For eight years, far beyond the battlefields of Vietnam and the glare of media distortions, American Green Berets fought a deadly secret war in Laos and Cambodia under the aegis of the top secret Military Assistance Command Vietnam - Studies and Observations Group, or SOG.Go deep into the jungle with five SOG warriors surrounded by 10,000 enemy troops as they stack up the dead to build a human buttress for protection. Witness a Green Beret, shot in the back four times and left for dead, who survives to fight savagely against incredible odds to complete his missions.Shudder as an enemy soldier touches a Green Beret’s boot in the dark of night. Cringe as a Sergeant on SOG Spike Team Louisiana calls in an air strike on his team to break an enemy’s wave attack. A team member dies instantly, and a Green Beret has an out-of-body experience as he watches his leg get blown off. Read more

John Plaster’s riveting account of his covert activities as a member of a special operations team during the Vietnam War is “a true insider’s account, this eye-opening report will leave readers feeling as if they’ve been given a hot scoop on a highly classified project” (Publishers Weekly). Code-named the Studies and Observations Group, SOG was the most secret elite US military unit to serve in the Vietnam War - so secret that its very existence was denied by the government. Composed entirely of volunteers from such ace fighting units as the Army Green Berets, Air Force Air Commandos, and Navy SEALs, SOG took on the most dangerous covert assignments in the deadliest and most forbidding theaters of operation. In SOG, Major John L. Plaster, a three-tour SOG veteran, shares the gripping exploits of these true American warriors in a minute-by-minute, heartbeat-by-heartbeat account of the group’s stunning operations behind enemy lines - penetrating heavily defended North Vietnamese military facilities, holding off mass enemy attacks, launching daring missions to rescue downed US pilots. Some of the most extraordinary true stories of honor and heroism in the history of the US military, from sabotage to espionage to hand-to-hand combat, Plaster’s account is “a detailed history of this little-known aspect of the Vietnam War...a worthy act of historical rescue from an unjustified, willed oblivion” (The New York Times). Read more

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NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE DIRECTED BY PETER FARRELLY, STARRING ZAC EFRON AND RUSSELL CROWE!Instant New York Times BestsellerInstant USA Today Bestseller“Chickie takes us thousands of miles on a hilarious quest laced with sorrow, but never dull. You will laugh and cry, but you will not be sorry that you read this rollicking story.”—Malachy McCourtA wildly entertaining, feel-good memoir of an Irish-American New Yorker and former U.S. marine who embarked on a courageous, hare-brained scheme to deliver beer to his pals serving Vietnam in the late 1960s.One night in 1967, twenty-six-year-old John Donohue—known as Chick—was out with friends, drinking in a New York City bar. The friends gathered there had lost loved ones in Vietnam. Now they watched as anti-war protesters turned on the troops themselves.One neighborhood patriot came up with an inspired—some would call it insane—idea. Someone should sneak into Vietnam, track down their buddies there, give them messages of support from back home, and share a few laughs over a can of beer.It would be the Greatest Beer Run Ever.But who’d be crazy enough to do it?One man was up for the challenge—a U.S. Marine Corps veteran turned merchant mariner who wasn’t about to desert his buddies on the front lines when they needed him.Chick volunteered.A day later, he was on a cargo ship headed to Vietnam, armed with Irish luck and a backpack full of alcohol. Landing in Qui Nho’n, Chick set off on an adventure that would change his life forever—an odyssey that took him through a series of hilarious escapades and harrowing close calls, including the Tet Offensive. But none of that mattered if he could bring some cheer to his pals and show them how much the folks back home appreciated them.This is the story of that epic beer run, told in Chick’s own words and those of the men he visited in Vietnam. Read more

From 1964 to 1972, far beyond the battlefields of Vietnam and the glare of media distortions, American Green Berets and their indigenous troops fought a deadly secret war in Laos, Cambodia and North Vietnam under the aegis of the top secret Military Assistance Command Vietnam—Studies and Observations Group, or simply SOG.The inaugural edition of SOG Chronicles Volume One will be the first in a series of books focusing on the many untold stories from that eight-year secret war where Green Berets went deep behind enemy lines without conventional support from artillery, tanks, or ground support troops where communist forces massed 50,000-100,000 troops to combat them while keeping the Ho Chi Minh Trail supply lines open.The centerpiece of SOG Chronicles Volume One is the 1970 story of Operation Tailwind, features a SOG element of 16 Green Berets and 120 indigenous soldiers that went deeper into Laos than any operation during the secret war. Every Green Beret received at least one Purple Heart, including the sole medic, Gary Mike Rose. He is slated to receive the Medal of Honor from President Donald J. Trump in October 2017 for his valor and medical skills tending to more than 60 wounded troops during that four-day mission. Read more

