Force Recon Command: A Special Marine Unit in Vietnam, 1969-1970 (Naval Institute Special Warfare Series) [Hardcover]

Alex Lee (Author), Alfred M. Gray (Foreword)

Book Description

Series: Naval Institute Special Warfare Series | Publication Date: September 1995

The no-holds-barred account of an elite group of Marines and their little known missions into North Vietnam.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Alex Lee commanded the Third Force Reconnaissance Company in Vietnam from 1969 to 19670. Made up of small units of specially trained U. S. Marines, that company conducted long-range patrols deep in Northern I Corps (including the infamous Ashau Valley) to gather intelligence about the North Vietnamese Army. An intelligent effective operator who led by example, Lee was also brash and excruciatingly honest, and in this controversial, no-hold-barred account, he takes the wraps off this select group of courageous and intrepid Marines. A master storyteller, the colonel leads the reader through harrowing, and often deadly missions in the enemy-dominated Ashau, where the Recon Marines were always vastly outnumbered and support was miles away. Days of silent observation could, and often did, erupt into savage, running firefights and hot extractions. With the sensibility of a novelist, Lee brings vividly to life the spirit and character of his Force Rcon Marines and the deadly jungle that was both friend and foe. More than a memoir of Vietnam war stories, this rank and absorbing chronicle traces the evolution of marine small unit reconnaissance from its origins in World War II, analyses its use and abuse in Vietnam, and offers a provocative but useful legacy of lessons learned from a career dedicated to an elite within the elite. Lee tells it like it was, sparing none of the acid that alienated many and ended his stellar military career. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Hardcover: 296 pages
• Publisher: US Naval Institute Press (September 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557505136
• ISBN-13: 978-1557505132
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,551,242 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Factual, I was there, October 9, 2001

By 

Steve Parrish (Green Cove Springs, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Force Recon Command (Mass Market Paperback)

Sir, Your accounting of the abilities of our teams brought back so many memories. The price we had to pay is still so unknown to so many. I carry the memory of my friend and teammate Sgt.A.Garcia with me every day. I am proud that I had the honor to serve under you and with men like him. For those who fought for it freedom has a taste the protected will never know.
Doc Parrish 3rd. Force Recon 1969-1970

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable men, passing too soon from our lives..., September 6, 2001

By 

TD Midgette (Vienna, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Force Recon Command (Mass Market Paperback)

I believe this is a very balanced work, and sets forth a compelling remembrance of the good and great men who served under unspeakable conditions, and gained little by it for themselves but silent honor.

I bought and read this book, after returning from the funeral of my friend's father, Lt. Col. Buck Coffman, this past weekend (1 Sept., '01). Col. Coffman was a fascinating, remarkable man who served his nation well. Sometimes, perhaps, better than it's people deserved. I knew him apart from his role as warrior (though ALWAYS a Marine), and he set a standard to aspire to, as a man and as Man. He was loved truly by his family and friends.

At his memorial service, I had the privelege of meeting the author, Col. Lee, as well as Maj. Norton, Col. Morris, Gen. Gray and several of the other courageous men who served with them in the Marines; men written of in this book. Each and every one of them impressed me with their intelligence, decency and honor, and for the love they so obviously share for one another.

I am now starting on Doc Norton's Force Recon Diaries. I am very grateful to the men who write these books. We should always remember that giants DO walk the earth. I'm honored to have spent a time, even but a moment, in the shadow of one.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Long Range Patrolling by the Marines, February 12, 2004

By 

Thomas H. Savery (Loganville, Ga) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Force Recon Command (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a great book by Alex Lee that describes his experiences commanding a Marine recon company near the DMZ in 1969-70.
He does and excellent job describing the perils of even getting to his assigned position at the time, as different personnel shops wanted to Shanghi him for other duties. Only appeals to the commanding general in his area got him to his post.
His group was an outcast outfit that had to scrounge for equipment. He had fights with rear echelon people to get adequate gear and air support. He had one Lt. that turned out to be a coward and almost caused many other casualties. He was gotten rid of, and later, back in the states found that the Lt was about to be made Cpt. He described what had happened, and the person resigned from the Marines.
He had 6 person teams inserted to do recon work. Some headquarters people thought that 8 person teams were better, ignoring the fact that only 6 can be put on one chopper.
He was given direct orders to put in 8 man teams, and just ignored them.
A Col Patton even said his men were liars when they reported trucks at Ashau. Later, truck parts were taken from Ashau and presented to the Col's assistant, as Col Patton was not there.

Maj Lee had to scrounge supplies from the Army, Air Force, Navy, the CIA, and even rations from the Australians.
The bravery of the helicopter pilots is described in some detail. He rode with one pilot on a mission that got the pilot the Navy Cross. Maj Lee got no award, even though he was right behind the pilot the whole time.
Maj Lee went on several missions himself, so has detail memory of those events. A tiger was around on one of their patrols, keeping everyone awake.
The lack of security of B-52 missions was discussed. Many were wasted as the North Vietnamese were told days in advance that a target was to be bombed, so they got out of the way.
Effects of B-52 raids is described, as his unit went to see the after affects of the bombings in his sector. When they did hit something, the carnage was great.
The book describes a group of very brave men, doing a very difficult mission. They knew that the U.S. was pulling out of Vietnam, and could have coasted, but did not.