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Whisky Tango Foxtrot
"Whisky Tango Foxtrot" is a memoir about the early life of a unique man who was part of an exceptional period in American history, experiencing events and life and death situations a scant few will ever know about. It is the story of Lynne M. Black, affectionately known as "Blackjack," and his triumph over adversity as an elite member of the "Studies and Observations Group" during the Vietnam War
376 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
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July 20, 2011
Review Written by Bernie Weisz, Historian, Vietnam War July 19, 2011 E Mail: BernWei1@aol.com Pembroke Pines, Florida, USA
Title of Review: Here I Am, 23 Years Old, Look 40 and Feel 90. I Live For The Field, The Mission, That's Okay, What's The Next Rush?"
"Whisky Tango Foxtrot" is a memoir about the early life of a unique man who was part of an exceptional period in American history, experiencing events and life and death situations a scant few will ever know about. It is the story of Lynne M. Black, affectionately known as "Blackjack," and his triumph over adversity as an elite member of the "Studies and Observations Group" during the Vietnam War. This is also a story of a man that faced hardship in various forms, nevertheless always finding a way of coming out triumphant regardless of the fiasco. While in his acknowledgement in "WTF," he gives kudos to his wife Judith for the encouragement to complete this seven year endeavor, Black asserts that this book amounted to: "Picking at very personal wounds and grievances in order for me to better understand my place and contributions in this life. The theme of this memoir is clearly determined perseverance regardless of the calamity anyone is faced with. Black never had a childhood. He was born on April 22, 1945, the same day Adolf Hitler declared defeat in Nazi Germany, deciding he would commit suicide as a consequence. As an adolescent, Black was reluctantly placed in charge of his two younger brothers, as well as forced to defend his masculinity due to being taunted about his name by his peers. Black graduated from high school in 1963 in Seattle, Washington. Immediately following that, he was informed by his parents that he either starts paying rent to live at home or move out. Faced with either homelessness or three hot's, a cot and a rifle, he enlisted in the Army. With the conflict rapidly gathering momentum in S.E. Asia, he would soon be transported to a world where the grim reaper would never be far away. Black was about to partake in a situation so unusual, rare and testing of human courage and fortitude that when he suffered through the divorce of his parents, grappled with survivor's guilt over the near death of his brother and close friend, as well as agonized over an atrocity where the victims were small homeless children living in an orphanage, they would be considered minor events. Lynne M. Black would experience all of the aforementioned, plus be part of a brigade that arrived in Vietnam in May of 1965 that proved to be the first major ground combat unit of the U.S. Army to serve in the Vietnam-all before he turned 21 years old. By the time he was 25, he had experienced two additional tours of duty in S.E. Asia as part of the exclusive Special Forces branch the U.S. Military had to offer, the "Studies and Observations Group,"known as the acronym "SOG." Eventually he would be a participant in one of the most lopsided battles America has ever been engaged in, coming out the winner. Black was caught by the North Vietnamese Army in an ambush with eight other SOG team members. When the dust cleared, three of his associates laid dead on the Laotian terrain, 17 helicopter crew members lost their lives attempting to support or extract RT Alabama, and incredibly over 5,000 of the enemy perished.
SOG was charged with the responsibility of retrieving lost equipment or documents captured through enemy action. SOG Recon Teams entered their mission, referred to as the "area of operation" (AO) with no personal identification nor serial numbers on their weapons. To complete a SOG assignment, a volunteer was required to run a minimum of three cross-border operations referred to as going "Over The Fence." There were times when teams were covertly inserted wearing NVA uniforms carrying AK-47's. Recon Teams were led by three Americans and supported by nine mercenary commandos, making a 12 man team. The American team leader was designated a "One-Zero, the assistant team leader a "One-One," and the radio operator was designated a "One-Two." The nine Vietnamese mercenaries were paid by SOG and functioned as armed security for their American counterparts. Similarly, the mercenaries were designated as follows: the "Zero-One" was the mercenary team leader, "Zero-Two" the interpreter, "Zero-Three" the point man, all the way up until "0-9." All members carried CAR-15's or M-79 Grenade Launchers with the exception of the Zero-Nine who was the tail gunner. SOG had its own air force, the 90th Special Operations Wing. This consisted of a squadron of UH-1F Green Hornet helicopters which generally performed search and rescue missions. The fearless Vietnamese 219th "King Bees" H-34 helicopter squadron did the majority of insertions and extractions of SOG teams that went on missions "Over The Fence." Insertions were either by a normal helicopter landing and the RT member hopping off the chopper onto hostile terrain or by the more difficult method, rappelling down rope in areas inaccessible to a normal landing. When a reconnaissance team became compromised, ambushed or overwhelmed and could not break contact with the enemy, an emergency aerial extraction was requested. Often the jungle canopy was impenetrable making it impossible for a helicopter to land. The teams were then extracted on "strings," which were 100 foot long ropes dangling from the extraction ships.