For eight years, far beyond the battlefields of Vietnam and the glare of media distortions, American Green Berets fought a deadly secret war in Laos and Cambodia under the aegis of the top secret Military Assistance Command Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group, or SOG.Go deep into the jungle with five SOG warriors surrounded by 10,000 enemy troops as they stack up the dead to build a human buttress for protection. Witness a Green Beret, shot in the back four times and left for dead, who survives to fight savagely against incredible odds to complete his missions. Shudder as an enemy soldier touches a Green Beret’s boot in the dark of night. Cringe as a Sergeant on SOG Spike Team Louisiana calls in an air strike on his team to break an enemy’s wave attack. A team member dies instantly, and a Green Beret has an out-of-body experience as he watches his leg get blown off. “As the commander of SOG, I can say that “Across the Fence” accurately reflects why the secret war was hazardous for our troops and so deadly for the enemy. – Major General John K. Singlaub (U. S. Army Ret.)Black Ops told with the terrifying clarity that only one who was there can tell it.– W.E.B. Griffin & William E. Butterworth IV Read more

There have been many Marines. There have been many marksmen. But there has been only one Sergeant Carlos Hathcock, a legend of Marine lore. He stalked the Viet Cong behind enemy lines. His record has never been matched: 93 confirmed kills. This is his story. Powerful, chilling, and all true. Read more

"The best book to have been written about the Vietnam War" (The New York Times Book Review); an instant classic straight from the front lines.From its terrifying opening to its final eloquent words, Dispatches makes us see, in unforgettable and unflinching detail, the chaos and fervor of the war and the surreal insanity of life in that singular combat zone. Michael Herr’s unsparing, unorthodox retellings of the day-to-day events in Vietnam take on the force of poetry, rendering clarity from one of the most incomprehensible and nightmarish events of our time.Dispatches is among the most blistering and compassionate accounts of war in our literature. Read more

At 4' 9" 97 lbs, Richard J. Flaherty is believed to be the smallest man to ever serve in the US military. Needing a congressional waiver just to join the army, he achieved the impossible by becoming a Green Beret captain and a Vietnam vet war hero, earning the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, and two Purple Hearts - 101st Airborne and 3rd Special Forces Group.Author and police officer David Yuzuk befriended Richard J. Flaherty in 1999, when Flaherty was living homeless on the streets of Miami. Flaherty warned Yuzuk that asking too many questions about his secretive life could be bad for Yuzuk’s career and dangerous to his own health. Sure enough, eight hours after Yuzuk made a call to confirm Flaherty’s identity, Flaherty was killed in a hit-and-run and that set the stage for a bewildering plummet down a rabbit hole of CIA conspiracies and shadow governments. It would be the last investigation in Yuzuk's 20-year police career, stretching from the bloody jungles of Vietnam to the dangerous streets of Iraq and Venezuela.In riveting rifle, rucksack style author David Yuzuk takes you deep into the jungles of Vietnam to walk in the combat boots of America’s smallest soldier, Richard Flaherty. Starting with the bloody Tet Offensive, Flaherty and his units are engaged in harrowing, nonstop action. Written with extensive access to surviving members of the 101st Airborne and 3rd Special Forces Group, on-the-ground eyewitnesses, family members, and friends, as well as archival and declassified military records, Yuzuk has created a gripping narrative of Richard Flaherty’s inspiring life and career. Yuzuk also releases never published information of a covert operation Flaherty worked in order to locate and recover a recently declassified stolen weapon of mass destruction (Project Green Light).Number one New York Times best seller."Giant Killers are among us - author David Yuzuk walked with one and returned with this tale.” (Doug Stanton, author) Read more

A larger-than-life hero with a towering personality, Robin Olds was a graduate of West Point and an inductee in the National College Football Hall of Fame for his All-American performance for Army. In World War II, Olds quickly became a top fighter pilot and squadron commander by the age of 22—a double ace with 12 aerial victories.But it was in Vietnam where the man became a legend. He motivated a dejected group of pilots by placing himself under junior officers and challenging them to train him properly. He led the wing with aggressiveness, scoring another four confirmed kills and becoming a rare triple ace. With his marriage to Hollywood actress and pin-up girl Ella Raines, his nonregulation mustache and penchant for drink, Olds was a unique individual whose story is one of the most eagerly anticipated military books of the year.Christina Olds, the daughter of Robin Olds, holds a B.A. in English and creative writing from Vassar, is a member of the Air Force Association, and is the first honorary lifetime member of the Red River Valley Association.Ed Rasimus is a retired USAF fighter pilot who holds a B.S. in political science and an M.S. in both political science and international relations. He has previously written two books on the Vietnam air war, When Thunder Rolled and Palace Cobra. Read more

