself the best of the best and understandably so. However, his career and tactical abilities are relatively unimpressive. Throughout each chapter listeners anxiously await the moment of revelation and fulfillment but instead find themselves being strung along from one indecisive story to the next. The author did not seize the opportunity to provide a unique view of Navy SEAL operations and life in the Teams. And although the book is more than a footnote for the era, most readers will not find the "bang for the buck" they expect. This book is more suited to those specifically interested in the evolution of SEAL Teams and Special Warfare.

Great Book and ahead of it's time

Highly enjoyable, yet predictable read until you get to the author's recommendations at the end and in particular his predictions of the greatest threats to the USA. This was released in 1998! It reads like the 9/11 Commission Report. Chilling!

Not a bad read

Although some parts should have begun in the Navy tradition of all "sea stories" ("Honest, this is no ____ "), the book kept me interested. It was reasonably true to the events, and bravado aside, was a good first hand perspective.

terrible narration

I felt like I was listening to a grandfather tell stories to his granddaughter. I could almost see him reaching down to pinch her nose at the end of sentences. I'm sure it is a very good storey but it's very hard to listen to

Kept My Interest

Good incite on the evolution of the SEAL and how every organization goes through political BS.

Never heard so many "I"'s

After 22 years in the military, the use of "I" in any tense is telling right off the bat. Performance wise, this guy keeps saying "Hello" instead of "Hēlo" which everyone knows is the slang term for a helicopter. I listened to the end to honor the war fighters this book refers to. Not this clown's self absorbed "I am so important to the development of asymmetric war" tales.

Buy the book

This is the first audiobook that I've purchased and didn't finish, which is unfortunate because it's a very good story. The narrator is horrible and ruined the purchase.

Not for kids

I'm not sure why this is part of a kids collection. It's a gritty, realistic telling of special forces training and operations. But the language is pretty gritty, too. It's certainly not cleaned up for the kiddos! The foul language is fairly non-stop, as one might expect for an adult-aimed book.

For adults, I don't have the same level of concerns. Some of the stories are highly interesting.