Point Man

by James Watson, Kevin Dockery

The personal story of a thirty-year Navy SEALs veteran recounts his achievements as a member of the Underwater Demolition Team 21, three tours of Vietnam, numerous rescue missions, and relationship with Richard Marcinko. Reissue.

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

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 1993

About the author

Senior Chief James Dennis “Patches” Watson III was a Plank Owner of the SEAL Team Two.

Watson was the Curator Emeritus of the UDT-SEAL Museum in Ft. Pierce, FL

An original plank owner of SEAL Team TWO, Jim served three tours in Vietnam as platoon chief earning sixteen combat decorations, four of which are Bronze Stars all with Combat “V”.

Reviews

[Jimmy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I met one Navy Seal when I was in Vietnam. It was a very negative experience. He was in Saigon on R & R. He invited a bunch of us to his room to drink and talk. By the end of the day, I concluded he was a pathetic, drunken murderer. And pretty much a loser. It was a very disappointing evening for all of us. He called us "pussies" for not drinking enough. That only encouraged me not to drink at all. I am basically a non-drinker anyway.

We thought we would be meeting a professional soldier. Instead he talked about murdering people, dropping prisoners out of helicopters. I am not a fool. I understand the realities of war and how they don't necessarily mesh with civilized ideas. But this was pathological. It may have tainted my whole view of Navy Seals from the Vietnam War.

The Seal in this book also talks about drinking in a way that implies drunkenness. Professionals of any sort should not be drunks.

I believe contemporary Seals are trained better today. But there was a video that got out showing a drunken revelry among Navy Seals in Afghanistan a while ago. I need to find something to restore my respect.

[Max Skidmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book. The author (point man) was seriously injured when a mine went off near him. Most injuries were apparent. At a meeting with his doctor, he asked, "What are we going to do about my ears?" The doctor responded, "What is wrong with your ears?" The author took a drag on his cigarette and blew the smoke out through his ears. The doctor said, "We need to look into that." Navy Seals are warriors!

[Thrillers R Us · Rating 4 out of 5]

The modern Navy prides itself on being a force for good, and besides stereotyping its personnel succinctly with unofficial monikers like 'Every Marine a rifleman', post 9/11 maritime marauders could be stamped with 'Every SEAL an author'. Having served way before the fall of the Twin Towers, and having pushed POINT MAN out into the wild almost a decade before said tragic event, James Watson did a commendable job of making sense of a chaotic time and what used to be a closely guarded and semi-secret elite fighting force.

And elite they are, from the very inception of the teams pursuant JFK's whim to fight a new kind of war to post-millennium taking Target Geronimo permanently off the board. Touting a 60% washout rate, UDTR training filters out only the best of the best and the rest are run ragged, as everything is done on the run. Run. RUN. Constituting its own kind of hell, evolutions are done on end and over and over again. Getting the Budweiser is not the end-all be-all, mind you, as there's more training than you can shake a UNTL at. If there was anything to sign up for, James Watson got in line; UDTR, US Army Jungle Operations course 900-D-f6, Marine E&E course, Special Forces devil's kitchen, training, training and more training. So much so, getting so many school and qualification patches on his jumpsuit, he was christened "Patches". In the teams, there is no such thing as too much. Overload is the objective. As SEALs explosives/ordnance training dictates, 'If two pounds will do the job, twenty pounds will guarantee it'.

In black and white on the cover, POINT MAN promises to go deep 'Inside the toughest and most deadly unit in Vietnam', but once the spine is cracked and the flyleaf passed, the memoir doesn't get too much into the combat of things. There are a lot of other books that go much further in detailing the combat experience and the hell that was the Vietnam War. POINT MAN (also published as WALKING POINT at some point) seems to serve only as a personal memoir in response to Watson's former commanding officer Richard Marcinko's ROGUE WARRIOR (and subsequent series of adventure novels) and a means to cash in while the getting is good. Patches takes the reader through the paces and follows the formula exhibited by so many military/war biographies; action blurb serving as the hook, some early life (formative) experiences, enlisting, trying out for the teams, the brutal selection process, making it, training ad infinitum, and then finally deploying amid fears of the war ending and missing all the action. That being said, POINT MAN is rich on weapons, training, tactics and more training, but a little short on actual war content from the early (Navy SEAL) days of the Vietnam War. Readers who browse the pages for combat and the actual experience of walking point in a war zone will be left wanting. Much better fare would be MEN IN GREEN FACES by Gene Wentz, who may or may not have been in the same mud as Patches.

The plank owners of the Navy SEALs, also known as Marcinko's Misfits are finally let off the leash and got a taste of combat (in 1967 Vietnam, Mekong Delta). Marcinko's Mob experienced first hand that war is hell, and Vietnam proved that better than most. Proudly wearing a set of Tigerstripes back then meant you were a combat vet, that you had been to the mountain and seen the elephant. Patches et al did this with aplomb, blustering, posturing, and swaggering--attesting that their band of brothers can make the impossible possible. POINT MAN is a guided tour of the creation of the Navy SEALs and their first combat stints in the Vietnam War and Patches dives in with poise, precision, and resolve. It's most definitely a detailed and informative read and anyone with an interest should do likewise.

