Book Description
Marine Sniper is not only one of the most astonishing true stories to emerge from the Vietnam War, it has become a classic of military nonfiction, inspiring a sequel, Silent Warrior: The Marine Sniper's Vietnam Story Continues.
There have been many Marines. There have been many marksmen. But there has only been one Sergeant Carlos Hathcock. A legend in the Marine ranks, Hathcock stalked the Viet Cong behind enemy lines-on their own ground. And each time he emerged from the jungle having done his duty. His record is one of the finest in military history, with 93 confirmed kills.
This is the story of a simple man who endured incredible dangers and hardships for his country and his Corps. These are the missions that have made Carlos Hathcock a legend in the brotherhood of Marines.
"Highly readable." (Publishers Weekly)
Customer Reviews:
Courageous Type of Warfare.......2007-09-24
This book is about Carlos Hathcock, the distinguished Marine Corp sniper of the Vietnam War. Honored in this country, with 93 confirmed enemy kills and having gained notoriety among the enemy as White Feather, because that is what adorned his cap and gained him a bounty on his head. The book is a good portrayal of what it takes to become proficient at sniper warfare, along with its effectiveness in warfare. Although often considered a cowardly method of warfare, the reader will pick up that Hathcock's time in the bush stalking the enemy's position days on end to obtain the perfect shot, but not too close to make escape impossible is a personally courageous act. The book highlights one incident where Hathcock goes one on one with an equally savvy Viet Cong sniper and another four-day stalk within a Viet Cong base camp to bring down a North Vietnamese General. The author's portrayal of Hathcock's banter is not all that humble when discussing himself, but this man can also walk the walk. It is a little sad about the adjustment problems Hathcock has to civilian life. Most civilian jobs pale in comparison to hunting and being hunted by humans., The book is a fast light read with some heart pounding entertainment. The book could have used some more sniper accounts.
Very pleased with product. Great book.......2007-09-13
Im very happy with this transaction and would do business with this seller again.The book is great and worth the money.Its a must to anyone that enjoys reading about snipers or vietnam
Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills.......2007-06-25
Very good book...I was in Vietnam in May of '67 till May of '68....This book is very very real !!!War is a varied mixture of total boredom and the mundane to the highest Adrenalin rush one can ever imagine !!!Many things described in this book present that...
Taste of What War is Like.......2007-06-08
This book gives you an idea of what it is like to be the hunter as well as the huntee. Brings home the brutality of war.
Must Read.......2007-03-08
Henderson does a great job telling Hathcock's story. I couldn't put this book down. If Vietnam interests you, you have to read this book. Also, Silent Warrior the sequal is great to read as well because it tells a lot of the stories in this book more in depth because Henderson went and found out more info about certain battles. even going as far as interviewing NVA soldiers that were stalked by Hatchcock. One of my favorite books ever. Like the Military Channel? read this book!!!!!!!!
Book Description
With a postscript describing SEAL efforts in Afghanistan, The Warrior Elite takes you into the toughest, longest, and most relentless military
training in the world.
What does it take to become a Navy SEAL? What makes talented, intelligent young men volunteer for physical punishment, cold water, and days without sleep? In The Warrior Elite, former Navy SEAL Dick Couch documents the process that transforms young men into warriors. SEAL training is the distillation of the human spirit, a tradition-bound ordeal that seeks to find men with character, courage, and the burning desire to win at all costs, men who would rather die than quit.
Customer Reviews:
I had no idea........2007-09-26
What does it take to be one of the few? A true Warrior in the skeptical face of a modern world and a people who often find the idea more fantasy or idealistic than reality.
Take a cultural, personal and life-changing journey with Seal Class 228 as they go through the long process of becoming Navy Seals. What do they have to do, why these men, what is the cost, what are these men willing to do to receive the coveted title of Navy Seal?
Dick Couch, a former Seal himself, gives an intimate look at what these men must go through: from physical training, the most difficult in the world, to more advanced techniques such as combat and sharp-shooting skills. By telling the stories of these men, from the students to the teachers, Couch gives us a unique perspective of Seal ideals that began decades ago, based on the honor, blood and sweat, dedication and bravery of Navy frogmen before them and tenants that remain true to this day.
I had no previous knowledge or understanding of the Navy or the military in general, so I was initially worried about jargon and how in-depth the history would be. As it turns out, while Couch does give a brief outline of how the Seals were created and the divisions of the teams and history of the training, it is not so overdone in technical descriptions but enough for the general reader to get a grasp of the organization of such a force. It is not a historical description of the Navy or of Navy Seals, but the human element of a special forces team. The wonderful element is the personalization of the men that Couch is allowed to interview and interact with. Real men, real stories, nothing but.
It's obvious that Couch is very proud of the trade and of the men who have the strength and mental determination to bear through the physical pain. His enthusiasm, detailed, well-written and subjective perspective is why I enjoyed this book so much. Some parts drag on but it's well worth the read, a book that everyone should read...
