America's First Frogman: The Draper Kauffman Story

The cliche is that they were The Greatest Generation. Of course that is absurd ("Hey General Washington, tell your men while they tromp through the rain barefoot that someone else is the greatest generation"). They were however a great generation. Despite the brutality of the time it was also a time of heros, whether mundane heroes like the grousing GI, or colorful heros who seemed to have an extra style with which they waged war. Draper Kauffman was among the later.In many ways he was ordinary. He was a naval brat with a loving family. The Kauffman's in the description reminded me of Herman Wouk's formidable Henrys. Despite Draper's independent streak he was always part of them and they part of him. He lived in a time when ordinary people did extraordinary things. But he was also extraordinary. He waged war with his mind as well as his muscle, whether as a bomb disposal tech, or a UDT man. He trained the men that would clear the way in some of the most important operations and participated in several. The biography reads like a novel and is a splendid read. It gives enough of the technical details without being dry as well.Draper was indeed the real MacGyver. Few were as clever as he about the way they went about war. In a way he was an archetype of a generation of fighting men who delighted in their ingenuity and ability to rig gadgets. It can be weird the nostalgia one gets from reading books like this. Everyone knows it was a horrible time. But Draper was a man of an age, the age of Herman Wouk, and Casablanca, and Vera Lynn, and the biography is written in that style. The book does not give the whole truth of the life Draper lived. But in the end, who the heck cares?

I have recently been reading up on WWII and Vietnam Stories that have been written as close to the historical truth as possible. The Draper Kauffman story is a well written and a well timed story for me in my searches for the underlying truth as told by the men who were there as it happened.Getting to know who and how the Frogmen went from there to the Navy Seals is like finding a candle and then lighting it as you follow it from WWII to the present.It was a good read, and one that helped me see the natural order of events from tadpole to shark.

A wonderful story of a man's life in the United States Navy during WorldWar II. When men of courage and strength were needed, they stepped forward. Draper Kauffman knew the task before them and trained them to meet every possible hardship the seas and the enemy could throw at them. I doubt he would wanted to be called a hero, but I do think he would want those who served with him and died during those war years to be called hero's! Exceptionally well written by a loving sister, and a story Hollywood should tell, as written. Many thanks go to Elizabeth Kauffman Bush

I found the book very good from a historical point. The author is ill informed on Sec. McNamara and the Vietnam war. McNamara knew we were not winning because of running the war from Washington. Yet he continued and got more young men killed.

We have three sons, all of whom have decided to serve their country, and Draper Kauffman is one of their heroes. What an exciting story! And it's more engaging because it's told by his sister, who has the unique insight to blend his military experiences with his family life. It's a well-rounded account of a man who served our country with honor and distinction.The title is unfortunate, because younger people have no idea what a "frogman" is. It would have been better to refer to the Navy Seals.

I am a retired US Navy EOD diver who performed mine clearance missions during Operation Earnest Will in 1988 and many underwater demolition missions clearing debris and underwater hazards left over from World War 2 in the '70s, '80s and '90s. Admiral Kauffman is revered as the forefather of all US Navy frogmen. This book is well written, well sourced and extremely enjoyabley.

I was very happy to find this book ....I am a NAVY SEAL "groupie" andthis completes the questions of all the first man to become ELITE in theirthinking and actions.........WHO-YA

A great read and good way to gain insight into the evolution of today's Navy SEAL.