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I Am a SEAL Team Six Warrior: Memoirs of an American Soldier
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First published April 24, 2012
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About the author
Howard E. Wasdin
11 books85 followersDr. Howard Eugene Wasdin was a former member of the United States Navy who served as a sailor in the Atlantic Fleet as well as a Navy SEAL.
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March 19, 2018I thought it was a little sad in the beggining of him getting abused by his step dad and then it got intense and sad at the end. I though it was a very well written book. The best biography I have ever read!
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April 8, 2015its a bit confusing towards the middle of the book but the best part is when they are training
February 1, 2017
It was okay, and at some parts even good. But other parts were not good. The ending ruined the book.
April 8, 2020
This book was actually my first experience dipping my feet into the realm of biography novels. I am happy however that this was my first book in the genre. This book gave me a rush of emotions as I experienced Howard's roller coaster of a life. As he goes through life he always experiences some sort of adversity in his path. Though some are mountains he is still able to overcome them and inspire me to do the same. Because of this I would recommend this book to anyone above the age of 12 who would enjoy a deep and engaging read.
January 11, 2013
I thought that this book was really good. It was full of action, and when it wasn't action-filled it was full of strategizing. For example, it talked about tactics and getting into sniper school. This was where Howard, the author and main character, met his spotter for sniping. His name was Casanova.
It all started when Howard was a young boy and his father left the family; his mother married a different man named Leon. Leon beat Howard when he didn't do his chores right or just when he felt like it. Howard learned to suck it up and take it, but as soon as he turned 18 he joined the military. He first went to boot camp, then progressed to being a squad leader. Then he asked about SEALs and went into BUDS training. This was a very difficult program, but he passed his requirement test, and he was the only to pass every area. This got him into Navy SEALs Team 2. He then had to go through another training similar to BUDS training, but this was so difficult it is called Hell Week. After surviving Hell Week, he asked about the sniping program for SEAL Team Six. He was told he wasn't in SEALs long enough, so he was denied. Soon after, they needed more snipers, so he was accepted. Then had to ANOTHER training program but this was only for snipers. he was partnered with Casanova and they also are good friends with Sourpuss and Little Big Man. were they learned how to make gillie suits and face paint.
then they were sent to somalia to fight. It is a lot of waiting because it is real life and not a movie were there are enemies everywhere but some of the book was actiony at parts especially the end but i cant talk about that because its the end.
in conclution it was a very good book with sad parts and funny parts, and it was crazy because it was all a true story.
It all started when Howard was a young boy and his father left the family; his mother married a different man named Leon. Leon beat Howard when he didn't do his chores right or just when he felt like it. Howard learned to suck it up and take it, but as soon as he turned 18 he joined the military. He first went to boot camp, then progressed to being a squad leader. Then he asked about SEALs and went into BUDS training. This was a very difficult program, but he passed his requirement test, and he was the only to pass every area. This got him into Navy SEALs Team 2. He then had to go through another training similar to BUDS training, but this was so difficult it is called Hell Week. After surviving Hell Week, he asked about the sniping program for SEAL Team Six. He was told he wasn't in SEALs long enough, so he was denied. Soon after, they needed more snipers, so he was accepted. Then had to ANOTHER training program but this was only for snipers. he was partnered with Casanova and they also are good friends with Sourpuss and Little Big Man. were they learned how to make gillie suits and face paint.
then they were sent to somalia to fight. It is a lot of waiting because it is real life and not a movie were there are enemies everywhere but some of the book was actiony at parts especially the end but i cant talk about that because its the end.
in conclution it was a very good book with sad parts and funny parts, and it was crazy because it was all a true story.
February 5, 2014
A vividly described "teen" version of being a SEAL, with a lot less personal story like The Warrior's Heart and more about the actual tactics, training, and execution of being a member of the Team's with descriptions of situations on Somalia and Iraq. While Wasdin does describe his early life, including abuse at the hands of his stepfather and the family dynamic that he discovered late in life was more of a forcible removal from his real father by his mother, and the motivation for order, discipline, and battle after doing JROTC and then getting in to the military.
He balanced family and children, while he admitted, not as good as others, but the rigors of training, highlighting the need for religion or philosophy as he became a sniper and detailed death in all forms. He is not one to shy away from accomplishments, which were well deserved and earned him medals, but then also what it was like on the warfront, in battle, especially when outnumbered, and then in the latter part of the book, what it meant to be injured and not be able to participate fully in the training that defined him in his late twenties and early thirties-- pursuing his dream and becoming a chiropractor after stints in law enforcement after he left.
There are very detailed descriptions of military tactics and weaponry that would make those interested in it, very much involved in the story. I appreciated the value of the book in what I mentioned above: overcoming adversity, finding something to believe in and motivating him, and then showing the realities of war.
He balanced family and children, while he admitted, not as good as others, but the rigors of training, highlighting the need for religion or philosophy as he became a sniper and detailed death in all forms. He is not one to shy away from accomplishments, which were well deserved and earned him medals, but then also what it was like on the warfront, in battle, especially when outnumbered, and then in the latter part of the book, what it meant to be injured and not be able to participate fully in the training that defined him in his late twenties and early thirties-- pursuing his dream and becoming a chiropractor after stints in law enforcement after he left.
There are very detailed descriptions of military tactics and weaponry that would make those interested in it, very much involved in the story. I appreciated the value of the book in what I mentioned above: overcoming adversity, finding something to believe in and motivating him, and then showing the realities of war.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2023
I picked up this book because I am so impressed with Navy SEALS and the training they have to go through, so the title piqued my interest. Special Forces take a very special kind of person to make it through their training program and only a very small percentage do. The book goes into quite a bit of detail about the training which seems abusive in itself; however, you realize the only reason it's so brutal is because it's the only way they can be taught to live through the most difficult of circumstances. His training took place in San Diego, a city that I am very familiar with and have been to many times so that was interesting. Although the book has a lot of graphic details, I think it's an excellent book for anyone in their mid-teen years and up who want to read it for any reason.
