First SEAL

by Roy Boehm

He's the godfather of the U.S. Navy SEALs -- the founder of the boldest, brightest, baddest bunch of commandos on the face of the planet. Now Roy Boehm tells how he mastered survival as a warrior -- and changed the course of twentieth-century warfare. Roy Boehm was fated for heroism from the moment he shipped out with the U.S. Navy, eight months before Pearl Harbor. His brilliant fighting career would lead him from the sea battles of the South Pacific to the killing fields of Vietnam. As World War II came to a close and the Cold War began, Boehm saw the need for an unconventional warrior. Drawing on his expertise as a diver and member of the Navy's Underwater Demolition Teams, he created a force capable of attack from sea, air, or land. This unique dedicated and ruthless unit would become the legendary Navy SEALs. With the impact of a depth charge, First Seal delivers a no-holds-barred look at what it takes to be one of that rare breed of men who live for war...or die for their country.

Genres: Military Fiction, Nonfiction, War, History, Biography, Memoir, Military History

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Christian D. D.]

HOOYAH! R.I.P. and God bless, LCDR Roy Henry Boehm, Godfather of the Navy SEALs. I especially appreciate his assessment of how JFK took a far more sensible approach to fighting the Vietnam War than LBJ did.

[Christian D. D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hooyah! An engrossing and highly informative autobiography of a true icon of the American SpecOps community. I read this back in 1999, shortly before I shipped off to boot camp. If you like "Demo" Dick Marcinko's books, you'll like this one too (Marcinko honors LCDR Boehm as one of his "sea daddies").

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roy Boehm is a hero and a national treasure.
I think this was my first non-fiction SpecOps novel (Rogue Warrior didn't count since Dick's ego wrote the book) and I was in awe of Mr. Boehm's experiences.
Thankfully, this doesn't read like a textbook, it's an engaging story about a man's life-that just happened to have experienced some major events.

I try to make everyone I know read this book.

This man has been through Pearl Harbor, the battle at Midway, Vietnam; and grew as a military man and as a leader.

[Kevin Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got to meet Roy Boehm ~1999 in Tulsa, OK and it was an honor.
He was the very first US Navy Seal, appointed by President John F. Kennedy, to select and train Seal Team 1 and Seal Team 2.
This is a great book..he has killed a shark with his bare hands (and a knife).

[Lubos Elexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ak to beriem ako životopis, tak v ňom chýba veľmi veľa etáp a je nedorozprávaný. Ak to beriem ako profesionálny odpočet, tak niektorým častiam mám problém uveriť. Možno tie historické pasáže príliš porovnávam so súčasnosťou alebo filmovým spracovaním vojenského tréningu, ale jednoducho nemôžem uveriť, ako spraviť (v bližšie neurčitom čase) z (vietnamských) vojakov neschopných behať vodné stroje za zabíjanie. Chápem špeciálne jednotky ako sito najlepších z najlepších, a nie ako škôlku, kde sa budeme spolu všetci všetko učiť. Na druhej strane, boli to začiatky, možno sa všetko robilo na kolene, potajme a na drzovku.

[Bassaidai88 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book puts a unique first person perspective on several key historical events. Roy Boehm put together the first SEAL team, infiltrated Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis and trained Vietnamese soldiers in unconventional warfare during the Vietnam war. I learned things that I had not previously known about these events. The book reads quickly and brings these chapters in our history to life.

[Josh Songster · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think my jaw was on the floor the whole time reading this book

[JP Denfeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting read covering the life of Roy Boehm, the first U.S. Navy SEAL officer. This autobiography covers Boehm’s life and career in the U.S. Navy from WWII in the Battle of Cape Esperance to the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Boehm tells the vivid story of his calling to serve in the U.S. Navy for three wars (WWII, Korea, Vietnam) and his vision for a “sea-warrior” and utilization of unconventional warfare by the U.S. Navy. Boehm rose through the ranks of the Navy starting as a hard-hat diver and Chief Boatswains’ Mate, eventually becoming a UDT (Underwater Demolition Team) Frogman, commissioning as an officer, and helping establish the Navy SEALs in the early 1960s, serving as the first Officer of SEAL Team Two. Boehm tells the intense stories of covert SEAL operations during the Cold War, including a reconnaissance mission in Cuba during the Bay of Pigs Invasion, an assassination in the Dominican Republic, and the gruesome war in Vietnam, serving as advisor and training South Vietnamese UDT teams. Boehm even described killing a shark with his bare hands to overcome his fear of sharks after an encounter in the Pacific in WWII. Boehm tells his story with colorful narration, not afraid of telling the events how he recalled. His fiery personality and Brooklyn attitude is unleashed in the book and is present on every page (Boehm was subjected to a Board of Inquiry five times) making for an entertaining read. Overall, Boehm leaves the reader with an action packed first-hand narration of the creation of the U.S. Navy SEALs and their first officer.

[Joel Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a biography, First Seal delivers a fascinating look at Roy Boehm, who was integral to the creation of the US Navy SEAL Program.

Roy is, in a word, entertaining. He is a pretty funny guy, having a very natural ability to dress down virtually anyone. His narration brings you instantly back to a time where "men were men", and you can just visualize this guy sawing through bureaucracy, chewing out people and bullying his way into the resources he needed. The guy is incredibly passionate about his mission, and broaches no fools whatsoever. Most importantly, he clearly cared for the men under his command. Some of the most poignant moments in the book are we he reflects on the friendships and teamwork that got him to his final destination.

This book is not for everyone, but if you are interested in colorful characters (Patton springs to mind) you'll really like this guy. Note that this is effectively a war novel, so there are definitely some graphic descriptions of violence and combat... go figure.

[JP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Biography of the founder of the Navy SALS -- it is one man's "lead from the front" mentality and results that made the program what it is -- it is the same internal organizational forces that have kept it from reaching it's full potential -- Boehm lived the full history, from WWII through varying progression of UDT teams to Vietnam training of their SEAL equivalent -- he was commissioned by JFK to build the first SEALS, whereupon he trained them covertly at first -- the original missions were snoop and poop ventures to Cuba re: the missile crisis and the Bay of Pigs invasion -- perhaps the most interesting tales involve his Vietnam encounters with Minh, the housekeeper, the bathhouse, and his own troops.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book but felt that some of the edges were filed off to make it more palatable; I'd prefer the edges. He comes across as less abrasive than Richard Marcinko, who incidentally wrote a foreword. That can be good or bad.

Anyone who fights for America and against bureaucracy is my kind of hero.

[Grant Turnage · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was good and Mr. Boehm deserves to be recognized for his service and bravery. I only wish that men like him were still honored in the military; instead, men like him are demonized by the media and the government. There is no place in today's military for guts and bravado-it's disgraceful. Without MEN like Boehm, we'd be speaking German.

[Paul Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it. What more can I say. Between Marchinko's Books and this one you will get a great deal of information about how the SEAL's where setup and who the real players were. This man survived so much and tells some fantastic stories. Oh by the way watch for the Beer!

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess I am biased when it comes to this book. I personally knew this wonderful man. He is by far one of the most interesting men I've ever met. I am proud that I was a part (a very tiny part) of his life.

[Nick Searles · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have ever felt like a tuff guy reading this book will put you in your place.

[wally · Rating 3 out of 5]

i liked it!