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Men in Green Faces: A Novel of U.S. Navy SEALs
"Full of ambushes and firefights…From page one I knew I wanted to be a SEAL. The more I read, the more I wanted to see if I could measure up." —Mark Owen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of No Easy DayBecause it's a novel, the truth can be told. Because it's the truth, you'll never forget it...Gene Wentz's Men in Green Faces is the classic novel of Vietnam that inspired a generation of SEALs. Here is the story of a good soldier trained to be part of an elite team of warriors—and of the killing grounds where he was forever changed.WITH A NEW FOREWORD BY THE AUTHORGene Michaels carries an M-60, eight hundred rounds, and a Bible. The ultimate SEAL, he also carries a murderous grudge against a bloodthirsty colonel who was once one of their own. To bring him in, Michaels and his men will go behind the lines, where they'll take on 5,000 NVA in the fight of their lives.In this stunning novel, former SEAL Gene Wentz brings to life what it was like to be a SEAL in Vietnam, running an endless tour of top-secret, death-defying operations deep in enemy territory. From the camaraderie to the harrowing recons, from brutal interrogations to incredible, toe-to-toe firefights, here are America's most feared warriors as you've never seen them before.
269 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
February 11, 2013
While an interesting subject I found this book repetitive and hard to stay engaged with. The characters were pretty flat. The story is basically go out on an op, come back, fart around, go on another op ad nauseum. The lead character of the book was clearly the author and he really thought highly of himself. I also found it irritating how pious the guy was supposed to be when all he wanted to do was kill people. Read for insights into seal ops in nam rather than for a real story.
February 4, 2015
An outstanding novel giving insight to our fighting men in Viet Nam..........particularly the Navy Seals. The only other book that captures your imagination as well was "Matterhorn" which was also a page turner and as intense. There are not as many books that cover the Viet Nam experience as well as other United States wars which may be due to the fact that none were so publicly disapproved of as much. In any case an intense, insightful book which is often used in psychology traning.
February 28, 2019
Luck. Also he cheated on his pregnant wife so you’re not that cool. The more I read about Nam the more it just sounds like a big testosterone fueled fuck up.
October 16, 2020
Navy SEAL operators go on missions in Vietnam. Lots and lots of missions ensue.
The detailed description of the first mission was really interesting. The next five were entertaining. But after that, it just got repetitive. I lost count of how many happen in this book. They all ran together.
This is a completely unironic portrayal of American forces in Vietnam as unsullied knights in armor. Their mission is just, their intentions honorable, their efforts universally embraced and appreciated by the population. No, this isn't a comedy. The author is completely serious.
Although billed as fiction, you also have to note that the main character is named "Gene", and he's the biggest, baddest, toughest of all the SEALs. No one comes close to how bad-ass this guy is. He's definitely the hero he thinks he is. He's the most professional of these elite professionals. Gosh, everyone should be impressed and jealous of this really really tough guy.
Except when he's not. Because unlike a true SEAL, Gene completely loses his detachment to the job. You see, Gene's closest buddy is only days from going home, but he goes on one last mission. A cake walk, really. But shock of all shocks, Gene's buddy DIES! (When was this written? 1993??? Jesus, he should have known better.) After that, everything becomes a personal, drug fueled revenge fantasy to Gene. To no ill effect, of course. He just really loves killing bad guys.
Gene's also incredibly humble and handsome and smart.
All the bad guys get theirs, BTW. The mustache twirling NVA colonel gets his. The lazy braggart SEAL gets his (but then they kiss and make up, because they're all brothers under the skin). The arrogant Green Beret gets his. The green lieutenant who presumes his rank gives him the right to command subordinates gets his. Lots of getting his ensue.
The detailed description of the first mission was really interesting. The next five were entertaining. But after that, it just got repetitive. I lost count of how many happen in this book. They all ran together.
This is a completely unironic portrayal of American forces in Vietnam as unsullied knights in armor. Their mission is just, their intentions honorable, their efforts universally embraced and appreciated by the population. No, this isn't a comedy. The author is completely serious.
Although billed as fiction, you also have to note that the main character is named "Gene", and he's the biggest, baddest, toughest of all the SEALs. No one comes close to how bad-ass this guy is. He's definitely the hero he thinks he is. He's the most professional of these elite professionals. Gosh, everyone should be impressed and jealous of this really really tough guy.