July 4, 2012
“When the Navy sends their elite, they send the SEALs. When the SEALs send their elite, they send SEAL Team Six”
This is a mildly interesting look at what it takes to be a SEAL and then a sniper. The intensive training makes my Army basic training look like nursery school. The story also follows Wasdin on several missions, including the show-piece of the Battle of Mogadishu, which was covered in Black Hawk Down, in both book and film.
This memoir version looks like it was packaged as a YA, so I’m curious how the original book was written. If this subject interests you, check it out, otherwise remain at ease.
This is a mildly interesting look at what it takes to be a SEAL and then a sniper. The intensive training makes my Army basic training look like nursery school. The story also follows Wasdin on several missions, including the show-piece of the Battle of Mogadishu, which was covered in Black Hawk Down, in both book and film.
This memoir version looks like it was packaged as a YA, so I’m curious how the original book was written. If this subject interests you, check it out, otherwise remain at ease.
October 26, 2016
The book I Am Seal Team six Warrior: Memoirs of an American Solider by Howard E. Wasdin is a Non-fiction. My opinion of this book is that is very graphic it gives you that image in your head that makes you want to keep reading kinda like an action/drama film well you'll get the point soon hopefully. The main character of this book is Howard, Howard had a very hard child hood abusive step-dad and was born two months early, the hospitable didn't even have a small enough incubator for him so he was kept in a shoe box and slept in a sock drawer until he got to big for it. The setting of this book is mainly on the battleground or Casanova a training/ war camp/ school. The main plot line is a man with a horrible child hood that becomes a NAVY SEAL and later becomes a SEAL TEAM SIX WARRIOR as well as he was the teams sniper one of the most important jobs on the team keeping your men safe that are on the ground. Some text evidence to support this clam is that Howard is a very skill full man that if he saw someone that was say a higher rank of him then he would want to become that aka navy seal to seal team six. My opinion of this book is that it has little cliff hangers and is a very well rounded good book that has to be my favorite book all all time but i mean i'm 13 so i haven't read that many books so.
June 27, 2014
So I think I'm actually doing a two part review for this. Honestly, for just being a damn SEAL and for bravery and for...gah! the things people can do--5 stars!
There is something, even for vets, about reading about these men, its surreal. We can think back on times that were hard for us, but it is just nothing compared to what these men have done and continue to do. So for that-5 stars.
I do have to say, as the whole reason I picked up this book was because it was on the summer reading list for my daughter, I don't think its quite appropriate for the ages it says it is. There is a lot that youth can take from this book, though and I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading it, but perhaps parents should read it first and decide.
It is an excellent story of having a rough start to life and finding your way and excelling and recognizing things in yourself and others and working to be better, for that alone, I would recommend.
The writing style (and I recognize that so much had to be chopped out because then it would have been significantly inappropriate or over the heads of most people) was kind of choppy.
Overall, would recommend to high school range and older.
There is something, even for vets, about reading about these men, its surreal. We can think back on times that were hard for us, but it is just nothing compared to what these men have done and continue to do. So for that-5 stars.
I do have to say, as the whole reason I picked up this book was because it was on the summer reading list for my daughter, I don't think its quite appropriate for the ages it says it is. There is a lot that youth can take from this book, though and I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading it, but perhaps parents should read it first and decide.
It is an excellent story of having a rough start to life and finding your way and excelling and recognizing things in yourself and others and working to be better, for that alone, I would recommend.
The writing style (and I recognize that so much had to be chopped out because then it would have been significantly inappropriate or over the heads of most people) was kind of choppy.
Overall, would recommend to high school range and older.
July 23, 2012
I am a SEAL Team Six Warrior: Memoirs of an American Soldier is an amazing biography written by a former SEAL, Howard Wasdin. The biography starts out by outlining Wasdin’s difficult childhood and how his experiences as a child formed his character. Wasdin makes the decision to join the military after his high school graduation, with the ultimate goal of a Special Forces Sniper. The biography then goes into his training and the selection process into the elite Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) program. He doesn’t just settle on becoming a member of the SEALs, he wants to join the legendary SEAL Team Six, the most exclusive group of snipers in the world. Wasdin overcomes barriers and hardship to become the best of the best. This was an exceptional book about the brave men and women that protect our country. The style of writing puts the reader right into the action with someone that lived the experience. I learned a lot about Operation Desert Storm and the SEAL program from this book and I would highly recommend it to high school students interested in joining the military.
November 30, 2014
I am a Seal Team Six Warrior is a standalone novel by Howard E. Wasdin, and Stephen Templin. This book is a true story in which the narrator, Howard Wasdin, describes his younger years and then his “adventures” through his career leading up to and including his SEAL Team Six sniping career.
I thought this book was extremely interesting, considering the fact that everything in this book actually happened in real life, and well written. This book may not have symbolism, but it has plenty of other literary elements, one example is characterization. On page 80 when the narrator explains why certain people have their nicknames, “Casanova was the ladies’ man. Little Big Man had a bad case of the small man complex, which is probably why he always carried that big-ass Randall knife on his hip. Sourpuss, the senior man, had zero personality…” This is direct personification because the narrator is describing the characteristics of his comrades. I recommend this book to anyone who likes anything.
