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Six Silent Men: 101st LRP/Rangers
"No way in hell you could survive 'out there' with six men. You couldn't live thirty minutes 'out there' with only six men." [pg. 13]
In 1965 nearly four hundred men were interviewed and only thirty-two selected for the infant LRRP Detachment of the lst Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Old-timers called it the suicide unit. Whether conducting prisoner snatches, search and destroy missions, or hunting for the enemy's secret base camps, LRRPs depended on one another 110 percent. One false step, one small mistake by one man could mean sudden death for all.
Author Reynel Martinez, himself a 101st LRRP Detachment veteran, takes us into the lives and battles of the extraordinary men for whom the brotherhood of war was and is an ever-present the courage, the sacrifice, the sense of loss when one of your own dies. In the hills, valleys, and triple-canopy jungles, the ambushes, firefights, and copter crashes, LRRPs were among the best and bravest to fight in Vietnam.
In 1965 nearly four hundred men were interviewed and only thirty-two selected for the infant LRRP Detachment of the lst Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Old-timers called it the suicide unit. Whether conducting prisoner snatches, search and destroy missions, or hunting for the enemy's secret base camps, LRRPs depended on one another 110 percent. One false step, one small mistake by one man could mean sudden death for all.
Author Reynel Martinez, himself a 101st LRRP Detachment veteran, takes us into the lives and battles of the extraordinary men for whom the brotherhood of war was and is an ever-present the courage, the sacrifice, the sense of loss when one of your own dies. In the hills, valleys, and triple-canopy jungles, the ambushes, firefights, and copter crashes, LRRPs were among the best and bravest to fight in Vietnam.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 28, 1996
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 10, 2014
This has been the "Winter of Military Nonfiction" for me, having read several military books in the past few weeks. I meant to be finished after re-reading "LRRP Team Leader" by John Burford, but "Six Silent Men Book 1" drew me in. I've read it before as a teenager, but it was nice to approach it again with a bit more knowledge and understanding.
Although part of a series that chronicles the same unit authors Gary Linderer, Larry Chambers, and John Burford served in during the Vietnam War, Book 1 focuses on the unit's origins as the 1st Brigade LRRPs of the 101st Airborne Division. In other words, this book is about the guys who were already experienced patrollers before the other authors arrived in Vietnam.
SUMMARY
Reynel Martinez describes the genesis of the 1st Brigade LRRPS; the realization of the need for a provincial long range reconnaissance unit in late 1965 and its organization and training. Individual stories from veterans are described in fair detail, with a general outline of the unit's operations and activities. Although many of the stories aren't the author's, sharper detail comes into focus after he arrives in Vietnam.
Unlike the units that came later, the 1st Brigade LRRPs were moved around a lot during the war. They would put out a fire in one place, then move to another. There's a lot of interesting stuff going on that you don't see as much later in the history of the war, including a couple of large raids conducted by the LRRPs, officers sent out on missions, parachute jumps, and contact with VC (Vietcong) guerilla fighters in addition to NVA (North Vietnamese Army) regulars.
OVERALL: 3 out of 5
"Six Silent Men" is a good nonfiction military book, and it goes perfectly with my library of other stories told by men in the same unit: "Eyes of the Eagle" and "Eyes Behind the Lines" by Gary Linderer, "Recondo" by Larry Chambers, "LRRP Team Leader" by John Burford, "Six Silent Men Book 2" by Kenn Miller, and "Six Silent Men Book 3" by Gary Linderer. None of these are in the Dick Marcinko style (not that his style is bad).
Unlike most of the others, all three books in the "Six Silent Men" series aren't the personal stories of the authors, but a larger overview of the entire unit. Martinez does a good job describing a cloudy time when the unit was formed, though I wish there were stronger "characters" in the narrative. Derby Jones comes across as a bonafide, hardcore war hero like you would see in movies, but he disappears shortly after his amazing feats during the "Cruz ambush". Superspade Hite and Brother Weems both get great character moments, but there isn't a lot of real detail about them; who were they friends with? Why were they there?
"Lurch" Cornett is another interesting personality who went on to serve six tours of duty in Vietnam. He is further proof that the medics were probably the hardest core, amazing, super-heroic soldiers Hollywood could ever ask for. Thanks to my re-reading of this book, I found out he had authored his own book, "Gone Native" that I hope to read soon.
Martinez has a lot of charisma in his writing though, and it's no wonder he was popular with the other troops- both his peers and those who came after.
RATINGS BY CATEGORY
CHARACTERS: 2 out of 5
Like most war recollections, a lot of the characters aren't fleshed out in great detail. There are backgrounds and explanations to many of the important people, but they come and go through the narrative. A reader can't keep track of who was out in the field or who was on leave unless specifically stated. Though a few friendships are mentioned, the relationships between the soldiers aren't described in detail. When the author provides a kind of "where they went" at the end, I think he includes a few names that weren't even mentioned previously.
I think that when I read a war story, I want an individual's story. Martinez provides a lot of vignettes told from the perspective of the men who experienced it, but the book is still more of a general overview of the unit rather than anyone's personal tale.