Except when he's not. Because unlike a true SEAL, Gene completely loses his detachment to the job. You see, Gene's closest buddy is only days from going home, but he goes on one last mission. A cake walk, really. But shock of all shocks, Gene's buddy DIES! (When was this written? 1993??? Jesus, he should have known better.) After that, everything becomes a personal, drug fueled revenge fantasy to Gene. To no ill effect, of course. He just really loves killing bad guys.
Gene's also incredibly humble and handsome and smart.
All the bad guys get theirs, BTW. The mustache twirling NVA colonel gets his. The lazy braggart SEAL gets his (but then they kiss and make up, because they're all brothers under the skin). The arrogant Green Beret gets his. The green lieutenant who presumes his rank gives him the right to command subordinates gets his. Lots of getting his ensue.
October 14, 2014
I shouldn't, but I really liked the book (listened to audio version but not listed here). It was, except for the "service language", just the kind I would keep reading no matter how long it kept going.
Two exceptions that ruined it for me towards the end. The guy was unfaithful to his wife, not in one way, but two. She faithfully wrote to him, carried his child, and longed for him to come home. But he also had to endanger his life because he let his personal revenge over a killed friend run it, putting others in danger too so he could run himself out on a personal revenge mission, while his wife's letters were not even read. Just sayin'. I wasn't there.
But what struck me in the book, there was no guilt the man felt he had to deal with. Not real to me.
Which brings me to the end around the last two chapters. Near there the book started getting hokey to me. Just too made up. Not real.
Whatever. Just a book I liked :)
Two exceptions that ruined it for me towards the end. The guy was unfaithful to his wife, not in one way, but two. She faithfully wrote to him, carried his child, and longed for him to come home. But he also had to endanger his life because he let his personal revenge over a killed friend run it, putting others in danger too so he could run himself out on a personal revenge mission, while his wife's letters were not even read. Just sayin'. I wasn't there.
But what struck me in the book, there was no guilt the man felt he had to deal with. Not real to me.
Which brings me to the end around the last two chapters. Near there the book started getting hokey to me. Just too made up. Not real.
Whatever. Just a book I liked :)
July 31, 2018
He looked down the Son Ku Lon at the jungle clutching the riverbanks. Its vast blackness seemed to reach out to the edge of the earth like a black hole that sucked all life from those who drew near. Those who dared to venture in might never be heard from again.
Scary. He stared at it. What was he doing here--all of them doing here? He was twenty years old. By law, a man, but inside, lots of times, he felt like he was still a boy. He'd never be a boy again. He used the 60 and the Bowie too well, too often. Not much left of innocence. That was for sure. Not after being thrown into this world of black and white, life and death.
He started at the jungle. How many thousands had ventured in there to die? And if they lived to come out, how had they survived, going from playing street ball and dreaming of girls to the battlefields of Vietnam, where the playing fields were covered with bodies, blood and bones, killing and being killed?
Maybe it was the hating, like he hated the colonel, that saved them, got them through and out. He shuddered. A feeling came over him that maybe he'd gotten too close. Maybe he couldn't reverse his heading into the mouth of triple-canopied death."
Vietnam river surrounded by jungle:
Meet Gene Michaels...or maybe not. As a Navy Seal, he is adept at being seen only when he wants to be. He's part of Lima platoon, deployed to the Mekong Delta, and base-camped on Seafloat between operations. He wasn't gung-ho about enlisting. In fact, he chose the Seals based on their reputation for one of the lowest mortality rates among any branch of the armed forces. However, over the last few months he has become known as a good luck charm of sorts. He's dedicated, skilled, deadly...and no one has died or been seriously injured while on an operation with him.
Wentz takes us behind the scenes and into the action as we follow Michaels into the jungle. We see first hand the camaraderie, focus, and deadly precision of SEALs operations. Previously I had read The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. Now, reading Men in Green Faces , I found the contrast between the war experiences of Army "grunts" and SEALs to be fascinating. Whereas foot soldiers often blindly followed orders and were frustrated by seemingly meaningless marches and battles in the "front-less war", SEALs went on missions with clearly delineated objectives and measures to judge success by. Gene doesn't always feel like he made a difference, but he often did.
Bottom line: If you are looking for a classic novel with a well-defined story arc and in-depth character development then you will probably not view Wentz's offering as a 4 or 5 star book. However, if you are looking for a semi-autobiographical, in-your-face portrayal of the nitty-gritty experiences of Special Forces in Vietnam, this book delivers. I would argue that there *is* character development, you just have to read between the lines of the action to see it. Given a rating of 4.5 stars or "Outstanding". Recommended.
