Uyless Black’s A Swimmer’s Odyssey: From the Plains to the Pacific, a motivational book, takes the reader on the author’s life journey filled with adventure, adversity, and achievement. His belief that putting in the time with effortful study of details and sustained motivated practice would give him access to the career he so passionately sought: Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) frogman.
Black's swimming odyssey started in an improbable location, the semi-arid high plains of southeastern New Mexico. He describes how he taught himself to swim in ponds scattered around his father's ranch.
His passion led him to the waters of the Pacific Ocean where he describes his experience in the Vietnam conflict, including the Tonkin Gulf incident, Marine raids, and the historic Danang beach landings. Black's struggle after an injury while in UDT training forced him to redirect his career path. His understanding of the physical and psychological requirements for achievement and his struggles along the way give insight into overcoming adversity.