PACE: 3 out of 5
The pace moves fast, with the descriptions of numerous stories both from the author's memory and the recollections of others. Unlike Gary Linderer's books that include many days of idleness and boredom between missions, Martinez is able to focus mostly on the excitement.
STORY: 4 out of 5
This book is unique from the others in that it includes a lot of material I don’t read about as often. The backgrounds of a few soldiers are very interesting, and the origin of the 1st Brigade LRRPs is fascinating; it's too bad more time isn't spent on it.
A lot of the funnier, "back at the base" stories emerge in the latter half of the book. A story is told about the LRRPs stealing beer from the Vietnamese black market, the author's R&R in the United States (and his encounter with an anti-war girl who asks him how many "babies" he had murdered), and some other interesting bits.
The actual war stories are good, and it appears the author's interviews with his comrades is included without modification. There are ambushes successful and otherwise, quiet patrols that turn ugly fast, tragedy, and a few moments of pure, adrenaline-pumped victory. I think the "Cruz Ambush" is probably the most exciting.
DIALOGUE: 3 out of 5
There isn’t a great deal of dialogue in the book, at least not in terms of what was spoken between the soldiers at the time. The exception is the author's recounting of two particularly colorful characters- Staff Sergeant "Brother" Weems and Staff Sergeant "Superspade" Hite.
STYLE/TECHNICAL: 3 out of 5
Describing the first few years of a unit (of which the author served only a year or so; his other six months of service were with the F Company LRPs, 58th Infantry as recounted in "Six Silent Men Book 2" by Kenn Miller) must have been an incredibly daunting task, but Martinez does a good job of providing the history, the action, and some humor. Stories are generally clear, geography is described without dwelling on it, and the reader shouldn't be confused. I think there are a few stories told out of chronological order though.
Although part of a series that chronicles the same unit authors Gary Linderer, Larry Chambers, and John Burford served in during the Vietnam War, Book 1 focuses on the unit's origins as the 1st Brigade LRRPs of the 101st Airborne Division. In other words, this book is about the guys who were already experienced patrollers before the other authors arrived in Vietnam.
SUMMARY
Reynel Martinez describes the genesis of the 1st Brigade LRRPS; the realization of the need for a provincial long range reconnaissance unit in late 1965 and its organization and training. Individual stories from veterans are described in fair detail, with a general outline of the unit's operations and activities. Although many of the stories aren't the author's, sharper detail comes into focus after he arrives in Vietnam.
Unlike the units that came later, the 1st Brigade LRRPs were moved around a lot during the war. They would put out a fire in one place, then move to another. There's a lot of interesting stuff going on that you don't see as much later in the history of the war, including a couple of large raids conducted by the LRRPs, officers sent out on missions, parachute jumps, and contact with VC (Vietcong) guerilla fighters in addition to NVA (North Vietnamese Army) regulars.
OVERALL: 3 out of 5
"Six Silent Men" is a good nonfiction military book, and it goes perfectly with my library of other stories told by men in the same unit: "Eyes of the Eagle" and "Eyes Behind the Lines" by Gary Linderer, "Recondo" by Larry Chambers, "LRRP Team Leader" by John Burford, "Six Silent Men Book 2" by Kenn Miller, and "Six Silent Men Book 3" by Gary Linderer. None of these are in the Dick Marcinko style (not that his style is bad).
Unlike most of the others, all three books in the "Six Silent Men" series aren't the personal stories of the authors, but a larger overview of the entire unit. Martinez does a good job describing a cloudy time when the unit was formed, though I wish there were stronger "characters" in the narrative. Derby Jones comes across as a bonafide, hardcore war hero like you would see in movies, but he disappears shortly after his amazing feats during the "Cruz ambush". Superspade Hite and Brother Weems both get great character moments, but there isn't a lot of real detail about them; who were they friends with? Why were they there?
"Lurch" Cornett is another interesting personality who went on to serve six tours of duty in Vietnam. He is further proof that the medics were probably the hardest core, amazing, super-heroic soldiers Hollywood could ever ask for. Thanks to my re-reading of this book, I found out he had authored his own book, "Gone Native" that I hope to read soon.
Martinez has a lot of charisma in his writing though, and it's no wonder he was popular with the other troops- both his peers and those who came after.
RATINGS BY CATEGORY
CHARACTERS: 2 out of 5
Like most war recollections, a lot of the characters aren't fleshed out in great detail. There are backgrounds and explanations to many of the important people, but they come and go through the narrative. A reader can't keep track of who was out in the field or who was on leave unless specifically stated. Though a few friendships are mentioned, the relationships between the soldiers aren't described in detail. When the author provides a kind of "where they went" at the end, I think he includes a few names that weren't even mentioned previously.
I think that when I read a war story, I want an individual's story. Martinez provides a lot of vignettes told from the perspective of the men who experienced it, but the book is still more of a general overview of the unit rather than anyone's personal tale.
PACE: 3 out of 5
The pace moves fast, with the descriptions of numerous stories both from the author's memory and the recollections of others. Unlike Gary Linderer's books that include many days of idleness and boredom between missions, Martinez is able to focus mostly on the excitement.
