Overview

In the summer of 1942, an extraordinary group of men united to form an exceptional unit. Known as the Maritime Unit, it comprised America's first swimmer-commandos- an elite breed of warrior-spies who were decades ahead of their time when they created the tactics, technology, and philosophy that live on in today's Navy SEALs. Often armed only with knives and wearing nothing more than swim trunks and flippers, the Maritime Unit's combat swimmers and other operatives carried out seaborne clandestine missions in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Mediterranean theatres of World War II. In First SEALs , Patrick K. O'Donnell unearths their incredible history- one of the greatest untold stories of World War II.FirstSEALsBook.com

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9780306824142

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Praise for Patrick K. O'Donnell and First SEALs A great American writer --Clive Cussler, New York Times bestselling author Well researched and very well told, First SEALs is a rousing tale of wartime derring-do that puts the Navy's current special warfare units in firm historical perspective--an absolute must-read. --Stephen Harding, bestselling author of The Last Battle Patrick O'Donnell is already one of America's foremost combat historians. This fascinating book now places him in the front rank of special operations historians. Based on many years of painstaking archival research and hundreds of interviews, First SEALs takes us deep into World War II naval special warfare, both European and Pacific. Beautifully written, original, and compelling from first page to last. I highly recommend this book. --John C. McManus, author of The Dead and Those About to Die A fantastic story of the first SEALs--brilliantly told! A must read. --Alex Kershaw, bestselling author of The Liberator One of our finest military historians, Patrick O'Donnell has crafted a terrific, unforgettable narrative of the forerunners of today's amazing Navy SEALs--that puts the reader right in the watery battlefield with them. --Flint Whitlock, Editor, WWII Quarterly magazine Portland Book Review, 3/5/15 Those having interest in World War II history will love the result of [O'Donnell's] research...The writing in this book is very good, very readable.

Praise for Patrick K. O'Donnell and First SEALs A great American writer --Clive Cussler, New York Times bestselling author Well researched and very well told, First SEALs is a rousing tale of wartime derring-do that puts the Navy's current special warfare units in firm historical perspective--an absolute must-read. --Stephen Harding, bestselling author of The Last Battle Patrick O'Donnell is already one of America's foremost combat historians. This fascinating book now places him in the front rank of special operations historians. Based on many years of painstaking archival research and hundreds of interviews, First SEALs takes us deep into World War II naval special warfare, both European and Pacific. Beautifully written, original, and compelling from first page to last. I highly recommend this book. --John C. McManus, author of The Dead and Those About to Die A fantastic story of the first SEALs--brilliantly told! A must read. --Alex Kershaw, bestselling author of The Liberator One of our finest military historians, Patrick O'Donnell has crafted a terrific, unforgettable narrative of the forerunners of today's amazing Navy SEALs--that puts the reader right in the watery battlefield with them. --Flint Whitlock, Editor, WWII Quarterly magazine Portland Book Review, 3/5/15 Those having interest in World War II history will love the result of [O'Donnell's] research...The writing in this book is very good, very readable.

Praise for Patrick K. O'Donnell and First SEALs A great American writer --Clive Cussler, New York Times bestselling author Well researched and very well told, First SEALs is a rousing tale of wartime derring-do that puts the Navy's current special warfare units in firm historical perspective--an absolute must-read. --Stephen Harding, bestselling author of The Last Battle Patrick O'Donnell is already one of America's foremost combat historians. This fascinating book now places him in the front rank of special operations historians. Based on many years of painstaking archival research and hundreds of interviews, First SEALs takes us deep into World War II naval special warfare, both European and Pacific. Beautifully written, original, and compelling from first page to last. I highly recommend this book. --John C. McManus, author of The Dead and Those About to Die A fantastic story of the first SEALs--brilliantly told! A must read. --Alex Kershaw, bestselling author of The Liberator One of our finest military historians, Patrick O'Donnell has crafted a terrific, unforgettable narrative of the forerunners of today's amazing Navy SEALs--that puts the reader right in the watery battlefield with them. --Flint Whitlock, Editor, WWII Quarterly magazine Portland Book Review, 3/5/15 Those having interest in World War II history will love the result of [O'Donnell's] research...The writing in this book is very good, very readable. Proceedings, June 2015 O'Donnell sets the scene for today's SEALs and provides the reader with the history of the inception of Navy special operations. Seapower, June 2015 Much of the history of the MU was buried in classified archives until unearthed by the author. Military Heritage, July 2015 Extensive research and interviews have now brought this story back to light. The author is an established authority on special operations forces and his new book sheds light on the origin of the SEALs.

Author Information

Bestselling author Patrick K. O'Donnell is a combat historian who has written nine books, including the William E. Colby Award winner Beyond Valor, Dog Company, and We Were One (selected for the Marine Commandant's Professional Reading List). The author is the recipient of numerous awards include the prestigious OSS Society's John Waller Award. Visit him at patrickkodonnell.com and Facebook.com/patrickkodonnell.

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