MT Coffinz

I’ve read “The Operator”, “American Sniper”, “Lone Survivor”, etc. I even read “American Wife”. Then, I saw this one on the book shelf. I keep an open mind- there are two sides to every pancake, after all. But…. After DNF’ing it 80% through, I was still going to give it two stars (you know, for the effort and research). Then again, there is no “A for Effort” when it comes to this hit piece. And that’s what it is, essentially. A strip down and discrediting of decades of heroism due to a few questionable, graphic claims about misconduct and profiteering. Not sure what ST6 (or Special Ops, for that matter) ever did to Mr. Cole, but they better say sorry and give him a cookie or something. Has every member of our military been innocent and upstanding? No. Do I agree with every armed conflict, both public and private, our military has engaged in? No. But will I say our Armed Forces are corrupt? Hard No. I don’t believe I’m being dramatic when I say that, because Mr. Cole has essentially demonized an entire unit based on rumors, secondhand accounts, theories, and questions. I have never been to war, and thanks to the brave men and women who served, continue to serve, and will serve, I have never been drafted. I will not forget that. I have never taken a human life. I am not trained to do so. I did not take that oath. These men did. And some went on to tell their tale and inspire future generations of warriors. As far as whether that was against SEAL code or not? That’s between those men and their brotherhood. I’m simply not involved. But for a man who never completed BUDS to indict warriors, past and present, based on what he’s been told by others? Doesn’t sit right with me. Maybe Mr. Cole would have more credibility if he were on one of those birds headed to Pakistan to take out UBL? But he wasn’t there. Still slings the mud though. I am in no position to judge the horrors of war and all the wrong every battlefield has witnessed. I wasn’t there either. So, when it comes to PTSD and how daily brutality changes the psychology of a man exposed to battle for months at a time, I am not as educated as I could be. I’m sorry, but this book came across as a repetitive, rather boring narrative of a tattle-tail. Also, who knew that SEALs like to drink and things got out of hand a few times? Wow…good thing that doesn’t happen in bars and pubs across the world. This book is a collection of carefully selected string of questionable wrongdoings by a few select individuals…and ST6 (and other units) in Cole’s crosshairs as a result. Maybe I should have kept this review to myself, but the same could be said about Mr. Cole and his biased opinions inside this book. He did accomplish taking my money though. How about that “profiteering off the SEAL brand”, eh?