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Special Men: An LRP's Recollections Mass Market Paperback – July 31, 1994

by
Dennis Foley (Author)
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4.4 out of 5 stars 28 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Ballantine Books; Reissue edition (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: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #385,958 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsThe detail of what makes a True Warrior
By rickvid on April 5, 2000
Format: 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."
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5.0 out of 5 starsWith More Foleys We'd Never Lose A War
By J. D. Truby on April 30, 2006
Format: 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.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsA special book...
By Doug DePew on June 5, 2011
Format: Mass Market Paperback Verified Purchase
"Special Men: A LRP's Recollections" is a terrific book. Dennis Foley takes us through his entire twenty year Army career in this book, but the bulk of it is spent in the first ten years of his career. I really enjoyed this memoir. It's well written in a conversational, humble voice. Foley comes across as likeable. The years prior to Vietnam were quite interesting. Foley tells us about his time as an enlisted man in Cold War Germany. He also gives quite detailed descriptions of OCS and Airborne School in the pre-Vietnam era.

One extremely unusual aspect of this story is the connection to LTC David Hackworth. Hack was famous as a warrior, author, and reporter. Foley served under Hackworth multiple times in Vietnam. It's interesting to see another view of Hack. The descriptions of combat in this book are gripping and real. The realism throughout the entire book is incredible. Foley is a very talented writer. This is a good overview of an impressive military career. Most of Foley's career was spent with special operations (LRP/Ranger/Special Forces) units. He is extremely humble about what was an amazing career. I recommend this book highly.
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2.0 out of 5 starsI was a bit disappointed with how little there was written about the LRPs
By Jerry Weeks on November 8, 2014
Format: Mass Market Paperback Verified Purchase
More about the author and his personal story than it was about the LRPs. Interesting if you knew nothing about the army, but having been a LRP/Ranger myself, I was a bit disappointed with how little there was written about the LRPs.
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5.0 out of 5 starsA great writer
By A Customer on January 16, 2004
Format: 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!
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