Fact Checking Me

So. Like I said. Don’t believe the hype. I want to put some corrections out for the article about me in SUCCESS Magazine. The author, Michael J. Mooney, was a really nice, humble guy, and a great writer. I appreciate his article, but there were some things that were a little off or came across wrong, probably because of the way I said them or failed to say them. Here are some corrections and explanations…

1. I’m not 235 pounds of hulking muscle. I’m a “well-marbled” 225-235 pounds.

2. I have only crushed a two toys in my time. They deserved to get crushed when my kids were young and needed to learn the hard way. And when I said “I don’t pick up toys, I crush them,” I was just joking. 

3. I very rarely lift more than once a day. However, I do regularly lift, do jiu-jitsu, and surf in the same day. 

4. The window in my garage gym doesn’t open. So no "cool air" can leak in. 

5. I actually remember a lot from my childhood. Lots of good, fun, normal stuff: school, sports, family, friends, teachers, coaches. All good stuff. My mom and dad were both school teachers: English and History (big surprise, right?). My mom taught me English. My dad taught me not to quit. Ever. There were a bunch of supportive and friendly people from my small town that helped me a bunch. But I was rebellious and found trouble. So it goes...

6. Again, a big deal is made out of me tapping out SEALs in the 90’s. It was only because I knew jiu-jitsu and they didn’t. Trust me, I’m no special athlete/fighter. At all. 

7. In Ramadi, while I was “the leader” of TU-Bruiser, the guys in the Task Unit were the ones that did the work. They were outstanding and deserve the credit for what TU-Bruiser did. Furthermore, what TU-Bruiser did in relation to what the men of the 2-28 BCT and 1/1 AD was just a fraction of the overall effort. We viewed the Soldiers and Marines we served along side with pure respect and admiration. And let us never forget that the real heroes were those men and women that did not come home. 

 8. TU-Bruiser didn’t “eschew” standard-issue footwear and helmets. We wore standard issue helmets. The guys wore proper uniforms. We didn’t want to stand out. The punisher skull was a real thing, but it was on body armor under gear and not some big affront to the uniformity of the other units in the area.

9. “The units under my command,” were SEAL Team Three Charlie and Delta Platoons and together they accounted for just over 200 enemy killed, not “500 confirmed kills.” There were also additional probable kills, but it is hard to quantify that number, and no real reason to. 

10. I loved being in combat, and serving with such outstanding men. But I didn’t love death. 

 11. The JOCKO PODCAST is not one of the top ten most downloaded on iTunes. It usually ranks around the top ten of the business section. Usually in the top 100 of all podcasts. 

12. The only “Former Navy SEAL Officers” at the Muster (as of right now) are Leif and me. JP and Dave Berke will also be there. Looks like we might also have one Canadian Sniper (Jody??). 

13. I’m not “trying to ride the wave.” I’m just doing what I do. 

14. My sense of humor is not “dark and dry.” It’s a mix of Jack Black, Jim Carrey, Garrison Keillor, the Coen brothers, and the Three Stooges. 

15. I was yelling at the light. But I was yelling because they asked me to. It’s a professional photographer asking me to do something. I did it. I wasn’t yelling because I have some pent-up anger issues. I don’t actually get angry. I can’t remember the last time I actually yelled at a person (I do yell at printers and copy machines). The photographer’s assistant probably stepped back to avoid catching some spit in the face.

16. I actually have done so many interviews it is ridiculous. Cormac McCarthy "rarely gives interviews." 

17. When rolling with Echo Charles, we were just cruising for the cameras. He was letting me tap him. I do catch him, but it isn’t easy. Also, I didn’t “nearly separate Charle’s shoulder.” I haven’t ever hurt anyone with a submission in jiu-jitsu. I train hard, but always controlled. 

18. It takes time to write because I try to only write an hour a day. More than that and I don't enjoy it. 

 19. The beginning of Heaney’s Beowulf is awesome. And it's HeAney, not Haney. 

 20. Blood Meridian isn’t part of me. Yet. 

21. I do have some bad dreams. I sweat a lot sometimes from them. But I don’t mind them. And I'm not complaining about them.

22. Psychological Warfare did not end up making Billboard. (Dang!)

23. Yes: mint chocolate chip milkshakes, chocolate chip cookies, and pretzel-wrapped hot-dogs are all awesome. 

24. I'm more normal than I seem from a distance. I think, anyway. So does my wife.

Sorry for the long list.

And thanks everyone for everything,

Jocko