Lynne Black completes "WTF" with entertaining anecdotes of various missions and experiences he had during his first tour of SOG, which ran from July of 1968 to June of 1969 as a member of RT Alabama, as well as RT Idaho which he later joined as the "One-One" pairing up with team leader John Stryker "Tilt" Meyer. When Tilt went back to the U.S. in April 1969, Black went on to become Idaho's team leader. However, Black leaves the reader numb with the bone chilling, nerve racking description of RT Alabama's fateful mission on October 5, 1968. It would leave three Alabama team members, 17 aircrew personnel, and incredibly 5,000 North Vietnamese soldiers dead on Laotian soil. On this day, RT Alabama inadvertently landed right on top of both an armed 2000 man "Binh Tram" unit as well as a 3000 man NVA regiment they were sent in to find, with odds very highly stacked against them to survive. The "One-Zero" was James "Bulldog" Stride, the "One-One" was Stephen Engelke, the One-Two was Black. The Indigenous force consisted of Loc A. Hua the "Zero-One," Doan "Cowboy" Khan was the "Zero-Two," (Cowboy now lives in California), Hoa Nguyen was the "One-Three" who sadly was killed shortly after landing, along with the tail gunner, Cuong T. Nguyen. Black's description of what happened to Cuong is both awe inspiring and simultaneously tragic. The mission had all the omens of disaster even before it happened. No Recon Team wanted this mission, as the last twelve that went in there were either never heard from again or so shot up the team had to be folded. The moniker "Oscar Eight" was used to designate a suicidal area of operation that would result in a "one way mission," and this assignment fit all of its requirements. Therefore, it became necessary to be involuntarily assigned to a team via a lottery system., which tragically Alabama won. On October 3rd, 1968, two days before the doomed mission, Black and Stride flew a visual reconnaissance over the target in a Vietnamese Air Force U-17 to take photographs and study the area. The plane took off from Phu Bai airfield and circled over the South China Sea. Black noticed from the air sampan fishermen carefully observing the U-17 as they flew over.
Flying west over South Vietnam's rice paddies which gave way to towering mountains, the plane cruised at a safe altitude. When they reached the Laotian area of operation, Stride ordered the pilot to pass over the projected landing zone to make a photo pass at a hundred feet. When the pilot objected, deeming it unsafe, Stride slapped the pilot in the head and reiterated his command. The plane dropped down to tree level, and Black managed to take one photograph. Before he could take a second one the plane was stitched with multiple rounds of machine gun fire exiting the ceiling of the aircraft. The copilot's head was blown apart with parts of it landing in Black's lap. Black believes that the sampan fishermen tipped off the 5000 NVA soldiers in "Oscar Eight" that the U-17 was about to fly over their Binh Tram and to take action accordingly. The one photo Black took actually picked up the NVA tracer rounds fired at the plane, the fusillade was so intense. Another of the idiosyncrasies of MACV/SOG at Phu Bai was the infamous "Green Beret Lounge." In his memoir "Bright Light, Steve Perry describes the lounge as follows: "The Green Beret Lounge was a place for social interaction within FOB-1. It was one of the few air conditioned places in the compound and therefore, a good place to escape the almost unbearable heat and humidity of S.E. Asia. We would gather here as a family to share a drink, a sad story of a lost friend, or the joy of something good happening back in the world." When Black first came to FOB-1 he thought everyone was sitting around the lounge playing a ridiculous game called "liars dice" and bragging what they did. His opinion changed, recalling: "It didn't take me long to figure out we were all telling each other how to stay alive...how to transfer the battle lessons learned." Despite going over with his 1-1 every bit of intelligence they could get their hands on of "Oscar Eight," Black knew there were times more information could be picked up in the club other than in official reports. Black later reflected: "Not in this case. There were no surviving old hands to talk about "The Lottery."