I thought this book was extremely interesting, considering the fact that everything in this book actually happened in real life, and well written. This book may not have symbolism, but it has plenty of other literary elements, one example is characterization. On page 80 when the narrator explains why certain people have their nicknames, “Casanova was the ladies’ man. Little Big Man had a bad case of the small man complex, which is probably why he always carried that big-ass Randall knife on his hip. Sourpuss, the senior man, had zero personality…” This is direct personification because the narrator is describing the characteristics of his comrades. I recommend this book to anyone who likes anything.
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September 22, 2014 First off I just want to say to be a seal takes a lot of courage and bravery. Also I want to thank our seals. Now it's time to get to the book review. I thought this book was a good book because it talked about the seals training and how hard it is and personally after reading this book who ever sticks through the training to become a seal i think they are a true man or woman. I give this book 5 stars because like I was saying earlier it was talking about their challenging training and it also talked about some of his battles he had through the book.
May 10, 2016
This was a great book. It tells the hardships of the military and how they cope with it.
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May 17, 2018Personal Response:
I really enjoyed the book, I am a SEAL Team Six Warrior: Memoirs of an American Soldier by Howard E. Wasdin, because I find the military interesting. I am amazed that men were willing to possibly give up their lives for this country. I should have started to read this book earlier, so I had more time. It really opened my eyes to what Special Forces have to go through and what kind of training they do.
Plot:
This book was a true story about the life of a Navy Seal. It began in his childhood in a small town in Florida. He had an abusive father, but his dad did teach him a good work ethic. He got along well with his mother. He joined the Navy right after high school. After basic training, he got married to his high school girlfriend. He went to Navy Seal training. The book gave a lot of information about training, especially Hell Week. The soldiers did not get to sleep for the whole week. Right after his graduation the Twin Towers were attacked by terrorists. He was then sent to war. He served several tours and he got a back injury. He and his wife then got divorced. He retired from the military and became a chiropractor.
Characterization:
The main character was Howard Wasdin. Howard grew up somewhere in Florida in the 1970s. The main character changed from a young boy afraid of his father into a brave SEAL Team Warrior. He was always a hard worker. He also changed at the end because he changed from being a warrior to a chiropractor. Howard’s father was the man that made Howard the way he was. His father abused his family and was always stressed when he came back from work. He relieved his stress by taking it out on his family.
Settings:
The story started in a small town in Florida. This is where Howard grew up as a child. Then it went to his training in San Diego in California. This was significant to the story because that was where the Navy SEALS train. He was stationed during the war in Iraq. This is significant to the story because that is where the war against terror after 9/11. The setting ended back in Florida where he retired and became a chiropractor.
The time period took place in the mid 1970s and later went to Afghanistan after 9/11. It is important to the plot because that is the time when Howard grew up and where he went to war for most of the book.
Theme:
The theme of the book was about overcoming fear, because he was scared of his father. He was also scared of war, but he overcame it by fighting in the war.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to males over the age of 16 due to the graphics of war. I recommend it to males because they would have more relations to an autobiography to a book that was written by a man. This book was pretty easy to read and could easily be read by a 16 year old.
I really enjoyed the book, I am a SEAL Team Six Warrior: Memoirs of an American Soldier by Howard E. Wasdin, because I find the military interesting. I am amazed that men were willing to possibly give up their lives for this country. I should have started to read this book earlier, so I had more time. It really opened my eyes to what Special Forces have to go through and what kind of training they do.
Plot:
This book was a true story about the life of a Navy Seal. It began in his childhood in a small town in Florida. He had an abusive father, but his dad did teach him a good work ethic. He got along well with his mother. He joined the Navy right after high school. After basic training, he got married to his high school girlfriend. He went to Navy Seal training. The book gave a lot of information about training, especially Hell Week. The soldiers did not get to sleep for the whole week. Right after his graduation the Twin Towers were attacked by terrorists. He was then sent to war. He served several tours and he got a back injury. He and his wife then got divorced. He retired from the military and became a chiropractor.
Characterization:
The main character was Howard Wasdin. Howard grew up somewhere in Florida in the 1970s. The main character changed from a young boy afraid of his father into a brave SEAL Team Warrior. He was always a hard worker. He also changed at the end because he changed from being a warrior to a chiropractor. Howard’s father was the man that made Howard the way he was. His father abused his family and was always stressed when he came back from work. He relieved his stress by taking it out on his family.
Settings:
The story started in a small town in Florida. This is where Howard grew up as a child. Then it went to his training in San Diego in California. This was significant to the story because that was where the Navy SEALS train. He was stationed during the war in Iraq. This is significant to the story because that is where the war against terror after 9/11. The setting ended back in Florida where he retired and became a chiropractor.
The time period took place in the mid 1970s and later went to Afghanistan after 9/11. It is important to the plot because that is the time when Howard grew up and where he went to war for most of the book.
Theme:
The theme of the book was about overcoming fear, because he was scared of his father. He was also scared of war, but he overcame it by fighting in the war.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to males over the age of 16 due to the graphics of war. I recommend it to males because they would have more relations to an autobiography to a book that was written by a man. This book was pretty easy to read and could easily be read by a 16 year old.
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October 31, 2017Personal Response: I thought I Am a SEAL Team Six Warrior was a great book. It kept me reading and never got boring. The fact that it was all a true story really made me want to read more and learn about Howard Wasdin's adventure as a member of SEAL Team Six. I like this book because my Grandfather was in the Marines. I like how it is all about a real life. The book is written better than any other I have read.
Plot: Howard Wasdin wanted to be in armed forces. He grew up in Florida and had a rough childhood. His stepdad was very hard on him. He decided to join the military right after he graduated from high school. He wanted to be a Navy SEAL. Howard described how difficult Navy SEAL training was and how he had to work as a team with the other trainees in order to succeed.
