Green Berets at War: U.S. Army Special Forces in Southeast Asia, 1956-1975

by Shelby L. Stanton

Book Overview

"THE GREEN BERET . . . A SYMBOL OF EXCELLENCE, A MARK OF DISTINCTION, AND A BADGE OF COURAGE." Though engaged in the United States' longest and most controversial military action, the Green Berets rose above the fray to establish an awesome reputation based on their extraordinary skill, discipline, bravery, and sacrifice. Now, with access to information declassified for the very first time, Shelby Stanton--author, military historian, Green Beret,...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0891412387
• ISBN13: 9780891412380
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: Presidio Press
• Length: 360 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Special Forces Comes Of Age...

"Green Berets At War", originally published in 1985, is a superbly researched account of the actions of U.S. Army Special Forces during the wars in Indochina 1956-1975. It is also the narrative of the coming of age of U.S. Army Special Forces. The Special Forces (Green Berets) were officially founded in 1952, with an orientation on the expected struggle with Communism for the fate of Europe. The departure of the French from Indochina created new opportunities for the employment of Special Forces. The 77th Special Forces Group trained elements of the Laotian Army in the late 1950's, while the 1st Special Forces Group provided the initial cadres for U.S. involvement in South Vietnam. The 5th Special Forces took up the full-time mission in Southeast Asia in the early 1960's. Stanton examines an amazing variety of missions in great detail. Special Forces teams trained indigenous irregular groups to contest Communist infiltration through the border areas of Vietnam. They trained their South Vietnamese special forces counterparts. They conducted highly dangerous special reconnaissance across Southeast Asia. Not least, Special Forces conducted counterinsurgency missions using a variety of mixed U.S. and indigenous units, included the famous "Mike" forces. The Special Forces campaign in South Vietnam was a valuable if not always welcome adjunct to the conventional war effort of Military Assistance Command-Vietnam (MAC-V). Small Green Beret teams achieved a remarkable force multiplier effect in the vastness of a jungled and mountainous subcontinent. Twelve-man A Teams trained and led the Civilian Irregular Defense Groups against Communist supply routes and base structure. Special Forces reconaissance teams on both sides of the borders provided a significant percentage of the human intelligence available to MAC-V. The presence of respected American personnel helped keep marginal populations like the Montagnards, shunned by the South Vietnamese, in the fight against Communism. Stanton pulls no punches with respect to the difficulties, from the challenges of keeping the teams stocked with trained and experienced personnel to the vulnerability of units operating beyond the easy reach of U.S. reinforcements and firepower, to the political battles over the conduct of the war both inside and outside Vietnam. Stanton's "Green Berets At War" provides an impressive and detailed narrative of Special Forces in the struggle for Southeast Asia. It is highly recommended to students of that conflict and of special operations forces.

Detailed review of Special Forces 1956-1975

This is a volume that gives details and a lot of names of individuals who served in Special Forces from 1956 to 1975.Vietnam is covered in some detail. There are chapters on SF in Okinawa, Laos, including the White Star operation, The Montagnards, operation Switchback, the LLDB, Tet, The Green Beret Navy, the Mike Forces, CIDG program. There are maps showing where the SF operatied, including Laos and Thailand.There are sections also on the SF MIA's and on the Medal of Honor Winners. This is a good book for anyone wanting to know about the SF in the years covered.

Most comprehensive record of SF operations in SE Asia

I made the decision to join Special Forces in 1987 after reading this book. It is by far the most detailed and comprehensive account of Special Forces units and missions in Southeast Asia. There are plenty of "There I was ....." books written by SF men who fought there, and these are great reads and definitely of great historical importance, but this one puts all of it into chronological order. The book begins with the activation of 1st Special Forces Group in 1957 and ends with the final missions of the early 70s. All major operations and facets of SF participation are covered, to include MACV-SOG, CIDG, LLDB, and the Mike Force units. I give this book 5 stars in spite of the fact that the author has failed to respond to allegations in the book "Stolen Valor," which maintains that the author lied about participating in combat missions as well as being wounded in Laos, and used thousands of stolen unit records to write this and other historical works. These accusations do not detract from the book's quality, but if they are true I give the author zero stars for integrity.

Excellent overview of Special Forces in Southeast Asia

Stanton's book traces the evolution of US Army Special Forces in Southeast Asia from 1956-1975. He addresses the varied programs and missions that were conducted under Special Forces auspices during the period of American military involvement in Laos, Cambodia, and Viet Nam. His use of official records coupled with interviews with many of the participants provides an insight that all serious students of Speicial Forces will appreciate. The book includes maps of operational areas and provides a listing of Special Forces personnel classified as missing in action as well as Special Forces recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Excellent summary of Special Forces operations in SE Asia

Mr. Santon presents an excellent and authorative review of Special Forces (Green Berets) overt, covert and clandestine special warfare operations in Southeast Asia from 1956 through 1975. I was especially pleased to see some of the photos that I took while serving in B36, Third Mobile Strike Force, from 1969-1970 in War Zone D. Good Job! The text is a must for every Green Beret's library. I sincerely want to locate a copy for my Special Forces / Special Operations library.