I Love This Book.......2007-05-18
I think one of Dick Couch's great strengths as an author is his ability to put us in there and help us get to know the people in his pages. Warrior Elite was exceptional for that reason. I have a huge amount of respect for SOF and seeing what these guys go through to be selected and prepared for their work only deepens that respect. Couch's style is not overly "military." The book is easy to read and truly enjoyable. You don't have to have a lot of knowledge going into it, but people who really know their stuff will appreciate the attention to detail shown by the author.
Awesome, couldn't put it down........2007-01-30
This book is a very interesting description of the beginning of some of the best warriors in the world. The heart and dedication of the young men who put themselves through BUD/s training is unbelievable. Dick Couch captures the essence of the training better than any other book I have read on the Navy SEALs. Highly recommended.
Awesome book. Reality check for SEAL wannabees.......2007-01-07
This book is no joke. A SEAL wannabee myself, I found myself questioning whether I had the pure guts it takes to finish this thing. If you haven't fallen flat on your face from exhaustion and your not dead, then you haven't given it your all. That's the most important point I took away from this book. I would suggest the follow up book to this one, "The finishing school". It's about the SQT following BUD/s. It's dry if your not interested in becoming a SEAL, but informative if you are.
The Warrior Elite: The Forging of Seal Class 228.......2007-01-05
My son is a Navy Seal and I verified with him that this book very accurately represents the life of a Seal in training. I highly recommend it!
Book Description
Major John L. Plaster, a three-tour veteran of Vietnam tells the story of the most highly classified United States covert operatives to serve in the war: The Studies and Observations Group, code-named SOG. Comprised ofvolunteers from such elite military units as the Army's Green Berets, the USAF Air Commandos, and Navy SEALs, SOG agents answered directly to the Pentagon's Joint Chiefs, with some missions requiring approval from the White House. Now for the first time, the dangerous assignments of this top-secret unit can at last be revealed!
Customer Reviews:
Slide-line observer.......2007-08-13
Excellent! As a Huey pilot who participated in a number of SOG insertions and extractions out of Quan Tri (CCN), it was interesting to read what was happening in between. At the time, we only told "were to put them and when and where to pick them up". We were not told their mission.... we did not have a need to know. I can tell you it was at times very exciting. There is nothing in the world like seeing tracers flying by or having the crew telling you we are taking hits. After my Huey was shot down, it was these guys who clipped me into the harness for my rope ride out. They were also the first faces that I saw when I awoke two days later in a hospital bed. They are truly the bravest of the brave... I recommend this book for anyone who wants to know what war is really about.
Good insight into military actions.......2007-05-19
A very comprehensive account of until recently unknown military activities in Viet Nam. I purchased the book because it had references to my brother-in-law, Walter Shumate and it provided me with some insight on his role in this action.
This is what soldiering is about..........2007-05-15
John L. Plaster is an excellent writer. Furthermore, his chronicling of SOG was a real eye-opener. I almost put this book down, but once I got past the first two chapters, I was there in the jungle.
Talk about Mission Impossible. From passive and active wire taps, snatch n' grabs, recon, and desperate defenses, one will get a little of everything here. These guys are definately masters of their craft. Professional, efficient, and tough.
This book blows all others away and tears open a gaping hole in the status quo, revealing the shadowy and seductive call of the S.O.G. genre, Americas most elite.
-H.G.
Some incredible stories of bravery and adventure.......2007-04-30
MAJ John L. Plaster has written an incredible book. Enhanced by the fact that the stories come from someone who did three tours himself as a SOG recon soldier, Plaster gives a vivid recounting of the missions and activities of the Special Operations Group (later renamed the Studies and Observation Group to make its mission less obvious to the enemy).
SOG retells the stories of multiple Medal of Honor and Distinguished Service Cross winners (as well as a few stories of deserved MoH winners who for whatever reason weren't awarded).
The only weakness of the book that one could find may be the lack of context for the missions undertaken by SOG. Plaster writes with either a lot of assumed knowledge on the side of his readers or else intentionally ignores these political and social considerations, reverting to the role of a Special Forces warrior with no time for politics. Whichever is the case that should in no way discourage someone from taking up this book. It is well worth the time.
Fighting Soldiers From The Sky..........2007-01-29
Having studied under a former college professor who is an ex-SOG member mentioned in Plaster's sequel, "Secret Commandos," I was eager to discover the nature of SOG operations during the Vietnam War, and was left in awe by the insane risks that these men took everytime they went out on a mission with their Nung or Montagnard counterparts. Plaster said it himself that after running an excessive number of missions, it became an oddity that a SOG member was still alive. But then again, these soldiers were forced to confront their own mortality on a regular basis, cheating death on one mission while losing a brother-in-arms on the next. After reading the stories of tremendous courage and selflessness that these men displayed in the face of annihilation by an unforgiveable and numerically superior enemy, readers must wonder what kind of individuals could not only stomach the intensity described by Plaster, but actually succeed in accomplishing their missions and leading their teams to safety. Having known a SOG veteran, I can honestly say that even at his old age, he is one of the few men I have ever met in my life who I would follow to hell and back.
