U.S.Navy Seawolves: The Elite HAL-3 Helicopter Squadron in Vietnam Review

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(More customer reviews)First I wish to congratulate the author for a pleasant and fast read.
Joe, you sir should have remained silent and kept us wondering about your obvious lack of historical knowledge. Instead you choose to make ridiculous statements and remove all doubt ........
First, US Navy Seawolves is written not about Mr. Kelly or his missions, it's about how and why the Seawolves were created and how they did there jobs. If you had read the Dan's first book you would know this.
You state the stories are not first hand accounts. From what area of your all knowing Seawolf and SEAL history is this statement based? Yes they are first hand accounts from the people that WERE THERE! Did you bother to read the preface?
You again state your expertise on Vietnam era weaponry. Which nomenclature is incorrect and what are you so sure about? Joe you obviously don't know anything about the SEALs or Seawolves.
"Myopic glamorization of death.....were you there? What part about WAR and reality don't you like? I think Mr. Kelly did a great job in conveying the circumstances and situations without excessive gory details. As to your concern of historical presentation of facts, I can assure you the accounts describes are true and confirmed by SEAL Team One personnel, Capt. Spencer, and the other people mentioned in the forward. If you had read it you would know this.
Regarding the rocket window account. It is stated as an accident in the book. Did you really READ the entire book?
Lt. John Luscher provides the first hand accounts of the actions in question during the Tet offensive. If you have issue with his history, call him and ask!
You state "As is the fact that the helicopters could fly 120 MPH three feet off the ground through the streets of Saigon and take corners at full speed. Sorry, but that all seems like quite a stretch." Well Joe, I WAS THERE and would be willing to offer you ride to see just what a UH1-B can't do.
As I stated above, I was there and give the author high marks for being as accurate and clear as possible. This book provides a third person view of what really happened to a group of brave soles that few have heard of and history for the most part chooses to forget.
If and when I get the opportunity to meet the author, I plan to shake his hand for those of us that never came home protecting people like you "Joe."


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There were no dry runs for Seawolves in Vietnam. They put their lives on the line—every time.In the Viet Cong-infested Mekong Delta, where small SEAL teams were always outgunned and outnumbered, discovery brought swift, deadly consequences— and a radio call for backup from the United States Navy's very best: the Seawolves. The whir of approaching rotor blades signaled their arrival as they tore through the jungle at treetop level, gunners hanging off the skids, shooting M-60s, raining down their lethal mix of high explosives and incendiary death.Seawolf Dan Kelly describes the origins of this extraordinary outfit. Put through a training program unlike any other, these men emerged to perform unparalleled feats of courage. The stories of these elite warriors capture America's real heroes in all their guts and glory, and demonstrate why the Seawolves are known as the most successful and most decorated unit in the Vietnam War.

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Shadow Warriors: Inside The Special Forces (Commander Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)Having spent a chunk of my 12-year military career in and around Special Ops, I looked forward to reading this book. And as a continual student of unconventional warfare, I was expecting the book to be a detailed history of Special Forces, peppered with stories and detail from Stiner, someone who had obviously "been there, done that". It is not.
The subtitle of the book is "Inside the Special Forces", and it is very misleading. Early in the book, some of the history of the Jedburghs and the OSS is given, but the book soon turns into a memoir for Stiner, with Clancy giving a few explanations here and there, and basically heaping his stamp of approval and admiration on the material written by Stiner.
That's pretty much about all there is to the book. As far as the material goes, Stiner was on the inside during Just Cause, and so he presents an extremely glossed over and sanitized version of events. Anyone who was in or studying the military during that time knows that Just Cause was the epitome of a "charlie foxtrot" operation that barely came off. Special operations guys were used as shock troops and some of them - among them a platoon of Navy SEALs - were killed because the 'regular' military didn't know how to use them. He barely mentions this. Stiner was far enough away from the action not to have his career sacrificed by the fallout from Just Cause, so he gets to tell the story of how the military reorganized it's Special Operations Forces after that time. He had a part in that, so for that I guess the book is useful.
All in all, don't be fooled into thinking that the book is as advertised. A few tidbits of useful information are presented here, but not anything that isn't easily found elsewhere. Obviously Stiner is a mover and shaker, and deserves all the respect he commands, but I think it's too bad he felt he had to conceal his memoir in this book. I would have read his story if it was published seperately, but I guess if you could get Clancy to front for you, this makes a great deal of sense.
I'm a huge Clancy fan, fiction and non-fiction, but it's obvious he phoned this one in. Too bad.

