History

We Few: U.S. Special Forces in Vietnam

We Few: U.S. Special Forces in Vietnam

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  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2022-05-17 06:58:12
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Nick Brokhausen
  • ISBN：1612005802
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Summary

On his second tour to Vietnam， Nick Brokhausen served in Recon Team Habu， CCN。 This unit was part of MACV-SOG （Military Assistance Command Vietnam Studies and Observations Group）， or Studies and Observations Group as it was innocuously called。 The small recon companies that were the center of its activities conducted some of the most dangerous missions of the war， infiltrating areas controlled by the North Vietnamese in Laos， Vietnam， and Cambodia。 The companies never exceeded more than 30 Americans， yet they were the best source for the enemy's disposition and were key to the US military being able to take the war to the enemy。 This was accomplished by utilizing both new and innovative technology， and tactics dating back to the French and Indian Wars。

This small unit racked up one of the most impressive records of awards for valor of any unit in the history of the United States Army。 It came at a terrible price， however; the number of wounded and killed in action was incredibly high。 Those missions today seem suicidal。 In 1970 they seemed equally so， yet these men went out day after day with their indigenous allies - Montagnard tribesmen， Vietnamese， and Chinese Nungs - and faced the challenges with courage and resolve。

This riveting memoir details the actions and experiences of a small group of Americans and their allies who were the backbone of ground reconnaissance in the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War。 It became a cult classic among the Special Forces community when first published over a decade ago。 There are no longer any copies of the original edition for sale as they were passed around until they actually disintegrated。

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Reviews

james reha ，

Honest great reading， realistic。Honest narrative， you can immerse yourself into the flow of situations， for a former infantry grunt pointman it is all too real。

Charles Gehring ，

Very Impressive account of MACV-SOGI served with and was trained by many of the men described in this book。 The book have me a new found perspective and respect for these warriors

Kevin Mcgrath ，

The Three StogiesThe sophomoric humor， attack on MPs， total contempt for authority， and the Nick that everything wrong with the Army was caused by Cat IV African Americans detracted greatly from what could have been a good book about SF and the Yards。 SF did an outstanding job in Vietnam - SOG， A Teams and Yard leaders。 The book would have much better had Bring queen focused on the operations and left the hyjinks to another book。

Chris Basis ，

Respect For The Author But Not My StyleI didn’t enjoy the book as much as I hoped I would。 Overloaded with jargon， cynicism and smart-ass observations about everyone who wasn’t the author。 I enjoy that sort of the thing as much as the next reader， but not to this degree。 I prefer a balance between the actual events and the author’s narrative。 Found the tone arrogant and dismissive of everyone who crossed paths with the author。

James BELL ，

Excellent contributionExcellent contribution to the history of war。 I am a Vietnam war veteran and reading this book is like being there。 Nick Brokhausen writes just like our minds work。 Reading this book reminded me of the year I spent there even though mine was not anywhere near as exciting。 If you are a Vietnam vet， you will enjoy this book。 If you aren't， you will gain some insight。 Excellent contributionExcellent contribution to the history of war。 I am a Vietnam war veteran and reading this book is like being there。 Nick Brokhausen writes just like our minds work。 Reading this book reminded me of the year I spent there even though mine was not anywhere near as exciting。 If you are a Vietnam vet， you will enjoy this book。 If you aren't， you will gain some insight。 。。。more

