America's First Frogman: The Draper Kauffman Story

by Elizabeth Kauffman Bush

Although bad eyesight kept him from receiving a commission in the U.S. Navy when he graduated from the Naval Academy in 1933, Draper Kauffman became a hero of underwater demolition in World War II and went on to a distinguished naval career. Today Admiral Kauffman is remembered as the nation’s first frogman and the father of the Navy SEALs. His spectacular wartime service disarming enemy bombs, establishing bomb disposal schools, and organizing and leading the Navy’s first demolition units is the focus of this biography written by Kauffman’s sister. Elizabeth Kauffman Bush, who also is the aunt of President George W. Bush, draws on family papers as well as Navy documents to tell Kauffman’s story for the first time. Determined to defend the cause of freedom long before the U.S. ever entered the war, Kauffman was taken prisoner by the Germans as an ambulance driver in France, and after his release joined the Royal Navy to defuse delayed-action bombs during the London blitz. After Pearl Harbor his eyes were deemed adequate and he was given a commission in the U.S. Naval Reserve. With his experience, he was asked to establish an underwater demolition school in Fort Pierce, Florida, where he personally trained men to defuse bombs and neutralize other submerged dangers. His men were sent to demolish the obstacles installed by the Nazis at Normandy, and Kauffman himself led underwater demolition teams at Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. His men remember him as an exceptional leader who led by example. He trained and fought alongside them, impervious to danger. Because of the high standards he set for those who became "frogmen," thousands of American lives were saved in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Draper Kauffman’s early established UDT traditions of perseverance, teamwork, and a lasting brotherhood of men of extraordinary courage is carried on by Navy SEALS. This is his legacy to the U.S. Navy and his country. Kauffman's life is recorded with a historian's attention to detail and a novelist's flair for storytelling.

Genres: Military History, Nonfiction, Military Fiction

221 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2004

Reviews

[Phrodrick slowed his growing backlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is with some reluctance that I do not give: America's First Frogman: The Draper Kauffman Story by Elizabeth Kauffman Bush 5 stars. Yes, that Bush family, the introduction was by then serving President George H. W. Bush. Draper Kauffman certainly deserves all the attention we can give and Ms. Bush writes well enough. My hesitation is that this is too much of an insider’s biography. Draper Kauffman’s ingenuity, lead from the front and willingness to risk for good causes makes for a long list of inspiring achievements. Ms Bush was Draper’s sister. We get to read a lot about the family dynamic, but hers is too much the official version of the man. I tend to shrug of the claim that a book is a hagiography. Draper Kauffman is a hero on any of several counts. His biographer, is his sister. I do not blame her for whatever clean up she did, but it was always in my mind: “What is not here?”. The case can made that all we need to know is the inspiration, but I would like to feel I know the man. Then there is the problem of competing claims… “Who was first ?”and all that jazz..

That said the briefest review of this great Navy Office would make a long list and take much of the air out of what is a short Bio. A graduate of the US Naval Academy his eyesight was substandard and in f Depression era America that was enough to have him denied a commission. Skipping several proofs that he was a better man than that set back he would get that commission in the beginning of World War II when he was one of the few experienced ordinance disposal experts available to the Navy and could take a lead in clearing unexploded bombs at Pearl Harbor. The title of the book is based on the fact that he started the Navy’s First Under Water Demolition school and what is now known as The US Navy SEALs unit of special forces.

You do not need to have been one to know what SEAL Team Hell Week is. Draper started it and was a member of the first class. He was that kind of leader. Not content to start schools, (more than one) Kaufman lead his units into the Pacific where they did much in make the beaches and he approaches safer for the troops that were to follow. Kauffman, and his people pretty much invented beach clearance. Sometimes on the fly. Kauffman always listened to, and acted on, and remembered his junior officers and especially his enlisted men. He was that kind of leader.

Leaving many pages of legitimately “gee wizz” kinds of daring-do, a few personal comments. I too am a USNA Grad. My vision then was only barely good enough. I arrived at the Academy just after Admiral Kauffman left as Superintendent. Changes made there under his watch allowed me to pursue a degree program not previously available. My life has been that much richer because of changes he made. As Americans, many Marines and Army veterans and their families have reason to be grateful for America’s First Frogman.

[John Croix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I found the book very good from a historical point. The author is ill informed on Sec. McNamara and the Vietnam war. McNamara knew we were not winning because of running the war from Washington. Yet he continued and got more young men killed.

[Bennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good 'Cliff Notes' version of Draper Kauffman's bio as the first Navy's first frogman and predecessor to today's SeALs. There are so many areas that could have been more detailed but I guess the author was hampered by the limited on the amount of information she had. Whets the appetite to find out more about the program and the men involved.

[Patrick Coen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. An inspiring story that is particularly well written.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little slow, but otherwise not bad

[Adam Wiseman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding story of the founder of the US Navy EOD community. Very interesting and well written.