Book Description
The Navy's official guide is now available in a popularly priced edition. This is the most rigorous and comprehensive fitness manual currently available. Becoming Navy SEAL tough requires will, determination and knowledge. The Navy SEAL Physical Fitness Guide supplies the knowledge; the rest is up to you. Well illustrated with charts, diagrams and tables.
Customer Reviews:
Navy SEAL Physical Fitness Guide.......2002-07-22
This is by far the best book of its type I have ever read. I have read or reviewed a variety of books on SEAL training and this one is the best in its explanations of how a person trains to develop those qualities from their body that they want in order to meet their fitness goals. I'm not a SEAL and I am not in the military, but I am impressed with the training that SEAL's go through in order to develop themselves into the elite warriors that they are. This book tells you how to correctly get yourself into excellent shape and tells you how to do it safely. It offers a balance approach to physical fitness development. The book does not offer much in the way of specific exercise programs like other books on SEAL training do. It offered one, but it takes longer than most lay people will have time to do. However, after reading it you should be able to develop your own program. Of course, the book was not written for me, it was written for SEAL's, or SEAL's in training. Exercise programs are part of their jobs, so they have the time to do 2 hours of calisthenics before they run for an hour and after they have been swimming for an hour.
Great book.......2002-07-02
I liked the book, it was a good help designing workouts. I do have to say though, that the swim workouts were a bit corny-this comes from someone who swam NCAA div. I in college. I mean COME ON, nose plugs? Blow bubbles for crying out loud. Other than that brief passage, I was rather impressed. On the other hand, we did get a hearty chuckle over it at the pool, so you could say this book is humorous too.
Distilled Essence of Critical Fitness Knowledge.......2002-05-02
I have read countless fitness guides and have 20 years experience seriously doing fitness related activities, and in all this time, I have never encountered such a masterful summation of the "truly relevant," until now.
This guide offers many useful tips that are based on experience and actual physical need. The effort is centered around the principle that the "form must follow the function"--that is, what you do for fitness must follow what you need fitness for in practice. It is no easy matter to bridge the gap between kinesiological research and applied operator fitness training. This "form follows function" orientation should be very helpful even for those who are not members of naval special forces; fitness efforts must be centered on concrete application. Too often, this commonsense truth is forgotten.
What also I found especially striking was the number of times I read a tip and found that I'd learned by experience that was exactly the case. There truly is a lot bottom line information here, and you won't find any padding or irrelevant material.
In my opinion, this is the best distillation of "the bottom line" as of current fitness research that is available on the market. I heartily commend the MDs who put this guide together, and the operators who shared their experience.
And all for [a good price]!!!!!
A good book but I've read better.......2002-03-29
Recently, I bought this book to learn new information and to add to my collection. I was a little disappointed, though.
While the chapters are easy to read and clearly delimited, I thought they treated each topic relatively superficially.
The chapter on calisthetics was almost spartan in its variery and descriptions. Likewise weith the weight lifting, swimming and running chapters.
It did a good job of describing how the various missions done by SEALS require different physical activities and what training and exercises to do to prepare for them.
It had a brief overview of supplements and the effectiveness but nothing new.
The workout routines were hardly original or impressive. Stew's book is better in that area.
I think this book is geared towards a SEAL in active service with little time for training.
I gave my copy to a student who wants to be a SEAL. I'll stick with Stew Smith and Andrew Flack.
Book Description
As the Clone Wars rage, victory or defeat lies in the hands of elite squads that take on the toughest assignments in the galaxy–stone-cold soldiers who go where no one else would, to do what no one else could. . . .
On a mission to sabotage a chemical weapon research facility on a Separatist-held planet, four clone troopers operate under the very noses of their enemies. The commandos are outnumbered and outgunned, deep behind enemy lines with no backup–and working with strangers instead of trusted teammates. Matters don’t improve when Darman, the squad’s demolitions expert, gets separated from the others during planetfall. Even Darman’s apparent good luck in meeting an inexperienced Padawan vanishes once Etain admits to her woeful inexperience.
For the separated clone commandos and stranded Jedi, a long, dangerous journey lies ahead, through hostile territory brimming with Trandoshan slavers, Separatists, and suspicious natives. A single misstep could mean discovery . . . and death. It’s a virtual suicide mission for anyone–anyone except Republic Commandos.