Nick ，

Some call this a memoir。 Others would strongly disagree。 Myself， I would say this book is a fantastic collection of Vietnam war stories told by Army Special Forces SOG vet Nick Brokhausen。 Reading other reviews some really didn't understand the style and tone in which the book was written。 If you are a combat vet or have hung around long enough with vets you'll understand how dark humor is used to explain their everyday lives。 As strange as it may sound to some， that dark humor is a psychologica Some call this a memoir。 Others would strongly disagree。 Myself， I would say this book is a fantastic collection of Vietnam war stories told by Army Special Forces SOG vet Nick Brokhausen。 Reading other reviews some really didn't understand the style and tone in which the book was written。 If you are a combat vet or have hung around long enough with vets you'll understand how dark humor is used to explain their everyday lives。 As strange as it may sound to some， that dark humor is a psychological coping mechanism to deal with the extreme stress of combat， the constant low grade stress of all the time between combat while in country， and a tool the vet uses to process combat events。 And what some would call the juvenile pranks that are carried out on fellow warriors？ Not so much a coping mechanism as a way to keep your fellow comrades on their toes in a humorous way and keep you sharp。 It's a mind set that is prevalent in many combat units。 With that said be prepared this isn't your standard field grade officer's memoir who writes in a dignified manner attempting to pass on history。 （If this is what you are looking for， you need to look elsewhere。）Mr。 Brokhausen writes in the gritty style of the combat vet who passes on experience and knowledge through the use of written stories。 The description of combat is visceral and mind numbing， while the times in the rear swings to the other extreme as ridiculously funny to the point of almost disbelief。 War is chaotic and it makes everyone see just how crazy your world can become。 Nick Brokhausen does a terrific job placing the reader in that chaotic and crazy environment。 If you don't like it。。。 well perhaps that's good。 War isn't a thing to be liked by sane people。 。。。more

Will Albers ，

Reads as if Hunter S Thompson joined the Special Forces and went to war。 A friend of mine was in this unit and knows the author and he vouches for pretty much everything in the book。 War is not only hell， it's insanity。 Reads as if Hunter S Thompson joined the Special Forces and went to war。 A friend of mine was in this unit and knows the author and he vouches for pretty much everything in the book。 War is not only hell， it's insanity。 。。。more

paul reska ，

Awesome book Insiders account of SOG doing the grunt work during the later stages of the Vietnam War。 Very funny at times and tragic but rings with truth。

Neil ，

This book was a great book to hear a Soldier’s story as he lived it。 With all the twisted military humor， it was a refreshing change from the usual Vietnam War story。 Not much for history buffs here to learn， but good for folks who want a peek into the day to day life in Vietnam as a Soldier saw it。

Christopher Cooper ，

Great readOutstanding account of hair raising special forces operations behind enemy lines in Vietnam。 This is the real deal and not for the faint hearted。 Most importantly the author conveys the brutal reality of jungle warfare in real depth。

cynthia telage ，

Excellent ReadI found this book to provide a very real view of some warriors。The author transfixes you into being a part of the Vietnam war。You see a cast of different characters interplay in deadly war and revel in mayhem。 You see how both affect behavior。 It’s close up and personal。

Brian Pangburn ，

Great read！A peek inside a combat vet in Nam。。。 and what a peek it is！ Highly recommended。。。 but not for the faint of heart or the easy offended lol。

Josef Gottlieb ，

De Oppresso Liber"We Few" invokes Shakespeare's "Henry V" in the same way Stephen Ambrose does with "Band of Brothers。" Vietnam， however， was quite a different conflict from the one that faced Easy Company， and MACV-SOG quite a different unit。 Nick Brokhausen captures the unique culture of U。S。 Special Forces， and tells the story of his experiences with Command and Control North in all of its gory， glorious， mischievous， and meritorious detail。 His writing is personal and authentic， complete wit De Oppresso Liber"We Few" invokes Shakespeare's "Henry V" in the same way Stephen Ambrose does with "Band of Brothers。" Vietnam， however， was quite a different conflict from the one that faced Easy Company， and MACV-SOG quite a different unit。 Nick Brokhausen captures the unique culture of U。S。 Special Forces， and tells the story of his experiences with Command and Control North in all of its gory， glorious， mischievous， and meritorious detail。 His writing is personal and authentic， complete with military jargon and slang appropriate to the war and the era。 The reader is granted a glimpse at the bonds these men made with one another， and the genuine hardships they faced together。 This is a different perspective on the Vietnam War than is often presented in the mainstream。 It is free of Washington politicking and armchair generalship。 These men had a job to do， and they did it。 。。。more

