The United States Navy SEALs may be the most elite special operations force in the world today. They have a fearsome reputation dating back to the Second World War, but they shun the spotlight, and the public at large knows little of what they do or how they do it. Now, for the first time, their story is told in fascinating detail in a book accessible to all.SEAL is an acronym for sea, air and land. These formidable commandos operate with deadly efficiency in all three elements. During the Vietnam war U. S. Navy SEALs terrorized the Viet Cong and effectively denied whole areas of the country to the communist guerrillas. The story of SEAL operations during Urgent Fury (Grenada), Just Cause (Panama), and Desert Shield/Storm (Persian Gulf) helps illustrate the evolution of the organization and its formidable strengths - as well as its limitations.Because of the SEALs' changing role, the author has organized the book around the question, "Who are we?" This has come to be the most urgently debated concern among these superbly trained and dedicated warriors. Will they continue to operate clandestinely in small units, or will they evolve into a super-charged but otherwise conventional assault force? Tragic events in Panama and the changing face of war in the post-Soviet world make this a vitally important matter.What little publicity the SEALs have had has come from scandal: abuses by individual SEALs, and the celebrated Marcinko (Rogue Warrior) case. Here the author is not content with sensationalistic reporting but goes behind the headlines to come up with the real story. He finds that although Commander Marcinko was convicted of felony charges and served time in prison, his role in the SEALs continues to be hotly debated to this day. He remains highly regarded by many in the organization.No more complete, in-depth work has ever been written on this fabled military elite. The story of the SEALs is exciting and provides a unique insight into the shadowy world of special operations. Read Less