Customer Reviews:
Good Read.......2007-08-23
I read this book relatively quickly. Not because it was an easy, quick read, but because I couldn't put it down. As soon as I was done reading a few chapters, I wanted to find out what happened next. But like every human being, I needed sleep. If you liked the characters and situations in this book, I recommend the second book: Triple Zero (Star Wars: Republic Commando)
I've never read a Star Wars book before so i was a little wary of it at first. But when I dove down and started reading it, I couldn't wait to finish it and start the next one.
An excellent read! .......2007-06-12
Okay. I first have to say I normally hate books like this one. I have read the vast majority of the Clone Wars Star Wars novels and so far I have hated each and every one of them. When I first heard about this one I thought oh brother. Here we go again. After several long months I couldn't stand it and picked it up. I have to say I loved it! Miss Traviss writes with a very military flair. I spent ten years in Service and to have an author come this close. . .well it was refreshing. Add to that the characters did not resort to contrived banter nor did Miss Traviss rely on absurd plot devices to carry the story. I enjoyed that Miss Traviss also did not make her characters larger than life. Some of these guys seemed like troops I served with and that was refreshing. Would I recommend this book? Absolutely. It captures the spirit and grit of Star Wars without all the hocus pocus, irrelevant characters so many other novels seem tobe filled with. It is an easy read and I anticipate reading this over and over for a little escape.
Good not great.......2007-05-31
I've read almost every Star Wars book ever written. This one is unique in that gives depth to the faceless clones. It's a unique angle that I haven't seen before.
It's a decent read but I never really became overly excited. The characters are decently fleshed out but never really make you care much about them. The plot never really develops fully. It's like watching a movie that fizzles out at the climax.
Decent read for Star Wars fans but mostly mediocre.
Nice Concept.......2007-04-29
I enjoyed the concept of getting to know the Clone Commandos. They aren't expendable and that they are real humans are what you learn in this book. I enjoyed meeting a new Padawan, Etain. It was interesting to see her come into her own and learn from the commandos. I liked their interactions together and you find out more about how they were trained. However, I didn't like that the author kept switching points of view during the chapter. I wish she would have wrote in one character's point of view and then switched after the chapter break. I felt the ending was rushed and didn't make complete sense. I look forward to reading Triple Zero and seeing the continuation of this unit.
Good Book for Star Wars Fans.......2007-04-11
Star Wars Republic Commando Hard Contact is a good book, but it doesn't relate to the game very much. I've played the game Star Wars Republic Commando which is also good. In the end of the game, a teammate becomes incapacitated. When I heard of the book, I thought it would be about Delta Squad searching for the lost and incapacitated teammate. Instead, the focus of the book is on Omega Squad. That disappointed me, but it is still a very enjoyable book.
Omega Squad consists of four clone commandos who go to the planet Qiilura to destroy a facility which is producing a nanovirus which, if released, will kill all clones.
The book has a bit of humor in it, along with the combat involved. The author did a really good job of expressing how it would be like to be a Republic Commando.
I highly recommend this book.
SLL
Amazon.com
The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have given the U.S. Army's Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets, a central role in American military action like never before. Several hundred U.S. Special Forces operators helped a motley band of Afghan rebels orchestrate a stunning rout when they overthrew the Taliban after 9/11. In Iraq, as journalist Linda Robinson explains in Masters of Chaos: The Secret History of the Special Forces, Special Forces units were the main U.S. elements on the ground in the northern and western regions of the country, where they defeated government forces that outnumbered them many times over. Robinson tells the story of the Special Forces through the eyes of a few of its more colorful personalities, men with call signs like Rawhide and Killer. She follows them around the world from Panama and El Salvador to Somalia, Kosovo, and, finally, Afghanistan and Iraq. Surprisingly, however, she devotes only a few pages to the Green Beret-led victory in Afghanistan, even though it was arguably their greatest achievement since they were created after World War II.
Critics and supporters of the recent American interventions alike should find the technical proficiency of the Special Forces interesting and impressive. Each 12-soldier team may marshal more than a century of combined experience in weapons, foreign languages, intelligence, communications, air control, and trauma medicine. For a book about such an action-packed subject, though, Robinson's effort is somewhat dry, and she devotes more time to mundane background biographies than to the dramatic battle scenes in which the Special Forces invariably find themselves. In addition, Robinson's "secret history" is an authorized and sympathetic one, and readers may be left wondering what she may have left out of her accounts in order to maintain her access. --Alex Roslin
Book Description
A journalist with unique access tells the gripping, never-before-told, inside story of America's elite troops in action -- from the nadir of their reputation after Vietnam to their preeminence today on the frontlines against terrorism around the world.