Nick Harriday ，

An excellent look at the culture of special forces during the Vietnam War。 Couldn't recommend this book more。 An excellent look at the culture of special forces during the Vietnam War。 Couldn't recommend this book more。 。。。more

Tony Scott ，

A great read， but could be somewhat confusing for anyone new to the genre， as the author doesn't define a lot of the acrynoms used or explain some of the terminology。 Of course， there is a lot of that available online， and I expect that for many readers （like myself）， this is not a serious issue as this is probably not the first read of the genre/topic。 A great read， but could be somewhat confusing for anyone new to the genre， as the author doesn't define a lot of the acrynoms used or explain some of the terminology。 Of course， there is a lot of that available online， and I expect that for many readers （like myself）， this is not a serious issue as this is probably not the first read of the genre/topic。 。。。more

John Jackse ，

Excellent job in capturing the essence of special forcesMy uncle was in the unit during the Vietnam war。 He was a special man。 Would not talk about his war experience。 So I。 Didn't push the subject Excellent job in capturing the essence of special forcesMy uncle was in the unit during the Vietnam war。 He was a special man。 Would not talk about his war experience。 So I。 Didn't push the subject 。。。more

john hailey ，

Good view of a place and time where people fought an unpopular warI gave this book a four star rating because it gave incite into a place and time that I heard about from others especially the nightly news。 I was drafted into the Army and went to Germany at the time Nick was in country。 I can just see Nick his brothers doing some of the crazy things he described。 I liked the sharing or pilfering of resources。 On a darker note I can understand how quickly things go bad and you do your best to get Good view of a place and time where people fought an unpopular warI gave this book a four star rating because it gave incite into a place and time that I heard about from others especially the nightly news。 I was drafted into the Army and went to Germany at the time Nick was in country。 I can just see Nick his brothers doing some of the crazy things he described。 I liked the sharing or pilfering of resources。 On a darker note I can understand how quickly things go bad and you do your best to get through it。 Nick's descriptions of some of those incidents were great。 。。。more

Scott Andrews ，

I found this book to take a little while to get into， its reads with a real attitude and sarcasm。 It commits to this tone of voice throughout and reads very well。 Its unusual compared to many other books covering this topic， 'We few' goes to much greater lenghts to capture thoughts and feelings towards fellow brothers-in-arms and other branches of the military。 So it took a while before I warmed to the tone， but found in the end I enjoyed its charisma and even humorous parts。 Certainly desired m I found this book to take a little while to get into， its reads with a real attitude and sarcasm。 It commits to this tone of voice throughout and reads very well。 Its unusual compared to many other books covering this topic， 'We few' goes to much greater lenghts to capture thoughts and feelings towards fellow brothers-in-arms and other branches of the military。 So it took a while before I warmed to the tone， but found in the end I enjoyed its charisma and even humorous parts。 Certainly desired more at the end， so I will check out the second book which follows this。 。。。more

Reg Brown ，

As written， I was there。 Written so real。Nick is a great writer。 You realize what Nick and those with him had to see and tried to make sense with

Abibliofob ，

I have read We Few by Nick Brokhausen。 I really don't know where my interest for the conflict in Vietnam comes from。 I started out like most boys with WW2 stuff and soon went into WW1 and other wars but found my self fascinated with the Vietnam war。 I have lost count of the number of books I have read about it but it's several hundreds。 This is one of the better ones and I will shortly read his follow up。 The author describes all parts of life in a war zone。 The good， the bad and the ugly。 What I have read We Few by Nick Brokhausen。 I really don't know where my interest for the conflict in Vietnam comes from。 I started out like most boys with WW2 stuff and soon went into WW1 and other wars but found my self fascinated with the Vietnam war。 I have lost count of the number of books I have read about it but it's several hundreds。 This is one of the better ones and I will shortly read his follow up。 The author describes all parts of life in a war zone。 The good， the bad and the ugly。 What he describes in this book is only his little part of the conflict but you still get glimpses of what goes on。 It is one book filled with pranks and humor and at the same time grizzly scenes from a war zone。 If you wnat to know more about this part of history I can really recommed that you try this one。 。。。more