His goal halfway through training was to be a sniper. He also went to extra training to become a medic. Not long after he graduated from SEAL team training terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the United States went to war. He served in both Afghanistan and Iraq. The book gave a lot of detailed descriptions of war. When he left the military, he went to school to become a chiropractor.
Characterization: Howard Wasdin was the main character. He had a hard childhood and his father was very abusive. He decided to join the Navy and become a Navy SEAL. He was a very brave soldier and gave his all to save his SEAL team brothers. Wasdin's Father was very abusive. He was working and always stressed. He relieved his stress by being abusive to his family and drinking.
Setting: The setting began in Florida during Howard Wasdin's childhood. It then moved to San Diego, California where he went through SEAL team training. Once the war started, the setting was in Afghanistan and Iraq. The setting ended in Florida where Howard Wasdin became a chiropractor. The setting impacts the plot because Howard Wasdin's life came full circle beginning and ending in Florida. The setting of Iraq and Afghanistan were important, because that was where the terrorists that attacked the United States were located.
Recommendation: I recommended this to males 16 and older who like war stories. The book had violent and graphic details about war so was not appropriate for anyone younger. I recommended the book to males, because they would relate to an autobiography written by a male character. I gave this book a five out of five star rating. It was a good book that kept my interest.
Plot: Howard Wasdin wanted to be in armed forces. He grew up in Florida and had a rough childhood. His stepdad was very hard on him. He decided to join the military right after he graduated from high school. He wanted to be a Navy SEAL. Howard described how difficult Navy SEAL training was and how he had to work as a team with the other trainees in order to succeed.
His goal halfway through training was to be a sniper. He also went to extra training to become a medic. Not long after he graduated from SEAL team training terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the United States went to war. He served in both Afghanistan and Iraq. The book gave a lot of detailed descriptions of war. When he left the military, he went to school to become a chiropractor.
Characterization: Howard Wasdin was the main character. He had a hard childhood and his father was very abusive. He decided to join the Navy and become a Navy SEAL. He was a very brave soldier and gave his all to save his SEAL team brothers. Wasdin's Father was very abusive. He was working and always stressed. He relieved his stress by being abusive to his family and drinking.
Setting: The setting began in Florida during Howard Wasdin's childhood. It then moved to San Diego, California where he went through SEAL team training. Once the war started, the setting was in Afghanistan and Iraq. The setting ended in Florida where Howard Wasdin became a chiropractor. The setting impacts the plot because Howard Wasdin's life came full circle beginning and ending in Florida. The setting of Iraq and Afghanistan were important, because that was where the terrorists that attacked the United States were located.
Recommendation: I recommended this to males 16 and older who like war stories. The book had violent and graphic details about war so was not appropriate for anyone younger. I recommended the book to males, because they would relate to an autobiography written by a male character. I gave this book a five out of five star rating. It was a good book that kept my interest.
September 4, 2018
I thought this book was pretty good. It was filled with lots of action and details about the Seal training and missions they go on. One of that boring parts is when the author kept saying the names of the vehicle he was in. But, I enjoyed all the details about training and when he was deployed.
I would suggest to someone that likes action, information and someone that might be interested in joining the Navy. In my opinion I thought it was a well written book, but some parts were a little slow and boring.
My favorite part of the book is learning about all the training he had to do to be on Seal Team Six. I didn’t even know there are different teams in the Navy. I have heard about Army training and Marine training, but Seal training seems to be so much harder and very difficult program to be accepted into. He also had to do so much work to get to where he was but all the hard work paid off.
This book also had some sad parts and very cool parts. One of the sad parts was when he told us about his past. He had a horrible step-dad and he didn’t have that good of a real dad either. His dad watermelon farmer that made him work a lot. His step-dad would beat him with a belt every day to make him “tuff” and “disciplined” and I couldn’t imagine living like that everyday.
In conclusion I thought the author did a good job of making this book. It would be a good book to read if you like books that are full of action and if you are interested in joining the Navy or even Seal Team Six.
I would suggest to someone that likes action, information and someone that might be interested in joining the Navy. In my opinion I thought it was a well written book, but some parts were a little slow and boring.
My favorite part of the book is learning about all the training he had to do to be on Seal Team Six. I didn’t even know there are different teams in the Navy. I have heard about Army training and Marine training, but Seal training seems to be so much harder and very difficult program to be accepted into. He also had to do so much work to get to where he was but all the hard work paid off.
This book also had some sad parts and very cool parts. One of the sad parts was when he told us about his past. He had a horrible step-dad and he didn’t have that good of a real dad either. His dad watermelon farmer that made him work a lot. His step-dad would beat him with a belt every day to make him “tuff” and “disciplined” and I couldn’t imagine living like that everyday.
In conclusion I thought the author did a good job of making this book. It would be a good book to read if you like books that are full of action and if you are interested in joining the Navy or even Seal Team Six.
March 5, 2018
I think this book was pretty good. It got very descriptive at times for the setting of the story. What he went through was just plain amazing to read. The only thing I didn't like about it was that some of the memoirs weren't completed and had cliffhangers. but overall, I would recommend to someone else.
December 16, 2019
I am a SEAL Team Six Warrior is a great book for anyone who wants to be engaged and entertain throughout a whole book. This book was not only exciting but also very meaningful. Starting with training, Wasdin tells us about how hard training was and how much he pushed himself giving details about every little thing so we can fully understand. Then the missions come around and the book gets even more exciting as we follow Howard to everything he goes through. Everything in this story is written carefully and written with great detail to make the reader feel like they are actually in the story. This book was one of my favorite to read and one of my overall favorites.
October 6, 2022
It was entertaining and I got to learn more about the NAVY S.E.A.L.S. I wanted to always become one but now that I read there training, yeah I don't wanna.
December 11, 2017
I overall liked this book and all the memories he shared with the reader. This novel sparked interest with me learning about being a seal and was very informational.
