Customer Reviews

Running Recon: A Photo Journey with SOG Special Ops Along the Ho Chi Minh Trail

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Greco described this book best by calling it the "scrapbook of a covert organization never meant to see the light of day." (Acknowledgements, X) This is exactly what this work is. Not only does it reflect his experiences while serving in SOG, but it reflects the overall experience of running highly classified missions into enemy controlled territory.

Before I bought this book, I was somewhat apprehensive because I had already bought John L. Plaster's book "SOG: A Photo History of the Secret Wars" and I was afraid that they'd be very similar in photos and content. While some photos appear in both books, they are each their own separate works and both compliment the other very well.

I am truly thankful to Greco and Plaster and the others alike who served in SOG and performed a job against such incredible and sometimes suicidal odds. Furthermore, thank you for taking the time to compile your experiences into something that can be read and held by those who were never there.

thank goodness for an interprising soldier who saved the photos and info
from a lab fire and has now shared his secret world with the masses. It
gives another and more in depth view of cross border RECON in the Nam war.
Coupled with Plaster's SOG and Harris' Break Contact-Continue Mission, we
can mentally imbed with these soldiers as they risked all to interdict the workings of a cruel and voracious enemy. The book tells the story.
Great work Frank..

This book is right up there with MAJ (R) Plaster's earlier works. Predominantly consisting of a well-written narrative and unique, previously unpublished photographs, Mr. Greco's contribution to the history of SOG is incredible. As a historian and currently serving Soldier, this is a fantastic look into a world that the bureaucrats tried to forget or suppress, at least until the next war where they needed something like it again. Great work!

As a former member of 5th Group in Vietnam it brought back a lot of memories and gives the reader an insight into what the Recon Teams were all about. An excellent reference for anyone interested in Special Forces and the Vietnam War.

This book is a great resource for anyone with an interest in what MACV-SOG was doing during the war in Vietnam. In addition to a plethora of never before seen pictures, the book follows the story of a young man (the author) from Basic Training to Airborne and SF training, deployment to Vietnam, and, ultimately, assignment to MACV-SOG.

Fascinating, just fascinating.

This is a very interesting book, maybe more so for me as I actually ran recon with MAC SOG. I have read several books on this subject and few people even know what went on dealing with Cambodia, Laos, and even North Vietnam. These were real Rambo stories almost exclusively by the 5th Special Forces Group assigned to the Military Army Command Vietnam Special Operations Group. I guess it's interesting to hear the stories that you didn't hear while you were there. It is surely an eye opener to many, even most high ranking military officials had no idea what was going on when it came to the "Other side of the fence!" It fits right in with books written by John Plaster, "Tilt" Myers, and Lynne Black Jr. all books well worth reading!

This was a very informative book.These men saved many lives by doing the things that they secretly did, the recognition is well deserved.

Steve Stacy

FANTASTIC BOOK!!! it is a great companion to SOG: A Photo History Of The Secret Wars. Both of these books tell the story of these brave Special Operations Warriors! Let us never forget what they did.