Customer Reviews

Force Recon Command

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4 star:		(1)
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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

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.

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.

I bought this book from Amazon, my favorite cyberspace mall! Alex Lee gives a good accounting on what it takes to accomplish objectives despite obstacles that are inherent in the command and control structure of the military organization. It's been that way since Caesar took on the Senate and lost. As Lee describes it, he and the 3rd Force Recon prevailed through the hardship and agony of a jungle war by carrying on the tradition of "The Old Breed." This should be one of the books for junior officers to read to inspire them on what it takes to adapt and overcome. Solid historical record of one period of time in I Corps with the 3rd Force Recon, United States Marine Corps. Semper Fi.

It seems that all of these Force Recon books are concerned with the war after 1969, during the downsizing of Americas involvement. dont they realize that the worst of the war was prior to that ,in 67-68. Also, i dont care for the way col. Lee is critical of the unit prior to his arrival. This very company was the first into the DMZ in 1967, it patrolled Con Thien in the bad days and patrolled the Khe Sanh area with 4 man teams. the company had a Medal of Honor winner and a number of Navy Crosses prior to his arrival. Regardless it is still an excellent book and the views above are mine alone.

I had a hard time putting this book down. Originally recommended to me by another Marine veteren, I found this book to be powerfully written and full of the kinds of things that make books great: The ability to generate different emotions, humor and educational. As a Marine Officer myself, I found that I was being taught about true leadership, loyalty and selflessness. It was a honor to have read this book and it occupies a special place on mine, and several other's, bookshelves.

Semper Fidelis

Captain M. P. Ferguson, USMC

I know Alex Lee, as well as "Doc" Norton and Paul "Old Man" Keaveney. A. Lee says this book, in my inscription, is a book about love , the love one man has for another, so he is willing to lay his life down for the other! I heartily suggest you read this book, if you want an honest, frank account of war, as seen through the eyes of the men who fought it! I have worked with these men, and written about them. I think the highest compliment I could get was when Alex Lee said to me, Kevin, we read what you wrote and know what was published. You are "One of My Marines"! As a Young Marine Support Staff person, I have had Paul Keaveney come and speak to our Young Marines. I have had "Doc" Norton Speak at our USMC Birthday Balls. They are fine Americans, and honest, dedicated loyal U. S. Marines.!!!!! Semper FI!!

Usually, there is one feature that really makes a book valuable to the reader. So valuable, in fact, that they will re-read the book several times and, so-to-speak, turn it into a reference volume for themselves. Such a book is Force Recon Command. The uniqueness of this book is the immense amount of material devoted to leadership styles and development. This book should be required reading for every Marine Corps junior officer. It is a gold mine of inside information about what makes one the kind of leader who is respected, loved, and followed by the men he leads. Such a leader was Alex Lee. Further, most of the leadership principles laid out in this book can have a direct application and effect upon business leaders of today.

Combines ruthlessly honest history with can't-put-it-down writing. An education and an emotional "E-ticket".

A WELL WRITTEN BOOK. PROVIDES GREAT INSIGHT AS TO THE PROBLEMS OF COMMAND WITH A HIGHLY SPECIALIZED MARINE UNIT. LEE SERVED WITH MAJOR DOC NORTON, WHO HAS WRITTEN FOUR BOOKS ON SIMILAR SUBJECTS. THEY ARE BOTH FINE WRITTERS. A GOOD HISTORY FOR VIETNAM READERS.