Warrior Soul: The Memoir of a Navy Seal by Chuck Pfarrer
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Book Reviews of Warrior Soul: The Memoir of a Navy Seal
Book Review: Great story.... not what I expected
Summary: 5 Stars
I picked up this book because I wanted to learn a little about the Navy SEAL program, and specifically to learn about some of their operations and operational methods. It was easy to become immersed in Chuck's personal account, his writing style, and his descriptions of his experiences as a Navy SEAL. I think I was surprised how "personal" this account was, bringing in aspects of his relationships, behaviors, and feelings. There was plenty of action to keep me turning the pages, yet for obvious security reasons, he had to be somewhat vague about many aspects of operations and methods. This left me feeling hungry, wanting more, and yet I think the story was complete, well-told, and not at all overly "technical," which would not have added anything to the telling. I'll give you an example. He talks about his time spent in Honduras, training the Contra insurgents, but is fairly vague about the training programs, methods, results, etc. While I am still mildly curious about these things, I don't think he could add much more detail without bogging the reader down in too much minutiae. So I am endorsing his editorial choices to leave the reader a little hungry and wanting more. And as I said, the personal aspects were surprisingly candid and add a humanness to the story that I was not expecting. Chuck, thanks for you service and the sacrifices you have made for our country, and thanks for sharing your personal story with the rest of us.Book Review: High Adventure, Great Courage
Summary: 5 Stars
I won't repeat what other reviewers have said, except this is a very good book. It's as good as Chickenhawk by Robert Mason, or With the Old Breed, or In the Company of Heroes, by Michael Durant. One theme that seems to recur in all these books is that stupid decisions by politicians and REMF's put these warriors into unnecessary danger for reasons that have little or nothing to do with protecting the US. With Michael Durant, it was a misguided mission to Mogadishu, and some genius sending the Nightstalkers on a raid in the middle of the city in broad daylight, and denying them armor and AC-130's. With Warrior Seal, it's sending the Marines and Seals into Beirut with absurd rules of engagement - they couldn't even shoot thugs setting up mortars or artillery unless they were fired on first. The Seals are supposed to be mobile, but somehow they ended up in trenches like WWI in Beirut.
The author shows how even during "peacetime" the Seals are risking their lives every day. The chapter where he infiltrates into a lagoon in Honduras to scout out a landing zone for the Marines is worth the price of the book. If the giant waves don't kill him and his crew there's a Nicaraguan patrol boat waiting for them. The book reads like a really good suspense novel.
Book Review: This is an awesome book!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an awesome book! Very reader friendly. I finished it a month ago, and it still has me in it's grasp. This is way above the average 'ex-military guy writes his book' novel. I strongly believe this is because Mr. Pfarrer was an acomplished screenwriter before he ever wrote his novel. He was able to tell his story the way he wanted to and not how a ghostwriter thought he should. Mr. Pfarrer writes with candor about what he went through to become a SEAL. He speaks about what his team did to survive in Beruit. He tells about the WAR waged against 'peacekeepers' for six very long months before the Marine barricks were bombed. He is honest about his role in the covert war in Central America during the 1980's. The book is focused on his team's achievments not on how great he was as an individual. I very much appreciated his honesty about how he treated the women in his life during these years. It is not often a man is this honest about his faults. I also liked that he kept the technical guy stuff about weapons to a minium, this made the book much more readable for me.Book Review: A SEAL's soul put in words everyone should read !
Summary: 5 Stars
As a retired Vietnam era Navy fighter pilot I can say without any hesitation, Mr. Pfarrer captures the very essence of ALL Warriors in a superbly written book__from start to finish. He accomplishes the near impossible, and that is to capture the honest and gritty essence of nearly everything a SEAL goes through__from selection into the SEAL program, and then progressing through an eight year career as a Navy Seal operator. The author's superb writing skill shines as he conveys the always hazardous life as a highly respected SEAL team leader. He more than accomplishes the exceptionally difficult task of explaining something that most will never have the opportunity to experience, or even understand__and that is a very rare and well written glimpse into a true Warrior's soul. Highly recommended !
Gerard "Dog" Pearson, Captain, USN (retired)
Book Review: Forrest Gump's younger brother?
Summary: 5 Stars
Seriously, this was an AWESOME BOOK. Reading the stories I was amazed at what kind of sh.. Mr. Pfarrer got himself into. From BUD/S to Beirut to Banana Republics to Cancer.. he's been at the front row of many key world events, as well as personal ones. (And I'm sure there's a few more that haven't been reported)
The book was very compelling. And he did a great job writing. I really had a tough time putting it down. I always wanted to read "just one more story".
I also enjoyed how it didn't glamorize, but also wasn't falsely modest. Chuck seems like a solid human being--and certainly went above and beyond in his service and in life. And he shares much of his experiences through the book.
Anyhow, thank you Mr. Pfarrer!
ps: and remember, it's "air-BORNE!!"