Hunters and Shooters
Although oral histories have been around for a number of years, they do not seem to sell very well in book form. The technique of using oral histories or interviews is more closely associated with historical research to preserve the memories of participants while they are still alive.
Apache Sunrise
Chickenhawk, Maverick and Wings of the Eagle are probably the three finest books written by Vietnam era helicopter pilots. Others have tried, but for one reason or another have missed the mark. Jerry Boyle's Apache Sunrise belongs with the three autobiographies mentioned above.
SOG
Surely all readers have heard of MACV SOG, the grand ultimate special operations formation of the Vietnam War. But how many of us-including SOG veterans-really know the history of the so-called "Studies and Observations Group"?
Mobile Guerrilla Force
It's Gary Linderer who assigns the book reviews at BTL, and I have begged him to send me more ridiculous junk like Morning Glories Among The Peas, because I am tired of praising good books, and want the opportunity to trash something that deserves trashing.
War Stories Of The Green Berets
Anyone who reads Behind The Lines will love this book. It's all war stories-some hilarious, some heroic, others sad-as told to Halberstadt by 26 men who served in Vietnam with the US Army Special Forces.
War Story
Jim Morris' War Story is the classic Special Forces memoir. To those well versed in the broad field of good military memoirs coming out of American's Vietnam War, it is the literary standard against which the others are judged.
The Ravens
A year ago a Vietnam buddy and his wife loaned me a dog-eared copy of The Ravens and told me to read it, promising me that it would make it to the Linderer Top Ten Most Favourite. They weren't wrong.
Fortune Favors The Bold
Fortune Favors The Bold by James W. Walker is the latest book to chronicle the 101st Airborne Division LRRPs in Vietnam, and this time it's from the perspective of a British citizen who served with the Division's 1st Brigade in 1966 and '67.
Angels In Red Hats
A couple of years ago I was privileged to review BLACK TIGERS, a written and pictorial history written by my friend, retired Command Sergeant Major Mike Martin.
Tan Phu
The U.S. Army Special Forces 'Green Beret' and both the war and country called Vietnam came to American public consciousness as a package deal.