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The Ether Zone: U.S. Army Special Forces Detachment B-52, Project Delta Review

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(More customer reviews)First off, I'm a former Marine that was at Mai Loc from 1 Sept 69 to
4 Oct 69, and had the honor to be attached to Detachment B-52,
Project Delta for Operation Trojan Horse I & II. And I have to say
thank you to those SFs that I served with there. After finding out
more about this special group of Soldiers, I am very humbled and proud
to say I had the privilege to serve with them.
After wondering what was going on and who was I with for many years, this book filled in more pieces of the puzzle for me.
R.C. Morris did an excellent job in writing this book and doing the research to make it factual. Highly recommend it for reference or just plain reading to understand what was going on. It is not a dry read.
Just go buy the book, it's a hellava read.
Sleep tight, the worlds best military is protecting our freedom!

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Project Delta and its clandestine special reconnaissance operations proved to be one of the most successful Special Operation units of the Vietnam War, yet few Americans have ever heard of them, or know that this unit's operational model was precursor for the renowned Delta Force. This small unit of less than 100 U.S. Army Special Forces amassed a record for bravery that rivals few. For the first time, the Project Delta "Quiet Professionals" finally share their amazing story.Highly trained as experts in special reconnaissance techniques and procedures, the covert Project Delta missions were accomplished through recon team insertions into enemy territory. As the primary sources of intelligence collection for Project Delta, these tough and tenacious recon men recount hair-raising adventures from personal recollections."The Ether Zone" is certain to appeal to those with an interest in Special Operations Group, the Vietnam War, special operations and military history in general.

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Lest We Forget: The Kingsmen, 101st Aviation Battalion, 1968 Review

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(More customer reviews)The book is well written and an accurate portrayal of the helicopter war. It is a good read and should be of interest to veterans, military and history buffs, researchers as well as anyone else interested in the Vietnam War. I was a helicopter crewchief and flew with Bill Meacham in Vietnam.

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It takes a special kind of man--and a special kind of courage--to routinely risk one's life for others. . . .Lt. "Wild Bill" Meacham was a former enlisted man turned UH-1 pilot assigned to Bravo Company, 101st Aviation Battalion, an assault helicopter company whose liftships were called the Kingsmen. Meacham quickly learned that the fighting in Vietnam wasn't confined to hot LZs: He killed nine enemies on the ground during the Tet 1968 defeat of the VC.Bravo Company carried troops and supplies for many units, but Meacham preferred flying insertions and extractions for the LRRPs of the 101st and for the men of SOG, whose operations frequently took them into Laos. From combat assaults in Cu Chi to night operations in the enemy-infested A Shau Valley to hot extractions from Laos, Meacham engaged in some of the most dangerous flying imaginable. As he hovered a few feet off the ground in LZs exploding with mortar shells and crackling with AK-47 fire, it was often only Meacham's relentless daring and calm hands at the chopper's controls that kept the men on the ground from the enemy--and certain death.The Kingsmen were held in the highest esteem by LRRPs and other special-operations forces throughout Vietnam. This heroic, harrowing, and utterly absorbing account is a powerful tribute to those men and their fearless reputation.

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The Commandos Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a very insightful book that is clearly well researched. The author really sheds light on the types of training and the selection process that American Special Forces soldiers must endure. The Green Beret training was particularly insightful because the author takes you along on some of the war games that the soldiers have to play. The author travels along to "Hell Week" that all Navy Seals have to endure. Where the author stands out, is that he successfully captures the personalities and emotions of the people that he follows. They all come from unique backgrounds, and the author really captures how their personalities affect their thinking as soldiers. I especially liked the fact that the author did a section on Air Force special forces pilots, the guys who fly the helicopters that deliver the more glamourous ground troops. They don't get enough recognition in the action world of hollywood. However, one wonders who designed such a complicated helicopter. REad the book, and all will be explained. The one big disappointment in the book (the reason I'm giving it three stars) is the limited look at Delta Force (the anti-terrorist force). Compared with the rest of the book, this section lacked the detail that made the other sections interesting. This was probably the section that I was most looking forward to so it was quite a disappointment. 3/4 of the book is hugely enjoyable but that one section was a bit lacking.

