Fighting Elites: A History of U.S. Special Forces

(Hardback)

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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 aboutwho 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.

Reviews

This is a unique guide that will be useful in all sizes of academic and public libraries. * ARBA *
Fighting Elites accomplishes its goal of being a 'one-stop reference guide . . . that affords extensive historical and bibliographic coverage yet is easy for lay readers to access.' Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through researchers/faculty; general readers.' * Choice *
With clear, pertinent, and up-to-date information (including the killing of Osama Bin Laden), Fredriksen's Fighting Elites is a valuable asset for larger collections and media centers supporting a military/terrorism curriculum. * Booklist *
Fighting Elites closely examines the rich and varied history of the U.S. Special Forces in a very readable fashion; it's unusual that I sit and read what is essentially a reference work in one sitting, but Fredriksen's easy style draws you in and makes you want to read further. This book is a must for any military enthusiast or historian, and will give an insight to any serviceman or woman who wants to truly understand who U.S. Special Forces are, and where they have come from. * Raider Magazine *

Author Bio

John C. Fredriksen is an independent historian.