Things I’ll Never Forget is the story of a young high school graduate in 1965 who faces being drafted into the Army or volunteering for the Marine Corps. These are his memories of funny times, disgusting times and deadly times. The author kept a journal for an entire year; therefore many of the dates, times and places are accurate. The rest is based on memories that are forever tattooed on his brain. This is not a pro-war book, nor is it anti-war. It is the true story of what the Marine Corps was like in the late 1960’s, when the country had a draft and five hundred thousand Americans were serving one year tours in battle-torn South East Asia. If you served in Viet Nam you will want to compare your experience with the author’s. If you know someone who went to Viet Nam, you will want to listen for yourself what it was like. If you lost a loved one or friend in the war, you will want to listen to this and share it with others. Read more

A first-person history of the action seen by the United States airborne infantry brigade in Vietnam, from a Silver Star awarded Command Sergeant Major. A no-holds-barred, straight-in-your-face account of combat in Vietnam. You know it's going to be hot when your brigade is referred to as a Fireball unit. From May 1967 through May 1968, Ted Arthurs was in the thick of it, humping an eighty-pound rucksack through triple canopy jungle, chasing down the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam. As sergeant major for a battalion of eight-hundred men, it was his job to see them through this jungle hell and get them back home again. Read more

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From 1964 to 1972, far beyond the battlefields of Vietnam and the glare of media distortions, American Green Berets and their indigenous troops fought a deadly secret war in Laos, Cambodia and North Vietnam under the aegis of the top secret Military Assistance Command Vietnam — Studies and Observations Group, or simply SOG. The inaugural edition of SOG Chronicles Volume One will be the first in a series of books focusing on the many untold stories from that eight-year secret war where Green Berets went deep behind enemy lines without conventional support from artillery, tanks, or ground support troops where communist forces massed 50,000-100,000 troops to combat them while keeping the Ho Chi Minh Trail supply lines open. The centerpiece of SOG Chronicles Volume One is the 1970 story of Operation Tailwind, features a SOG element of 16 Green Berets and 120 indigenous soldiers that went deeper into Laos than any operation during the secret war. Every Green Beret received at least one Purple Heart, including the sole medic, Gary Mike Rose. He is slated to receive the Medal of Honor from President Donald J. Trump in October 2017 for his valor and medical skills tending to more than 60 wounded troops during that four-day mission. “John Meyer’s story about Operation Tailwind does justice to the valor and heroism of the men involved in the four-day battle. Meyer writes about this historic SOG mission with clarity and attention to detail that is long overdue in regards to this top secret mission. SOG Chronicles Volume One is mandatory reading for anyone remotely interested in SOG history or simply in how the Green Berets operate deep behind enemy lines.” —Billy Waugh, SOG/CIA operative Read more

Jasmine in the Wind is drawn from the childhood memories of Linda West—known as Oanh in Vietnam. This poignant memoir unfolds in a series of vivid vignettes, told through the eyes of a little girl navigating love, loss, and the echoes of war.Abandoned by both her father and mother, young Oanh finds solace in the unwavering love of her paternal grandmother, Ba Noi, who raises her in a small village while her mother works as a bargirl in Saigon. Juxtaposed against the horrors of war unfolding in her own backyard, Ba Noi becomes her refuge—her jasmine in the wind, a calm in the storm. She guides Oanh through temple visits, daily prayers, and the traditions of their ancestors—offering comfort in a life filled with longing.Yet despite the ache of missing her mother, and the unspoken fear that lurks in every shadow, childhood still holds small joys: jumping rope with friends, playing pickup sticks, and cherishing rare treasures from her mother’s visits—an American doll with yellow hair, bubble gum, and pretty dresses. Even as she clings to moments of laughter, she cannot escape the quiet dread that each day might bring danger. The market and rice fields where she once roamed freely become dangerous battlegrounds. The Viet Cong are no longer just whispers in the night, but a looming presence that will change everything.When American GIs arrive, they bring both hope and heartbreak—a reminder that even in the darkest times, kindness can shine through.For those who have searched for belonging, carried the weight of the past, or know that war is never truly over—this story is for you. And for anyone who has been shaped by the love and wisdom of a grandmother, it will resonate even more. Read more