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Weapons of the U.S. Army Rangers Review

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(More customer reviews)The author, a former Ranger himself, clearly understands the subject. It is well photographed and written, and covers a broad range of subjects beyond the Regiment's weapons. However, though it was only published in 2005, one of the six chapters is entirely outdated. I refer to the Chapter on Ranger support elements. The regiment now has an organic Special Troops Battalion for its needs. When the book was published this unit did not exist. Though no fault of the author's, it does impair the books usefulness. Secondly, a few details of systems, and unit names are outdated, or slipped through with typos. For instance the author writes of Task Force 160, which has been redesignated 160th SOAR, since 1990. Overall, however it is informative and concise.

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As the spearhead of the Army's special operations forces, the Rangers are involved in the most dangerous and dirty business imaginable. Often operating in dangerous, close quarters fights, Rangers require weapons and equipment that allow them to travel light, be quick on their feet, and move with the greatest of stealth. Here are the weapons that help make the Rangers one of the U.S. Army's most effective fighting units: M4s, M16s, M240B machineguns, mortars of all calibers, grenade launchers, stun and flash grenades, Kevlar body armor, night vision equipment, and more.

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Special Ops: America's Elite Forces in 21st Century Combat Review

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(More customer reviews)Americans and Britons have every reason to be very proud of their forces, whether the Delta forces of the US Army or the SAS in the United Kingdom. Warfare is changing rapidly all the time and a book like this is especially helpful in telling us what our special forces are and what they do. So a book like this is not just for military buffs like me! Christopher Catherwood, a sometime teacher of forces serving in Bosnia and author of CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS AND ISLAMIC RAGE (Zondervan, 2003)

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Special Ops: America's Elite Forces in 21st Century Combat is an up-to-the-minute guidebook for both to the showdown with the military forces of Saddam Hussein and for future asymmetric warfare involving special operations. Special Ops examines U.S. tactics and plans for clandestine warfare, and provides valuable insight into how highly trained elite units are expected to accomplish the U.S. military's current strategic objectives. Special Ops includes:, Urban warfare scenarios, The expertise of Special Forces in raising havoc with enemy units, Background on planning, recon, intel and the military role of the CIA, Delta Force, SEAL teams, Green Berets, Army Rangers and Marine Recon, Black Hawks, Little Birds, Cobras, Sea Stallions, Sniper rifles, Dumvees,Predators, Hellfire missiles, JDAMs, Daisy Cutters, MOABs, Global Hawks, Harriers and more, More than 100 photos of aerial views and satellite images

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War Stories of the Green Berets: The Viet Nam Experience Review

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(More customer reviews)I grew up during the Viet Nam war, in a military family. I joined the Army immediately after college and was the first woman commissioned at my University, in 1975. While I never served in combat, I knew many who did. I read this book to try and understand what it must have been like for the men who served, without having to read through the filters of the liberal media, or the continuing lies of our government.
Being from a military family, I understand what duty, honor and country means, and to me, the Green Berets are some of last, true defenders of those ideals. This book did not disappoint me.
It is a wonderful book, with all the elements of life, both precious and horrible, woven through it.
My favorite story was of the POV and how his faith in God was restored by a fir tree and some fire-flies. He does work in mysterious ways!
To my brothers-in-arms--my heartfelt thanks for sharing parts of your souls with the rest of us.
To those who are stil! l unaccounted for--forgive us. I, for one, shall never forget you.

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War Stories of the Green Berets Halberstadt Subtitled: The Viet Nam Experience. US Army Special Forces commandos in action! This unprecedented oral history profiles high-risk, high-intensity missions into the jungles of Laos and Cambodia duringthe Vietnam War. Green Berets break their code of silence for the first time to reveal their top-se cret missions along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

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On Patrol with the SAS: Sleeping with Your Ears Open Review

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(More customer reviews)As the author states in the beginning of this book, it is not a historical account or individual memoir. Instead, it is a journey into the nucleus of the SAS. The PATROL is the tool used to propel this account, which is the basic SAS fighting element. This book takes you through selection and training of patrol members, preparation and execution of patrols in Borneo, New Guinea, and Vietnam. This book spares no detail of operational patrols, from the warning order to mission debrief, it is all covered here. The book reads more like a how-to book highlighted with actual accounts of mission debriefs, this is just a treasure of lessons learned, that still apply today. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Special Air Service (SAS), or anyone that is in the military field of Reconnaissance, scouting, sniping or special operations.

