| The Secret Wars of America's Commandos in Vietnam by John L. Plaster
by Dave Pascoe |
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Unlike many other recon books, SOG features fairly extensive background on the whys and wherefores of its operations. The lack of same is not a fault of similar books, but rather stems from the fact that other recon units were often kept out of the intel loop and in the dark by officers who used LRRP's in just about any way they saw fit. Not subject to MACV command, SOG units were an integral part of the intel effort (what with the CIA being one of its parents), and as such were often given extensive background and intel briefings by their independent commanders. This increased SOG's performance immeasurably, and the lack of which was later to prove one of the primary causes of high mortality rates of other recon teams that were often sent out with no intel whatsoever. SOG turns out to be quite a bit more scholarly than its catchy title might suggest. Despite being highly detailed, it remains eminently readable and decidedly engaging. There's enough adrenaline flowing here to keep any excitement junky turning the pages through the wee hours of the night. Most importantly, at least in my view, SOG does an excellent job in setting the stage for all the special force unit operations that follow. If you're interested in pursuing the many books on special forces operations, I'd recommend reading this one first.
The Secret Wars... Other Great Recon Books: "Never Without Heros," Lawrence C. Vetter, Ivy Books, 1996, Paperback. Marine Third Recon Battalion in Vietnam, 1965-70. Another exceptionally well researched and written book based on hundreds of interviews by a veteran of that battalion. Small print in 338 pages covers dozens of ops mainly in Military Region One. I rate this book as one of the best on the subject of recon patrol action, tactics, battles and the conflicts between the reconners and their commanders. It sheds a lot of light on the concrete bound mentality of Marine leadership, without engaging in direct criticism. While the Army pioneered air mobile Calvary with the Huey UH-1 helicopter, we discover here how the Marine attitude toward air mobility, its failure to keep pace with evolving tactics and equipment, and how its reliance on aging and unsuitable aircraft (Sea King, CH 46 & CH 53 helicopters) doomed hundreds, if not thousands of Marines to their deaths. We also discover why the Army had long ago stopped "prepping' their LZ's because it was like holding up a neon sign over the LZ saying, "here we are!" Yet the Marine command continued to maintain this preparation as standard doctrine. "Six Silent Men," A three book trilogy on the 101 LRP/Rangers by Gary A. Linderer, Reynel Martinez, and Kenn Miller. Ivy Books, 1997, paperback. Each of the three books has a separate author although the material was researched and assembled by all three. Originally intending to write just one book, it became too long and was broken up into three books. The Army recon experience contrasted with that of SOG and the Marines, based strictly on personal accounts. These are war stories at their finest, replete with all the trials and tribulations encountered from the enemy without, and the enemy within. While not particularly critical of US command, the authors are not shy in criticizing how both Washington and in-country Commanders pervert the recon function to roles the LRP's were not trained or intended to accomplish, such as combat support. |
 You'll also get a good look at the tremendous bond formed between the LRPs and their chopper pilots, and why so many of these officer pilots risked their lives time and again, displaying incredible feats of heroism. Good supporting background info and a generally easy and entertaining read. "Good to Go," Harry Constance and Randall Fuerst, Avon Books, 1997, paperback, 412 pages. The personal experiences of a Navy SEAL in Vietnam. Dates are often one of the Achilles heels of military non-fiction. The authors know the time frames, but often forget that the reader wasn't there by his side. So it is with this book, which is one of its few flaws. Who Randal Fuerst, the co-author is, the book doesn't say, but presumably it is his ghost writer who does a pretty good job of putting the material in order. The first hand accounts of missions and battles are most engaging, but I did feel that there is a bit too much of the author's personal history, particularly his trials and tribulations with his first wife. Even so, the book is well worth reading in order to gain a perspective on the SEAL method of recon, intel gathering, and taking it to the enemy. You can just skip over the man's personal problems. Aside from the great descriptions of the action -- and some hair-raising stuff at that -- the SEAL method of operation was much different, and in my view, considerably more effective than the methods employed by other recon units. That's mainly because like the SOG's, the SEALs were briefly given free reign in their ops and methods. It is also because these SEALs were trained in and took regional pacification doctrine seriously, quite unlike the Marines who made the big mistake of ignoring the role of the civilian. By the simple acts of befriending the locals and treating them with respect, these reconners were able to develop incredible flows of information. Conversely, the Marine commanders viewed pacification as sissy stuff. Woe to the Marines that ignoring the sissy stuff meant that indifferent villagers became enemy villagers, that friendly villages became enemy strongholds that were ultimately the undoing of Marine General Lewis Walt, who fought McNamara's and Westmoreland's pacification programs every inch of the way. In less than 18 months, the free reign of the SEALs was curtailed and the productivity of SEALs ops dropped off dramatically until their recon role was scrubbed altogether. Above all things, this book really sheds light on the potential of pacification, the failure of which is often blamed for the loss of the war. "First Force Recon Company, Sunrise at Midnight," Dr. Bill Peters, Ivy Books, 1999, paperback, 238 pages. Another personal Marine account of the Recon experience primarily in the the DaNang area valleys such as Elepant and Happy valleys and Que Son Mountains. Concentrates solely on the recon experience and is a good and exciting read. Join a discussion forum on this article by clicking HERE.
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