May 10, 2016
Admittedly, writing a book is quite difficult. Most would struggle to achieve such a feat, and those who can deserve respect for undertaking such a task. However, to be an author, one must possess a basic understanding of the main concepts of writing. It is clear that author Howard E. Wasdin and his coauthor, Steven Templin, do not have such a knowledge. Throughout this memoir, there were far too many errors, ones that simply cannot be overlooked. A story about Wasdin's life and involvement with the United States military, this is a personal account of the brutal training required to be a Navy SEAL. What should have been a pulse pounding action story, and an eye opener to the real struggles of warfare, turned out quite differently.
Though Wasdin attempts to communicate through the pages, he fails dramatically. The main flaws of this novel lie in the writing style. One extreme problem is the info dumping/term dunking.
Because Wasdin served in the military, he has memorized all the necessary codes and abbreviations representing branches of the army, weapons, and more. To the average person, who has no aforementioned experience with such things, this book is a gigantic tome of terms, one that takes hours to digest. On certain pages, there are almost only abbreviations, with few bits of writing squeezed in the tiny space between. At one point, there were 26 different codes on each page. Wasdin and Templin abbreviate things that have no need to be abbreviated. Though there is a glossary in the back, readers are hard pressed to discover it, and even more reluctant to flip through to search up a term from the compendium of terms to make sense of the story.
Another major issue, one responsible for killing this potential novel was the expression of the writers themselves. Presumably, one who had been in service for many years would not have the most adept linguistic skills, but the book drops it to a new level. At one particular moment, an explosion is described as "kaboom", and at another moment as "bang". This language is more reminiscent of a 3rd grade boy than a full grown adult. The descriptions of the wounds Wasdin himself received did not express at all the great pain he must have felt. The way that section was described, it made it sound like a mild discomfort, not his foot being blown clean off. Clearly, the editors were not expecting too much.
Lastly, the character development was poor. Aside from the protagonist, Wasdin, the rest of the cast and crew were merely shells of people, with not a single crumb of unique personality. A stepfather who beat him (Wasdin) when he was only a young child, yet later apparently loved him. There is entirely no explanation towards this drastic change. His wife, whom he apparently loved was almost never mentioned. These were just two supposedly more important characters that supposedly made a difference in his life. A horde of other minor characters who were introduced as quickly as they were killed off, or relocated. Team members were one dimensional. "Sourpuss" was grumpy, "Little Big Man" had a Little man syndrome, and "Casanova" was a ladies' man. Their code names were the only real indication of personality. Even the main character, piloting the Blackhawk himself (never actually happened), was difficult to read about. The whole time, Wasdin had an "Billy dropped out, but I'm strong enough, but still worse than Joey." attitude. He was never the best yet never the worst. His writing resulted in his seeming very bland.
Though it would be possible to list this book's flaws forever, this will be the end of the review. As a war veteran, the author still deserves immense respect. Unfortunately, is seems that writing does not appear to be one of his strong points.
Though Wasdin attempts to communicate through the pages, he fails dramatically. The main flaws of this novel lie in the writing style. One extreme problem is the info dumping/term dunking.
Because Wasdin served in the military, he has memorized all the necessary codes and abbreviations representing branches of the army, weapons, and more. To the average person, who has no aforementioned experience with such things, this book is a gigantic tome of terms, one that takes hours to digest. On certain pages, there are almost only abbreviations, with few bits of writing squeezed in the tiny space between. At one point, there were 26 different codes on each page. Wasdin and Templin abbreviate things that have no need to be abbreviated. Though there is a glossary in the back, readers are hard pressed to discover it, and even more reluctant to flip through to search up a term from the compendium of terms to make sense of the story.
Another major issue, one responsible for killing this potential novel was the expression of the writers themselves. Presumably, one who had been in service for many years would not have the most adept linguistic skills, but the book drops it to a new level. At one particular moment, an explosion is described as "kaboom", and at another moment as "bang". This language is more reminiscent of a 3rd grade boy than a full grown adult. The descriptions of the wounds Wasdin himself received did not express at all the great pain he must have felt. The way that section was described, it made it sound like a mild discomfort, not his foot being blown clean off. Clearly, the editors were not expecting too much.
Lastly, the character development was poor. Aside from the protagonist, Wasdin, the rest of the cast and crew were merely shells of people, with not a single crumb of unique personality. A stepfather who beat him (Wasdin) when he was only a young child, yet later apparently loved him. There is entirely no explanation towards this drastic change. His wife, whom he apparently loved was almost never mentioned. These were just two supposedly more important characters that supposedly made a difference in his life. A horde of other minor characters who were introduced as quickly as they were killed off, or relocated. Team members were one dimensional. "Sourpuss" was grumpy, "Little Big Man" had a Little man syndrome, and "Casanova" was a ladies' man. Their code names were the only real indication of personality. Even the main character, piloting the Blackhawk himself (never actually happened), was difficult to read about. The whole time, Wasdin had an "Billy dropped out, but I'm strong enough, but still worse than Joey." attitude. He was never the best yet never the worst. His writing resulted in his seeming very bland.
Though it would be possible to list this book's flaws forever, this will be the end of the review. As a war veteran, the author still deserves immense respect. Unfortunately, is seems that writing does not appear to be one of his strong points.
October 1, 2018
Personal Response: I thought that this was a good book for explaining the day to day life of a Navy Seal, both in training and in battle. I do wonder sometimes, how one smaller injury in this book hurt worse than another two larger ones. I didn't understand how Howard was depressed worse from his leg injuries that he could heal from than a man who had no leg. I understood how Howard was mad at the communication people though because he had already been through the kill zone once and then he had to go through it again.I was confused how Howard still fought with his pistol if he was in so much pain that he couldn't hit anyone at all out of three magazines total.