Special Forces soldiers are daring, seasoned troops from America's heartland, selected in a tough competition and trained in an extraordinary range of skills. They know foreign languages and cultures and unconventional warfare better than any U.S. fighters, and while they prefer to stay out of the limelight, veteran war correspondent Linda Robinson gained access to their closed world. She traveled with them on the frontlines, interviewed them at length on their home bases, and studied their doctrine, methods and history. In Masters of Chaos she tells their story through a select group of senior sergeants and field-grade officers, a band of unforgettable characters like Rawhide, Killer, Michael T, and Alan -- led by the unflappable Lt. Col. Chris Conner and Col. Charlie Cleveland, a brilliant but self-effacing West Pointer who led the largest unconventional war campaign since Vietnam in northern Iraq.
Robinson follows the Special Forces from their first post-Vietnam combat in Panama, El Salvador, Desert Storm, Somalia, and the Balkans to their recent trials and triumphs in Afghanistan and Iraq. She witnessed their secret sleuthing and unsung successes in southern Iraq, and recounts here for the first time the dramatic firefights of the western desert. Her blow-by-blow story of the attack on Ansar al-Islam's international terrorist training camp has never been told before. The most comprehensive account ever of the modern-day Special Forces in action, Masters of Chaos is filled with riveting, intimate detail in the words of a close-knit band of soldiers who have done it all. AUTHOR BIO: Linda Robinson is a senior writer for U.S. News & World Report. She was a Nieman fellow at Harvard University in 2000-2001 and in 1999 she received the Maria Moors Cabot prize form Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. She has covered numerous wars, guerrilla conflicts and special forces operations, and currently lives in Washington, D.C.
Customer Reviews:
Tons of interesting stuff, but..........2007-05-18
I guess I'm a fan of this book, but I can't make myself call it anything better than "good." There are some truly great parts, but I struggled through quite a bit. Maybe my expectations were too high, but this book didn't thrill me like I was expecting. I wanted a gripping, real-life story of the modern Special Forces in action. I only got that in doses. I hate to use this word, but I even found it "boring" at times.
well worthy.......2007-03-17
A very easy to read tense and exciting account of a snapshot in the life of these fairly extraordinary human beings. Written a bit in the style of b/hawk down it gives a glimpse of the other sides of the soldiers involved. A must for any admirer of good special forces lit.The book also provides a sneak preview into iraq and afghanistan All in all a great read
One of the Best books on the Special Forces.......2007-01-10
This is an excellent read on a very reclusive and elite group in the US Army. It details many great feats by many great men over the last 20 years. Linda Robinson does a great job at righting this book and keeping it interesting and flowing along and covers most everything in great detail without making the story drag.
Why Special Forces are special.......2006-12-30
This is a good collection of military stories covering the past fifteen years based on interviews with soldiers, official government documents and archival material. Some details are left out so as to protect security and identities of countries involvements in operations but overall it is a fun read for the military enthusiast.The activites of the Special Forces(aka Green Berets) is well chronicled but to a much lesser extent the exploits of the much more secret(to use a word from the title)Delta Force and Seal operations are discussed even though many operations are in conjunction with these other elite forces. Linda Robinson takes you globetrotting to witness "behind the scenes" how America's Special Forces is fighting terrorism throughout the world. Operations discussed through recollections and documents include Panama, El Salvador, Desert Storm, Somalia, The Balkans, Afghanistan and of course Iraq. Recommended for an overview of the Special Forces various counterterrorism missions.
Excellent Book.......2006-11-10
This book is very exciting, because it tells us of the Special Forces missions that have happened most recently, and not just the ones we've heard about so much over and over again in the past. There are not very many in depth stories about the SF operations that have been conducted in Iraq/Afghanistan so it is nise to read about some of the action that we never heard about on the news. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about the SF and about the 'behind the scenes' war that went on and is still going on today.
Book Description
Every organization needs good leadership in order to win against the competition. Through his own personal story and those of nine other Rangers, Barber illuminates fundamental lessons about what it really takes to win. These first-person accounts of trial and triumph highlight the importance and the inherent truth of the Army’s most fundamental leadership principles: seeking and taking responsibility for your actions, and knowing yourself and seeking self-improvement. Adhering to those principles—and putting them at the core of your organization—will push you and your company to do more and do it better.
Download Description
Leadership skills that create exceptional personal and professional success-from the military's toughest school
From the Dieppe Raid and the D-Day invasion to Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. Army Rangers have earned their reputation for bravery, leadership, and sacrifice in combat. In any military conflict, Rangers are among the first troops on the ground. They willingly accept the most dangerous missions in war, and their volunteer members risk all they have to get the job done. They are tough, they are fearless, and they are leaders.
Ranger School teaches its graduates how to excel under extreme conditions, how to persevere despite seemingly impossible odds, and how to develop the mental strength to succeed at any cost. In No Excuse Leadership, former Ranger Brace Barber shares the leadership lessons all Ranger School alumni learn. Those lessons not only helped him excel as an officer, but also gave him the skills to succeed as a businessman in the private sector. Currently the cofounder and president of two companies, Barber explains what it's like to make it through the toughest and best leadership school in the U.S. military and-through the personal stories of nine other Rangers-illuminates fundamental Ranger School lessons about what makes great leadership and great leaders. For business leaders who want to challenge themselves and their organizations, for good leaders who want to be great leaders, for leaders who want to prove to themselves and to their organizations that no challenge is impossible, No Excuse Leadership offers an inside look at the ultimate leadership training ground-Ranger School.
