Green Berets at War: U.S. Army Special Forces in Southeast Asia, 1956-1975 [Mass Market Paperback]

Shelby L. Stanton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1999

"THE GREEN BERET . . . A SYMBOL OF EXCELLENCE,
A MARK OF DISTINCTION, AND
A BADGE OF COURAGE."

Though engaged in the United States' longest and most controversial military action, the Green Berets rose above the fray to establish an awesome reputation based on their extraordinary skill, discipline, bravery, and sacrifice. Now, with access to information declassified for the very first time, Shelby Stanton--author, military historian, Green Beret, and Vietnam vet--presents the first and most authoritative, comprehensive, and detailed battlefield history of Special Forces in the Vietnam War.

Making use of firsthand combat interviews, original records, and his own Special Forces experience, Stanton presents a vivid, unvarnished, and thoroughly researched account of one of the best and most highly decorated special-operations units ever. Here are the real stories behind the legends of combat valor and battlefield success forged by U.S. Army Special Forces during more than a decade of fighting in the tropical swamps and deep jungles of Southeast Asia.

With photos, maps, charts, and special sections on Congressional Medal of Honor winners and MIAs

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"THE GREEN BERET . . . A SYMBOL OF EXCELLENCE,
A MARK OF DISTINCTION, AND
A BADGE OF COURAGE."

Though engaged in the United States' longest and most controversial military action, the Green Berets rose above the fray to establish an awesome reputation based on their extraordinary skill, discipline, bravery, and sacrifice. Now, with access to information declassified for the very first time, Shelby Stanton--author, military historian, Green Beret, and Vietnam vet--presents the first and most authoritative, comprehensive, and detailed battlefield history of Special Forces in the Vietnam War.

Making use of firsthand combat interviews, original records, and his own Special Forces experience, Stanton presents a vivid, unvarnished, and thoroughly researched account of one of the best and most highly decorated special-operations units ever. Here are the real stories behind the legends of combat valor and battlefield success forged by U.S. Army Special Forces during more than a decade of fighting in the tropical swamps and deep jungles of Southeast Asia.

With photos, maps, charts, and special sections on Congressional Medal of Honor winners and MIAs

About the Author

Shelby L. Stanton is a noted military historian. During the conflict in Vietnam, he was commissioned as an infantry officer of the U.S. Army and completed the Airborne, Ranger, and Special Forces Officer courses. His six years on active military duty included service throughout Southeast Asia, where he earned the Vietnam service and campaign medals. He was also decorated for advisory duty in direct support of Cambodian operations. After being wounded in Laos, he was medically retired with the rank of captain.

Stanton received a B.A., M.Ed., and J.D. from Louisiana State University. He is also the author of Rangers at War; Rise and Fall of an American Army: U.S. Ground Forces in Vietnam, 1965-1973; Vietnam Order of Battle; and Order of Battle, U.S. Army, World War II.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 383 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; Reprint edition (May 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804118841
• ISBN-13: 978-0804118842
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,538,511 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most comprehensive record of SF operations in SE Asia, February 3, 2001

By 

Jeffrey L. Guthery (Seoul Korea (South)) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Green Berets at War: U.S. Army Special Forces in Southeast Asia, 1956-1975 (Mass Market Paperback)

I made the decision to join Special Forces in 1987 after reading this book. It is by far the most detailed and comprehensive account of Special Forces units and missions in Southeast Asia. There are plenty of "There I was ....." books written by SF men who fought there, and these are great reads and definitely of great historical importance, but this one puts all of it into chronological order. The book begins with the activation of 1st Special Forces Group in 1957 and ends with the final missions of the early 70s. All major operations and facets of SF participation are covered, to include MACV-SOG, CIDG, LLDB, and the Mike Force units. I give this book 5 stars in spite of the fact that the author has failed to respond to allegations in the book "Stolen Valor," which maintains that the author lied about participating in combat missions as well as being wounded in Laos, and used thousands of stolen unit records to write this and other historical works. These accusations do not detract from the book's quality, but if they are true I give the author zero stars for integrity.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Detailed review of Special Forces 1956-1975, March 5, 2004

By 

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

This review is from: Green Berets at War: U.S. Army Special Forces in Southeast Asia 1956-1975 (Paperback)

This is a volume that gives details and a lot of names of individuals who served in Special Forces from 1956 to 1975.

Vietnam is covered in some detail. There are chapters on SF in Okinawa, Laos, including the White Star operation, The Montagnards, operation Switchback, the LLDB, Tet, The Green Beret Navy, the Mike Forces, CIDG program.

There are maps showing where the SF operatied, including Laos and Thailand.
There are sections also on the SF MIA's and on the Medal of Honor Winners.

This is a good book for anyone wanting to know about the SF in the years covered.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Special Forces Comes Of Age..., July 12, 2008

By 

D. S. Thurlow (Alaska) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Green Berets at War: U.S. Army Special Forces in Asia, 1956-75 (Paperback)

"Green Berets At War", originally published in 1985, is a superbly researched account of the actions of U.S. Army Special Forces during the wars in Indochina 1956-1975. It is also the narrative of the coming of age of U.S. Army Special Forces.

The Special Forces (Green Berets) were officially founded in 1952, with an orientation on the expected struggle with Communism for the fate of Europe. The departure of the French from Indochina created new opportunities for the employment of Special Forces. The 77th Special Forces Group trained elements of the Laotian Army in the late 1950's, while the 1st Special Forces Group provided the initial cadres for U.S. involvement in South Vietnam. The 5th Special Forces took up the full-time mission in Southeast Asia in the early 1960's.

Stanton examines an amazing variety of missions in great detail. Special Forces teams trained indigenous irregular groups to contest Communist infiltration through the border areas of Vietnam. They trained their South Vietnamese special forces counterparts. They conducted highly dangerous special reconnaissance across Southeast Asia. Not least, Special Forces conducted counterinsurgency missions using a variety of mixed U.S. and indigenous units, included the famous "Mike" forces.

The Special Forces campaign in South Vietnam was a valuable if not always welcome adjunct to the conventional war effort of Military Assistance Command-Vietnam (MAC-V). Small Green Beret teams achieved a remarkable force multiplier effect in the vastness of a jungled and mountainous subcontinent. Twelve-man A Teams trained and led the Civilian Irregular Defense Groups against Communist supply routes and base structure. Special Forces reconaissance teams on both sides of the borders provided a significant percentage of the human intelligence available to MAC-V. The presence of respected American personnel helped keep marginal populations like the Montagnards, shunned by the South Vietnamese, in the fight against Communism.

Stanton pulls no punches with respect to the difficulties, from the challenges of keeping the teams stocked with trained and experienced personnel to the vulnerability of units operating beyond the easy reach of U.S. reinforcements and firepower, to the political battles over the conduct of the war both inside and outside Vietnam.

Stanton's "Green Berets At War" provides an impressive and detailed narrative of Special Forces in the struggle for Southeast Asia. It is highly recommended to students of that conflict and of special operations forces.