A squad of Seals:
Things I learned: A brief description of Navy Seals in Vietnam from the Navy Seal Museum's offical site. (Interesting stuff on the rest of the website as well).
A study examining why SEALs handle stress better than other soldiers, and potential implications in treating PTSD
Scary. He stared at it. What was he doing here--all of them doing here? He was twenty years old. By law, a man, but inside, lots of times, he felt like he was still a boy. He'd never be a boy again. He used the 60 and the Bowie too well, too often. Not much left of innocence. That was for sure. Not after being thrown into this world of black and white, life and death.
He started at the jungle. How many thousands had ventured in there to die? And if they lived to come out, how had they survived, going from playing street ball and dreaming of girls to the battlefields of Vietnam, where the playing fields were covered with bodies, blood and bones, killing and being killed?
Maybe it was the hating, like he hated the colonel, that saved them, got them through and out. He shuddered. A feeling came over him that maybe he'd gotten too close. Maybe he couldn't reverse his heading into the mouth of triple-canopied death."
Vietnam river surrounded by jungle:
Meet Gene Michaels...or maybe not. As a Navy Seal, he is adept at being seen only when he wants to be. He's part of Lima platoon, deployed to the Mekong Delta, and base-camped on Seafloat between operations. He wasn't gung-ho about enlisting. In fact, he chose the Seals based on their reputation for one of the lowest mortality rates among any branch of the armed forces. However, over the last few months he has become known as a good luck charm of sorts. He's dedicated, skilled, deadly...and no one has died or been seriously injured while on an operation with him.
Wentz takes us behind the scenes and into the action as we follow Michaels into the jungle. We see first hand the camaraderie, focus, and deadly precision of SEALs operations. Previously I had read The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. Now, reading Men in Green Faces , I found the contrast between the war experiences of Army "grunts" and SEALs to be fascinating. Whereas foot soldiers often blindly followed orders and were frustrated by seemingly meaningless marches and battles in the "front-less war", SEALs went on missions with clearly delineated objectives and measures to judge success by. Gene doesn't always feel like he made a difference, but he often did.
Bottom line: If you are looking for a classic novel with a well-defined story arc and in-depth character development then you will probably not view Wentz's offering as a 4 or 5 star book. However, if you are looking for a semi-autobiographical, in-your-face portrayal of the nitty-gritty experiences of Special Forces in Vietnam, this book delivers. I would argue that there *is* character development, you just have to read between the lines of the action to see it. Given a rating of 4.5 stars or "Outstanding". Recommended.
A squad of Seals:
Things I learned: A brief description of Navy Seals in Vietnam from the Navy Seal Museum's offical site. (Interesting stuff on the rest of the website as well).
A study examining why SEALs handle stress better than other soldiers, and potential implications in treating PTSD
October 22, 2020
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy saw a vision of the future. Believing that wars would be waged asymmetrically, President Kennedy made what was then a radical proposal: establish an elite special warfare unit capable of operating in all conflict zones. Enter the U.S. Navy Seals, the world’s most elite and versatile warriors trained to operate at sea, in the air, and on land. The motto of a U.S. Navy Seal, “Ready to Lead, Ready to Follow… Never Quit.” Since their inception more than half a Century ago, Navy Seals have seen action in virtually every major conflict, from Korea, Desert Storm, Mogadishu Somalia, to today’s global War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan.
However, Seals would earn their stripes in the summer of 1969 in the jungles and rice paddies of Vietnam bringing terror to a nefarious and cunning enemy, the menacingly brutal Viet Cong. In his breakthrough novel, Vietnam veteran and former U.S. Navy Seal, Gene Wentz delivers an unbiased and unflinching glimpse into the life, mentality, camaraderie, heart and soul of an elite warrior. Co-authored with Betty Abell Jurus, “Men in Green Faces: A Novel of U.S. Navy Seals” tells the fictional story of Navy Seal Team Leader Gene Michaels and his boisterous band of brothers attached to “Sea Float” a premiere Seal detachment tasked with some of the most dangerous and deadly missions downrange.
