First Force Recon Company: Sunrise at Midnight

reads at times a bit like a novel and gives a feeling that some parts seem embellished a bit. But then again the writer is writing from his view which is sometimes below operational planning at higher levels of command and leads itself to questioning why somethings may be different than a small unit leader may want them to be. It just may be the writer's style that lowers my review rating having read several dozen books on Marine actions and people from WW II to Vietnam War. This book is OK but not one of the great ones.Assuming that the author tried to portray an honest view of life in Force Recon he did a pretty good job in describing how recon patrols are carried out in his unit during a certain period of time during the Vietnam War. He describes living conditions and Marine camaraderie well and also hits the nail on the head regarding the left wing liberal view of the war and how they disservice those who sacrificed so much so they could have an opportunity to display their feelings, right or wrong as they may have been. I too witnessed what he describes upon returning through San Francisco in 1968. I was on a bus with a busload of Marines just returning from combat in Vietnam as we passed young brainwashed man and women that were being led by liberal college professors and other anti-war groups to demonstrate against the military. I had to order them to stand down and not get too irritated by what they saw otherwise they may have ran a combat patrol right into the crowd of jeering idiots.I should also mention that the year 1969 was not a good time to be a Marine in Vietnam (or Army for that matter). The president had announced the turnover of the war to South Vietnamese military, the Americans serving for the most part just wanted to get out alive and the quality of many troops was lacking since they had drafted 100 thousand low IQ troops, many with city hood attitude, as part of a project. There was also a lot of racial tension and flat out disrespect and disobedience in many line units, as it also was in places like Camp Lejeune where I was serving in 1969. It took the Marine Corps a few years to weed out the trash and get back to the higher standards required of our Corps but eventually we did. So anything accomplished by any unit during 1969 was a plus and there still was individual dedication and honor displayed in spite of the problems of the times. The Marines were also hampered in their area of operation between DaNang and Chu Lai by having to operate with poorly led, poorly trained and certainly poorly motivated Army Americal Division units. Therefore my hats off to the author and the leaders and more dedicated troops he served with for their service under very trying conditions frocked with stupid political decisions and restrictions.There are perhaps other better written books on Force Recon but this one is an interesting and easy read.

I was looking for a book with a firsthand accounting of Force Recon operations in Vietnam and this book by Bill Peters was perfect. It is well written and well detailed, at least for my needs. He does a good job of putting his operational experience in Vietnam in the context of the times: national political and diplomatic dynamics, student unrest specifically in California where he attended college, and personally--loss of adult role model while serving and death of best best friend. Although I was anxious to read about Force Recon operations, Bill Peters took enough time, but not too much ink, to remind the reader of the many emotional stresses of being deployed, fighting an out of favor war effort not particularly well supported and perhaps uncreatively fought, and to the extent possible the extreme risks taken by Force Recon patrols. Combat books can sometimes get mired in bravado, not this book, not this author. Quite frankly It is hard to believe we have men that would go in harms way day in, day out in pursuit of such a challenging mission; these were hugely risky patrols. Oddly, I read Harrison's fictionalized "Leaving Brogado" first and then this non-fiction book. Both are excellent books and are similarly organized. I recommend both..

A book about Recon Marines in Vietnam that went out in small squads to gain intelligence on the NVA. The story is about a Lieutenant in the First Force Recon during Vietnam just as the US is beginning to reduce troops and the missions he went on. The Recon Marines went on missions similar to what the Army's LRRPs did. Not a bad book but not the best of this type haven't had I've read either.

I read a LOT of books about Recon and LRRPs and this book is by far the best book I've read. Extremely well written. There is no fill or down time. The book keeps you informed on every move. Very exciting. Highly recommended. I knew the area well about which the book was written since I was there for nine months in 67 with Echo Btry 2nd Bn 11th Marines. Many of our fire missions were into the Que Son valley.

I have read this book twice. It is extremely intriguing and inspiring. Simply put, a revealing and accurate account of the turmoil in the states and fury of war in Vietnam. I love hearing the perspective of someone who actually volunteered to fight in Nam. Better yet, someone who was excited to go out and perform his duty with excellence and extreme courage behind enemy lines.My father in law, who served in Vietnam in the army, also read this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was able to introduce my father in law to Dr. Bill Peters and he was able to really help my father in law work thru some of the incredibly tough emotions that he was still dealing with from his two tours in Nam. I have known Dr. Peters since 2009 and have seen first hand his character and heard many more accounts of his missions. Not only from himself but from others that were on his team as well.He remains close to a lot of his team from his time in Vietnam and they all still have a lot of love and respect for him. That should tell you all you need to know about the man and this amazing account of his time in Vietnam.

I never cease to be amazed at the courage, strength, and intelligence displayed by our undercover heroes. Be it Army reconnaissance or Marine force recon, these men put their lives on the line leading their men behind the lines to gather information about the enemy. The book covers events that occurred decades ago, but, we must never forget their sacrifices, their valor, their families, and the families of those that did not come home. I highly recommend.

This book is just incredible, literally.The author seems to be the second coming of a mix between Superman and Batman. Right of the bat, he single-handedly saves Marine Recruiters from a Hippie mob at the SF State University, his family basically owns the SF Bay Area, and he gives his girlfriend enough confidence so that she eventually can succeed as a bunny at SF's local playboy den.Having hardly landed in Vietnam, he gets shot at by AK-47 fire, sniper fire, a 122mm Rocket and mortars, all while immediately making friends with the whole Force Recon Company. On his first mission out, he captures a prisoner and the 7 man recon patrol fights off at least a bataillon of NVA. Coming back from this mission, Peters immediately joins a second patrol as a drag man. That's where I basically put away this gem of an "autobiography".PS: Being a scientist, I've literally read thousands of books by people with esteemed academic careers and titles. Up to this little jewel, however, I've never ever seen anybody put a "Dr." in front of his author's name on a book title. My all red flags should have gone up here and there. Oh well.

Over all this is a good book but when the author writes about smashing in the skulls of dead NVA, he is the first author of many books I have read about Vietnam where abuse of the dead bodies like this is made to sound okay.

Ce livre est prenant. L'auteur, plusieurs années après la guerre du Vietnam et son tour 1969 - 1970 en qualité de lieutenant de Marines affecté à la First Recon Company, se souvient de moments de gloire et nous les fait partager avec sagesse.Précision, entraînement, engagement, sens de l'équipe, responsabilité, courage au-delà de la norme, jeu également (qui sera le meilleur du Viet-Cong ou de la section ?) : tous les ingrédients satisferont les lecteurs exigeants d'aventures commandos réelles.J'ai retrouvé dans certains passages de ce livre le souffle épique et héroïque de  Sog: The Secret Wars of America's Commandos in Vietnam , le meilleur des ouvrages que j'ai lus sur la guerre du Vietnam.Enfin, l'introduction sur la société civile craintive des mouvements antimilitaristes, violents, de l'après 1968 ainsi qu'en conclusion, sur "l'accueil" désobligeant, honteux, de la Nation à ses soldats qui ont tout risqué et beaucoup perdu dans la guerre qu'elle a engagée, sont dignes d'intérêt.Beaucoup de sagesse dans ce livre. Sog: The Secret Wars of America's Commandos in Vietnam

Great read....Glad I bought it!!!

A very well written book. I almost puts you there with them