EYES ON TARGET

EYES ON TARGET                    SCOTT MC EWEN & RICHARD MINITER
Posted:  April 10, 2014

  Told through the eyes of current and former Navy SEALs, EYES ON TARGET is an inside account of some of the most harrowing missions in American history-including the mission to kill Osama bin Laden and the mission that wasn't, the deadly attack on the US diplomatic outpost in Benghazi where a retired SEAL sniper with a small team held off one hundred terrorists while his repeated radio calls for help went unheeded. 
The book contains incredible accounts of major SEAL operations-from the violent birth of SEAL Team Six and the aborted Operation Eagle Claw meant to save the hostages in Iran, to key missions in Iraq and Afganistan where the SEALs suffered their worst losses in their fifty year history-and every chapter illustrates why this elite military special operations unit remains the most feared anti-terrorist force in the world.
We hear reports on the record from retired SEAL officers including Lt. Cmdr. Richard Marcinko, the founder of SEAL Team Six, and a former Commander at SEAL team Six, Ryan Zinke, and we come away understanding the deep commitment of these military men who put themselves in danger to protect our country and save American lives. In the face of insurmountable odds and the imminent threat of death, they give all to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
No matter the situation, on duty or at ease, SEALs never, ever give up. One powerful chapter in the book tells the story of how one Medal of Honor winner saved another, the only time this has been done in US military history. 
EYES ON TARGET includes these special features: 
A detailed timeline of events during the Benghazi attack Sample rescue scenarios from a military expert who believes that help could have reached the Benghazi compound in time The US House Republican Conference Interim Progress Report on the events surrounding the September 11, 2012 Terrorist Attacks in Benghazi Through their many interviews and unique access, Scott McEwen and Richard Miniter pull back the veil that has so often concealed the heroism of these patriots. They live by a stringent and demanding code of their own creation, keeping them ready to ignore politics, bureaucracy and-if necessary-direct orders. They share a unique combination of character, intelligence, courage, love of country and what can only be called true grit.
They are the Navy SEALs, and they keep their Eyes on Target.

HUBBY'S REVIEW:

This is more than a military book. I described this book as part history of the Navy Seals and part failure of our government to protect men they send to foreign countries, more later. The first part of this book goes into some of the history of the Navy Seals, UDT, and Frogmen. The last two were what I had heard stories about. Growing up with a father who served in WWII and then growing up in a military town I would hear stories of these men who would actually had been on the beach before the soldiers or dealing with mines in the harbors. These stories were always exciting but as I got older none of it sounded exiting, who would do those things as a volunteer? Well my father would say I jumped out of planes, they needed other men for other things. Everyone has a job they are good at. This book goes into some of the history and the men that has made the Navy Seals who they are. Starting from when President Kennedy signed the order through Vietnam and then the down time now war. The botch rescue mission in Iran that lead to the formation of seal team six. This was done by Lt. Commander Richard Marcinko. Not too many books written about the Seals actually talk about his contribution and I am glad that the authors gave him some credit for he was important to the formation of Seal team six and some of the first missions they did were just to test the security of Naval Bases. They would find a spot along the fence line for example covered by brush and find a hole in the fence and walk in. after taking over the base they would show the Commander the problem so it could be fix. He would do the same by taking over ships as well. Of course this pissed off the higher ups but it served a purpose. When they got out of control he was gone and a new man replaced him described in the book. Again it was time for growth in the Seals and it is explained and how it was carried out. Some of the men did not like it so they retired others stayed for a short period then left. A very honest out come when you change something that men are used to doing for any length of time. He talks about operation Red Wings, people now know it as” The Lone Survivor.” The part that he really goes into is the Benghazi attack. He gives a time line from when Stevens enters the country up to the attack. He arrives April 5 2011, and the attack happens Sep 12, 2012. That’s right it is an anniversary and by this date the British have already left, (June 17, 2012). The Tunisian consulate was stormed and burned visas were no longer approved for U.S. and back on Jan 12, 2012, Azza Ali Orfi was beaten as she left the hotel she was stating at. She was pro-democracy and pro- American. There were many other signs but nothing happened. Just like that night when 4 men put out a call saying the Embassy was under attack. Former Navy Seal Tyrone Woods, (served 20 yrs. Bronze star V) was at a CIA global response team site not too far away when the call came in. his supervisor knowing he was going even if he told him no told to put a team together. When they arrived they went in shooting, is made up of former Seals, and Special Forces, shots were few but effective but it an intense battle. They made it to the building getting three men but not Stevens. Going back to their compound they were going in hot. Woods went to the roof and started firing from there. Meanwhile in a different location Glen Doherty, was bribing a man for his plane and flew into Libya. Doherty is also a former Seal, sniper, (he also co-authored Navy Seal Sniper, with Brandon Webb.) He gets to the location asks for Woods goes to the roof after a few minutes Woods is killed by a mortar round and by his training Doherty reaches for the rifle and after a short is also killed by a mortar round. It would be a few days before the body of Stevens is retrieved and then the news of the attack. The funerals for these to brave men were attended by Navy men, Admirals, enlisted Navy Seals, took their tridents and pounded them into the top of the casket with their fist a tradition. These men had fought for eight hours not knowing if help was coming or not. The answer was not. They were warriors in every definition of the word. The author gives scenarios based on military assets that we have already in place around Benghazi. They range from a simple close fly by F-16CG, to drones. There are more but too many to discuss. The last part of the book is a total failure and a lack of disregard for human life. This was a very good book. I got this book from net galley.