On Saturday, October 5th, at 8 AM,the fateful day of the mission, two Kingbees loaded with RT Alabama took off from Phu Bai. They flew into Laos and prepared to touch down to infamy. The first H-34 had "A Team" and the second had "B Team" with Black in the second Kingbee. He recalled the following: Several feet off touchdown, I spotted an NVA flag posted near the edge. I remember thinking Oooooh Crap!" The mission should have been aborted right then and there, considering they were landing on a hornet's nest buzzing with 5000 NVA heavily armed soldiers. Immediately after his team was inserted the Kingbee that Black debarked from was shot out of the sky and crashed violently into the Laotian landscape. The team moved off the landing zone into the jungle to find cover, as the NVA set up on all sides of them, drawing the ambush tighter. Hoa, the point man, saw this and advised Stride to call for an immediate extraction. Stride ignored this advice and ordered the mission continued. Despite being a Korean War Veteran, Stride made a fatal mistake that would cost both his and Hoa's life by ordering the team to move over a well traveled trail across the LZ into the jungle. Reflecting, Black wrote: "The first rule of recon is, never use trails, especially well traveled trails. That trail, I said to Stride, definitely fits that description. He told me he was in command and that I would follow his orders without question." Immediately after that, a torrent of NVA lead flew out at RT Alabama, with Hoa hit multiple times in his chest and lower body. Jim Stride would be shot over 20 times, three fatally to his head. What happened next would make the reader think Lynne Black is another superman or a raving lunatic. He assumed command of RT Alabama and calmly ordered his team to form a circle giving 360 degree coverage. Every man laid prone or got down on one knee and fired repeatedly on automatic at the enemy except Black. He stood up, changed the selector on his CAR-15 to single shot and from left to right methodically killed one NVA after another. He killed so many charging NVA that the team stacked corpses of dead NVA around them and built a "cadaver wall." Another NVA charged up on Black and screamed "Chieu Hoi." Black answered by blowing the Communist soldier's head off, simultaneously declaring: "I don't think so!" RT Alabama would be on that piece of Laotian real estate almost until sundown.
What followed next is one of the most incredible stories of courage, determination, and intestinal fortitude ever in print! The NVA threw concussion grenades at Black and his team, only to be caught and thrown back! Black remarked: "You're mine now you bastards!" He even yelled out to the NVA as he continued to kill one NVA after another with expert marksmanship: "Chieu Hoi, surrender!". Eventually an NVA soldier hit Black in the head with a grenade, which dropped to his feet and exploded. The blast bent the barrel of Black's CAR-15, knocked him unconscious, and filled him with shards of shrapnel. After Cowboy poured water on him, Black came to, making him even more determined to kill every living NVA soldier on that battlefield. Black recorded his thoughts: "You have now officially pissed me off. I am declaring a Prairie Fire Emergency! A Prairie Fire should drop enough Napalm on you suckers to ruin your day!" In a Prairie Fire, all aircraft in South Vietnam that were within flight distance of Black's position were obligated to immediately divert to support him. With 5000 Communist soldiers against one surrounded SOG Recon Team, it was obvious they could have overran Alabama anytime they wanted to. There were multiple extraction attempts with repeated disastrous results. As long as the NVA were downing American birds, they were content. Whisky Tango Foxtrot is a story of American perseverance, never quitting regardless of the odds. How that day ended has to be read to be believed, as only Blackjack can tell it. He paints a poignant mental image, as if the reader is right next to him firing over the cadaver wall at the charging NVA onslaught. At a post battle debriefing, he was asked why he reenlisted a second time. Aside from avenging his brother, his answer was classic Blackjack: When I got out the first time and went home it bugged me that so many of us had been killed or wounded and I couldn't say I had really seen the enemy. If I'm going to fight a war, I want to see the enemy. I want to see the look on their face when I pull the trigger or have them roasted with napalm. Don't ask me this crap again. I'm doing a job that most guys back home don't want to do. Just be satisfied you can get people like me who want to be here and are qualified."