Plot: In the beginning of the book, Howard was a young boy and his biological dad supposedly left them, so Howard's mom started dating a different man. That man was Leon, an alcoholic who knew nothing at all about disciplining a child. He beat Howard and his siblings almost everyday and thought that was how he should discipline them,but it wasn't right at all. Howard then went to the marines and signed up for buds. In the middle of the book, Howard was going through basic and BUD/S and got ready to go to war. In the middle and the end of the book Howard went to Desert storm/shield and Mogadishu and then went back to school and became a certified chiropractor with his own clinic. He also got to meet his real dad and he told Howard the truth about his mom running off with the kids not him leaving.
Recommendation: I recommend this book to males between the ages of fourteen and infinity because there are a few swear words in the book and no little kid needs to see them. Anyone who's an adult may like this book because they may know the authors or remember the war that this happened in.
Plot: In the beginning of the book, Howard was a young boy and his biological dad supposedly left them, so Howard's mom started dating a different man. That man was Leon, an alcoholic who knew nothing at all about disciplining a child. He beat Howard and his siblings almost everyday and thought that was how he should discipline them,but it wasn't right at all. Howard then went to the marines and signed up for buds. In the middle of the book, Howard was going through basic and BUD/S and got ready to go to war. In the middle and the end of the book Howard went to Desert storm/shield and Mogadishu and then went back to school and became a certified chiropractor with his own clinic. He also got to meet his real dad and he told Howard the truth about his mom running off with the kids not him leaving.
Recommendation: I recommend this book to males between the ages of fourteen and infinity because there are a few swear words in the book and no little kid needs to see them. Anyone who's an adult may like this book because they may know the authors or remember the war that this happened in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2018
The book wasn’t terrible it supplied the reader with a lot of knew knowledge about being and training to be a SEAL. The author also the main character had his fair share of troubles as a kid and his life goal was to become a SEAL Team Six operative. This task was definitely not easy for Wasdin. He had to go through the toughest military training there is called BUD/S. After that he became a member of SEAL Team Two and went to fight in operation desert storm. Until he finally made it into SEAL Team Six and went to Somalia to fight the battle of Mogadishu. The book is a greatdisplay of how Wasdin strategized and fought in battle.
December 1, 2015
Personal Response: I really enjoyed the book I am a SEAL Team Six Warrior: Memoirs of an American Soldier by Howard E. Wasdin because I take a lot of interest in the military. This book was action packed and just had me reading whenever I had free time. It really opened my eyes to what Special Forces have to go through and what kind of training they do.
Plot: The book is an autobiography. The story began in Howard Wasdin's childhood. His step dad was extremely abusive and would leave marks all over his body. Howard was embarrassed and hid his marks from his teachers. When he was a kid, he hated his step dad. His dad gave him a lot of chores around the house and beat him if he didn't complete his chores.
After graduation he enlisted in the Navy. He went to basic training and was stationed in Florida. After a couple of years in the Navy, he asked his Sergeant if he could to transfer into Seal Team 6. After a few months, his Sergeant said he could go and try. He had to report to California for Seal Team training called BUDS. The book gave a lot of detail about the difficulties of BUDS training. The soldiers did not sleep very much, had to swim underwater 100 yards without coming up for breath, ran a mile in four and a half minutes, and did lot of team work activities.
After he graduated Bud's, he got shipped over to Somalia. He was in the fight during Black Hawk Down and saved a lot of soldiers. He was later deployed to Iraq. He was in a lot of battles in Iraq until he was shot during a gun fight. His back was injured and he had to return to the United States. During his recovery he became interested in becoming a chiropractor.
Characterization: The main character is Howard Wasdin, a Navy Seal. He took interest in the military as a young boy. In present day, he is a chiropractor.
Setting: It takes place all over the world. It first starts out in his house in Georgia, then Florida, then changes over to Somalia. In Somalia, he lives in a stadium for safety and high look out points. The setting went to Iraq and ended in Georgia. The era of this book was in the 1980's-90's.
Recommendation: I recommend this book to any military veteran or anyone that is in high school who is interested in the military, because it gives a real life perspective of what the military is actually like. I say both genders would take interest in this book. I give this book a four star rating.
Plot: The book is an autobiography. The story began in Howard Wasdin's childhood. His step dad was extremely abusive and would leave marks all over his body. Howard was embarrassed and hid his marks from his teachers. When he was a kid, he hated his step dad. His dad gave him a lot of chores around the house and beat him if he didn't complete his chores.
After graduation he enlisted in the Navy. He went to basic training and was stationed in Florida. After a couple of years in the Navy, he asked his Sergeant if he could to transfer into Seal Team 6. After a few months, his Sergeant said he could go and try. He had to report to California for Seal Team training called BUDS. The book gave a lot of detail about the difficulties of BUDS training. The soldiers did not sleep very much, had to swim underwater 100 yards without coming up for breath, ran a mile in four and a half minutes, and did lot of team work activities.
After he graduated Bud's, he got shipped over to Somalia. He was in the fight during Black Hawk Down and saved a lot of soldiers. He was later deployed to Iraq. He was in a lot of battles in Iraq until he was shot during a gun fight. His back was injured and he had to return to the United States. During his recovery he became interested in becoming a chiropractor.
Characterization: The main character is Howard Wasdin, a Navy Seal. He took interest in the military as a young boy. In present day, he is a chiropractor.
Setting: It takes place all over the world. It first starts out in his house in Georgia, then Florida, then changes over to Somalia. In Somalia, he lives in a stadium for safety and high look out points. The setting went to Iraq and ended in Georgia. The era of this book was in the 1980's-90's.
