Customer Reviews

War Stories of the Green Berets

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I picked up this book for my dad since he's always talking about the Green Berets and their legendary fighting. I could not put the book down myself, especially when reading about the latest Green Beret actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. These people are incredibly brave and the stories are unbelievable; war is hell and it takes people as tough as the Green Berets to make it through the battles. A great read.

When an author writes based on research and not personal first-hand experience they MUST insure what they write is verified by more than ONE source or they end up printing total bovine excrement.

Halberstadt has failed to even follow the basic rules when he wrote "War Stories of the Green Berets."

A basic background check by Halberstadt on Otis Hedges Ashley III, would have revealed the man is a total phony. He does NOT have two Silver Stars and he never was a POW. He never was recomemnded for the Medal of Honor and he has a very long record for forgery, deception and lying. The story Ashley tells in the book is total fiction.

One can only assume Halberstadt placed a newspaper add asking for SpeciaL Forces men to publish their stories and those who responded were the phonies or self-aggrandizers.

This book does NOT represent the true heroes of Special Forces and brings questionable doubt on Halberstadt's other "novels" he passes off as non-ficition.

I served with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) from December 1969 through January 1971. I was fortunate enough to have served with the finest, bravest, and most professional soldiers God ever put into combat boots.
Mr. Halberstadt's book brought back many memories of those times. I especially enjoyed reading about the various soldiers' memories of LTC Maggie. She was one of a kind. I was fortunate enough to spend many hours with her in Beverly Hills in her Team Room. She had photos of herself with every president from Roosevelt to Nixon. She had all types of military awards and photos adorning her walls.
I can only imagine what adorns the wall of Hanoi Jane Fonda. Probably photos of Che Guevera, Stalin, Uncle Ho, and Alger Hiss are hung on her walls.
The book, for me, was pure enjoyment. Most war stories books dwell on the horrors of war. This book is the exception. Although there is a modicum of horror in this book, it is replete with many numerous anecdotes.

War Stories of the Green Berets is a compendium of war stories-- some hilarious, some heroic, and others sad, as told to Halberstadt by 26 men who served in Vietnam with US Army Special Forces. Hans Halberstadt served in Vietnam as a doorgunner and got to know some of the men in this book during their post-war service in the 12th Special Forces Group (Reserve). The men doing the storytelling in this book are the real thing and represent the whole range of the Special Forces experience in Vietnam.

It's all here-- from the A-camps, to the Mike Forces, to MACV-SOG and the Phoenix Program. Some of the names on the contributor's list sound like a who's who of Special Forces including Jon Caviani, Clyde Sincere, "Ben" Baker, Jim Morris, Walt Schumate, and Clayton Scott. There are three POWs, one Medal of Honor recipient, enlisted men, officers, and even a civilian "adopted" by Special Forces.

My good friend Jim Morris, the author of War Story, The Devil's Secret Name, and Fighting Men, War Story: The Classic True Story of the First Generation of Green Berets has probably used up all his own war stories, but he contributes an anonymous story, "Hood, Riding, Red, Little," which will elicit several giggles from any veteran familiar with the peculiarities of military nomenclature. "Ben" Baker recounts some requests for supplies that were intended to be funny and still are over twenty years later. Many of the enlisted men in this book retired as field grade officers and hearing some of their true reasons for attending OCS are interesting. The pervasive humor in this book makes it an entertaining as well as informative read. The light-hearted storytelling of these "Green Beret" veterans will produce an occasional chuckle and most times a real belly laugh.

But it wasn't all fun and games; there are several stories full of pathos, heroic acts, and sometimes, personal sacrifices to be found in War Stories of the Green Berets. Clyde Sincere tells some great war stories including "Oops, Wrong Uniform!" in which he jumps out onto an LZ full of NVA and is so badly wounded that they strip him of his boots and uniform and leave him for dead. Dan Pitzer recalls an almost religiously redeeming story as a POW as does both Stephen Leopold ("Life in the Hanoi Hilton") and Jon Caviani (who recounts the action which earned him the Medal of Honor and led to his capture in "Medal of Honor at Hickory"). I know John Padgett and spent time on a medical mission in Cambodia with him, but he never told me, "My Wife, the Assistant Machine Gunner."

There's a lot of history here. Different voices tell stories of the Phoenix Program, the Mike Forces, CORDS, and the Montagnards. This book leaves the reader with a good appreciation for the undying love and deep admiration that Special Forces soldiers felt for the Montagnards. The SF veterans in Halberstadt's book discuss operations, programs, and weapons with an insight gained only through hard earned experience.

Halberstadt's contributors also tell stories about some of the great characters of Special Forces including Martha "Maggie" Ray and Walt Schumate. The Walt Schumate story "This Was Done By Ho Chi Minh," had me cracking up with laughter. Again, the humor alone in this book is worth the cover price.

Anyone whoever wore a Green Beret and certainly anyone who served with Special Forces in Vietnam will want to read this book. Even if you didn't, but like good combat storytelling and a good laugh, read War Stories of the Green Berets.

-- Rob Krott, author of SAVE THE LAST BULLET FOR YOURSELF: A Soldier of Fortune in the Balkans and Somalia, former Chief Foreign Correspondent, Soldier of Fortune magazine (former 11B infantryman 1980-1983, 11A Infantry officer 1983-1997) 10th SFG/JFKSWC 1986-1987; 10th SFG 1988-1989; 12th SFG 1992.

SAVE THE LAST BULLET FOR YOURSELF: A Soldier of Fortune in the Balkans and Somalia

This book is a series of first-hand experiences from Special Forces soldiers in the field.
The author provides some tidbit-type information about Special Forces,procedures,weapons.

The S.O.G was mentioned in some of the accounts,there was some additional detail about them in the section about Charles Berg.

Mr. Halberstadt gives some history and origin of the Special Forces. I found that to be educational.

The origin of the green beret as headgear was interesting.

The details about the ethnic makeup of the allies in Viet Nam was really good. The differences and animosity between the Montagnards,Nungs,and South Vietnamese added responsibility to Special Forces units that utilized the various groups as team members.

This book covers the Special Forces from Viet Nam to Iraq,with over half of the book deicated for Viet Nam era experiences.

The last chapter was about "sprayers" found in Iraq and the possible connection to WMD's. That's something I haven't read before!

This book is a compelling read! I am intrigued by the S.O.G. warriors. Consider that these volunteers were "off the books" and on their own, many of them disappeared and with no official explanation.

Considering our son recently became a green beret, I thought it was an excellent idea to give my husband, a viet nam veteran, several books about the elite soldier units. He hasn't put them down. He started reading and couldn't stop till he finished. Christmas is coming. Gee what should I give him. Great idea. More books to keep him close to our son.

War stories are traditionally told in bars, over beers, and are notoriously unreliable as history but very reliable as entertainment. This book is a collection of war stories from about three dozen men, most of whom I know personally. They are best enjoyed with a blood-alcohol level of about .01 or higher. The book has been in print for about fifteen years, in two editions, and only one person has objected to the format. But he is a LOUD person, so I will just say here what I said in the introduction -- these are stories Green Berets tell each other late at night, long after the incident. Some are funny, some are horrifying, and all provide a little insight into what goes on in "the Special Forces community." Anybody expecting a proper history has come to the wrong book; this one was meant to be fun to read. And that's what it is!