Customer Reviews

Phantom Warriors: Book I LRRPs, LRPs and Rangers in Vietnam

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Instead of a history of the LRRPS, LRPs and Rangers, this book is a collection of a single tale from each unit, but not all tales or all units. While each story is intense and well-written, we are left begging for more. In fact, I felt a bit let down. It was as though I were at a meeting of every living LRRP, LRP and Ranger, but could only have one story from one member of each unit. The result is a great collection of short stories, but not an authoritative history of the subject matter. A good read if you want a taste of the business, but should be retitled "The Best of ...." or something along that line.

I have read all of this author's books and found them all well written and captivating in description of the horrors of war, the brotherhood of warriors and the rise of ordinary American young men to heroic deeds in the face of a determined enemy. As an eye witness to some of the events described I find some of those all too captivating in their reality and accuracy. I consider it my extreme good fortune to have known the author both as dedicated warrior and true American patriot, who after leaving the Army has used his experiences in offering a strong hand or a sympathetic shoulder to any other veteran in need. Unfortunately, there is one veteran whose choice was to return that hand with teeth marks in it. This veteran, fancying himself as a modern day Oliver Twist frequently posts reviews laden with inaccurate and irrelevant staff duty logs as evidence that the actions on 20 Nov 68 never happened or are distorted fantasies created Gary Linderer. He often identifies himself as "a reader" or with handles like Mark Twain "Joy", but never his real name and all his facts Oliver Twisted. If Linderer fantasized the action of 20 Nov 68 it surely was a mass hallucination, taking in some 30 pilots, the Company Commander and even Commanding General of the 101st Airborne Division all who actually there that day Oliver. The dream was so realistic that team members and reaction force soldiers can still show one the scars inflicted by this author's imagination. It also took in an unknown, but clearly large number of enemy soldiers who spent the better part of ten hours trying to shoot me out of the sky every time I went near that hill. Maybe I just imagined myself in a very large hornets nest, but the difference was that I was there that day and Mr. Reader was not. Reader questions the author's awards, but fails to mention that the U.S. Army saw fit to hand out dozen of valorous awards for that action that included two Distinguished Service Crosses. I visited the author in the hospital the next day so I am convinced that he earned a Purple Heart that day whether it made it into his records or not. Have your mommy read you Mr. Dickens work again, you may discover that Oliver did get what he wanted when he asked for, "More please."

After having just completed Mr. Linderer's latest book, I must say that the he continues to write with excellent skill and story telling ability. I was once told the difference between a war story and a fairy tale is that a war story starts with, "This ain't no s***." Well PHANTOM WARRIORS "ain't no s***." PHANTOM WARRIORS is a high speed trail through a collection of stories from different units and their operational and geographical contrasts. This ruck sack of stories from other LRRP/Ranger units in Vietnam takes the reader from the Delta to the north end of the Ho Chi Minh trail and each step of the journey is sprinkled with booby traps, incompetent leaders, and fantastic acts of bravery, heroism, and examples of the of the LRRP/Ranger creeds, "Rangers Lead The Way" and "LRRPs Don't Leave LRRPs Behind." When you visit the military history section of your book store DON'T LEAVE PHANTOM WARRIORS BEHIND! The only critisiscm I have is that the book ends all too quickly and I will retract that statement if Mr. Linderer promises that he won't stop with Volume II.

I just finished Phantom Warriors, and as with all of Mr. Linderer's books, started reading it again. I am a woman who lost a fiance in Vietnam. Mr. Linderer's first book "Eyes of the Eagle" not only gave me a first hand look at what happened to someone I love, it led me to meeting Gary, becoming friends, and having him introduce me to the man that is now my husband, Riley (Dozer) Cox. Phantom Warriors is a compilation of stories sought out and printed by Gary so that there would be a history of ALL Lrrp, Lrp, and Ranger units left. He and others have written the stories of the 101st Lrrps, Lrps, and Rangers, and now in the spirit of brotherhood, took his time and let us all know of the others that operated in units like his unit. Thank you Gary, not only for your writing, but for the love you show to those you served with, those you didn't, and their families.

I have read all of Gary Linderers books and almost all the books still in publish on the 101st Airborne divisons LRRP, LRP, and Ranger units in Vietnam. Everyone I have read by Gary Linderer has been amazing and I have not been able to put them down. This one is no different. I recommend any and all of his books plus books like Recondo by Larry Chambers and the entire Six Silent Men Series.

Despite what this anonymous reviewer says, this book is excellent -ALL parts of it can be verified, and many veterans who served with him agree with what is written. A great book, adding to a great series of books by this author

Well I didn't think Gary had another Story in him But he did it again. Phantoms Warriors ranked right up there with his other books. I have met Gary in person, and my opinion of the man is that, he is honest, and anything he has in his books, he has thoroughly researched, and truely believes that his books are 100% true. I enjoyed his books. I am looking forward to any other book that he writes. Roadrunner6 Out

I've spoken w/Gary a number of times and his latest book, which is part 1 of 2, is an example of his ability to grasp the humanity, emotion, and truth of what the "men in painted faces" did in Vietnam - I spent a tour there also & while not in Gary's class, I can appreciate his writings - an excellent book for anyone interested in the reality of the Vietnam war & small unit operations! Should be required reading for any Federal level politican!

I READ ALL THE BOOKS BY GARY LINDERER I CAN FIND. HE TELLS THE STORIES THAT NEED TO BE TOLD AND TAKES YOU RIGHT THERE WITH HIM AND ALL HIS BROTHERS. THIS BOOK AND ITS SEQUEL ARE MUST READING FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN THIS ERA OF OUR HISTORY.GARY TAKES YOU TO THE JUNGLE AND LEAVES YOU WITH YOUR HEART IN YOUR THROAT. I'M REREADING BOTH FOR THE THIRD TIME.

KNOWS WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT, JUST LIKE HIS OTHER BOOKS. HE'S BEEN THERE AND DONE IT. SHOWS A REAL PROBLEM WE STILL HAVE TODAY. WE LET OUR TROOPS DOWN WHEN THEY NEED SUPPORT. SOMEBODY SETTING IN A OFFICE RUNNING THE SHOW, WHEN THEY AREN'T OUT FRONT OF TROOPS LEADING THE WAY.TOO MANY RINGKNOCKERS NOT ENOUGH ON THE JOB TRAINING.