Inside The Green Berets: The First Thirty Years- A History Of The U.S. Army Special Forces

by Charles M. Simpson III, Robert B. Rheault

Inside the Green Berets: The first thirty years, a history of the U.S. Army Special Forces

Genres: History, Military Fiction, Military History, Nonfiction

236 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1983

About the author

William Simpson was the son of a career soldier. He attended West Point Military Academy (Class of 1947) and served as an infantry officer. He saw service in Korea and Vietnam and served ten years with the Army Special Forces (Green Berets). He retired from the Army in 1973.While on active duty, William Simpson received the Silver Star, three Bronze Stars for Valor, Purple Heart, four Legions of Merit, Army Commendation Ribbon, five Air Medals … Korean, Japanese, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, Thai, and Indonesian jump wings; and two awards of the Combat Infantryman Badge (for Korea and Vietnam).

Following retirement Simpson joined the BDM Corporation, a Washington D.C. "think-tank" and contributed to numerous studies regarding political and military issues.

In 1981 Simpson left BDM to write his book, Inside the Green Berets, the story of the US Army Special Forces. The book was published in 1983.

William Simpson passed away on October 23, 1984 due to Cancer. He was sixty-one years old.

Reviews

[Bob Mayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before Special Ops was the in-thing, Special Forces were the bastard step-child of the Army. This is the story of the first 30 years, starting after World War II and the 10th Special Forces Group, the unit I was in. This tells of the veterans from World War II, including many who fought as partisans in Easter Europe who joined and formed Special Forces, hoping one day to take the war back to their countries against the Soviets. It goes up through the Vietnam War. I think its worthwhile for current Special Forces soldiers and those interested in where they came from to read this book.

When I chose to into Special Forces it was a career-killer. My Infantry Battalion commander told me I was throwing my career away and being stupid, but he signed the paperwork. I remember pinning on the crossed arrows of the brand-new Special Forces branch while attending the Infantry Officers Advanced Course at Ft. Benning. Sitting for many days at Fort Bragg a couple of tours of duty later and helping design what is currently SFAS and the present day Q-Course.

This book is a fascinating slice of history and about hard men who did terribly difficult things. It's strange to read the various countries they deployed to and where those countries are now.

Highly recommended.

[David Lucero · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book while I served in the 82nd Airborne Division on Fort Bragg, N.C. The 7th Special Forces Group was stationed there too. I enjoyed going to the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum where a broader picture of how this elite unit was formed.

Simpson does a superb job describing how the unit fought U.S. Army conventional thinking in order to be maintained as a legitimate force necessary for future conflicts. He describes training for candidates, the dedication these special breed of men need in order to fit in. If you're into military history, this book is worth your time.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the overview this book gives of the Green Berets from beginnings through the early 80s. I better understand their general mission and learned a lot about SF activity in Vietnam. The early days in Bad Tolz sound especially interesting, as well as how early SF teams were apparently quite diverse in terms of the national origins of the guys.

[Darren Sapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

While not a full history of the Green Berets, Simpson gives a good basic overview of the history and mission of U.S. Army Special Forces. Fans of Robin Moore's "The Green Berets" will like this since the majority of this work covers the 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam.

[Trevor McGuire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very text book style introduction to the history of the Special Forces from a first hand standpoint. Timeline oriented with great attention to every name and detail given. Any opinions stated are clearly stated as such.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inside the green berets is a very good book. It tells what guns they use and what some taktikes thay use. I wiah I could go to the army when I grow up.I hope you like it.