Evans Carlson, Marine Raider: The Man Who Commanded America's First Special Forces

As a very old 2nd Amphib Recon Marine, andin 1957, a plank owner in 2nd Force Recon, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was interesting for me to look back at the Raider mission and training and see the embryo of our then Force Recon companies. It is even more interesting when I look back at my time in Force Recon and see how our own embryonic tactical experimentation morphed into our current special operations forces. We had a pathfinder platoon as well as recon platoons and were beginning tests on HALO operations as well as different submarine landing techniques on the USS Sealion. Reading the book, I found references to a Marine Raider officer named "Wild Bill" Schwerin. In 1957 I was assigned TAD to the Special Forces Officers Course at Fort Bragg,NC, where I was a boot 2nd Lieutenant and the only Marine in a class including officers up to and including full colonels. The first day, after class, a short, stocky Lt. Colonel came toward me and I couldn't help but notice the 1st Marine Division patch on his right shoulder, and the navy cross, silver star, bronze star, purple heart and other assorted fruit salad on his left breast. He put one arm on my shoulder, shook my hand and said in a deep, raspy voice "I'm Wild Bill Schwerin, stick with me son and I'll take care of you." Wild Bill went on to tell me that, later in the war, Leon Uris had been his radio man, andin in his novel "Battle Cry", had modeled his 2-gun battalion commander after Wild Bill. For nearly 60 years I've wondered if it was a true story. I am now convinced it was true. After the war, Bill was told he could stay in the Corps at his permanent rank of master sergeant or be riffed. Special Forces was then looking for war fighters and offered him a Lt. colonelcy, which he accepted. I hope this will be an interesting foot note to the book. Semper Fidelis in Christ

Unbelievably good

ANYTHING ABOUT THE ICONS OF THE MARINE CORPS I LOVE -THIS IS NO DISAPPOINTMENT, I'M HALF WAY THRU THE BOOK, AND IT ARRIVED YESTERDAY.WOULD SOMEONE, PLEASE WRITE A BIOGRAPHY OF THE LATE BRIG GENERAL HERMAN HENRY "HAITI" HANNEKEN USMC -NAVY MEDAL OF HONOR RECEPIENT AS WELL AS AWARDED THE NAVY CROSS TWICE!-SEMPER FI

The greatest generation our country has ever known is a constant amazement to me.The book was well written and reseearched.I think, for anyone who wants to understand the importance of the events, both in the fight that was necessary in the Pacific theater and in the tragic mindset of those in leadership of the political world and the navy m

A surprisingly balanced,yet compelling work. A nuanced, but ringing tribute devoid of the mundane or trivial. Itself a medal for its celebrant.

Excellent book, it is one that I am glad I have added to my collection.

Great biography of a very unique individual.

I am a big fan of WWII Marine Raiders, have not finished the book but so far its very informative