STORY: 4 out of 5
This book is unique from the others in that it includes a lot of material I don’t read about as often. The backgrounds of a few soldiers are very interesting, and the origin of the 1st Brigade LRRPs is fascinating; it's too bad more time isn't spent on it.
A lot of the funnier, "back at the base" stories emerge in the latter half of the book. A story is told about the LRRPs stealing beer from the Vietnamese black market, the author's R&R in the United States (and his encounter with an anti-war girl who asks him how many "babies" he had murdered), and some other interesting bits.
The actual war stories are good, and it appears the author's interviews with his comrades is included without modification. There are ambushes successful and otherwise, quiet patrols that turn ugly fast, tragedy, and a few moments of pure, adrenaline-pumped victory. I think the "Cruz Ambush" is probably the most exciting.
DIALOGUE: 3 out of 5
There isn’t a great deal of dialogue in the book, at least not in terms of what was spoken between the soldiers at the time. The exception is the author's recounting of two particularly colorful characters- Staff Sergeant "Brother" Weems and Staff Sergeant "Superspade" Hite.
STYLE/TECHNICAL: 3 out of 5
Describing the first few years of a unit (of which the author served only a year or so; his other six months of service were with the F Company LRPs, 58th Infantry as recounted in "Six Silent Men Book 2" by Kenn Miller) must have been an incredibly daunting task, but Martinez does a good job of providing the history, the action, and some humor. Stories are generally clear, geography is described without dwelling on it, and the reader shouldn't be confused. I think there are a few stories told out of chronological order though.
November 1, 2017
I always read a book with the idea in mind that a five star review is awarded from the outset, with some critical outlook coming. The critical outlook takes into account the characters in the book, the story line, how the two meld together, whether the story moves slowly or quickly, whether the book is filled with typos or grammatical errors. In this book the author, clearly not a professional writer, ties together a series of events taking place during his roughly eighteen months as a Lurp, LONG RANGE RECON PATROL member in the first such outfit supporting the 1st Brigade of the 101st Airborne. I saw no reason to reduce my review award. I enjoyed the stories, hardened combat shown in many of them, as much as I should as a non Vietnam vet, and as anyone can reading a war story. A good, entertaining read.
April 21, 2019
An enjoyable read, more of chronicle than I was expecting. Felt like i wanted more detailed information in places, but i appreciate that may be hard to achieve. Even so, it was an interesting and candid account of life in the LRRP and how it became to be. Will certainly be reading the 2nd and 3rd volumes in this series.
June 14, 2025
I was in the Marines and used to think I was pretty bad ass, then I read this book and realized I am not so much. On a serious note this book was very detailed in the way they described their gear and how they trained. If you are a person like myself that likes military history then this is a must read
February 26, 2021
Six Silent Men
A view of the Vietnam War through the eyes of men who lived and died for each other. Sometimes it’s funny, at other times I felt heart pounding fear along with them. Should be mantatory reading in classrooms every where!
A view of the Vietnam War through the eyes of men who lived and died for each other. Sometimes it’s funny, at other times I felt heart pounding fear along with them. Should be mantatory reading in classrooms every where!
March 6, 2018
Book
This is a very good book about life in a small unit sneaking around in the enemies back yard. You feel like your there.
This is a very good book about life in a small unit sneaking around in the enemies back yard. You feel like your there.
January 2, 2020
Gobsmacking set of three books. I'm on my fourth reading of these.
November 5, 2020
Six Silent Men Part 1
An excellent book about an exceptional group of warriors conducting very dangerous operations. Hopefully these books bring them the recognition they deserve.
An excellent book about an exceptional group of warriors conducting very dangerous operations. Hopefully these books bring them the recognition they deserve.
November 7, 2020
The first book of three volumes, a personal history of the 101st LRPs in Vietnam. This is about the courage, sacrifice, and brotherhood. Looking forward to reading the next two volumes.
January 17, 2022
Interesting reading but very redundant
Some very good stories but this was an extremely redundant book. Same event different location throughout. It’s ok reading for a while.
Some very good stories but this was an extremely redundant book. Same event different location throughout. It’s ok reading for a while.
October 4, 2023
True stories. Brave men. Terrible war.
.
.
May 11, 2025
good story
April 26, 2018
This book covers both the authors memoir and also other soldiers in the 101st airborne. It is a good book about the LRRP, but because the book covered stories by other soldiers it lacked the personal attachment I find in other memoirs.
February 6, 2025
Part 1 of a part 3 series. Overall, this book has so many stories that will keep the reader hooked. I could not put this book down. Each chapter was broken down, which made the book flow. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading stories about the war, especially from people on the ground experiencing it as it happened.
December 13, 2009
My father is in this book and served as Point Man in his team. If you read the book, then he is the one who brought the SKS home as a souvenir. I have an autographed copy and will always treasure this book.
December 28, 2007
First hand account of LRPs in Vietnam.
September 11, 2011
A great book and a good friend. I've known Rey for years and he has been a mentor for me in many ways. Excellent!
February 23, 2009
ANY guy interested in first-hand accounts of Spec Ops in the Vietnam War should read this.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews