This is a memoir of Howard Wasden, Navy Seal Team Two member; written by Howard and co-written with a friend and Seal Team member. The Seal Team is impressive. There is no doubt about that, and Im so appreciative of their dedication and hard work (just surviving Seal training is incredible). I didnt know much about the Seal Team, and nothing about Seal Team Six, prior to reading the book. Im even more impressed now.

The first half of the book is so full of Howards super-human exploits and arrogance, that I didnt think I could stomach him or his attitude enough to get through the entire book. But I wanted to know more about the Seals, so I stuck it out, and Im glad I did. The second half of the book covers the 93 Battle at Mogadishu. Its terrifying and awful. How anyone makes it through something like that without arrogance and cockiness. I just dont know if its possible. Howard relates the events that follow: retuning home, recovering, retiring from the Navy, being a civilian and dealing with the depression that so many of our soldiers deal with after such horrific experiences. I really was in Howards corner by the end of the book.

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I went into reading this book with high expectations and those expectations were certainly met! The story of this author is so interesting and the inside look at such an elite force is attention-holding. I have seen the movie "Black Hawk Down" and it was awe-inspiring to read the real, whole, non-Hollywood truth of these events.

The authors managed to convey the true toll that belonging to such an elite group takes on your personal life without making the subject seem pathetic. His love for his country and for his job/calling is apparent on every page. I finished this book feeling proud of my country's fighting forces and grateful that there are such people out there that protect us at all costs.

You cannot go wrong by using your time reading this book. Even if you are not rah-rah patriotic, the detailed look "inside" is more than worth the read.

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