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Combat Swimmer: Memoir of a Navy Seal | 
 enlarge | Author: Robert A. Gormly
Publisher: Onyx
Category: Book
List Price: $7.99
Buy Used: $0.49
You Save: $7.50 (94%)
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Rating:  27 reviews
Sales Rank: 68705
Media: Paperback
Pages: 320
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 6.8 x 4.2 x 1
ISBN: 0451193024
Dewey Decimal Number: 355
EAN: 9780451193025
ASIN: 0451193024
Publication Date: May 1, 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Cover wear and may contain some marks or writing. Keen Northwest ships in 2 business days or less. Refunds for any reason if item returned within 30 days of shipment.
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Product Description
Captain Robert Gormly served 29 years as a Navy SEAL, the United States's elite military force, where he undertook the most dangerous missions in the history of the nation. Combat Swimmer is an autobiographical account of Capt. Gormly's life as a SEAL: acting as platoon leader in SEAL Team Two in Vietnam, and later as commanding officer of that team; as the executive Officer of UDT-22, and as commanding officer of the legendary SEAL Team Six. This thrilling real-life story takes readers through the fiery life of a man who can literally be called "the best of the best."
Praise for Combat Swimmer:
"Gormly is a warrior for the working day...in a harsh world, it will comfort many to know that men with Gormly's spirit, character, and patriotism, wear this country's uniform." --Publishers Weekly
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| Customer Reviews: Read 22 more reviews...
 A factual account of a SEAL commanding officer August 10, 2008
Brian Hawkinson (San Jose, CA)
At first this was a bit of a tough one to get into. Gromly's style of writing is a matter of fact recitation of what he remembered happening. Although this is great from a factual standpoint for memoirs and history, this doesn't make for much of an engrossing read. In fact I was a little bored and wasn't caring about Gormly's account as a SEAL at all, just waiting to be done. But Gormly's memoir slowly grew on me and I am now a huge fan.
One of the reasons I couldn't become as involved is because we don't see too much of how Gormly got into UDT and then the SEALs. He tells us briefly of some of what the training and testing he went through for UDT, but nothing to really show what the process was like, such as Haney's Delta experience in Inside Delta Force, or Marcinko and Pfarrer's accounts of their testing and training for SEALs (Rogue Warrior and Warrior Soul, respectively). In fact, there was absolutely none of the famously tough strength and endurance testing that the SEALs had to go through as Gormly was given a pass on the training and allowed straight in because of his UDT training.
From there Gormly went straight into his Vietnam tours, which, arguably, he performed quite well. But again, his matter of fact way of telling a story (such as something like, we waded in and setup an ambush. We waited around a few hours and when nothing happened we called it a day and went back to base) didn't lend well. We never really quite got the feel for the excitement and rush that would invariably be there when moving into enemy territory to hunt something that could kill you just the same. Where this is a slight drawback to a potentially great story about his experience in Vietnam, it soon became his saving grace as you began to realize that Gormly is not embellishing his story to make for a better read and sell more books. He is stating it as it is and giving a true insight into the daily life of a SEAL in combat. We see more of this when Gormly was the CO of SEAL Team during Urgent Fury (Grenada).
As a side note it is interesting seeing the two sides of a story between Marcinko and Gormly. Marcinko really disliked Gormly, and it wasn't until Gormly discovered Marcinko's political machinations against Gormly did he begin to realize that an old SEAL acquaintance from Vietnam and before was closer to an enemy than a friend. I tend to lend a lot more credit to Gormly's account because he did tell the story as it was, with no embellishing, whereas Marcinko's account was a rip roaring read that was probably embellished quite a bit, although certainly based on truth. Of course Marcinko going to prison doesn't help his story much, so Gormly's account of what really happened rings quite a bit closer to the truth.
All in all I was very happy to have stuck through the slower beginning and come through with a much more balanced and enriching account of Navy SEAL commanding officer. We learn quite a bit about the formation of SEALs after its inception and to what it is today. I wish we would have seen more on the operational missions that the SEALs went through, really only seeing Vietnam and Agent Fury as the major action of the book, but the story is still nonetheless an informative read and one that any SEAL or military forces enthusiasts should considering reading. The only reason this isn't a 5 star is because it is a slow read. A would recommend.
4 stars.
 Excellent Memoir May 10, 2008
laz_254 (miami, fl United States)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
The author receives command orders for Seal Team 6 after Marcinko is convicted for corruption. Gormly has to fix, but not neuter Marcinko's Seal Team 6 brain child and even go to combat with the team. Gormly is honest and straight-forward and does not pull punches-- he tells it like it is from Marcinko's recklessness to taking over a unit that was built on balls-to-the-wall audacity. He has to walk (and run) a straight and narrow line and tells that story very well. Excellent book and well written.
