Customer Reviews

Green Ghosts

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LtCol Bill Floyd, USMC (ret), the first XO and then CO of this volunteer company formed in Camp Geiger, Camp Lejeune, NC in 1965, chronicles the Vietnam combat experiences of his highly trained Marines and navy corpsmen, commissioned for special duty in support of the 3D Marine Division along the DMZ. Writing from the heart, desiring to leave a written legacy of the men he deeply respected, Bill Floyd describes first person accounts of his men in combat against NVA regulars, men in covertly inserted 4-8 man recon teams, patrolling for several days often beyond the reach of supporting fire. Readers will taste the tension, the fear, the pride, and the professionalism of the men so respected by the writer. The personal accounts are stunning in scope. Recon Marines saved hundreds of their fellow grunts who would have faced overwhelming odds if the recon Marines had not executed their role so superbly often surrounded by NVA forces. Recon casualties were many but none of the wounded, the dead, or the survivors, would regret their great sacrifices, because of their pride and dedication to each other in their performance in accomplishing some of the most dangerous duty in Vietnam.
Bill (Doc) Bentley, 3d Force Recon, 1966-67.

This is a story, told in their own words, of the Marines and corpsmen of 3d Force reconnaissance company; it's a story of valor, sacrifice and, above all, devotion to their fellow Marines and sailors. Other books (Alex Lee's "Force Recon Command and Bruce Norton's "Force Recon Diary") have covered the company's latter years in Vietnam. This book begins with the formation of the company in 1965 and its initial deployment to Vietnam in 1966. I had the honor of serving as a platoon commander and intelligence officer in 1967/8. It was a highpoint of my life to serve with the men in this book.

When 3d Force Recon Co. was formed in October 1965 then Captain, W. C. Floyd was the initial executive officer. He took command of the company in June 1966 and remained in that billet until November 1967. He oversaw the training and preparation prior to and then the deployment to Vietnam. He has intertwined the accounts of the men in the company with historical notes from Ray Stubbe's Aarugha, the history of Marine Corps force reconnaissance, and his own perspective as the commanding officer. It is a story well worth reading.

There are many descriptions of patrolling in the field and enemy contacts. It's worth reading this book to benefit from the many "lessons learned" by recon teams working in extreme conditions. It's also an excellent account of equipment, tactics and techniques used in a war that is, for most of today's Marines, ancient history.

The book covers all aspects of company operations, from patrolling to support activities. Some of these, like the road convoys (called "rough riders") which inserted many teams and the communication network which kept the teams in contact with the rear, are important but little known parts of the overall recon operation.

One chapter is devoted to the courageous Navy corpsmen who were members of the company. These sailors were two time volunteers, first volunteering to serve with the FMF and second, to serve in force recon. Anyone who has served with corpsmen, particularly in combat, has the highest respect for these men.

I personally found the chapter titled "Reflections" the most moving part of the book. In this chapter, as the title indicates, members of the company, now all well into middle age, reflect back on what serving in 3d Force means to them. It, more than anything else, is a commentary on what was, for most of us, one of the high points of our lives.

I think present day Marines will enjoy this book, not only for the descriptions of combat in Vietnam but also for the deeper message of the bonding of men in war. I'm sure that many Marines who have served in Iraq can and will relate to the experiences and feelings in this book.

Reading through this book I found that it personifies the word "family". It is an excellent collection of anecdotes presented in a fashion that is neither subjective nor objective but something else...something that crosses all of these parameters and leaves the reader astonished that such things did in fact occur... perhaps this can only be classified as a "labor of love".
As a writer I found the book to be well crafted and of course extremely informative; but, as a poet I found it to be something more, something that forces it's way into the heart of the reader conguring a smile or perhaps a tear. Though he will never admit it...this effort was not an easy task for the author. This is his gift to those that he led into what was then the "worst place on Earth". I, along with many others, watched as he unselfishly wrote about the "teen-aged warriors" that would have followed him into the depths of Hell had he asked. I am proud to be mentioned in this wonderful work of art. From all of us, thanks Bill.
Eddie Delezen 3rd Force Recon Co. Nov. 1965 - Dec. 1968.
Author of ...Eye of the Tiger...and ...Thoughts Etched in Jade.

The author has presented an excellent historical account of a unique part of the Vietnam war which until now has largely gone untold. He has done this by combining personal accounts of Recon Marines with his own extensive hands-on experience. Of his 20 years on active duty, Lt. Col. Bill Floyd served 13 years in Reconnaissance and Special Operations billets.
In Vietnam 1967-68, he served in every capacity from Platoon to Battalion Commander of Recon Marines. Later he served as the Ground Reconnaissance and Special Operations Officer on the staff of the I Corps Commander/CG Third Marine Amphibious Force. In that capacity he got to see the full spectrum of all special operations conducted in the I Corps.

With his extensive background, he very eloquently presents facts and makes the case that Marine Recon patrols along the DMZ were performed in the most dangerous combat environment of the Vietnam war. The battles of the Third Marine Division along the DMZ were with NVA divisions whose artillery out-gunned and out-ranged American artillery. He points out that the Marines were not dealing with an elusive enemy but rather were met with well equipped and numerically superior North Vietnamese regulars who utilized the camouflage of the mountainous jungle to their fullest advantage. They were able to move large concentrations of troops around without being detected from the air. To counter this, Third Marine Division utilized reconnaissance teams extensively and with great effectiveness.

This book reveals just how difficult and dangerous it was to be a Recon Marine up along the DMZ. It is a lasting tribute to those who served and sacrificed in that capacity.

This ia an excellent book about some of the finest fighting men on earth.I would recommend it to anyone who wants to know the real war in VietNam.

First, a disclosure: W. C. Floyd, the editor of this book, is my uncle. Having said that, this collection of outstanding first-hand accounts told by the men of U. S. M. C. Third Force Reconnaissance is woven together by Floyd's personal narrative that gives perspective and continuity to the various accounts. Force Recon is the Special Operations unit of the United States Marine Corps. Floyd, who commanded the unit for 17 months, steps aside in the body of the book, away from the limelight to let the exploits and actions of his men shine. These men daily risked their lives, infiltrated deep into enemy territory, fought hand-to-hand, confronted hardships and suffered losses that are difficult to imagine or understand. I believe that this, and books like it, are vitally important to preserve for posterity accurate accounts of the reality of war. And in this case, a particularly difficult and hard fought war along, and north of, the DMZ.

In addition to these individual accounts, Floyd pays tribute by listing all who served with particular attention to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as the wounded. He also presents the citations of those who were highly decorated, including 2LT Terrence C. Graves who received the Medal of Honor.

I highly recommend this book to historians, military buffs, and all Americans who want to understand the meaning of the phrase, freedom is not free.