Based on the real-life exploits of Gene Wentz, “Men in Green Faces: A Novel of U.S. Navy Seals” is an honest work of faction that immerses the audience into a harrowing tour of duty in the No Man’s Land of 1960’s Vietnam. In a war that would sear its place in history with more than 58 thousand American deaths, the elite Navy Seals are the United States military’s secret weapon to turn the tide in what can only be described as “Hell on Earth.” Here, Gene Michaels and his squad are given a daring assignment; capture or kill a rogue South Vietnamese Navy Seal who has turned the tables on an already stretched and demoralized U.S. military force. To stop his reign of terror, the impossible mission falls on the shoulders of Team Leader Gene Michaels and the Frogmen of Sea Float to close a dark, deadly chapter of the Vietnam War, never to be revealed on the evening news. Negotiating miles of thick jungle forest and rice paddies intercepting violent factions of NVA, VC and booby traps, for America’s Silent Warriors the hunt is on proving “The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday.”
After listening to this book on Audible, I was very impressed with Gene Wentz’s storytelling of a politically hot-button topic and sad chapter in American military history. I couldn’t help but notice some striking similarities with Oliver Stone’s 1986 Oscar “Platoon” and Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 war drama “Apocalypse Now.” While a work of faction, “Men in Green Faces: A Novel of U.S. Navy Seals” does not make a political statement but rather paints a visceral, human portrait of life in combat through the eyes of a venerable U.S. Navy Seal. Well-worth the time to read or listen!
However, Seals would earn their stripes in the summer of 1969 in the jungles and rice paddies of Vietnam bringing terror to a nefarious and cunning enemy, the menacingly brutal Viet Cong. In his breakthrough novel, Vietnam veteran and former U.S. Navy Seal, Gene Wentz delivers an unbiased and unflinching glimpse into the life, mentality, camaraderie, heart and soul of an elite warrior. Co-authored with Betty Abell Jurus, “Men in Green Faces: A Novel of U.S. Navy Seals” tells the fictional story of Navy Seal Team Leader Gene Michaels and his boisterous band of brothers attached to “Sea Float” a premiere Seal detachment tasked with some of the most dangerous and deadly missions downrange.
Based on the real-life exploits of Gene Wentz, “Men in Green Faces: A Novel of U.S. Navy Seals” is an honest work of faction that immerses the audience into a harrowing tour of duty in the No Man’s Land of 1960’s Vietnam. In a war that would sear its place in history with more than 58 thousand American deaths, the elite Navy Seals are the United States military’s secret weapon to turn the tide in what can only be described as “Hell on Earth.” Here, Gene Michaels and his squad are given a daring assignment; capture or kill a rogue South Vietnamese Navy Seal who has turned the tables on an already stretched and demoralized U.S. military force. To stop his reign of terror, the impossible mission falls on the shoulders of Team Leader Gene Michaels and the Frogmen of Sea Float to close a dark, deadly chapter of the Vietnam War, never to be revealed on the evening news. Negotiating miles of thick jungle forest and rice paddies intercepting violent factions of NVA, VC and booby traps, for America’s Silent Warriors the hunt is on proving “The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday.”
After listening to this book on Audible, I was very impressed with Gene Wentz’s storytelling of a politically hot-button topic and sad chapter in American military history. I couldn’t help but notice some striking similarities with Oliver Stone’s 1986 Oscar “Platoon” and Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 war drama “Apocalypse Now.” While a work of faction, “Men in Green Faces: A Novel of U.S. Navy Seals” does not make a political statement but rather paints a visceral, human portrait of life in combat through the eyes of a venerable U.S. Navy Seal. Well-worth the time to read or listen!
May 12, 2021
I found it fascinating and interesting to see the first-hand experience a soldier in Vietnam. very gruesome so definitely not for people who don't like horror or bloody stuff cause this book goes into a description of the horrors they saw in vietname. I think it is something that most should see especially if you don't support veterans cause it gives you a taste of what they went through and personally i respect them even more now
February 16, 2022
This was a good story of SPECWAR operators during the latter stages of the Vietnam War. The author did a good job of explaining the tactics used at the time as well as how the operational tempo and environment were at the time. It also described the emotional ride our main character endured, and his eventual positive outcome after his tour was complete. A great description of a different time, a different Navy, different warfare techniques, and different young men over 50 years ago. I enjoyed it!
October 14, 2025
I started "Men in Green Faces" with high hopes and was thoroughly disappointed. From everything I'd heard, this book was to the previous generation of SEALs what books like "Lone Survivor" and "American Sniper" were to the current generation. I can see the appeal to a young kid who read this book and wanted to see if he could measure up—and I wish I'd read it as a kid myself. But as a young man and a servicemember, I found it wanting.