Recommendation: I recommend this book to any military veteran or anyone that is in high school who is interested in the military, because it gives a real life perspective of what the military is actually like. I say both genders would take interest in this book. I give this book a four star rating.
December 18, 2015
The memories in this book are somewhat heartbreaking although it does have lots of action sad thoughts linger. I finished reading I am a Seal Team Six Warrior by Howard E. Wasdin and Stephen Templin since this really isn't a story it's a whole bunch of memories. if you like non fiction war stories I would recommend this to you.
First it starts out with Wasdin's childhood and an abusive step father. and then it jumps right into training for the military and how Howard made it through training with almost a perfect score. and that mine as well be impossible and then he gets his first mission desert storm. while in desert storm Howard and his team get important info from an Arabic ship member their goal was to to take over the ship and they did just that. I think it was pretty cool to read and learn what they did and how seals operate. Pg 46 and 47 they talked about fast roping down 90ft rope it a lot harder than you think. I really don't think this evidence is really important but it is interesting to me I think the conflicts in this book are highly detailed it is almost like you were there.
the settings in this book were great too but the author didn’t really describe the area or place when conflict fired up but I really don't think he needed to because he probably didn’t focus on the the land to often I would imagine he’s more worried about not getting shot. however when conflict pitched down a bit he did describe a lot about the place such as when Howard's in sniper training he’s say your face should look like a bush or some sort of monster it shouldn’t look like a face or even close to one same applies to the rest the suit. once again I still don't think the details matter I was giving an example of the setting throughout the book.
Really the sad parts are at the end but will not tell you anymore. but it is inspirational and sad I don't want to spoil it for you but there is more battles which applies to your conflicts I would recommend this to veterans I think they would like it and I would also recommend this to want true stories. at the ending of the book I think the message is don't give up you’ll be happy you didn’t and finally I would rate this 5/5 I really enjoyed it.
First it starts out with Wasdin's childhood and an abusive step father. and then it jumps right into training for the military and how Howard made it through training with almost a perfect score. and that mine as well be impossible and then he gets his first mission desert storm. while in desert storm Howard and his team get important info from an Arabic ship member their goal was to to take over the ship and they did just that. I think it was pretty cool to read and learn what they did and how seals operate. Pg 46 and 47 they talked about fast roping down 90ft rope it a lot harder than you think. I really don't think this evidence is really important but it is interesting to me I think the conflicts in this book are highly detailed it is almost like you were there.
the settings in this book were great too but the author didn’t really describe the area or place when conflict fired up but I really don't think he needed to because he probably didn’t focus on the the land to often I would imagine he’s more worried about not getting shot. however when conflict pitched down a bit he did describe a lot about the place such as when Howard's in sniper training he’s say your face should look like a bush or some sort of monster it shouldn’t look like a face or even close to one same applies to the rest the suit. once again I still don't think the details matter I was giving an example of the setting throughout the book.
Really the sad parts are at the end but will not tell you anymore. but it is inspirational and sad I don't want to spoil it for you but there is more battles which applies to your conflicts I would recommend this to veterans I think they would like it and I would also recommend this to want true stories. at the ending of the book I think the message is don't give up you’ll be happy you didn’t and finally I would rate this 5/5 I really enjoyed it.
January 7, 2015
I Am A Seal Team Six Warrior: Memoirs Of An American Soldier by Howard E. Wadsin and Stephen Templin is about a young hard working man who’s childhood made him into the character that gave him the mental strength which allowed him to endure and overcome the challenges on the road to become a Seal Team Six Warrior (sniper). The story shows what Wadsin went through to become an elite warrior and how he ended up fighting in the Battle Of Mogadishu staring into the face of death. The author’s main message is that being a Seal Team Six Warrior is not for everyone. During Seal training, not everyone makes the cut. There are many stages in Seal training; each stage tests if that person meets the physical requirements that are needed to become a Seal. In warfare, things can escalate quickly if something goes wrong. When something goes wrong, the chance of death and fear increases dramatically and some people’s brains can’t handle the effect. Their bodies just shut down. Wadsin mentions at one point that when people ask him if they should become a Seal, he tries to convince them not to. He probably is thinking that warfare is extremely more violent and gory than it seems and that it takes an incredibly tough man to become a Seal.
One theme that the author touches back on repeatedly is that his childhood made him capable of passing Seal training like at the beginning of Hell Week when he mentions, “Of course, my tough childhood had prepared for this moment.” (Page 27) This aspect of the story interests me. From this aspect I can find myself asking, “What will my childhood prepare me for? Or what kind of person will my childhood make of me?” Also I enjoyed how the author allowed the reader to visualize each character with simple detail. Some would be polite and others would show affection towards their family back home. This book is definitely a must-read for those who are interested in military books. Although the book got slow at a couple points, it was a great read.
One theme that the author touches back on repeatedly is that his childhood made him capable of passing Seal training like at the beginning of Hell Week when he mentions, “Of course, my tough childhood had prepared for this moment.” (Page 27) This aspect of the story interests me. From this aspect I can find myself asking, “What will my childhood prepare me for? Or what kind of person will my childhood make of me?” Also I enjoyed how the author allowed the reader to visualize each character with simple detail. Some would be polite and others would show affection towards their family back home. This book is definitely a must-read for those who are interested in military books. Although the book got slow at a couple points, it was a great read.
April 1, 2015
I Am A Seal Team Six Warrior: Memoirs Of An American Soldier by Howard E. Wadsin and Stephen Templin is an autobiography about Howard Wadsin and his struggles to become a SEAL Team Six Warrior. Howard does an amazing job at writing this because he was, indeed, a SEAL Team Six Warrior. He went through all the steps it took to become what he wanted to be when he was a child, a soldier that served his country.
