Special Men [Mass Market Paperback]

Dennis Foley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 31, 1994

Throughout his several tours of Vietnam, Dennis Foley served with America's finest warriors -- men like David Hackworth, the nation's most decorated living soldier, and Jim Gardner, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for sacrificing his life so that his men might live. Now, in a tough, clear-eyed account, he recaptures the raw courage and sacrifice of American soldiers fighting a savage and desperate battle for survival.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Throughout his several tours of Vietnam, Dennis Foley served with America's finest warriors -- men like David Hackworth, the nation's most decorated living soldier, and Jim Gardner, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for sacrificing his life so that his men might live. Now, in a tough, clear-eyed account, he recaptures the raw courage and sacrifice of American soldiers fighting a savage and desperate battle for survival.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (July 31, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080410915X
• ISBN-13: 978-0804109154
• Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 0.9 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #149,429 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #4 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Asia > Southeast Asia
  • #19 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Military > Vietnam War
  • #57 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > World > General

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars With More Foleys We'd Never Lose A War, April 30, 2006

By 

J. D. Truby "J David Truby" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Special Men (Mass Market Paperback)

I wish Dennis Foley could write an updated version of the
very important lessons to be learned from his great book, SPECIAL MEN. His book should be read by anyone going into
the military, and required re-reading for those who are careerists, rather
than warriors. The lessons to be learned from this book are that vital.

I enlisted two years prior to Dennis Foley. One of my mentors , Col John Paul Vann, told me the difference between a warrior and a careerist. One of Dennis Foley's mentors, the late Col David Hackworth, was the epitome of why we need more warriors and fewer careerists in our military. LTC Foley is another great example of why, as well.

SPECIAL MEN is a great autobiography, beautifully told and written. One of its lessons is how we mismanaged to lose the war in Vietnam, by losing it in America first. Sadly, recent leaders of our country learned nothing from Vietnam and are mismanaging
us in a war today that is far more important to our nation's survival than was Vietnam.

As LTC Foley points out, we cannot afford a military run as a popularity contest. We cannot afford an undisciplined military. And, he is writing primarily about the 1960s and '70s military.
What must he think of today's PC-driven, kindler/gentler bureaucratic military?

But, I know what he thinks of the young men and women serving in our
military, because a true leader and a good officer never changes. Like his mentor, David Hackworth, whom I knew, Dennis
Foley cares about his troops...honestly, deeply and always. It
shows on every page of this book.

With more Dennis Foleys running our military we'd never lose another war. But, since he's no longer in the military, and is now writing about the military, I sure hope that more folks heed his important messages.

Personally, I have a few ROTC cadets from a nearby university working for me parttime. As each graduates, he or she gets a
copy of SPECIAL MEN from me as a graduation present. It's the best I can do for them.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The detail of what makes a True Warrior, April 5, 2000

By 

rickvid (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Special Men (Mass Market Paperback)

Foley is a professional writer, now, and it shows in the vivid clarity of his words and the mental images they evoke. He takes his own experiences in the Army (enlisted recruit to Lt. Col.) at a critical point in its existence and gives us the grunt's view, but with the insight of an outstanding staff officer. He points out the many failings of the staff and leadership in the 1960's Army (as only a grunt can) and how men like those he served with on the ground in the 101st, LRPs, and Green Berets made up for those failings. His stories of going from PFC into MCO school, into OCS are full of the details that add dimension to his later activities and service in the jungle. And he points out his own failings. A refrain that repeats itself goes along these lines: "I thought such-and-such, but how wrong I was."

He also gives insight into the workings of the upper echelons, and how good men and women in those ranks worked to shove the Army into the later 20th century. Unfortunately, he left the Army before the results of those efforts really paid off in the desert and the many interventions and peace-keeping efforts we send our people into. But for a solid, well written account of Viet Nam, and one guy's experiences there, "Special Men" is one of the best written, most balanced accounts I've read, and I've read a lot of them. For another view of the evolution of the Army in the crucial 20 years between Viet Nam and Desert Storm, I recommend Fred Franks' "Into The Storm."

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great writer, January 16, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Special Men (Mass Market Paperback)

Dennis grasps of the military and understanding of the soldiers really shows through. Foley as an enlisted men first, he knew what it was like to be a buck-private and always had respect for the men. I know I served under him in F Compnay, 51st LRP (Abn.) Infantry and what he wrote about the unit is sad considering its great past records of what we did during Tet 1968 that saved thousands of Allied lives. A claim that no other Lurp unit in Vietnam could come close too. For a better understanding of Lurping, read Don C. Hall's book I SERVED or check out the web site at i-served.com. Dennis is a fine example of what outstanding men can do to carry the unit, in spite of, the poor performance by a few. It's in his book. Check it out!