First and foremost, Gene Wentz does no honor to the tradition of "silent professionalism" in the Teams with this work. The book is vainglorious and shamelessly depicts the main character, Gene (what a coincidence), as the most badass SEAL to walk the planet. I came in expecting a powerful story of sacrifice and camaraderie, inspired from the author's real-world experiences in the Vietnam War. Instead I got some sort of cheap blockbuster action movie with a demigod protagonist firing machine guns while hanging one-handed from helicopters and engaging in full-on kung fu duels in the middle of a firefight.
Wentz also does a poor job portraying Christian faith as an anchor for his protagonist. From page one it's made clear that Gene is a Christian, praying before every op and reading his bible every night before bed. But that is the extent of Gene's faith for the duration of the book—God as a good luck charm. There's no thought about the bible passages he reads, nor application of what he reads to what he's experiencing in Vietnam. There's no attempt to challenge his faith—as soon as something bad happens out there his faith goes out the window and he becomes consumed in a sleepless, drug-fueled mission for revenge, unable to open or even look at his bible. And then when that revenge is achieved he just goes back and says a quick "Thanks, God" prayer like none of it ever happened.
The writing was uninteresting, the character development was shallow, and the plot was repetitive and predictable. The only reason this book gets a second star is because, like I said, I can respect the inspiration it surely provided for many young boys who grew up to become SEALs. It was also rewarding to read about the tactics and culture of the Teams that was brought about by the SEALs in Vietnam and remains strikingly similar to this day. That aspect of the book, I must say, was quite authentic. 2 stars and a disappointing read to say the least.
First and foremost, Gene Wentz does no honor to the tradition of "silent professionalism" in the Teams with this work. The book is vainglorious and shamelessly depicts the main character, Gene (what a coincidence), as the most badass SEAL to walk the planet. I came in expecting a powerful story of sacrifice and camaraderie, inspired from the author's real-world experiences in the Vietnam War. Instead I got some sort of cheap blockbuster action movie with a demigod protagonist firing machine guns while hanging one-handed from helicopters and engaging in full-on kung fu duels in the middle of a firefight.
Wentz also does a poor job portraying Christian faith as an anchor for his protagonist. From page one it's made clear that Gene is a Christian, praying before every op and reading his bible every night before bed. But that is the extent of Gene's faith for the duration of the book—God as a good luck charm. There's no thought about the bible passages he reads, nor application of what he reads to what he's experiencing in Vietnam. There's no attempt to challenge his faith—as soon as something bad happens out there his faith goes out the window and he becomes consumed in a sleepless, drug-fueled mission for revenge, unable to open or even look at his bible. And then when that revenge is achieved he just goes back and says a quick "Thanks, God" prayer like none of it ever happened.
The writing was uninteresting, the character development was shallow, and the plot was repetitive and predictable. The only reason this book gets a second star is because, like I said, I can respect the inspiration it surely provided for many young boys who grew up to become SEALs. It was also rewarding to read about the tactics and culture of the Teams that was brought about by the SEALs in Vietnam and remains strikingly similar to this day. That aspect of the book, I must say, was quite authentic. 2 stars and a disappointing read to say the least.
February 24, 2017
A decent read until one of the SEAL's gets killed then it kinda goes off the deep end.
January 26, 2018
Sad. Intense. War is terrible and this book illustrates it.
December 18, 2023
I didn't like it.
I didn't think it was well written. I thought it was boring, predictable, and unrealistic.
Not unrealistic in that it presented the Seals in a manner different than they are. Not at all, in that sense it probably is extremely accurate. My brother is former navy and the tales he tells of how soldiers talk to each other and act on their time off are both hair-raising and quite similar to what is going on in this book. I'm very glad I'm not a man, and that I'm not in any of the armed forces, I wouldn't survive 5 minutes. I think this book accurately portrays the behavior of young men who are shipped off to the other side of the world and handed a gun and told to kill people. That's not my quibble.
It's the action. It's predictable. It's one track. It's expected. I knew Willie was going to die. I knew Colonel Nguyen was going to be caught, and then he was, and then nothing. We had this whole big set up of the information from the US getting leaked out, and then we never find out anything from the interrogation of this greater than life bogeyman? There was no dénouement, everything just ended with some vague moralizing thinly veiled as a letter to his wife. Moralizing and philosophizing such as he hasn't done throughout the book. Suddenly he catches the guy and now he can pour out his heart of hearts? What happened to all the stoicism and all the 'I don't know what to say to my wife and can only write a couple of lines' from all the earlier chapters?
