Mobile Guerrilla Force: With the Special Forces in War Zone D (Naval Institute Special Warfare) [Hardcover]

James C. Donahue (Author), Francis Kelly (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1996 | Series: Naval Institute Special Warfare

Without artillery support, without reinforcements, they turned a suicide mission into a success.

Battered and depleted by the Vietcong guerrillas' sadistic style of warfare, allied intelligence unleashed their secret weapon: an experimental Army Special Forces unit that the government brass didn't know existed. They used the enemy's booby-trapped trails and grenade-in-you-backpack tactics in a sprawling mass of jungle.

James C. Donahue, a member of Operation Blackjack-31, chronicles the treacherous trek through War Zone D by thirteen handpicked Green Berets who infiltrated the VC's "secret zone" and proved just how far determination can go.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Donahue has captured the sight, scent, and emotions of the ultimate unconventional soldier in this highly accurate account of the guerilla fighter in Vietnam." --David Christian, Past National Commander, Legion of Valor, Author of Victor Six

"Jim Donahue tells it like it was. Mobile Guerilla Force is an outstanding book. A must read for Vietnam vets." --Allen "Gunner" Kent, Past Commander in Chief, Veterans of Foreign Wars

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

James C. Donahue joined the Marine Corps when he was seventeen years old and subsequently served with the Marines through the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Once discharged from the Corps, he enlisted in the Army and volunteered for Special Forces. As a Green Beret, he served with the 6th and 7th Special Forces Groups (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Vietnam. Donahue fought with Detachment A-343 at Duc-Phong and Mobile Guerrilla Force Detachments A-303, A-304, A-361, B-36 at Bien-Hoa, No-Ngoc-Tao, and Trang-Sup.

After earning a bachelor's degree in anthropology and a master's degree in social sciences at the State University of New York at Buffalo, Donahue went to work for the U.S. Department of Labor's Veteran's Employment and Training Service, and currently serves as assistant director. His first book, No Greater Love, was awarded the Freedom Foundation's George Washington Honor Medal. He lives in Glenwood, New York.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 205 pages
• Publisher: US Naval Institute Press; First Printing edition (March 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557501726
• ISBN-13: 978-1557501721
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 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: #1,483,306 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A stunnigly real look into the minds of our Special Forces, March 30, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Mobile Guerrilla Force: With the Special Forces in War Zone D (Naval Institute Special Warfare) (Hardcover)

I have read "Mobile Guerilla Force", "BlackJack 33", and "BlackJack 34" All three of the books are an amazing read, not the typical blood, mud and tears, hovever there is unfortunately a historically real amount of that as well. Not only do you get a sence of what life was like as a special operations operator in VietNam, but the laughs as well as the sorrows of day to day life in VietNam. The author also opened a porthole into the relationship that was built with the indiginous peoples that fought along side the Mobile Geurilla Force whose heroism is nothing short of legondary. As a reader, one can see the author settle into a comfortable writing niche' and progressively make each page seemingly more personal and real ("in the first person" if you will) to the reader. More stories like these need to be told of the triumphs of American Gi's in VietNam.
POW, MIA, VFW, Thankyou, you are not forgotten!
Sincerely Jc

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good book about jungle combat, October 7, 2003

By 

scriptmasterj "scriptmasterj" (No Cal) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mobile Guerrilla Force: With The Special Forces In War Zone D (Mass Market Paperback)

Mobile Guerilla Force is a very good book about the only American unit to use guerrilla style hit and run tactics during the Vietnam war. This book chronicles a mission called Blackjack 31 that lasted nearly a month in VC territory. The light company of 13 Americans and Cambodians successfully navigate this enemy sanctuary, the infamous War Zone D. During this mission they called in 27 airstrikes, raided 15 base camps, & fought 51 engagements in some of the harshest terrain in the world. The vivid and dark jungles are brought to life with amazing clarity. The strength of this book is that you feel the danger of moving through the jungle and at any time may face a violent sudden death. I enjoyed learning about the Bodes and was impressed with how they can fight and keep up with the highly trained Americans. This book is highly reccomended to those interested about Special Forces, the war in Vietnam, or Guerrilla Warfare. It is a fast read and you will be impressed with this story.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MGF - What you would expect from Mr. Donahue, January 28, 2002

By 

Ken Laine (Detroit, MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mobile Guerrilla Force: With The Special Forces In War Zone D (Mass Market Paperback)

I have read at least 2 dozen books on combat in Vietnam and this is one of the best. The book is very well written. The author really makes you feel as if you are walking in the jungle of Vietnam side by side members of the mobile guerrilla force.