U.S. Navy SEALs in San Diego

MWSA Review

A picture is certainly worth a thousand words in author Michael P. Wood’s book “U.S. Navy SEALs in San Diego”.; Over 200 archival photos supported by text take the reader on a fascinating historical tour of the UDT Frogmen teams from World War II up to their present day SEAL progeny. And what an extraordinary history that has been.

Equipment and technology have obviously improved and changed over the decades but the mission of training SEALs has remained the same. As Wood, a retired SEAL, writes, it’s all about transforming “healthy but unsure ‘tadpoles’ into self-assured, fully web-footed Frogmen capable of attaining feats others would deem unattainable.”; It’s not called Hell Week for nothing. The skills learned during that training proves out in the missions they have successfully accomplished since the 1940’s.

This is a captivating book and should be read first to compliment, better understand and fully appreciate the many books currently written by and about Navy SEALs.

Reviewed by: Gail Chatfield (2014)

Author's Summary

The U.S. Navy SEAL s of San Diego County trace their origins to the Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT) of World War II and the Korean War. Following these wars, the Frogmen, as they became known, were located first at the Amphibious Training Base in Oceanside, California, and then relocated to the Amphibious Training Base in Coronado, California, later renamed as U.S. Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) Coronado. In 1962, Pres. John F. Kennedy initiated the formation of Sea Air and Land (SEAL ) Teams, and SEAL Team One was also assigned to NAB Coronado. This history follows the UDT and SEAL team’s role through the Vietnam and the Gulf Wars as well as many other exploits, including interaction with the communities in which they live.