Stealth Patrol: The Making of a Vietnam Ranger, 1968-70

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Summary: Like it really was to be a LRRP or Ranger in Vietnam
Review: I think that Bill Shanahan's is one of the very best first-hand accounts written about LRRP operations. His verbiage is not egotistical, but it does reflect the confidence with which he and his teammates and others in his unit carried out their very speciallized and unique operations. They were a fine unit and this book gives testimony to their memorable combat achievements as part of "The Herd", the 173rd Airborne Bde. This books ranks right up there with the best of Gary Linderer's series of books and other great combat narratives of the Vietnam War. He puts the reader right out there "in the bush" and explains tactics and actions in a manner even those who did not serve in a LRRP or Ranger unit can readily understand. He tells what his unit did, where they did it, how well, and "lessons learned", all in a very candid way. It is particularly good considering that this is apparently his first book. I hope more are forthcoming from him. I speak from first-hand knowlege as a former LRRP in the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam. I would highly recommend "Stealth Patrol" for a valued place in anyone's library.

Rating:
Summary: I was There
Review: I was in Billy's unit. Billy's book is what we have been wishing for; factual, good read, and conveys the emotional bond between our fellow LRPs. Many of us didn't talk about the experience, because no one would believe it. Billy tells it like it was. The reader can understand, through Billy's experiences, the lives of men who took the war to the next level. There was a saying, "the night belongs to the enemy" when American troops talked about the NVA and the VC. Billy shows why the NVA and VC belonged to the Rangers. When a LRP or Ranger unit struck it was usually on our terms. Good Job Billy!!!

Rating:
Summary: I was There
Review: I was in Billy's unit. Billy's book is what we have been wishing for; factual, good read, and conveys the emotional bond between our fellow LRPs. Many of us didn't talk about the experience, because no one would believe it. Billy tells it like it was. The reader can understand, through Billy's experiences, the lives of men who took the war to the next level. There was a saying, "the night belongs to the enemy" when American troops talked about the NVA and the VC. Billy shows why the NVA and VC belonged to the Rangers. When a LRP or Ranger unit struck it was usually on our terms. Good Job Billy!!!

Rating:
Summary: Deeper Appreciation
Review: It was a non-stop read for me. I joined the 75th N Rangers a few months after Bill left. His recollections brought back many long forgotten, or perhaps more accurately, submerged, memories. It was a highly accurate description of how we operated... although he did leave out a lot of detail and there were some minor inaccuracies. For example, we never all went to sleep at night, there was always one guy on sentry. I could also grouse about the mis-spelling of my name in the back of the book, but that's not important. Even though Lots of other things come to mind that could be added, I don't want to take away from what is really an excellent book. This would be rewarding reading for anyone who wants to learn more about what really went on in Vietnam. For my fellow veterans, welcome home.

Rating:
Summary: Really Nice
Review: This book is not your usual war type book. The reader sees Vietnam through Shan's eyes, his thoughts, fears, admiration for others, while telling about his job there. Nicely written, I would recommend this book to everyone, even young people.
You can see that this man is a humble person giving much credit to others while all along he is right in there with them.

Rating:
Summary: Stealth Patrol
Review: This book will keep you entertained from cover to cover. I couldnt set it down once I started it. The authors did a magnificant job. I highly reccomend it.

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Summary: Thoughts on "Stealth Patrol: The Making of a Vietnam Ranger
Review: This is a fascinating, detailed and informative insider's voice. The authors are thorough and consistent from cover to close. Authentic personal account adds important insight and the book does not merely fall into formation with other historical volumes, rather, steps up to stretch our knowledge of this critical period in our nation's history.

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Summary: Great timely read --
Review: With our troops in Iraq, I found this book to be extremely relevant and compelling. Shanahan's struggle to survive an unfriendly, foreign environment comes to life through accessible and insightful (not to mention entertaining) prose, and I highly reccommend it.