From 1964-1972 America engaged in a Top Secret war in Southeast Asia with an elite group of warriors who did not exist. If the enemy caught you, the United States government would deny any involvement with you or what you were doing. You had no protection under the Geneva Convention. You were a spy. You were on your own. This book is a must-read account of a man in extreme combat, who calculates his next missions with a clear and focused mind, and steps off the helicopter skid, aiming to come and kill you. You would not ever wish to be his enemy. The actions described here are about the elite of the elite desperately fighting for their lives and the lives of their teammates as vastly, numerically superior enemy forces closed in on them, and in many cases, killed them and left their mutilated bodies behind for the animals and jungle to consume. This book describes how one of these elite warriors got on the “path” as a child and continued his faithful journey through life until he became a team leader in MACV-SOG leading combat missions deep into Laos, Cambodia, North Vietnam and other countries. His team started all their missions completely surrounded by an overwhelming number of elite North Vietnamese soldiers trained to hunt down and kill SOG teams. LT Dick Thompson, codename Dynamite, describes in heart-stopping detail that takes your breath away, brutal firefights and hand-to-hand combat against overwhelming odds as seen through his eyes. Follow Dynamite as he transitions from a hardcore Airborne Ranger Special Forces warrior into one of the most elite, tier-one special operators on the face of the planet. In the future, scholars will turn first to this book for historic and jarring SOG-related action. Read more

Have you ever wanted to pull up the curtain and look at what the US Army was really like during the Vietnam War?From enlistment through Basic, Officer, and Flight training, veteran pilot Richard Guay will take you on a journey many have never witnessed…Sit with Richard in the cockpit of the venerable UH-1 Huey helicopter as he maneuvers the sky to accomplish missions, protect his troops, and put to the test his years of training to stop the spread of Communism in Southeast Asia.Through a journey from steamy jungles to war-torn skies over battlefields, Richard’s raw and informative recollection is a story not only of war, but of brotherhood and the will to survive. Through countless helicopter flights, readers will experience both the fear and the excitement of war firsthand.Vietnam Warhorse is a thrilling memoir detailing years of US Army training, helicopter warfare tactics, and piloting techniques employed during actual enemy engagement. With a touch of humor, this is an intense and fresh perspective on the Vietnam War for anyone interested in history or aviation! Read more

A Vietnam helicopter pilot’s story. James E. Miller, Chief Warrant Officer (CW2), Aircraft Commander of Warrior Two Six, and recipient of the Army Commendation Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross takes you through his experiences from basic training to the dangerous skies of Vietnam. This story is enhanced with comments from his crew chief Don Johnson and gunner Steve Zanini. While other crews were rotating daily, the crew of Warrior Two Six stayed together for eight of their 12-month tour of duty. Forty-two years later, they had the chance of a lifetime to fly a completely restored Warrior 11, part of the same 336th Assault Helicopter Company they served with in Soc Trang. Read more

“What Stephen Ambrose did for Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry in Band of Brothers, Glass does for Charlie Company, 1st Marines in this excellent, powerful book."—John C. McManus, author of Alamo in the Ardennes and The Deadly BrotherhoodThursday, October 12, 1967, marked a fateful day for Marine Lance Corporal Kevin Cahill and Charlie Company, First Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division. Deep in the dense Hai Lang National Forest of South Vietnam, Cahill led his unit of 166 Marines on a mission to locate and eliminate North Vietnamese Army forces.Despite Cahill's reservations about the ominous trail they followed, orders were orders. Little did they know, they were walking into a deadly trap. As Cahill stepped toward a small knoll, he walked straight into enemy fire, triggering a devastating ambush.What was meant to be a search and destroy mission turned into a desperate fight for survival. Surrounded and outnumbered by over two thousand NVA soldiers, Charlie Company found themselves on the brink of annihilation in the unforgiving jungle terrain."Captures the chaos and ferocity of infantry combat, and shows that little has changed from the pass at Thermopylae, to the jungles of Vietnam and the streets of Iraq."—Nathaniel Fick, New York Times bestselling author of One Bullet Away Read more

A first-person history of the action seen by the United States airborne infantry brigade in Vietnam, from a Silver Star awarded Command Sergeant Major. A no-holds-barred, straight-in-your-face account of combat in Vietnam. You know it's going to be hot when your brigade is referred to as a Fireball unit. From May 1967 through May 1968, Ted Arthurs was in the thick of it, humping an eighty-pound rucksack through triple canopy jungle, chasing down the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam. As sergeant major for a battalion of eight-hundred men, it was his job to see them through this jungle hell and get them back home again. Read more