On his own mortality, he would comment later in his tour: "The enemy might shoot me, fill me full of shrapnel, or blow me up, but I'm not going to die. I refuse." Blackjack would later soften his position, realizing the biggest danger to him would ironically be himself. Experimenting once with C-4 he blew himself up on the range, being unconscious and AWOL for 2 days until he came to. Although WTF only describes his first tour of SOG, he would go back for a second dose. Doug Le Tourneau, Blackjack's 1-1 with RT Idaho, would remember him as follows: "Black's one of those guys you can go to the field with and come back alive, but go to the firing range with him and you'll get a Purple Heart!". Addicted to the combat adrenalin, Black explained himself: "I'm not even interested in sex most of the time. I calm my nerves with alcohol and after mission stories in the club. I live for the field, the mission, that "Okay what's next?" rush. Fast forward to 2011. Blackjack has put it all down for others and can now move on, without living in the past, living on yesterday's emotions. There were other participants of October 5th, 1968, that could not leave the past in the past. According to Michael Orban, author of "Souled Out," he asserts that: "More Vietnam Veterans have died by suicide than died in the war." This includes a few veterans Black knew. Blackjack puts it all in perspective: "It's the quality of our lives that count. If we are staring at "The Reaper" and are in debilitating pain, ending our own lives is a viable option. Many of my friends have ended their lives under those circumstances. I miss them, but am happy they are at peace." While simultaneously being both horrifying and astonishing, WTF tells this Sogger's story, allowing Lynne Black his personal serenity to move on! This is a memorable book about an incredible man you will never forget!
Title of Review: Here I Am, 23 Years Old, Look 40 and Feel 90. I Live For The Field, The Mission, That's Okay, What's The Next Rush?"
"Whisky Tango Foxtrot" is a memoir about the early life of a unique man who was part of an exceptional period in American history, experiencing events and life and death situations a scant few will ever know about. It is the story of Lynne M. Black, affectionately known as "Blackjack," and his triumph over adversity as an elite member of the "Studies and Observations Group" during the Vietnam War. This is also a story of a man that faced hardship in various forms, nevertheless always finding a way of coming out triumphant regardless of the fiasco. While in his acknowledgement in "WTF," he gives kudos to his wife Judith for the encouragement to complete this seven year endeavor, Black asserts that this book amounted to: "Picking at very personal wounds and grievances in order for me to better understand my place and contributions in this life. The theme of this memoir is clearly determined perseverance regardless of the calamity anyone is faced with. Black never had a childhood. He was born on April 22, 1945, the same day Adolf Hitler declared defeat in Nazi Germany, deciding he would commit suicide as a consequence. As an adolescent, Black was reluctantly placed in charge of his two younger brothers, as well as forced to defend his masculinity due to being taunted about his name by his peers. Black graduated from high school in 1963 in Seattle, Washington. Immediately following that, he was informed by his parents that he either starts paying rent to live at home or move out. Faced with either homelessness or three hot's, a cot and a rifle, he enlisted in the Army. With the conflict rapidly gathering momentum in S.E. Asia, he would soon be transported to a world where the grim reaper would never be far away. Black was about to partake in a situation so unusual, rare and testing of human courage and fortitude that when he suffered through the divorce of his parents, grappled with survivor's guilt over the near death of his brother and close friend, as well as agonized over an atrocity where the victims were small homeless children living in an orphanage, they would be considered minor events. Lynne M. Black would experience all of the aforementioned, plus be part of a brigade that arrived in Vietnam in May of 1965 that proved to be the first major ground combat unit of the U.S. Army to serve in the Vietnam-all before he turned 21 years old. By the time he was 25, he had experienced two additional tours of duty in S.E. Asia as part of the exclusive Special Forces branch the U.S. Military had to offer, the "Studies and Observations Group,"known as the acronym "SOG." Eventually he would be a participant in one of the most lopsided battles America has ever been engaged in, coming out the winner. Black was caught by the North Vietnamese Army in an ambush with eight other SOG team members. When the dust cleared, three of his associates laid dead on the Laotian terrain, 17 helicopter crew members lost their lives attempting to support or extract RT Alabama, and incredibly over 5,000 of the enemy perished.