People change, and they change dramatically, but this was a bit too pat.
Also, I couldn't abide the presentation of belief in this book. You can tell that the author isn't a Christian and never really bothered to think about what the belief system entails before he decided his main character would be one. If you truly believe in something, it changes your behavior, but there is no evidence of that in this book. Jean is supposedly someone who wanted to be a missionary before he joined the Seals. He prays before every mission, he reads his Bible every day. And that's it. That's his entire Christianity. 'God keep me and mine safe.' God as good luck charm
He doesn't put any of the principles into action. There's no thought about what he read. There's no application of what he is reading to what is going on in his life. There is no attempt to wrestle with faith, as soon as something bad happens to one of his own, his faith goes out the window, the good luck charm is broken and tossed away.
His actions show no evidence of regeneration or sanctification. He cheats on his wife and not once is there repentance. There is just burying the memory. He thanks God for letting him meet the woman with whom he had his adulterous affair, in fact he thanks God for the affair.
How ignorant of the Bible do you have to be to think that's okay?
Even without the Bible, an ounce of common sense will let you know that there is something wrong with that. Adultery is wrong. You promised a woman that you would love only her and be only with her and then you broke your promise and betrayed her trust and went and banged another woman, and you have the gall to thank the creator of the universe that you say you believe in that you did this earth-shattering thing? Where is the fear of judgement? Where is the shame in having broken your word to both your wife and your God?
Not only does he bang another woman, a completely superfluous scene in the first place, but he buys a whore for his buddy as a way to say thank you. Again, while this is behavior that I am sure happens in the lives of soldiers, this is not the behavior someone should engage in who claims to care enough about his belief system that he is willing to go forth and be a missionary.
It's unthinkable. It's like someone who says they are a Buddhist priest also being a butcher. Or a Jewish Rabbi who makes bacon as a hobby. It's behavior that is antithetical to the system of belief. If you can engage in it without feeling guilt, you aren't simply a hypocrite, you don't even understand the belief system you say you care about.
It was galling.
I didn't think it was well written. I thought it was boring, predictable, and unrealistic.
Not unrealistic in that it presented the Seals in a manner different than they are. Not at all, in that sense it probably is extremely accurate. My brother is former navy and the tales he tells of how soldiers talk to each other and act on their time off are both hair-raising and quite similar to what is going on in this book. I'm very glad I'm not a man, and that I'm not in any of the armed forces, I wouldn't survive 5 minutes. I think this book accurately portrays the behavior of young men who are shipped off to the other side of the world and handed a gun and told to kill people. That's not my quibble.
It's the action. It's predictable. It's one track. It's expected. I knew Willie was going to die. I knew Colonel Nguyen was going to be caught, and then he was, and then nothing. We had this whole big set up of the information from the US getting leaked out, and then we never find out anything from the interrogation of this greater than life bogeyman? There was no dénouement, everything just ended with some vague moralizing thinly veiled as a letter to his wife. Moralizing and philosophizing such as he hasn't done throughout the book. Suddenly he catches the guy and now he can pour out his heart of hearts? What happened to all the stoicism and all the 'I don't know what to say to my wife and can only write a couple of lines' from all the earlier chapters?
People change, and they change dramatically, but this was a bit too pat.
Also, I couldn't abide the presentation of belief in this book. You can tell that the author isn't a Christian and never really bothered to think about what the belief system entails before he decided his main character would be one. If you truly believe in something, it changes your behavior, but there is no evidence of that in this book. Jean is supposedly someone who wanted to be a missionary before he joined the Seals. He prays before every mission, he reads his Bible every day. And that's it. That's his entire Christianity. 'God keep me and mine safe.' God as good luck charm
He doesn't put any of the principles into action. There's no thought about what he read. There's no application of what he is reading to what is going on in his life. There is no attempt to wrestle with faith, as soon as something bad happens to one of his own, his faith goes out the window, the good luck charm is broken and tossed away.
His actions show no evidence of regeneration or sanctification. He cheats on his wife and not once is there repentance. There is just burying the memory. He thanks God for letting him meet the woman with whom he had his adulterous affair, in fact he thanks God for the affair.