Brace E. Barber (Colorado Springs, CO) is a graduate of West Point and the U.S. Army's Airborne and Ranger Schools. He has served in the military around the world, including near the Korean demilitarized zone. Using the organization and leadership skills he learned in the military, he cofounded, and currently serves
Customer Reviews:
I recommend this book to anyone who wants more from life, and take any excuse..........2007-06-27
Buy this book to a friend or relative, that needs that little motivation to improve your life quality without excuses. Regardless of your life, financial condition , military or not. These principles are universal. Thank, Brace.
Good things to know before you enter the Army........2007-05-30
I bought this book for my son who is going in to the Army in a few months. He read the book and found a lot of useful information in it. He's glad that he read it and has gone back through it a 2nd time.
Great .......2007-02-11
I am a graduate of Ranger School Class 2-99 and I thought this was an excellent book on how individuals that read this book can apply their leadership skills to civilian and military occupations. For the longest time, it has been difficult for me to explain to friends, family, and fellow Army officers what Ranger School was about, other than it being totally miserable for 62 days.
The individuals that shared their stories in this book are authentic because I remember the days they described. Brace Barber made this book interesting because he used other Soldier's points of view on Ranger School and how they perceived the lessons they learned about leadership. The Army claims Ranger School is the ultimate leadership school and I have to agree 100% with them. I plan to make it a requirement for my platoon leaders to read this book when I take command. RLTW!
Non- stop motovation!.......2006-08-15
I have never read a book that has inspired me more.
I was in the Army for 8yrs and was a paratrooper, this book has inspired me too the point that i have re-entered the Army at 33
in hopes of becoming a special forces soldier. I enjoyed reading about the passion, drive, and comradery that the elite rangers and ranger battalion's share.
Leadership is not Management.......2006-06-24
Apart from Jack Schropp's book: Unbeatable: Lessons from a Navy Seal ... this is pretty good. The best leaders often emerge when it is literally do or die. What more obvious scenario than being in a combat zone. There is some wisdom that in life there are no excuses, only results, and a healthy warrior spirit is a strong quality in a leader. Perhaps that is why Alexander the Great conquered the entire known world by 26.
Book Description
The story of the 2nd Battalion of Oregons 162nd Infantry Regiment (2/162) in Iraq, this book gives readers an intimate look at the reality of National Guardsmen at war. Follow the 2/162 from their call-up in summer 2003 to their return home in spring 2005. The Devils Sandbox immerses readers in some of the fiercest fighting of the Iraq war and in some of the most rewarding and forward-looking civil affairs projects aimed at rebuilding this broken nation. It offers rare insight into what this war means for the citizen-soldier at home and abroad.
Customer Reviews:
An amazing insight into the role of National Guardsmen at war.......2007-09-02
I have read several dozen books on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. While I have enjoyed all of these books immensely, they all concentrated on conventional military units or special operations forces. They almost never mentioned anything about the role of National Guard units in these conflicts. For this reason, I was shocked to find out that many of our National Guardsmen are the proverbial "tip of the spear". Due to the fact that these men and women are not full-time soldiers, and hold normal, everyday jobs/careers, I always assumed that they would be located in rear-echelon positions. Perhaps serving in support roles. The reality of their participation couldn't be farther from what I had imagined. Like the squad of Navy SEALs who come across the Oregon National Guardsmen during a major engagement in Iraq, I was very impressed by their fighting skills. These men are going in harm's way as much as the traditional military units like the 82nd Airborne, the 101st Airborne, the 4th ID, and the Marines Expeditionary Units. It is hard to imagine being a working class joe one day, and the next day serving in scouting/direct action positions in Najaf or Fallujah. Thank you to John Bruning for bringing to light the brave, patriotic souls of the U.S. National Guard units. They should be receiving so much more publicity from the American media. It is a travesty that their sacrifice in service is not being acknowledged as much as their full-time military brethren. I am going to recommend this book to all my friends and family. Mr. Bruning is a great author and I can't wait to read his next book.
Great Book, Highly Recommend.......2007-05-14
Must read if you are trying to understand what National Guard Soldiers and other service members endure on deployment to Iraq.
Been There, Done That.......2007-02-12
I was with this unit in OIF-II in the capacity of a Medic. If you want to get a good feel for what Oregon's 2/162 did in Iraq, this is the book to read. I've read a number of military history books and sincerely feel that this is one of the better books I've read. Bruning looks at the overall strategic picture and details the reader from a tactical perspective, as well. Having known the troops in the book, as well as the others, I am extremely grateful to see our efforts noted and appreciated. Thanks John... very well done!