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Offeringa unique glimpse intothe heart and soul of the military, this account explores the men of the Australian Army's Special Air Services regiment.The chaptersprovidea clear insight into the rigors of the SAS selection process andtraining.In raw and brutal detail, thenarrative concludeswith a graphic depiction ofcombat behind enemy lines in Borneo and South Vietnam.

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The Only Thing Worth Dying For: How Eleven Green Berets Fought for a New Afghanistan (P.S.) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've read a lot of books in this particular genre, and this is the first time I've been compelled to post a review--the book was THAT good. While sticking to the historical facts as to the events which transpired in the build up to and initial invasion of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Eric Blehm presents a fascinating page-turner. I absolutely couldn't put the book down, and at times had to remind myself I was reading a non-fiction book. If you're interested in how low-level, tactical leaders in our armed forces truly influence the nations of the world, this is a must-read. Blehm clearly did his homework and must've conducted hours of interviews with the surviving members of ODA-574, as his insight and account of the harrowing ordeal read as if I was there with them. Read this book--you won't be disappointed.

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Secret Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines with the Elite Warriors of SOG Review

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(More customer reviews)Major John Plaster ranks as one of the top historians of the Vietnam War and stands alone among writers about special operations in Indochina. In Secret Commandos, Plaster continues the story he first brought to readers in SOG: The Secret Wars of Americas Commandos in Vietnam. Unlike all of the phoney wannabes that inhabit the fringe world of post-Vietnam America John Plaster is one who has been there, done that and has the T-shirt! You will sweat with him running recon along the Ho Chi Minh trail, shiver in the chill Central Highland nights while the enemy searches for him in the darkness, bleed with his comrades as they fight and die in places that are as remote for most Americans as the far side of the moon. But in Secret Commandos you will be on top of the action in a manner that can be written only by one with the experience who combines that background with an extraordinary writing talent.
Secret Commandos is a must-read for anyone who is interested in America's secret operations in Vietnam, in what the US Special Forces soldier is really made of, and in learning the hard-core truth. The soldiers who volunteered for SOG were a special breed no doubt. For most of a generation they have been overlooked, ignored, hidden behind mounds of top secret classification stamps, or lied about by detractors, impersonators and pretenders. No more. John Plaster rips back the curtain to show war at its most difficult - and in so doing displays the remarkable abilities, dedication and professionalism of our very special American fighting men.
Buy this book and treasure it. Recommend it to your friends. Get the word out: learn the truth of Vietnam and meet the men this fine country produces who will sacrifice and die to defend our freedom. This is a story that has waited a long time to be told and has the perfect man to tell it.

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The leading historian of SOG, the elite commando unit in Vietnam, tells the astonishing story of the SOG warriors who penetrated enemy lines in operations directed at the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The warriors of SOG -- code-named the Studies and Observations Group -- were a secret operations force in Vietnam, the forerunner of today's Delta Force and SEALs. Highly skilled Green Berets, they were the bravest of the brave, the most highly decorated unit in the war. Chief among their activities was observing the Ho Chi Minh Trail, the main North Vietnamese supply route into South Vietnam, and disrupting its operations. SOG warriors secretly penetrated deep into Laos and Cambodia to identify bombing targets, destroy troops, ambush trucks, mine roads, and, in their most difficult assignment, capture North Vietnamese soldiers for intelligence purposes. Operating in the most dangerous conditions imaginable -- always outnumbered, often by as much as 100 to 1 -- SOG commandos matched wits with an un-relenting foe that hunted them with trackers and dogs. They suffered an extraordinarily high casualty rate. Ten entire teams disappeared and another fourteen were overrun and annihilated. Many of the missions run by SOG fighters were rescues and attempted rescuesof fellow soldiers and downed helicopter pilots who supported SOG missions. In Secret Commandos, a riveting account of his years in SOG from 1969 to 1971, John Plaster describes his own remarkable covert missions as well as those of dozens of his comrades. He takes readers from his grueling training for SOG to his heart-stopping first assignments to his experiences as a SOG veteran and team leader. Even as SOG's field of operations became more limited late in the war, these accomplished warriors continued to give their all, fighting for each other.