How ignorant of the Bible do you have to be to think that's okay?
Even without the Bible, an ounce of common sense will let you know that there is something wrong with that. Adultery is wrong. You promised a woman that you would love only her and be only with her and then you broke your promise and betrayed her trust and went and banged another woman, and you have the gall to thank the creator of the universe that you say you believe in that you did this earth-shattering thing? Where is the fear of judgement? Where is the shame in having broken your word to both your wife and your God?
Not only does he bang another woman, a completely superfluous scene in the first place, but he buys a whore for his buddy as a way to say thank you. Again, while this is behavior that I am sure happens in the lives of soldiers, this is not the behavior someone should engage in who claims to care enough about his belief system that he is willing to go forth and be a missionary.
It's unthinkable. It's like someone who says they are a Buddhist priest also being a butcher. Or a Jewish Rabbi who makes bacon as a hobby. It's behavior that is antithetical to the system of belief. If you can engage in it without feeling guilt, you aren't simply a hypocrite, you don't even understand the belief system you say you care about.
It was galling.
October 9, 2024
This book provides the reader of the experiences witnessed accounts by USN SEAL Gene Wentz during his deployment into Vietnam in the 60's time frame. He gives an accurate account of operations performed by him and his team. Average team size was seven members. Their actions provides a visual account of life and death situations. He gives the reader a feel of what it was like while stationed in a very forward position. The insertions of teams designed to grab intel, POW's, kill the enemy, etc. He also gives accounts of life while not in the crap of combat. During that time they partied, played cards but in constant preparation to insert for the next action. The reader gets a feeling of what Gene went through whe fellow Seal Willie was KIA'd. The mental anguish that followed and the constant ops he took on for revenge of his friends death took a toll on him. Sleepless for ten day of living on ops and drugs to keep going. Finally, doctors forced sleep on him to get much needed rest. During his entire deployment the intel revolves around a VC Colonel who is destructive on the people of Vietnam. Near the end of his tour they catch him and pass him over for trial. Gene rotates out shortly thereafter. The book wasn't what I thought it was however it was very good.
January 30, 2021
I read about this book in a biography be Mark Owens (pen name of a Navy SEAL who was involved in the killing of Osama bin Laden. Owens said this book inspired him to become a SEAL.
I thought this book would be a similar format. It was, instead, a novelization based on the author's experiences in Vietnam. I found the novel format easy to read, engaging, and enjoyable.
Although this type of account is subjective, being autobiographical, I think it takes a special type of person to become a special forces operator. It is interesting to read about how they think, what motivates them, what their perceptions of events so foreign to most readers.
I thought this book would be a similar format. It was, instead, a novelization based on the author's experiences in Vietnam. I found the novel format easy to read, engaging, and enjoyable.
Although this type of account is subjective, being autobiographical, I think it takes a special type of person to become a special forces operator. It is interesting to read about how they think, what motivates them, what their perceptions of events so foreign to most readers.
Read
July 17, 2020So this was the only book or certainly one of a few that were only available to wannabe SEAL's of the future. i'm told its been widely read by a generation of SEAL's. After initially struggling with it (dont normally read fiction) I then couldnt put it down. Its one Op after another so the pace is good. Gave me a real sense of warfare in the jungle and what conditions were like. I was also shocked at one point when I suddenly became aware of how young these guys were and the things they were doing.
October 4, 2021
A spoiler at the end about the last patrol... AFTER reading some of these reviews, let me make one thing clear, this is a WORK of FICTION based a little on the author's story. How much is fictional and how much is fact is up to the reader to decipher. For myself, it was a pretty good read but I am not sure I believe that the number of patrols this group went out on and the story about the last battle, and how badly they were outnumbered, I have a very hard time believing they walked into an ambush and no one was even injured let alone kia.
December 2, 2024
Typically, I'm not a fan of fiction, especially action fiction with over-the-top unrealistic scenarios and behaviors, but I did enjoy this one.
Wentz provides much tactical, squad-level accuracy that makes up for a bit of unrealism in the latter part of the book. With each op, the author includes tons of references to WARNOs/OPORDS, sectors of fire, pace counts, proper hand-and-arm signals, formation movements, bounding, danger crossings, and even SLLs checks. With that level of accurate detail in the patrolling, one could follow along and imagine being there with the SEALs.
