Full Description
From Army Rangers to Green Berets to the U.S. Navy SEAL team that killed Osama bin Laden, this book explains what makes Special Forces "special," covering the rich and varied history of elite formations in American military history and describing their recruitment, intense training, and equipment in depth.
Most civilians have only a vague idea of what the U.S. Special Forces are all about—who they are, how they differ from our "normal" military forces, what they've accomplished throughout our history, and how they operate today. Fighting Elites: A History of U.S. Special Forces examines the rich and varied history of U.S. Special Forces, identifies their contributions to specific conflicts from colonial times forward, and highlights their present operational excellence.
In this first-ever reference guide to U.S. Special Forces, military historian John C. Fredriksen provides a carefully balanced presentation, describing all units in their own detailed section that discusses their origins, recruitment, training, tactics, and equipment, and defining military engagements, if known. The text also contains 20 biographical entries of noted personalities associated with special purpose activities.
Contents
Introduction
Part I: Antecedents, 1676 to 1991
Chapter 1 Special Purpose Units, Colonial Times to 1918
Chapter 2 Special Forces of World War II, 1939-1945
Chapter 3 Special Forces of the Cold War, 1946-1991
Part II: U.S. Special Forces, 1992 to the Present
Chapter 4 Air Force Air Commandos
Chapter 5 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment—Delta (Delta Force)
Chapter 6 U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets)
Chapter 7 75th Ranger Regiment
Chapter 8 Airborne Forces
Chapter 9 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry)
Chapter 10 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)
Chapter 11 Intelligence Support Activity
Chapter 12 Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance/Special Operations Battalions
Chapter 13 Navy SEALs
Chapter 14 Special Activities Division (Central Intelligence Agency)
Chapter 15 Naval Special Warfare Development Group (SEAL Team Six)
Chapter 16 U.S. Special Operations Command
U.S. Special Forces Chronology
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