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Tehran Mission Review

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(More customer reviews)Tehran Mission is an alternate history novel based on the failed 1980 Iran Hostage mission.
The facts:
The 1980 attempt to rescue the Iran embassy hostages failed due to circumstances beyond the control of the brave men of Operation Eagle Claw. But considering the meticulous planning and the competence of Delta Force and its supporting elements, it should have!
In this alternate history novel it does!
Captain "Bull" St. Stephen and his Special Forces A-team are infiltrated into Tehran to serve as an in-country intelligence asset. In a series of perilous incidents, they discover that militant students and mujahedin are planning another assault on the embassy and to take its occupants hostage. Their intent is an exchange for the deposed Shah who has sought refuge in the U.S. Alerted to that possibility, the Joint Chiefs of Staff order Delta and a joint task force - JTF7- to prepare for Operation Scimitar: a coordinated mission to rescue the hostages should that come about.
A suspenseful tale of covert operations, deception and peril, the story rivets the reader's attention in a fast moving novel.


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Beyond Hell and Back: How America's Special Operations Forces Became the World's Greatest Fighting Unit Review

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(More customer reviews)The book is a collection of detailed special operations stories from the Vietnam war to the last invasion of Iraq. Most of the stories are complemented by detailed pictures of mission plans and military hardware.
However, the book provides claims that US special forces organized, advised and run operations together with PKK in northern Iraq, PKK is classified as a terrorist organization by the US State Department. Therefore, if the details in the book (listed below) are true, the book is a groundbreaking revelation of the sins of the US military/state establishment. If they are not, then one suspects the validity of other details in the book.
I have no way to prove or disprove the following claims, but you can verify their presence by the Amazon's search inside function:
Link to joint US operations with terrorists:
page 225: "10th Special Forces Group teams working with peshmerga militia soldiers from the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK in the Kurdish north..."
Link to US support of terrorists:
Page 252: "For years since Operation Desert Storm in 1991, the 10th Special Forces Group had been discreetly working with the PKK ..."
Link to US advising terrorists:
Page 253: "...commander of Joint Special Operations Task Force-North (JSOTF-N). Originally, JSOTF-N's mission was to act as advisers to the PKK, which would have formed a vanguard for the 4th MID on their drive south. ..."
Link to US matchmaking between terrorists and their rivals for operational security:
Page 264: "The KDP was a rival to the PKK, and the two political groups' jockeying for power in the Kurdish-controlled territory was an element that complicated American operations in the Kurdish controlled territory...".
PKK has been responsible for more than 40,000 deaths in US ally Turkey and therefore viewed as the al-Qaeda problem of Turkey. Perhaps these revelations explain why US lost support and face in a previously staunch supporter.
State Department Link to the status of PKK:
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2008/jan/99128.htm

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Boots on the Ground: The History of Project Delta Review

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(More customer reviews)An excellent and factual history of Project Delta, Detachment B-52, 5th Special forces Group,Vietnam. The book is written with out hype or sensation and tells the story of a group of men who quietly and professionally gathered strategic intellgence and wrought havoc on the enemy for nine years. Project Delta was the most decorated unit during the Vietnam War while at the same time its members avoided publicity and consequently many of their individual acts of heroism went unregocnized or rewarded. The methods and techniques developed by these quiet professionals became the standard for others to use or emulate and are still in use today. If you are looking for spellbinding excitement, don't buy or read this book. If you are looking for a serious book about how recon/intel missions were conducted and the manner in which they were conducted, buy and read this book. Thank you Steve Carpenter for your effort and the excellent product you produced.
Dennis McVey (Frisky)

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Early in the Vietnam conflict the U.S. command structure recognized a need for solid verifiable intelligence about enemy locations, movements and tactics. Much of the enemy's covert activity was occurring in Laos and Cambodia, areas where U.S. presence was not permitted. Project Delta was the first successful unit that evolved to perform long range reconnaissance and other counter insurgency missions deep in enemy territory. Project Delta's operations remained classified until 1996. For the first time, the history of this storied unit has been recorded from volumes of declassified military documents and from hundreds of hours of interviews conducted in 2009. The author is a former member of the U.S. Army's Special Forces and was a recon team leader in Project Delta.