Wentz provides much tactical, squad-level accuracy that makes up for a bit of unrealism in the latter part of the book. With each op, the author includes tons of references to WARNOs/OPORDS, sectors of fire, pace counts, proper hand-and-arm signals, formation movements, bounding, danger crossings, and even SLLs checks. With that level of accurate detail in the patrolling, one could follow along and imagine being there with the SEALs.
September 23, 2020
Realistic book—I was there
As a Navy civilian, I shared a barge with a SEAL team anchored on the Saigon River at Nha Be for 3 weeks in July 1967. We were testing a drone minesweeper (MSD) to counter Riverine mines. I ate at the same mess hall with the SEALS and listened to them talk as they cleaned their weapons on the barge. They discussed a “hanging tree” at a nearby village they used for suspected VC. They only went out at night and were around most days.
As a Navy civilian, I shared a barge with a SEAL team anchored on the Saigon River at Nha Be for 3 weeks in July 1967. We were testing a drone minesweeper (MSD) to counter Riverine mines. I ate at the same mess hall with the SEALS and listened to them talk as they cleaned their weapons on the barge. They discussed a “hanging tree” at a nearby village they used for suspected VC. They only went out at night and were around most days.
April 16, 2023
I can see why
This book has been mentioned in many a SEAL biography I've read over the past few years. Figured it was about time I gave it my own read. Firefights galore, emotions all across the spectrum, and an intense focus on just what it takes to survive in the jungles of Vietnam's Mekong Delta. Yep, I can see how this would inspire a generation of future special operators.
This book has been mentioned in many a SEAL biography I've read over the past few years. Figured it was about time I gave it my own read. Firefights galore, emotions all across the spectrum, and an intense focus on just what it takes to survive in the jungles of Vietnam's Mekong Delta. Yep, I can see how this would inspire a generation of future special operators.
March 20, 2024
I've read many SEAL books. One book by a Seal that mentioned having read this book when they were younger and how it played a big role in him becoming a seal---and later being on the seal team tasked with the successful Bin Laden Mission--I had to read this. It's a classic, and while it was hard to read, it was beautifully written. Definitely encourage reading it if you're a fan of Seals.
June 17, 2025
I have heard many folks say that this book inspired them to become SEALS. After completing it, I can understand why! Gene and his crew are exactly who you would want/need in a sticky situation. With a lot of action packed into the almost three hundred pages of text, you’ll find yourself hard pressed to put it down!
December 23, 2025
A decent book but doesn't navigate the line well between a historical novel and historical fiction, uses many platitudes and writing cliches present in the military history genre... some fictionalization is necessary when discussing classified operations and events but the line is pretty hazy and challenges the legitimacy of the novel
February 9, 2018
Quite an interesting book on special forces in Vietnam. Probably a bit too much testosterone for me. War is such a terrible event and the death of people on either side, not to mention innocent victims is a tragedy.
December 17, 2018
Great story! Having read many Seal stories it was neat to hear a story that was back in Vietnam where awesome technology was far less present than what they have now. Great story of men willing to die for their country.
January 19, 2021
This book was recommended to me by a US Veteran to help me better understand war and the camaraderie experienced by combat service members. I found it to be difficult, yet important reading. Highly recommend to anyone wanting to understand more about this time in our history.
January 6, 2022
strident warriors.
Sven though this is a fictional story it embodies the strength and character of America’s fighting Secret Warriors. A very good book, very good character development and a heart breaking, heart warming story of these silent warriors.
Sven though this is a fictional story it embodies the strength and character of America’s fighting Secret Warriors. A very good book, very good character development and a heart breaking, heart warming story of these silent warriors.
February 12, 2022
Awesome!
For those that didn't go, for those that didn't know, this is how it was. The author puts you right into the group of SEALS and makes you one of the elite. Well done sirs, you've exceeded my expectations.
For those that didn't go, for those that didn't know, this is how it was. The author puts you right into the group of SEALS and makes you one of the elite. Well done sirs, you've exceeded my expectations.
December 10, 2023
I was disappointed with this one. To be sure it was chocked full of action. In fact that's really all it was, action. Those parts were amazing. The parts that weren't action were, bad, for lack of a better term.
I enjoyed it, thought it was pleasurable but I'd never read it again.
I enjoyed it, thought it was pleasurable but I'd never read it again.
January 23, 2025
Good story, got a little repetitive regarding the plot of going on missions and coming back and going. You can definitely feel the effects of war on the author but gave a real look into what Navy SEAL mission looked like in Vietnam.
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