SOG was charged with the responsibility of retrieving lost equipment or documents captured through enemy action. SOG Recon Teams entered their mission, referred to as the "area of operation" (AO) with no personal identification nor serial numbers on their weapons. To complete a SOG assignment, a volunteer was required to run a minimum of three cross-border operations referred to as going "Over The Fence." There were times when teams were covertly inserted wearing NVA uniforms carrying AK-47's. Recon Teams were led by three Americans and supported by nine mercenary commandos, making a 12 man team. The American team leader was designated a "One-Zero, the assistant team leader a "One-One," and the radio operator was designated a "One-Two." The nine Vietnamese mercenaries were paid by SOG and functioned as armed security for their American counterparts. Similarly, the mercenaries were designated as follows: the "Zero-One" was the mercenary team leader, "Zero-Two" the interpreter, "Zero-Three" the point man, all the way up until "0-9." All members carried CAR-15's or M-79 Grenade Launchers with the exception of the Zero-Nine who was the tail gunner. SOG had its own air force, the 90th Special Operations Wing. This consisted of a squadron of UH-1F Green Hornet helicopters which generally performed search and rescue missions. The fearless Vietnamese 219th "King Bees" H-34 helicopter squadron did the majority of insertions and extractions of SOG teams that went on missions "Over The Fence." Insertions were either by a normal helicopter landing and the RT member hopping off the chopper onto hostile terrain or by the more difficult method, rappelling down rope in areas inaccessible to a normal landing. When a reconnaissance team became compromised, ambushed or overwhelmed and could not break contact with the enemy, an emergency aerial extraction was requested. Often the jungle canopy was impenetrable making it impossible for a helicopter to land. The teams were then extracted on "strings," which were 100 foot long ropes dangling from the extraction ships.
Lynne Black completes "WTF" with entertaining anecdotes of various missions and experiences he had during his first tour of SOG, which ran from July of 1968 to June of 1969 as a member of RT Alabama, as well as RT Idaho which he later joined as the "One-One" pairing up with team leader John Stryker "Tilt" Meyer. When Tilt went back to the U.S. in April 1969, Black went on to become Idaho's team leader. However, Black leaves the reader numb with the bone chilling, nerve racking description of RT Alabama's fateful mission on October 5, 1968. It would leave three Alabama team members, 17 aircrew personnel, and incredibly 5,000 North Vietnamese soldiers dead on Laotian soil. On this day, RT Alabama inadvertently landed right on top of both an armed 2000 man "Binh Tram" unit as well as a 3000 man NVA regiment they were sent in to find, with odds very highly stacked against them to survive. The "One-Zero" was James "Bulldog" Stride, the "One-One" was Stephen Engelke, the One-Two was Black. The Indigenous force consisted of Loc A. Hua the "Zero-One," Doan "Cowboy" Khan was the "Zero-Two," (Cowboy now lives in California), Hoa Nguyen was the "One-Three" who sadly was killed shortly after landing, along with the tail gunner, Cuong T. Nguyen. Black's description of what happened to Cuong is both awe inspiring and simultaneously tragic. The mission had all the omens of disaster even before it happened. No Recon Team wanted this mission, as the last twelve that went in there were either never heard from again or so shot up the team had to be folded. The moniker "Oscar Eight" was used to designate a suicidal area of operation that would result in a "one way mission," and this assignment fit all of its requirements. Therefore, it became necessary to be involuntarily assigned to a team via a lottery system., which tragically Alabama won. On October 3rd, 1968, two days before the doomed mission, Black and Stride flew a visual reconnaissance over the target in a Vietnamese Air Force U-17 to take photographs and study the area. The plane took off from Phu Bai airfield and circled over the South China Sea. Black noticed from the air sampan fishermen carefully observing the U-17 as they flew over.
