Customer Reviews

Expendable Elite: One Soldier's Journey into Covert Warfare

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Howdy,

I am Kris Millegan and representing the publisher TrineDay, am here to tell you that the book Expendable Elite was the focus of Libel trial in Federal District Court in Charleston South Carolina. The Special Forces Association financed the action and supplied the attorneys. There was a five day trial in-front of eight jurors. Lt.Col. Marvin and TrineDay's defense was the book was true and that we had not defamed anyone.

We were defendants compelled to appear and stand-up for our good names and reputations. The plaintiffs testified that their was no action, that their camp was a "resort." That the "book was 100% lies." That is all that they brought forth in testimony, excepting three retired soldiers; a former top JAG, retired Major General, who testified that the men broke a General Order (which not he or anybody can produce), and two soldiers (one a Medal of Honor winner) that weren't there.

We brought pictures, newspaper articles, letters and audio-tapes made by the plaintiffs themselves (which substantiated every major point of the story), and a deposition of a twenty-year veteran of the San Diego police department, a gentleman who was a Vietnamese translator who also verified personally aspects of Lt. Col. Marvin's story.

Lt.Col. Marvin and TrineDay were found unanimously NOT GUILTY in a little over two hours.

You see folks, most of the negative reviews generated here have come about because of a campaign by the Special Forces Association. In intelligence parlance it is called a steamroller operation. The SFA has drove the steamroller before. Covering up our history. Not hiding it from our enemies but from us, citizens. Denying us a true account or our history ... so they may continue their ungodly wars.

I also find interesting that Amazon runs interference also by continuing to try a sell the paperback, when they know it has never been printed. They keep taking orders and messing with folks. They don't do it with other books of mine that didn't make it all the way to market. Interesting.

Right now there are just a few hundred books left. Hopefully, TrineDay will recover from the staggering cost of defending ourselves and we will finally issue the paperback (with updates) in the fall of 2006.

Peace,

Kris Millegan

The negative reviews of this book made me decide to purchase it. Why? Because the attacks on the book were not substantive, the critics only said it "isn't true". They provided no evidence to make me think this book is fiction. It's hard to see how he has profited financially from the book, it seems the opposite is the case. I can't say it is "true" either, but the critics provide no basis to make me believe them.
(Since this review was written I have found further information that may be of help to readers. Click on the comment for more detail)

This review is in response the people who think they know better without having any true knowledge at all. This book is, without even the littlest of doubt, truthful to the core. I personally know Major Phoi, the Vietnamese SF officer and a very competent and religious man, who is included in the book and by no means do I discredit what LTC Marvin has written about this topic. Instead of what some other people might say, this is a wonderful book, not only outlining the realities of our government but also gives proper homage to the South Vietnamese soldiers who fought for right and freedom.

Thank you for reading and God Bless,
Cdt Nguyen
USC ROTC

It is important that you look into the CIA involvement in this book wherein I tell of their coming to my camp - an Agent named Walter MacKem and his blonde sidekick - and asked me to send my men (Buddhist Hoa Hao irregular fighters)into Cambodia and ambush and Kill then Cambodian Crown Prince Norodum Sihanouk, making it appear that he was killed by the Viet Cong. Read where I demanded a quid pro-quo with then President Johnson having to go before the American people and tell them he was taking the enemy sanctuaries away from them (He had permitted the enemy safe-havens all along the Cambodian border inside Cambodia) and would permit our forces to go after the enemy no matter where they were (All of our SF camps along the border with Cambodia [with exception of mine under Top Secret Orders] wered under orders not to fire into or enter into Cambodia) . When Pres. Johnson refused to do so, I cancelled the mission and ordered CIA Agent MacKem out of my camp. Then read where the CIA sent an ARVN regiment to attack my camp in An Phu District and kill us all. It was General Quang Van Dang, with hsi American senior advisor (Colonlel William Desobry) who went against the CIA and Premier Ky and ordered the Regiment back to its station. There is corroboration for all these items shown clearly in notes in the book. This is a must read as it tells the reader what evil took place, why I consider General Westmoreland a coward for mot demandinig an end to enemy safe-havens and how the war could have been won IF our government had wanted to win it.

Dangerous Dan Marvin is one of the finest and bravest persons I know. The one star reviews show how important this book is. They are disinformation and discreditation! Read this book and you'll see that I am right. This book is one of the best documented you will ever read. It's about the naked truth and hypocracy of the Vietnam war, told by the only Green Beret awarded by Vietnam fighters with the "purple scarf" for courage and bravery. Dan had to shop for years before he found a small publisher with balls enough to bring it to you. Needless to say, it's an eye opener, even more so in light of the present time.

I know Lieutenant Colonel Dan Marvin to be a man who tells the truth and a man of great character. The publishing of this book was at great personal sacrifice. The only reason for writing this book is so the world will know the truth. I have seen much of the evidence reference by Dan Marvin, enough to convince me that his story is true. He will readily share it those seek to know the truth. Dan loves the Special Forces and the honorable men who serve our country. The problem lies with those in power who abuse their power. Dan loves his Lord and Savor Jesus Christ. As a man who deeply loves his God and country, he is compelled to tell his story. There is no personal glory for him in writing this book. I hope you will consider this great man and his story. This book has been a tremendous blessing to me and I'd like to thank Lieutenant Colonel Dan Marvin for his faithful service.

On this 23rd day of August 2003 I find it sad indeed, Pete Buscetto, that you and others in the Special Forces Association appear, from what you write, to believe it more important to be loyal to those who perpetrated evil so long as they wear the green beret of the "elite Special Forces" rather than to be supportive of those who seek to bring out the truth of certain evil, even heinous crimes that were in fact carried out by Special Forces with the goal being a truly honorable and indeed "Elite" Special Forces organization. Perhaps you should want first to support and defend the constitution of the United States of America and not those who would sponsor and direct actions opposing same.
I last spoke with General William P. Yarborough on 2 October 1997 when I called (and recorded the conversation) to congratulate him for the courage it took to admit to those acts against Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that our Special Forces were involved in, thinking he had supplied crucial evidence to William E. Pepper for his book Orders to Kill - The Truth Behind the Murder of Martin Luther King, J., which he vehemently denied. I asked him to comment on the fact that the training I received at the Special Warfare Center on Smoke Bomb Hill at Fort Bragg in the Spring of 1964 on assassination and terror techniques, actually titled "counter-assassination and counter sabotage techniques" was conducted by CIA personnel with SF staff assisting.
General Yarborough stated unequivocally, "Well, yeh, there was, there was.." (with regard to the training) and that "We had CIA advisors on the faculty, yes. And we coordinated with them..."
Captain Rudi Gresham called me later that day (I recorded that call also), obviously from his tone of voice, disturbed that I'd called General Yarborough directly, and told me "I can speak on behalf of the US Army, the US Army Special Forces and the Special Forces Association and I'm also the National spokesperson for all network affiliates and all newspapers." I ask the reader to judge the statement for his or herself. He was obviously trying to come across as an all powerful individual. Rudi was careful to point out that no matter what I knew by personal involvement, my primary focus should be that of being loyal to Special Forces."
It was shortly after that, when it was known to Jimmy Dean that I had turned over truthful evidence to William E. Pepper about SF illegal gunrunning, that I was removed from the roles of the Special Forces Association (SFA). I pray for the day when the SFA is again an organization of the finest military personnel that is dedicated to duty, honor and integrity.
Pete Buscetto, I did not attempt to build my credibility by using the names of others - except to note in my book those who had corroborated virtually everything in my book with exception of Chapter Two - Massacre West of Rach Gia. My team members, including then Lieutenant John Strait, my XO, after reading the original manuscript in 1988, provided me with signed or audio-taped corroboration on those parts of the book they personally experienced, understanding the normal passing of troops through any activity. Former ARVN General Quang Van Dang, who was cleared of all the false allegations against him by the CIA in retribution for his having come to our rescue (Chapter 13) when the CIA had sent an ARVN regiment to kill us, and before the CIA invited him to their Virginia hqs and intimidated him into signing an oath of silence, spent four days at my home in Ithaca, NY, recording in his own hand all of the events of his life to include his coming with US Army Colonel William Desobry to turn the ARVN regiment back from attacking my camp. My counterpart, former ARVN Major Phoi Van Le has corroborated all that is written in my book that involved him, including the CIA's assassination plot against Cambodian Crown Prince Sihanouk .
I would be happy to have the President of SFA and my former team members from An Phu come to Syracuse, New York for a face to face debate of up to five hours that would be videotaped and hosted by Special Forces SFC Jerry Willsey, President of Chapter 61 and a "neutral" party only wanting to help heal the wounds in SFA caused by the struggle against the truth.
The fact that old people die cannot be helped, Pete Buscetto, but most have left memoirs of one kind or another.
Toward the future understanding of the truth and positive action taken to assure that similar heinous activities will cease to exist in the wide spectrum of activities the SF are particularly well suited for. The courage, honor and integrity of the vast majority of SF personnel is well recognized by the undersigned.
LTC Daniel Marvin, US Army Special Forces (Retired)
AKA Dangerous Dan

I read this book after watching an interview with Col Marvin on a history channel documentary special. Col Marvin is a hero for sharing his experiences with readers. His role in the expansion of the Vietnam War and the aftermath provides a window into the functioning of the US government and its policies. I look forward to reading Marvin's next book and learning more about his life story. Often times truth is stranger than fiction.

I thank the CIA folks for 1 Starring this book and repeating themselves when they seek to discredit the author's memory and veracity.

In your own way you have encouraged me to read the book and pass it around to others. After all, if more Americans finally learn the truth about you and your dirty deeds, we will have a chance of wrestling this once great nation from your grip and return it to the Constitutional Republic as originally crafted by the Founding Fathers.

This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it.