Secret Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines with the Elite Warriors of SOG

I bought this book reluctantly because I'd already read Major Plaster's outstanding history, "SOG". That book is so good, so thorough, I thought, "What else is there to know"? I was wrong. In many ways, "Secret Comammandos" is a far better book. I think it's because "Secret Commandos" is Major Plaster's memoir--his own story of serving in SOG. "Secret Commandos" brings the accomplishments and bravery of the SOG recon men to life even more than "SOG". I found this book to be much more personal. Major Plaster does a wonderful job of conveying his fellow warriors as brave, funny, ironic, and yes, a little earthy sometimes. When too many of them fail to return from a mission, I felt the loss. After reading "SOG", I was deeply impressed by the caliber of men who fought without publicity in the Viet-Nam War. After reading "Secret Commandos", I'm grateful this country produced and, I think, still produces, tough and patriotic men who will defend this country to the bitter end. This is one of the best military histories in print. I also can't resist saying this. I tried to read "Jarhead" and couldn't get past Chapter 1. Yet that book has some very high ratings and is being made into a movie. Why? Real heros are like Major Plaster and his fellow SOG warriors. They do hard things and neither brag nor whine about them publicly. A final point. There is one very negative review for this book by someone who didn't sign their name. I can't help wondering if it's the individual Major Plaster writes about, who failed repeatedly--and at a very critical moment--to measure up to the standards set by the US military, let alone Special Forces. Thank-you for writing this book, Major Plaster. This country too quickly and too often forgets it's heros.

John Plaster and I flew dozens of missions together over the Ho Chi Minh Trail. He is the real deal. This, of all his great books, let me know as a FAC pilot what REALLY was going on, on the ground. I am humbled to have flown with John and ALL the green berets of SOG who demonstrated such awesome courage. No purple hearts were won there for minor scratches. Each page is riviting and puts the reading in the jungle surrounded by hundreds of NVA bent on taking out the teams. John's tribute to the Covey FACs (part III) was particularly moving. Hand Salute to you "Plasticman."

Major John Plaster ranks as one of the top historians of the Vietnam War and stands alone among writers about special operations in Indochina. In Secret Commandos, Plaster continues the story he first brought to readers in SOG: The Secret Wars of Americas Commandos in Vietnam. Unlike all of the phoney wannabes that inhabit the fringe world of post-Vietnam America John Plaster is one who has been there, done that and has the T-shirt! You will sweat with him running recon along the Ho Chi Minh trail, shiver in the chill Central Highland nights while the enemy searches for him in the darkness, bleed with his comrades as they fight and die in places that are as remote for most Americans as the far side of the moon. But in Secret Commandos you will be on top of the action in a manner that can be written only by one with the experience who combines that background with an extraordinary writing talent.Secret Commandos is a must-read for anyone who is interested in America's secret operations in Vietnam, in what the US Special Forces soldier is really made of, and in learning the hard-core truth. The soldiers who volunteered for SOG were a special breed no doubt. For most of a generation they have been overlooked, ignored, hidden behind mounds of top secret classification stamps, or lied about by detractors, impersonators and pretenders. No more. John Plaster rips back the curtain to show war at its most difficult - and in so doing displays the remarkable abilities, dedication and professionalism of our very special American fighting men.Buy this book and treasure it. Recommend it to your friends. Get the word out: learn the truth of Vietnam and meet the men this fine country produces who will sacrifice and die to defend our freedom. This is a story that has waited a long time to be told and has the perfect man to tell it.

While his previous SOG books have focused on the overall history of covert organization, John Plaster's latest book on SOG covers his own personal military experiences from Special Forces training, his time in SOG as a recon team leader through his departure from Vietnam. "Secret Commandos" is one of the best military history books I've read this year without a doubt. The book gives the reader a ground-level view of what it was like to run recon deep in Laos day in and day out, making it a hard book to put down once you start reading. The courage and sacrifice of these brave men who served in SOG is amazing- I hope more Americans hear thier story."Secret Commandos" (along with Maj. Plaster's two other SOG books) brings belated attention and honor to some of the greatest (but unknown) soldiers this country has ever produced.

Another great book by John Plaster. Thanks for surviving to tell the stories of the true warriors of SOG. America is fortunate that it can still find such high caliber men to take on these very dangerous missions. There were many times while flying as a Covey FAC (Forward AirController)in support of these SOG teams on the ground, that I felt like I was supporting "Gen.Custer at the Little Big Horn". They would have more "Injuns" (NVA) after them than you could count. To John Plaster and all the SOG warriors, thank you for your service to our country, we are all in your debt. Don Fulton aka "Covey 538" / 1968-69