Superb!.......2007-02-12
Having served in three branches of the military, including the Oregon Army National Guard, I am well acquainted with the personalities that John Bruning so deftly brings to the pages of his book. There are some typographical errors that I'm more than willing to overlook simply because this book is a great effort to educate the general public about the realities of being citizen soldiers. Putting civilian lives on hold to travel thousands of miles from home, to be thrown into the jaws of hell, is something that can only be fully understood by being there. Mr. Bruning has done a wonderful job of getting the rest of us just a little bit closer.
Devil's Sandbox.......2007-01-19
This book is about my sons Battalion. After I read it and was drwn into the very moment that was taking place I had my son read it and we discussed it. He said there were a couple of incorrect statements but for the most part it was right on.
It is indepth, correct, compelling and heart renching.
Average customer rating:
- Good overview
- Excellent resource with a few flaws...
- An Important Contribution
- Accurate and Informative
- about it
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North Korean Special Forces (Naval Institute Special Warfare Series)
Joseph S. Bermudez Jr.
Manufacturer: Naval Institute Press
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ASIN: 1557500665 |
Customer Reviews:
Good overview.......2006-08-10
This is a very good overview of the North Korean special forces, and is an essential building block for anyone interested in the subject. Drawn mostly from Foreign Broadcast Infornation Service translated documents, it does suffer from a minor, but disturbing, error. My 1998 edition refers to Kim Il-sung's guerrilla clique as the "Kaspen Group", after their area of operations along the North Korean/Manchurian border. The actual place name is "Gapsan" or "Kapsan", depending upon the romanization system, so the clique is the Gapsan or Kapsan group. This error is repeated throughout the book. I would have also liked an explanation as to why North Koreans adopted the term "sniper" for their SF specific units. While everyone agrees that it is an honorific dating back to Kim Il-sung's Soviet 88th Sniper Brigade, the actual Soviet designation for that unit was 88th "Strelnaya" Bde, which had likewise been translated as the 88th Independent Infantry Brigade. I am told that the Soviet term "Strelnaya" (shooter) was used for all Soviet Infantry formations. My notes give the NK term as "Jeo Gyeok", which refers to a team of rifle toting snipers.
Excellent resource with a few flaws..........2001-12-23
I really enjoyed this book. It is really the only book that authoritatively covers this topic. The book's sections on the different SF organizations in the DPRK are based on solid evidence. Some of the information seemed to me to be quite old (from the 60's), but nevertheless is convincing and still relevant considering that the DPRK seems to still operate in many of the same ways.
It is not surprising that some of the rhetoric in the book is right-of-center. For instance, Bermudez (like most other American authors on the DPRK) likes to point out atrocities committed by 'communist' guerillas while ignoring the fact that most atrocities committed during the period of 1945-1953 were committed by the Korean National Police, Army of the Republic of Korea, and right-wing youth groups. He mentions atrocities committed by communists during the Yosu-Sunchon Rebellion, but fails to mention the utter holocaust visited upon the residents of Cheju Island by the Korean Constabulary (Army), KNP, and violent right-wing youth groups; by the way, these forces were transported to the island with US assets and advised by US military advisors in the field. Bermudez doesn't seem to be interested in really addressing what motivated the guerillas of the South, but considering the scope of this book, this is just a minor detail.
Also rather annoying were the frequent and obvious spelling and grammar issues. I don't think there was much of an editing process! Check out page 22 where Bermudez says that communist partisans were to "ferment unrest". I didn't know you COULD "ferment" unrest(!) I believe the word he was looking for was "foment". These issues with his English are frequent enough to be somewhat of an annoyance, but don't really make the book any less interesting.
An Important Contribution.......2000-07-21
One is hard-pressed to find a well-researched material on North Korea's military forces, though there are some excellent research books written by military officers in "lessons learned" formats. The North Korean special operations force, according to South Korea's Defense White Paper, poses one of the most significant military threat in the region along with P'yongyang's chemical weapons and ballistic missiles. This book traces this formidable force from its inception through the present, revealing a significant facet of North Korea's overall military strategy. Despite the timeliness of this work and the depth of its research from one of the most well-known North Korea specialist, it suffers from somewhat poor readability.
Accurate and Informative.......1999-12-15
I had the privilege of interviewing Mr. Bermudez as well as reading this book while researching North Korean Special Forces. The book is highly informative and the author exceptionally knowledgeable. It would be interesting to see the latest information he has gathered considering the present economic/food situations.