Throughout the beginning of the story, Wadsin explains his childhood, and how he was raised. He went through a pretty difficulty childhood, seeing as the man that his mom was with, beat him whenever he did something wrong. His uncle was the only one there for him throughout his childhood. He eventually was able to take the pain without a problem because he was so used to it.
I feel as if Wadsin was one of the best people to write this book, since he was the one that went through it. Wadsin is sure to not miss a single detail about anything. He goes from explaining what you have to do in college to what you have to do in training, including every minor detail there was. He included the last names of people that were either able to make it through the training, or not. Even though Wadsin didn’t seem like he was the type of guy to be able to become a SEAL, he never gave up. Near the ending of the book, Wadsin explains a few battles that went on, again, including every detail needed. He explained how he got shot in certain areas, how other people got shot in certain areas, making sure he gets every detail in there. Reading this, made me feel like I was in the book, and I was going through the training, which is what I always look for in a book.
For anyone that is looking for an amazing autobiography about War, I highly recommend this. Throughout the book, you discover more about the person you are able to become if you set your goals to it. There’s nothing holding you back from it, as long as you try. I’m sure you’ll have supporters driving you to keep doing it.
Throughout the beginning of the story, Wadsin explains his childhood, and how he was raised. He went through a pretty difficulty childhood, seeing as the man that his mom was with, beat him whenever he did something wrong. His uncle was the only one there for him throughout his childhood. He eventually was able to take the pain without a problem because he was so used to it.
I feel as if Wadsin was one of the best people to write this book, since he was the one that went through it. Wadsin is sure to not miss a single detail about anything. He goes from explaining what you have to do in college to what you have to do in training, including every minor detail there was. He included the last names of people that were either able to make it through the training, or not. Even though Wadsin didn’t seem like he was the type of guy to be able to become a SEAL, he never gave up. Near the ending of the book, Wadsin explains a few battles that went on, again, including every detail needed. He explained how he got shot in certain areas, how other people got shot in certain areas, making sure he gets every detail in there. Reading this, made me feel like I was in the book, and I was going through the training, which is what I always look for in a book.
For anyone that is looking for an amazing autobiography about War, I highly recommend this. Throughout the book, you discover more about the person you are able to become if you set your goals to it. There’s nothing holding you back from it, as long as you try. I’m sure you’ll have supporters driving you to keep doing it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2017
Personal Response-I thought the book I am a Seal Team Six Warrior by Howard Wasdin was very good and intense. The book was about a Seal Team Six Warrior named Howard Wasdin. It told how courageous Howard Wasdin had to be to survive being a Navy Seal.
Plot- The story was about Howard when he was in the Navy Seal Team Six. He was in a secret unit made up of the best soldiers. Howard was in U.S. Navy Seals as Special Forces snipers and Medic. His training started with underwater rescue, which was the hardest part. The first place he went was Operation Desert Storm as a member of Seal Team Two. Howard reached his goal and became one of the best snipers on the planet. He also was in The Battle of Mogadishu. He told about the abuse he endured and how he beat the odds to become an elite American warrior.
Characterization-Howard Wasdin was the main character in this book. He had a bad childhood, but he proved to himself he could do it. He was someone to look up too. Casanova went through
Navy Seal training with Howard Wasdin and they later served in the same unit. Casanova was a very brave soldier who Howard could count on to have his back. They were closer than brothers.
Setting-The book took place in many locations. It began in Georgia were Howard Wasdin started his underwater training. He went into battle in Afghanistan during Operation Dessert Storm. He was later in Mogadishu in battle. He was taken to Germany after he was shot. After serving his country he became a Chiropractor and lived in Georgia.
Recommendation-I recommended this to both males and females who like to read about war. This book should be read by males and females over the age of 14, due to the graphic battle scenes and language. I give this book a five out of five stars.
Plot- The story was about Howard when he was in the Navy Seal Team Six. He was in a secret unit made up of the best soldiers. Howard was in U.S. Navy Seals as Special Forces snipers and Medic. His training started with underwater rescue, which was the hardest part. The first place he went was Operation Desert Storm as a member of Seal Team Two. Howard reached his goal and became one of the best snipers on the planet. He also was in The Battle of Mogadishu. He told about the abuse he endured and how he beat the odds to become an elite American warrior.
Characterization-Howard Wasdin was the main character in this book. He had a bad childhood, but he proved to himself he could do it. He was someone to look up too. Casanova went through
Navy Seal training with Howard Wasdin and they later served in the same unit. Casanova was a very brave soldier who Howard could count on to have his back. They were closer than brothers.
Setting-The book took place in many locations. It began in Georgia were Howard Wasdin started his underwater training. He went into battle in Afghanistan during Operation Dessert Storm. He was later in Mogadishu in battle. He was taken to Germany after he was shot. After serving his country he became a Chiropractor and lived in Georgia.
Recommendation-I recommended this to both males and females who like to read about war. This book should be read by males and females over the age of 14, due to the graphic battle scenes and language. I give this book a five out of five stars.
March 8, 2016
I am a Seal Team Six Warrior is about a kid with a bad childhood turning into one of the most important people in the U.S. He was abused as a child from his father and nobody knew about it. He had more bruises and cuts than everybody at PE. He was smart and very skilled. He decided to go to navy seal training. He made it through training throughout the book and made his way up the teams. Finally he made it to team 6, a secret group that has the Navy's most skilled warriors. He was a sniper. Eventually he got shot in the feet by an RPG. Everybody disrespected him and he realized that he isn't god.
I thought that this book was great. It hooked me from the start and it was very well written. The story of the kid was very good and inspiring.
I thought that this book was great. It hooked me from the start and it was very well written. The story of the kid was very good and inspiring.
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