 Three Soldiers' Stories June 13, 2005
Richard Tsuyuki
14 out of 15 found this review helpful
I've never served in the military, but I have great respect for those who follow that kind of life. I also have great interest in history, military strategy and tactics, and behavior in combat situations. I therefore checked out the following special-forces-related books from the library: Rogue Warrior, by Marcinko, Combat Swimmer, by Gormly, and Inside Delta Force, by Haney.
Marcinko's book is a classic testosterone-driven, adolescent Hollywood adventure story. I mean that in a (mostly) good way. The author's focus is on himself, on his grand escapades, and his ability to destroy his enemies, whether at war or in the chain of command. It makes for a fun read, although I never knew how much Marcinko might be inflating his exploits.
Gormly is in many ways the anti-Marcinko. Of course they knew each other, and Gormly goes into some detail about inheriting Marcinko's SEAL team and getting the house back in order. But more than that, Marcinko represents the unihibited ego, breaking all the rules and doing whatever he wants. Gormly is all about responsibility and chain of command. Don't get me wrong; he's not at all boring, but definitely comes off as a stiffer sort of character. I'd rather work for Gormly (more job security; less likely to get killed unexpectedly) but I'd rather have a beer with Marcinko (though too much of that, and you probably increase your chances of getting killed unexpectedly).
Haney strikes somewhat of a balance. He's more individualistic than Gormly, but more disciplined than Marcinko. He's also the best writer of the three, with a good mix of gritty reality and genuine philosophical reflection. That's probably why I liked his book the best. Marcinko's book is a fun ride, like a blockbuster action movie, but in the end didn't leave me with much to think about. After reading Gormly's book, I admired the man a great deal but didn't particularly like him. Haney provides all the adventure but he's clearly more of a thinker than the other two, and I can imagine a long, fascinating evening's conversation over a bottle of scotch.
I suspect that you would find all three types of individuals (and many more) in the military, and you probably need all of them to get the job done. All three memoirs are highly entertaining and quick reads. Which you prefer probably depends to some extent on your own personality.
Why everyone thinks that NAVY SEAL is the best June 8, 2005
Jacob Petion (New York, USA)
2 out of 11 found this review helpful
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How do you know that Seal is the best? What the hell you mean by universally recognized? And beleive me you're not the first person who assumes that navy seal to be the best special operation force. Do you know that 80% of Seals never see combat in their career? The real thing doesn't look anything close like people's perception.
Let's just say that I've been an infantriman for a little while and I'll admit that BUD training is very hard, but from a PURE PHYSICAL ASPECT, Spetsnaz is probably the hardest and the training can last up to five years. In both Iraq and Afghanistan, I've worked with Seals and Special Forces, and trust me, the Rambo aura people have about them is just what it is - an aura. They're highly trained individuals that can undertake very dificult missions that conventional force can't, but they're no supermen.
The British has among the finest and most elite special operations forces in the World, the SAS and SBS. They set the standard for special operations. And don't even start with the Israelis. When it come to low intensity warfare, their troops and special forces are more combat experience dthan anybody in the World.
Within the U.S armed Forces, the most elite special operations goup, Delta Force, is based on the SAS model. Delta has the lowest qualification rate than anybody in the U.S Armed Forces and Delta recruits from all branches of the military, including other special operations.
I think that one of the reasons that people think that navy seal is the best is because of good PR. I mean navy seal is the most popular of all the U.S special operations. More movies and documentaries have been made about navy seal than any other group. When was the last time anybody has seen a documentary about Delta Force Training. Part of your statement is right though. There's really a mystic about Navy Seal, but that doesn't make them the best. Hell, no combat group has been more mystified and romanticied than the French Foreign Legion. It's really a great fighting force, but that doesn't make them the best.
I don't want to take away anything from the frogmen, but people has to stop that better than anybody view they have of the Seal. They're exceptional soldiers with exceptional skills but the world doesn't revolve around them. They excel and fail just like everybody else.
P.S: By the way, this was a great book. I truly enjoy it.
Great Memoir May 29, 2005
scriptmasterj (No Cal)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Bob Gormly wrote a great book on his 30 year experiences as a Navy SEAL. He recounts how he passed the most gruelling toughest training in the world to be a SEAL. His 2 tours of duty in Vietnam are filled with pulse pounding action. He then led the most elite of SEAL's, SEAL team 6, into combat in Grenada. I really liked his discussion of Richard Marcinko the convicted felon who founded six and left it's reputation tarnished. This is a great book for those interested in SEALs or Special Operations Forces. Thanks Bob for this great memoir.
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