I’m about half finished with the Kindle edition. Fascinating read. I had a tough time putting it down last night. I read until 4AM it was so good. This is a must read for anyone interested in modern day Special Ops. This books covers the author’s entire military career and touches on missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also was part of the mission that rescued the boat captain from Somalia pirates.
Anyone else reading this book? Let’s discuss and review.
The author says in the preface that there was a team of editors and lawyers that went through the book and made sure no secrets were revealed. He only used made up first names for the Seals. I know from reading this book that he’s deliberately vague on weapons and technology that they use. He says some mission details are missing or changed for secrecy.
Books about Special Ops go back to the Vietnam war. There’s an entire collection of books on Special Ops weapons and tactics that reveals more technical details than No Easy Day. I’m really baffled why the Pentagon and Washington Administration have their panties in a wad over this book.
Daily Beast gives the most balanced perspective I’ve seen.
I finished it today. I liked it, but it felt a bit perfunctory. without any backstory on his personal life, really, other than that his parents were missionaries in Alaska…although just that, apparently, was enough to reveal his actual identity very quickly. At least we didn’t have to read through yet another account of how tough BUD/S is…yes, after a dozen books, we all get it: BUD/S is very fucking tough.
I got the same impression. The man’s story could have been fleshed out more. A 12 year career in the country’s most elite Special Ops team deserved more detail. I wondered how quickly this book was written.
It’s still an excellent read for the average reader that is curious about Special Ops and the Osama bin Laden kill. It’s a really fast and entertaining story.
I was disgusted by the media that choose to reveal the Seal’s real name. 60 Minutes disguised his appearance for their interview. Security for his family is a big concern.
If a “team of editors and lawyers” went through the book to make sure no classified material was leaked then he revealed classified material to at least the team of editors and lawyers.
The Navy was given a copy of the book just prior to publication. They say classified material is in the book.
I have signed a non disclosure agreement like the one the author did. Its pretty ironclad. The author is arguing that his lawyers said that the agreement encourages submitting a copy for approval but doesn’t require it. IMHO I disagree.
If the Pentagon pushes it he could be in a lot of trouble.
The SEALs pride themselves on being quiet professionals. The guy at the bar (or hell on TV) claiming to be Special Ops probably isn’t. He broke the code. And is profitting on the blood of his brothers (author claims that “most” of the proceeds with go to charity). I suppose Chris Kyle also broke the code but he did it the right way and submitted his book for review.
The SEALs don’t like being used as a political football. Whether or not the author intended it the issue is being used for political purposes. The timing of the book makes that worse.
I commend Bissonnette on his service but I will not pay for his book.
BTW how do you think the name got out so fast? Not because reporters are so good at their jobs.
Nice summary, Loach. I’m curious about the book and story too. It hits at the absolute core of ‘guy stuff’, but I’m not sure I’d feel right about putting any money whatsoever in this fella’s pocket.
I guess this has changed since I was in the military (late 80s, early 90s), because back then SEALs (especially newly minted ones fresh out of BUD/S) were well known for being a bit loud, obnoxious and boastful.
I read those links and I am not sure where in there it said how his name got out so fast. Could you clarify?
SEALs in their own bars and in their own groups are like that. Outside of the community not so much. The SEAL Team on the raid is reported to have had a rowdy celebration in Virginia Beach afterwards. But they didn’t choose a random bar.
Those links were not specifically for that sentence. Just more of an overview of the issue. I have seen no outrage from the SEAL or Special Ops community about his name being revealed. It has been implied that the name came from inside the community. The speed in which it came out, the lack of care about revealing the name and the ostracism of the author by the community leads me to believe the name was revealed by those within the SEALs. Its not an idea I made up I’ve seen speculation. I have no idea if there will ever be any proof.
Is there any evidence that OBL was actually directing anything, at the time of his death? Is suspect that he had slipped to being a low level type leader-sorta like an aging Mafia don who is given a ceremonial post. The fact that OBL was communicating via hand delivered thumb drives leads me to suspect that he was no longer in a command position.
So, was taking him out all that important? We need access to a lot of documents to answer that question.
I’m just going from the news reports, so obviously it’s incomplete and somewhat sensationalized, but … I recall the media making a hoopla about how the book’s description of OBL’s death contradicted the “official” version. Specifically, how the book says bin Laden was shot peeking around a doorway, and not standing in the middle of the room with a weapon in his hand. In addition, apparently one of the mission participants had to sit on bin Laden’s body in the helicopter, as they were short of room after losing one helicopter to a crash as the mission started.
Now, I don’t care one way or another. Good work by the Seal team all around, job well done, you do whatever it takes. But the stories in the news media were implying that the “official” story must have been cooked up to make the Seals look more heroic (like that’s necessary! Come on!), not to mention the treatment of bin Laden’s body being less than respectful (again, you’re short a helicopter, you kinda have to make do with what you got). But my question is … how do we know these details aren’t the ones the author changed?
Perhaps that’s addressed in the book. Again, I’m just going by what I’ve heard in the media coverage. Can they really assert any of the details outlined in the book as absolutely true, given the caveat the author states?
Still within the family. I’ve dealt much more with Green Berets. They are a pretty unassuming bunch. Comes from being in a small unit with strong discipline with no need for overt signs of discipline. They are pretty laid back.
A search on Amazon for Special Ops or Sniper lists a bunch of books. Some fiction and others claiming to be non fiction. I always approach the non fiction ones with some skepticism. Did the author really have the military career and experiences that he claims? How much was altered by DOD reviews? How much did the author change for secrecy?
No Easy Day is pretty light on technical information. I think that’s because the author didn’t submit it for DOD review first. They weren’t taking any chances of having this book yanked from the shelves. Media stories about this book came out several weeks before publication. DOD could act if there were any major security violations.
I wish the author had spent more time on the book. Got the DOD review and published after the election. But, we do have the 1st Amendment in the U.S. and he should tell his story if he wants.
I may buy this book next. Looks interesting and I think its been DOD cleared.
I’ve had the same experience. Almost every Special Forces guy I’ve ever worked with or even met has pretty much embodied the term “quiet professional.” (With the exception of one LTC who shall remain nameless but was stationed in Central America in the 80s, who more embodied the term “self-involved asshole.”)
Very even-keeled, level-headed guys, who thought with their big head and were very difficult to piss off.