Randall ，

It’s and interesting story with larger then life action。

Denis Neal ，

Nick is a very special man。 I have heard from Barry Saddlers song about the Green Beret， if 100 men entered Special Forces training， only 10 would be able to complete it。 The author mixes tragedy with humor so slick。 The story made me feel like I was there smelling the same scent of death。 I especially enjoyed his description of the run away duck while flying on the C-130 aircraft。 At one part of the book he tells of the different sound that 122 MM rockets make as opposed to morters 。 When I wa Nick is a very special man。 I have heard from Barry Saddlers song about the Green Beret， if 100 men entered Special Forces training， only 10 would be able to complete it。 The author mixes tragedy with humor so slick。 The story made me feel like I was there smelling the same scent of death。 I especially enjoyed his description of the run away duck while flying on the C-130 aircraft。 At one part of the book he tells of the different sound that 122 MM rockets make as opposed to morters 。 When I was at DaNang AB we were hit with 122s and they sound like lightning 。 He mentions a FAC aircraft which is what I maintained while I was over there。 They marked the targets with WP rockets that emitted white smoke so the jets and A1Es could deliver their bombs and other nasty stuff on the VC。 FAC stands for Forward Air Control。 When I was at DaNang some of us voluteered to go out on a C-123 aircraft and get one of our disabled FACs。 When we went back to our base withe little Cessna on board we had villagers with all kinds of chicken and ducks along。 It was a colorful trip。 I really enjoyed this book。 Msgt Denis L Neal USAF Ret 。。。more

Bob Mayer ，

A good insider report on Special Forces operations in Vietnam， ranging from cross-border operations by CCN and the traditional SF mission of working the locals， in this case the Montagnard mountain people。

Danni ，

MovingI love history and authors like Nick Brokhausen bring it to life in a way that makes a person actually feel like they are almost there

Wayne Wheeler ，

I enjoyed reading this book。 It is easy to read and very enlightening。 I highly recommend reading it。

Laurie Hoehn ，

Serious and entertainingA fantastic read。 It's like listening to your uncle on a Sunday afternoon telling stories。 Can't wait to read his second book Serious and entertainingA fantastic read。 It's like listening to your uncle on a Sunday afternoon telling stories。 Can't wait to read his second book 。。。more

Bobby ，

The way it wasA good read。 Not just blood and gore， but adding the humor made it real。 I was in country 1968-69 in the central highlands as a recon scout with the 1/50th mech infantry， attached to the 173rd airborne。。。。

Stuart ，

Fantastic read。 What a character。

A。K。 Vyas ，

I couldn't put this book down。 Coming from a military family， MACV-SOG is as legendary as it gets。 Frankly， every SOG memoir is unforgettable， but the blend of intensity and dark humor here is unmatched。 I don't know where America finds men who volunteer to do such things， she'll be fine as long as she can。 I couldn't put this book down。 Coming from a military family， MACV-SOG is as legendary as it gets。 Frankly， every SOG memoir is unforgettable， but the blend of intensity and dark humor here is unmatched。 I don't know where America finds men who volunteer to do such things， she'll be fine as long as she can。 。。。more

Mattster ，

Humorous yet seriousNick does a fantastic job of portraying the “sick and twisted” humor a mind uses to survive reality of violence。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=We Few: U.S. Special Forces in Vietnam

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=We Few: U.S. Special Forces in Vietnam&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,We Few: U.S. Special Forces in Vietnam&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0