America’s most elite commando unit, the US Navy SEAL Team Six pulled off one of the most remarkable covert operations in military history when they infiltrated the secret hideout of Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan in the dead of night and killed the hated terrorist mastermind. Dennis Chalker was an original “plankowner” (founding member) of SEAL Team Six, and in One Perfect Op, he takes readers deep inside the remarkable world of America’s Special Forces operatives. With an introduction by Richard Marcinko of Rogue Warrior fame, One Perfect Op describes, step by breathtaking step, one extraordinary SEALs mission, shedding fascinating new light on the training, the planning, the courage and the skill of these exceptional warriors.
Amazon.com Review
Dennis Chalker says "the greatest challenge offered by the U.S. military [is] to become a Navy SEAL." A former SEAL himself, Chalker tells of his life and times in one of the military's most elite units. Much of One Perfect Op describes the extensive training each SEAL goes through, not only to become a SEAL but to remain one: "Our training had been hard and dangerous for a reason: you train as you fight." And the training certainly was hazardous--Chalker describes how one of his teammates was killed during an exercise. About half the book goes by before Chalker sees his first real combat, during the invasion of Grenada in 1983. His unit was tasked with protecting the island's governor. He also saw action in Panama and on a number of other operations, though he often leaves out the names of places and dates because these remain classified. His career was certainly varied. He was once part of "Red Cell," a special SEAL team whose job was to play the part of terrorists and test the security of naval facilities. At another point, he stormed a hostile beach to help a family escape. His equipment included all the standard SEAL hardware--guns, night-vision goggles, etc.--as well as a baby carrier and pacifier. Richard Marcinko writes the introduction (Chalker served under him), and his fans will easily become Chalker's fans as well. --John Miller
From Publishers Weekly
Command Master Chief Chalker, a former Navy SEAL, tells the story of his personal involvement with one of the U.S.'s most secretive military organizations, formed to counter terrorism and perform operations in hostile territory. Writing with Dockery (Free Fire Zones), Chalker guides the reader through a three-year stint with the army's 82nd Airborne in the early '70s and a college football injury, quickly moving to his navy career, from getting himself into BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition, SEAL) training to hazing rituals and continued training to ensure that each mission can be a "perfect op" pulled off without discovery by the opponent. In the early 1980s, Chalker became a founding member of SEAL Team Six, which played a prominent role, described in riveting detail, in the U.S. invasion of Grenada. Readers who find the following sort of sentence poetic will not be able to put the book down: "If I had to dump the M4 and switch to my secondary weapon, I would be well served by my SIG P226 loaded with a full fifteen-round magazine of hot copper-jacketed serrated 9mm hollowpoints." But the perfect op is one where the SEALs do not have to fire a round, which is clearly Chalker's preference. After serving with Team Six, Chalker volunteered for one of the new Red Cell units, formed to test American bases for security often entering and leaving a facility without being spotted, which a base commander does not want to happen. Those looking for a larger-scale history of this secret branch of the service should turn to Orr Kelly's Brave Men, Dark Waters, but by the time Chalker's 20 years are up, he has indoctrinated quite a few of his own "enswines," and special ops buffs will be satisfied. (Apr. 1)Forecast: Our current operations in Afghanistan will cultivate interest in this title, of course, but Tom Clancy's Shadow Warriors, an overview of special forces due out in February, may steal many of Chalker's potential readers.
Description:
America’s most elite commando unit, the US Navy SEAL Team Six pulled off one of the most remarkable covert operations in military history when they infiltrated the secret hideout of Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan in the dead of night and killed the hated terrorist mastermind. Dennis Chalker was an original “plankowner” (founding member) of SEAL Team Six, and in One Perfect Op, he takes readers deep inside the remarkable world of America’s Special Forces operatives. With an introduction by Richard Marcinko of Rogue Warrior fame, One Perfect Op describes, step by breathtaking step, one extraordinary SEALs mission, shedding fascinating new light on the training, the planning, the courage and the skill of these exceptional warriors.
Amazon.com Review
Dennis Chalker says "the greatest challenge offered by the U.S. military [is] to become a Navy SEAL." A former SEAL himself, Chalker tells of his life and times in one of the military's most elite units. Much of One Perfect Op describes the extensive training each SEAL goes through, not only to become a SEAL but to remain one: "Our training had been hard and dangerous for a reason: you train as you fight." And the training certainly was hazardous--Chalker describes how one of his teammates was killed during an exercise. About half the book goes by before Chalker sees his first real combat, during the invasion of Grenada in 1983. His unit was tasked with protecting the island's governor. He also saw action in Panama and on a number of other operations, though he often leaves out the names of places and dates because these remain classified. His career was certainly varied. He was once part of "Red Cell," a special SEAL team whose job was to play the part of terrorists and test the security of naval facilities. At another point, he stormed a hostile beach to help a family escape. His equipment included all the standard SEAL hardware--guns, night-vision goggles, etc.--as well as a baby carrier and pacifier. Richard Marcinko writes the introduction (Chalker served under him), and his fans will easily become Chalker's fans as well. --John Miller
From Publishers Weekly
Command Master Chief Chalker, a former Navy SEAL, tells the story of his personal involvement with one of the U.S.'s most secretive military organizations, formed to counter terrorism and perform operations in hostile territory. Writing with Dockery (Free Fire Zones), Chalker guides the reader through a three-year stint with the army's 82nd Airborne in the early '70s and a college football injury, quickly moving to his navy career, from getting himself into BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition, SEAL) training to hazing rituals and continued training to ensure that each mission can be a "perfect op" pulled off without discovery by the opponent. In the early 1980s, Chalker became a founding member of SEAL Team Six, which played a prominent role, described in riveting detail, in the U.S. invasion of Grenada. Readers who find the following sort of sentence poetic will not be able to put the book down: "If I had to dump the M4 and switch to my secondary weapon, I would be well served by my SIG P226 loaded with a full fifteen-round magazine of hot copper-jacketed serrated 9mm hollowpoints." But the perfect op is one where the SEALs do not have to fire a round, which is clearly Chalker's preference. After serving with Team Six, Chalker volunteered for one of the new Red Cell units, formed to test American bases for security often entering and leaving a facility without being spotted, which a base commander does not want to happen. Those looking for a larger-scale history of this secret branch of the service should turn to Orr Kelly's Brave Men, Dark Waters, but by the time Chalker's 20 years are up, he has indoctrinated quite a few of his own "enswines," and special ops buffs will be satisfied. (Apr. 1)Forecast: Our current operations in Afghanistan will cultivate interest in this title, of course, but Tom Clancy's Shadow Warriors, an overview of special forces due out in February, may steal many of Chalker's potential readers.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.