Customer Reviews

CAP Mot: The Story of a Marine Special Forces Unit in Vietnam, 1968-1969 (Was & the Southwest)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I can only attempt to tell the public of the book Cap Mot as being without a doubt the most accurate as well as the most outstanding account of the Cap Marines that served in these units. As an assistant squad leader in Cap 1-2-3, I was positioned in an AO that was connecting to Cap Mot. As anyone who reads this book will soon find out, you will be spell bound upon opening the cover, until it is literally consumed. You will step into this book and into the sand and scents of the villages and hamlets. You will also find that you will read again and again every page. It is a very captivating book that will show what it was like being in a Marine special forces unit. You will find yourself lying in the sand and rain during a typical night ambush. An outstanding book that should be read by all who wishes to get a true account of life in a SAT-CAP (Special Ambush Team, Combined Action Platoon).

I read this book for an English project just a few weeks ago. We were required to read a non-fiction book and write a review on it. I chose CAP Mot after it was recommended to me by several people. After reading I was sincerely impressed. I would copy and paste my book review on here for all to read, but that would take up a lot of space so I'm just going to sum it up real fast. I'm not really one that is interested in war books, but this book really caught my attention. To begin, Goodson tells facts in the way of a story and makes it interesting. It isn't like reading a history book. He uses outstaniding imagry, to the point of you feeling as if you are seeing a movie play before you. Although he does use a little of military jargon, all is explained and defined in the footnotes at the end of each chapter. Also, his detail is truly magnificent. As I read the book, I felt like I was in Vietnam right along with the characters. There is so much more I could say, but I have already written a lot, so I'm just going to say that this book is the best non-fiction book I have ever read. I definately recommend this book to all who are interested in war, history, Vietnam, or anyone who is interested in a good read. This is not a joke!!! I seriously enjoyed this book, and that's a lot for me to say because I'm a girl, 15, and seriously not interested in war books of any kind. Mr. Goodson you did a GREAT job!

This is an excellent book for a number of reasons. First, it is a poignant and heart-wrenching memoir of a young Marine in Vietnam. The lucid voice of a sensitive and thoughtful warrior reverberates throughout the text. Secondly, this book covers a little known aspect of the war: The Marine Corps Combined Action Platoons (CAP). Goodson gives an excellent account of his unit's objectives and operations. It is one of the few books that gives a sense of what the war was like where it was really fought - at the village level. Moreover, this book shows what could have been if only the high command had fought a true counter-insurgency campaign. One cannot help but feel that Goodson's small squad achieved more than whole battallions of regular troops. This book is a must for those who truly wish to understand the war. And for any military history buff, it is a war memoir of an exceptional caliber.

This book is a rare and honest revisit of our graduation into manhood in Viet Nam. I agree with and believe every word this author wrote because I know him personally,and have the greatest respect for "THE BEAR". It was painful, yet refreshing to revisit that part of my life, but it was also good therapy as well. I was a Commando in the Special Operations Forces, during Tet 68 and I don't know of any Special Forces unit who had a tougher day to day job than the CAP units. This book teaches even those of us who WERE there a greater sence of respect for these unsung heroes.

Barry Goodson does a superb job documenting his experiences and challenges in CAP MOT. I can confirm his description of the CAP MOT environment, because I was there in the same area at the same time serving in a US Army unit and indirectly involved in some of the dangerous events that Barry experienced. The CAP teams were elite and effective organizations This is one of only two books ( "What a soldier Gives" is the second) that I consider accurate descriptions of the basic warrior in the Vietnam war. Barry "tells it like it was"! Military historians should use it as a reference, future leaders should use it as a guide to leadership under stress(both do's and dont's), and American citizens and politicians should use it as a reminder of the sacrifice that military people experience when committed to war. The reader will understand how elite and brave Barry and his CAP MOT truly was. CAP MOT is not only a historical record but it is also intertaining reading as a result of Barry's superb writing techniques. I recommend it for all readers. I salute Barry for a job well done. Larry Beale Colonel(RET) USA

The story of one marines tour of duty in Vietnam. It's not your usually story of soldiers on fire bases. Theses marines lived in the jungle, side by side with the people of the villages of Vietnam. Great book, couldn't put it down.

Great inside and prespective of the untold story of forgotten units of Marines. However the title is misleading. There were Marine Special Operations/Forces Units in Nam and those were Reconnassaince units not CAP Plts.

I had to read CAP Mot as another war book. Althought I served in a mobile CAP and we operatd differently I could still see the sights, hear the sounds, and feel the danger that was involved. I too was critical of some of what I read but I was close enough to understand and disagree. Accept the book as a book, not all history and not all fiction. I would characterize a combat unit as an unconvential force. It turned out to be a good read.

Incredible story about a little known facet of the USMC war efforts in Vietnam. Provides insight into the lives of these close-knit Marines who lived in the bush with no one to depend upon except themselves. Overcoming overwhelming odds these warriors developed close relations with the villages in their sector and with great efficiency beat the VC at their own game. Alot of lessons could be learned from reading this book. Also tells of the war the vets fought when they returned from Vietnam. Semper fidelis and well done thanks

I also spent time in a CAP UNIT in RVN, '68-'69, Thanks for getting our story out....before I was twenty years old I had more than 30 confirms, by the time I was twenty one years I had been wounded on several different occasions and finally, medically retired from the USMC. Again, Thanks......Semper fi. R.Elias, CPL. USMC Ret.