SEALs: UDT/SEAL Operations in Vietnam

by T.L. Bosiljevac

"For the most detailed account we've seen of SEAL involvedment in Vietnam check out SEALs."
SOLDIER OF FORTUNTE
In January 1962, two Sea, Air, and Land Teams were formed. Commissioned to operate up to twenty miles inland in enemy territory, they would act as naval commandos whose functions were to gather intelligence, raid, ambush, capture prisoners, and cretae havoc in enemy territory. This book recounts the many daring missions that the SEALs undertook to serve their country. It was during the Vietnmam War years that their Special Warfare reputation was built, and the heroism of the few brave men detailed here shows why.

Genres: Military Fiction, History, Nonfiction

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 1990

Reviews

[Martin Koenigsberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm giving this book a 4 rating for completeness, not for its Dragnet-style brevity, as its pretty spare. TL. Bosiljevic was a Serving officer in both West Coast and East Coast SEAL Organisations, and has basically boiled down almost every single SEAL/UDT/Marine Special Ops skirmish in the Saigon/Delta Area of operations. The pace of ops is fast, with both US and LDNN (ARVN SEALS) platoons and teams going out almost every night it seems with Contact several times a week- nightly in periods like Tet 1968. There's a little perspective at the beginning and the end, but otherwise the value in this book is to understand the width and breadth of the SEAL Vietnam tours, along with the strong interservice cooperation that supported their efforts. In particular their "Sea Wolves" Helo support get a lot of love- as they should.

You can also understand why so many of those who served felt like they were making a difference. By reading between the lines- and having some understanding of the CIA's "Phoenix Program" that developed better and better intel- you can see the Viet Cong- the local Guerrilla infrastructure- get thinned out dramatically after Tet. And the tighter - more repressive control of the Northern Infiltrators who replaced the VC- loosens the Communist hold on the Delta. But of course, the overall flow of history- back in the world- and in country was for the US to leave- and the book deals with the US draw-down in a straight tick tock. It's interesting stuff- but presented with little flair or perspective- very much just the facts...

There are enough adult themes and raw injury descriptions to makes this best read by Junior readers over about 12. For the Gamer/Modeller/Military enthusiast- this is great stuff. It's like totally raw data that can give you scenario/diorama ideas, but without too much description to limit you. For the enthusiast, getting an idea of the sheer volume of operations, and the detail of the results was really informative. Along with some great 8 pages of great detail b/w photos this is a really good introduction to the Special Ops arm of the "Brown Water Navy" that scoured the Delta in Vietnam.

[Diana H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

T. L. Bosiljevac takes the reader on a journey through the Vietnam War as seen by the UDT / SEAL Teams who were there. This story is presented as if it were a day to day log of the actions taken with the results (both good and bad). It is not written in a diary style (i.e. Jan 1, this stuff happened), but many times while reading, I got that diary-like feeling.
Starting with the first teams to arrive in-country and ending when the last of the team members returned home, the UDT / SEAL influence and actions are laid out so that lay-people will understand what these men did and how much they contributed to the effort.
I really enjoyed this book.

[Liam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is really more along the lines of a digest of after-action reports than an actual narrative history (admittedly, this is partially due to the fact that some relevant records were still classified when it was written), and if we could rate with half-stars it would have gotten a 2.5 rating from me. While it would probably be interesting & useful to SEAL enthusiasts, it is less so in terms of relating to the study of the Viet Nam/Indo-China conflict as a whole.

[Ross Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been on my TBR pile since 1991 (it might just be one of the longest running TBR books I have). It has travelled with me from Grand Prairie, Tx, to Arlington, To S. Caroline, West Virginia, Indiana, and back to Texas. But now, it goes on the "Read it" pile.

A review will be written later