[Richard McNish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pride of the Navy

As a Vietnam era Navy vet I appreciate the camaraderie expressed throughout this story. The intense training and heroism exhibited coupled with good old Navy humor made for great reading. Bravo Zulu Chief!!!

[John F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Autobiography I've read!

QMCS James "Patches" Watson delivers a shot out of the park that hasn't landed yet (it's 7/8/2918 now)! Patches lived up to the SEALs motto - NEVER QUIT! James Watson III was one brave, courageous, initiative taking, accountable, reliable United States Navy SEAL! Thank you Senior Chief Watson for your dedicated service and for sharing your story. RIP brother!

[Phillip R Neal · Rating 1 out of 5]

Its a story of a man without character

I would admire his service to this country but point man is a story about a man who thought machismo is a positive character trait. He is a marked man who is a womanizer, a alcoholic, and has no inward compass of right and wrong. Its like reading the autobiography of a star athlete who has talent on the field but is a a jerk of a person. I am thankful this guy is not the example of what a seal needs to be.

[Connor O’Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Point man: inside the toughest and most deadly unit in Vietnam
- November 30th pages 1-52
- December 1st pages 52-157
- December 2nd pages 157-179
- December 3rd pages 179-229
- December 5th pages 229-281
- December 6th pages 281-324(end)

It was ok, plenty of things I could say but that’d just be a waste of time

[Norman P. Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

simply outstanding!

This is a true story of a true warrior.he is and was a navy Seal. He shares is true life adventures and challenges in fear our battles in Viet Nam. The camaraderie and heroism of his fellow warrior’s. Numerous examples of heroism of some our fallen warriors who did extraordinary things for his fellow comrades and his country. A very worthwhile read.

[Bob Holland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and well-written book. Not a masterpiece, but well worth your time to read. Watson wrote a follow-up to this book, titled Walking Point. I rated both books at 3 stars, but much preferred Point Man.

[Jim Mouzakis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read. Its about a plank owner of Seal Team Two.

Well written biography of one of the first Seals in one of the first Seal Teams. These guys came from the UDTs, trained up and deployed to Vietnam. They were very successful in Nam.

[Cameron Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book.

Dudes not a writer but it’s still a good book. The chapters are really long but there are smaller stories in them with breaks so if you aren’t reading this in a few sittings there are plenty of places to stop.

[Tom OConnor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Point man

Well written book, showing the reader that if someone has a goal he wants to attain then with hard work he can be successful. It is because of warriors like Mr. Watson that the United States has been successful in its military endevers.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting history regarding the beginnings of the navy seals.

[Peter T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

good read

Interesting story on hoe the seals came to be and there exploits in Vietnam. Just a little to arrogant about his roll in the military.

[Scott Meyerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book

Excellent book about the history of the Navy SEALS and their missions in vietnam. The author keep the readers attention through the whole book

[Lawrence Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something new.

I didn't think I would enjoy this book at first. But somehow it intriged me as I kept on reading. It turned out to be one of best books I have read.

[Donald W. Kellerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

SEAL OPS

Excellent and authentic description of SEAL ops in Vietnam by a Navy Chief Petty Officer. Narration brings combat action to life.

[Russ White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Different War

A war that I knew nothing about.Spent my entire tour in I corp.Seals were absolutely incredible.The best of the best.

[Don Laskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

well detailed story

This story tells a remarkable story of patriotism and service to our country. It is very engaging, a page turner.

[Ryan McMillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Great book. Well written and I truly enjoyed it. One of the best books on Vietnam that I've read. Highly recommend.

[Richard A Lambing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Wish information was newer.

[Randy Harrod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, highly recommended

[John Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story and well told. Highly recommend.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

good read

I just enjoyed reading this book. Man to serve three tours that is crazy. I am glad you made it back.

[Carlton Phelps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Watson told us a great story about how it was for him in Vietnam.
The people who were lost, those who were saved, and all of the terror in between.
He doesn't know the fact that he and those around him drank excessively. But, they had limited or no way to relax, and the NCO or Officers Clubs were one of their ways to try and forget what had happened in the jungles that day.
If you were a point man, you had your life, as well as the guys in the squad's lives, in your hands. Talk about stress. Also when you are walking point, Mr. Watson, points out you are the first person to be killed if you come up on a booby trap that you missed, or a squad of enemies that spot you and open fire.
And Mr. Watson volunteered for that job.
Mr. Watson should be able to live the rest of his live in peace. Thank you sir.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good view of the thankless jobs we ask our youth to accomplish in the dank and dingy places of this earth. His reward is the self confidence that he was able to accomplish and survive. Our reward, to take our next breath in a luxury that the world has not known, until July 4, 1776.

[Gregg Chiota · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting book written by a member of the original Navy SEAL class. Recounts the early days of assembling and training the units through to missions in Vietnam and beyond. Not a literay masterpiece, but will surely keep the reader riveted.

[Keith Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well Written, Easy to read, Hard to put down

This fast paste book takes you quickly through the early days of the Seals and through three tours of Nam. A must read for anyone interested in their history or their early years of this war.

[Katie]

Okay, so this is what Brian is reading right now - just wanted to share for him :)

[Ed Wyrd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating account of one of the founding members of the US Navy's elite fighting force, the SEALs, and his adventures stateside and behind enemy lines in Vietnam and Cambodia.