Force Recon Diary, 1969: The Riveting, True-To-Life Account of Survival and Death in One of the Most Highly Skilled Units in Vietnam

This is a story about Bruce Norton, who joined the Navy and then became a > Navy medic.(Corpsman) <br />> > He was assigned to 3rd Force Recon Company in 1969-1970 in Vietnam. He <br />> served with Alex Lee, who wrote his own book about commanding 3rd Force <br />> Recon Company. <br />> > <br />> > Norton, like the Marine sniper Carlos Hathcock, was raised in the woods, <br />> and learned to shoot and find his way around the woods as a kid. This came <br />> in handy in Vietnam. <br />> > He learned to shoot rats in the city garbage dump in his home town in <br />> Mass. They hunted at night, with flashlights taped to their rifle barrels <br />> to spot the rats. <br />> > <br />> > While in Vietnam, he went through a typhoon and was in the jungle, with <br />> his 6 man team. They tied themselves together, and to some banana trees to <br />> avoid being blown away by the 120 mile per hour winds. <br />> > <br />> > He was on patrols that encountered a bear on one, and a tiger on another. <br />> > <br />> > He lost several friends in the Ashau Valley. Alex Lee describes the <br />> Ashau Valley as spooky and filled with evil spirits in his book, Force <br />> Recon. Horton, on the other hand compares it to the Garden of Eden. <br />> > While in the Valley, he describes how he got very sick on water the North <br />> Vietnamese poisoned by killing a pig and throwing the carcass in a pond. <br />> Norton drank the water, not realizing there was a dead carcass in there, <br />> even though the North Vietnamese left signs on the nearby trees announcing <br />> this.(The Marines could not read Vietnamese) <br />> > The 3rd Recon Company was disbanded when he was there, after Gen <br />> Nickerson, who created the Company, got transferred back out of Vietnam. <br />> > <br />> > Norton notes the outstanding leadership in the Company. Alex Lee, Major, <br />> Commanding, had the Legion of Merit, Silver Star, Bronze Star, 3 Navy <br />> Commendation medals, Navy Achievement medal, 2 purple hearts. Today, Lee is <br />> still considered a genius at small unit tactics. Clovis Coffman, another <br />> officer won the Navy Cross. <br />> > Two of his best friends, died bravely in the Ashau Valley winning medals. <br />> Charles Sexton, won the Navy Cross in the Ashau Valley and Paul Keaveney <br />> won the Silver Star. <br />> > <br />> > Norton stayed in the military, leaving the Navy and made a career <br />> > of the Marines, and was a Major when writing this book in 1990. <br />> > <br />> > <br />> > <br />> <br />> <br />>

This is a great read. For those interested in small unit tactics and leadership this is a must read. The final chapters brought tears to my eyes because you almost come to know the team first hand in each mission only to read about their deaths in the last patrol; it is numbing. It is with gratitude to know that there are those who become warriors for love of country, to endure hardships and to look death in the face to sustain loyalty to their comrades and the legend of the Corps. Thank you Doc and Force Recon Marines.

I'm a new student of military history and I'm particularly interested in the Vietnam War. This book came highly recommended and I'm glad that I have read it. It is by far, one of the best Vietnam books I have ever read. I have recommended it to my fellow students. Major Norton has done a great job of telling the story of his Force Recon Marines!

A friend of mine turned me on to Major "Doc" Norton's books about the Marine Corps, and I must agree, this Major can tell a great story! I served in the Marine Corps for 22 years and had just one tour in Vietnam. No one else can "bring in home" like this guy can. You feel as though you are out on patrol with Doc and his recon team in 3rd Force Recon Co. The best part is that he writes a sequel about his time in 1st Force Recon Company. If Spielburg had half a brain he'd make Norton's books come alive on sreen. It would be the Vietnam version of Saving Private Ryan. If readers are interesetd in "credibility" than here is a story of heroic young men in combat. Truth is better than fiction and this book proves it. Any Marines I know would be proud to have guys like Norton and his teammates, Bishop, Silva, Keaveney and Furhman, in their team. Where do guys like these come from? The are the legends of the Corps. A GREAT Book! Go out a buy it. That's an order!

Absolutely the most accurate book yet about 'Nam and the Marines of Force Recon. Doc Norton is an articulate, sincere and personable author. Semper Fi (expletive deleted)!