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In the Company of Heroes : The True Story of Black Hawk Pilot Michael Durant and the Men Who Fought and Fell at Mogadishu Review

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(More customer reviews)IN THE COMPANY OF HEROES, by Mike Durant is an exceptional read ... heartbreaking and heroic and stunning in its honesty and humility. For those who don't remember (how could you not?), Durant was the Blackhawk pilot shot down over Mogadishu in 93 and held by Adid for 10 days. Although he contributed to Mark Bowden's BLACK HAWK DOWN (an exceptional piece of journalism, to be sure), this is the first time Durant has gone public with more than a perfunctory detailing of the events of his capture and his time as a POW in Mogadishu. It is an exceptional story of courage and the Human capacity to survive, as well as an extraordinary testament to the worth of intelligence, integrity, training and psychological/emotional strength under the most intense of circumstances.
Mike Durant, as he has proven time and time again, is a 100% class act with absolutely no delusions of grandeur. Though never shy about acknowledging his own skills and talents, Durant doesn't indulge in a single self-serving statement throughout the narrative, which includes extensive material on other special ops missions, as well as the Somalia fiasco. Neither does he lavish praise unduly on folks who were doing what they are trained and paid to do. What he does do is call it exactly as it happened to him, avoiding undue political rhetoric and unfailingly giving credit to those who kept him alive and brought him home.
Through his eyes, we see the men Donavan Briley and Cliff Wolcott and others lost in Somalia were -- not only as soldiers, but also as friends. By showing us the loss these men are to Durant personally, we begin to feel the loss such men always are to the country they serve at cost of life and limb. In recording this incident from an unprecedented POV and refusing to pander to the sensationalism that marked the media coverage or succumb to the self-aggrandizing agenda that usually mitigates such personal accounts of horrific events, Mike Durant offers insight into the unimaginable; and in doing so, creates a testament to both his own heroism and to the unsung heroism of others who willingly lay their lives on the line to protect our way of life.
Mike Durant doesn't consider himself a hero: The real heroes never do.

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No Room for Error: The Story Behind the USAF Special Tactics Unit Review

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(More customer reviews)Col. John T. Carney, USAF (ret.) takes the reader through his professional career and the history of U.S. Air Force special tactics units from the early 1980s through 2002.
Special Tactics, which has operated in most every American military action since Operation Eagle Claw (aka Desert One) in 1980, has its foundations in the Pathfinder units of WW2, and are often known as 'combat controllers.' They are often the first in and the last out.
In a frank and engaging manner, Carney lays out the history of special tactics and their operations, including Eagle Claw, Grenada, Panama, Achille Lauro, Desert Storm, and Somalia, through Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Given his firsthand involvement in the majority of these operations, Carney offers a unique perspective and pulls no punches in his assessment of Air Force and U.S. Special Operations. Nothing is glossed-over and the reader gets the sense that Carney bears more self-imposed crosses than he probably should.
If you are interested in a unique perspective of U.S. Special Operations and Air Force Special Tactics, this book should not be missed.

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U. S. Air Force Special Ops (Power) Review

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(More customer reviews)Although there have been many books written about US air force Ops very little has ever been written about the Combat control teams and para rescue components of this force. This book finally covers it in excellent detail. Also gives good coverage of the fly component of the air commandos, although some information is inconsitent, or dated, there has been very little of such good quality written about the Air Force special ops community. Great complement to the books that preceded it such as "From a Dark Sky" "That Others May Live" " Air Commando One" and "Any Time any Place"

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The most elite special operations flying units in the world are the USAF 1st Special Operations Wing. Their missions include close air support, interdiction, covert insertion-extraction of personnel, and combat search and rescue. This colorful volume highlights both the highly trained Air Commandos and their specialized equipment by telling the unit's fascinating operational history through first-hand stories and special access photographs.

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