At time of printing, NKSF were the best special forces in the world for their set of missions. Other special forces are better suited for different missions and have different resources available to them.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for reliable background information on the specific topic, as well as anyone interested in the highly ideological and self sacrificial mentality instilled in these people.
about it.......1999-12-04
Talk about tough... The NKSF are probably the best in the world. Although straight on comparison is impossible, they seem to be the best. The encounters with other special forces in 1953 doesn't qualify an objective comparison considering that in 1953 North Korea was very unorganized socially and militarily. Also they were in horrible economical shape with most of it's people starving. Things are kind of different now. Their military traing and organization is upgraded and soldiers are better fed. That would make a tremendous difference. Anyways, the book's great.
Book Description
They are the Army's most elite top-secret strike force. But you won't hear about their heroics on the news, no headlines about them can appear in the papers, and no one—not even their families—can know who they are. First Special Forces Operational Detachment-D—Delta Force, America's supersecret counterterrorist unit. On paper they do not exist, but without them, our lives wouldn't be the same.
In this exclusive behind-the-scenes account, founding member Eric L. Haney, Command Sergeant Major, USA (ret.), takes you into the grueling selection and training process of Delta Force. From learning how to open a padlock with a soda can to rescuing a hijacked airplane, these men are masters of espionage and warfare. They are the anonymous heroes who protect us every day from threats we'll never know existed.
Download Description
He is a master of espionage, trained to take on hijackers, terrorists, hostage takers, and enemy armies. He can deploy by parachute or arrive by commercial aircraft. Survive alone in hostile cities. Speak foreign languages fluently. Strike at enemy targets with stunning swiftness and extraordinary teamwork. He is the ultimate modern warrior: the Delta Force Operator.
In this dramatic behind-the-scenes chronicle, Eric Haney, one of the founding members of Delta Force, takes us inside this legendary counterterrorist unit. Here, for the first time, are details of the grueling selection process -- designed to break the strongest of men -- that singles out the best of the best: the Delta Force Operator.
With heart-stopping immediacy, Haney tells what it's really like to enter a hostage-held airplane. And from his days in Beirut, Haney tells an unforgettable tale of bodyguards and bombs, of a day-to-day life of madness and beauty, and of how he and a teammate are called on to kill two gunmen targeting U.S. Marines at the Beirut airport. As part of the team sent to rescue American hostages in Tehran, Haney offers a first-person description of that failed mission that is a chilling, compelling account of a bold maneuver undone by chance -- and a few fatal mistakes.
From fighting guerrilla warfare in Honduras to rescuing missionaries in Sudan and leading the way onto the island of Grenada, Eric Haney captures the daring and discipline that distinguish the men of Delta Force. Inside Delta Force brings honor to these singular men while it puts us in the middle of action that is sudden, frightening, and nonstop around the world.
"A book that could not be more timely, written by a warrior who knows what he's talking about.."
JAMES WEBB, AUTHOR OF FIELDS OF FIRE AND
LOST SOLDIERS
"A rousing chronicle of what it's really like to be a special-ops guy."
ESQUIRE
"Compelling memoir... a book that you won't want to put down."
PLAYBOY
"Perfect for military enthusiasts."
KIRKUS REVIEWS
Customer Reviews:
The creation of The Delta Force.......2007-08-14
Eric Haney, tells his tale as one of the founding members of the Delta Force, and what it took to to become a member. This book is filled with tons of informative information, plus little trinkets Eric toss's in here and there(for instance fill a squirt gun with ammonia to knock a man out).
However there is nothing other, then the selection process to become a delta member, and training. There is not a journal from jungle missions, to desert ops(although Haney makes reference to comrades he later fights with, some of whom die).
Despite that, this book is still very appealing. It teaches you the stunning thing these men are capable of, such as boarding airplanes in flight and the rigourous training, that makes them as close to invincible as any man will ever become.
All in all, great book, great group of men it's based on.
Inside Delta Force.......2007-06-13
I enjoyed this book as an"intro" into how special forces work. I love the show "The Unit" and this book tells about how things work in the military that we as citizens never know exits. It was fascinating!
Good Book for Teens.......2007-05-07
This book gives the reader an in depth view of training for the most top secert/elite unit in the U.S. Army, the Special Forces (Delta). The author states several times that he will try to give as much detail as he can without breaching unit security. With the riggerous training and grulling psychological testing, there are some instances of humor, I will not go into any detail. To find out you will just have to read it for your self.
Delta Force.......2007-01-19
I purcahsed this book for a present and it came in quickly and in great shape.
HOLY CR@P!!!.......2007-01-11
i could not put this book down... front to back in one setting! personally, i have been waiting for this book for years, and i am so glad sgt. haney has led the way! i only wish i had an autographed copy so i could meet the man himself.
anyone who has heard stories about this unit, and has thought and pondered the challenges and sacrifices of our nation's best, will savor every detail and word in this book, as he reveals how much strength and determination these men apply. these men can overcome...anything!
sgt. haney has brought so much honor to those men who serve. anyone who reads this book will realize, that the only reason americans can sleep peacefully at night is because of men who are prepared to face the evil of the world at a moments notice! god bless em!
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