In 1965, writer Robin Moore wanted to understand more about the little-known activities of the U.S. Army Special Forces, known amongst themselves as the Green Berets. With presidential approval by John F. Kennedy himself, Moore went to a place called Vietnam--and was never the same again. This monumental, bestselling work--the inspiration for the classic movie starring John Wayne and one of the first wake-up called given to the American public about Vietnam--plunges us into the chaos that was our nation's first experience with unconventional warfare. From fighting the Viet Cong to fighting alongside Montagnard tribesmen, The Green Berets captures the terror of fire fights and iambuses, the constant confusion between friend and foe and the amazing can-do spirit of U.S. Special Forces "advisors" who changed the shape of war even as it changed them. Filled with unforgettable characters- woman spy, a daredevil pilot, and heroic soldiers on both sides of the battle--and updated to include a chapter comparing today's special forces to those from the Vietnam era, The Green Berets is an action-packed, unforgettable chronicle of a secret war and the extraordinary men who fought it.

Vietnam was the US Special Forces most complex and controversial mission, one that began in 1957 and ended in 1973. Camp strike forces, mobile strike forces, mobile guerrilla forces, special reconnaissance projects, training missions and headquarters duty provided vastly differing experiences and circumstances for SF soldiers. Other fluctuating factors were the terrain, the weather and the shifting course of the war itself. Gordon Rottman examines the training, life, weapons and combat experiences of the Special Forces soldier in this challenging environment.

Fully illustrated throughout with maps, charts, tables and photographs, this authoritative history of the U.S. Army Special Forces during the Vietnam War was written by Colonel Francis Kelly, who himself commanded the 1st and 5th Special Forces Groups during the conflict. From their humble beginnings training just 58 Vietnamese soldiers in 1957, these elite soldiers in just over one decade, trained and advised over 80,000 paramilitary and guerrilla troops in sustained combat techniques, and fought alongside them against the Viet Cong. This is the definitive history of these tough, resourceful and dedicated men.

The US Army Special Forces, more familiarly known as the Green Berets, are the elite fighting force of the United States military. Their experiences in covert operations and unconventional warfare have been a part of American military action for decades Author Hans Halberstadt has collected first-hand recollections of dozens of Green Berets, past and present, who spent time on the battlefields of Viet Nam, Grenada, Panama, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Their harrowing stories are told here, providing rare insight into the world of the Green Beret.- Elite forces created in the 1960s and now the models for warfare in the 21st century- Fully updated to include the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan- First hand accounts- Updated: Now includes post-Vietnam War Stories as well as stories from the Gulf Wars and Afghanistan- Expanded: This new Zenith Press edition is almost 100 pages longer than the originalThe original hardcover, titled "War Stories of the Green Berets: The Viet Nam Experience" (ISBN 0-87938-955-9), was first published in 1994.About the AuthorHans Halberstadt studied documentary film in college and later took up writing. He has authored or co-authored more than fifty books, most on military subjects, especially U.S. special operations forces, armor, and artillery. Halberstadt served in the U.S. Army as a helicopter door gunner in Vietnam. He and his wife, April, live in San Jose, California.

The Green Berets are a Special Forces unit of the United States Army. They carry out a variety of missions, including search-and-rescue, counterterrorism, and strategic assaults on enemy positions. Intense training and proper equipment ensure that these brave soldiers complete their missions in a safe and efficient manner.

A retired lieutenant colonel presents a behind-the-scenes portrait of the legendary North Carolina camps where Special Forces soldiers are trained, outlining the infamous Q Course where leaders endure brutal tests of strength, stamina, and ingenuity.