Flying west over South Vietnam's rice paddies which gave way to towering mountains, the plane cruised at a safe altitude. When they reached the Laotian area of operation, Stride ordered the pilot to pass over the projected landing zone to make a photo pass at a hundred feet. When the pilot objected, deeming it unsafe, Stride slapped the pilot in the head and reiterated his command. The plane dropped down to tree level, and Black managed to take one photograph. Before he could take a second one the plane was stitched with multiple rounds of machine gun fire exiting the ceiling of the aircraft. The copilot's head was blown apart with parts of it landing in Black's lap. Black believes that the sampan fishermen tipped off the 5000 NVA soldiers in "Oscar Eight" that the U-17 was about to fly over their Binh Tram and to take action accordingly. The one photo Black took actually picked up the NVA tracer rounds fired at the plane, the fusillade was so intense. Another of the idiosyncrasies of MACV/SOG at Phu Bai was the infamous "Green Beret Lounge." In his memoir "Bright Light, Steve Perry describes the lounge as follows: "The Green Beret Lounge was a place for social interaction within FOB-1. It was one of the few air conditioned places in the compound and therefore, a good place to escape the almost unbearable heat and humidity of S.E. Asia. We would gather here as a family to share a drink, a sad story of a lost friend, or the joy of something good happening back in the world." When Black first came to FOB-1 he thought everyone was sitting around the lounge playing a ridiculous game called "liars dice" and bragging what they did. His opinion changed, recalling: "It didn't take me long to figure out we were all telling each other how to stay alive...how to transfer the battle lessons learned." Despite going over with his 1-1 every bit of intelligence they could get their hands on of "Oscar Eight," Black knew there were times more information could be picked up in the club other than in official reports. Black later reflected: "Not in this case. There were no surviving old hands to talk about "The Lottery."
On Saturday, October 5th, at 8 AM,the fateful day of the mission, two Kingbees loaded with RT Alabama took off from Phu Bai. They flew into Laos and prepared to touch down to infamy. The first H-34 had "A Team" and the second had "B Team" with Black in the second Kingbee. He recalled the following: Several feet off touchdown, I spotted an NVA flag posted near the edge. I remember thinking Oooooh Crap!" The mission should have been aborted right then and there, considering they were landing on a hornet's nest buzzing with 5000 NVA heavily armed soldiers. Immediately after his team was inserted the Kingbee that Black debarked from was shot out of the sky and crashed violently into the Laotian landscape. The team moved off the landing zone into the jungle to find cover, as the NVA set up on all sides of them, drawing the ambush tighter. Hoa, the point man, saw this and advised Stride to call for an immediate extraction. Stride ignored this advice and ordered the mission continued. Despite being a Korean War Veteran, Stride made a fatal mistake that would cost both his and Hoa's life by ordering the team to move over a well traveled trail across the LZ into the jungle. Reflecting, Black wrote: "The first rule of recon is, never use trails, especially well traveled trails. That trail, I said to Stride, definitely fits that description. He told me he was in command and that I would follow his orders without question." Immediately after that, a torrent of NVA lead flew out at RT Alabama, with Hoa hit multiple times in his chest and lower body. Jim Stride would be shot over 20 times, three fatally to his head. What happened next would make the reader think Lynne Black is another superman or a raving lunatic. He assumed command of RT Alabama and calmly ordered his team to form a circle giving 360 degree coverage. Every man laid prone or got down on one knee and fired repeatedly on automatic at the enemy except Black. He stood up, changed the selector on his CAR-15 to single shot and from left to right methodically killed one NVA after another. He killed so many charging NVA that the team stacked corpses of dead NVA around them and built a "cadaver wall." Another NVA charged up on Black and screamed "Chieu Hoi." Black answered by blowing the Communist soldier's head off, simultaneously declaring: "I don't think so!" RT Alabama would be on that piece of Laotian real estate almost until sundown.
What followed next is one of the most incredible stories of courage, determination, and intestinal fortitude ever in print! The NVA threw concussion grenades at Black and his team, only to be caught and thrown back! Black remarked: "You're mine now you bastards!" He even yelled out to the NVA as he continued to kill one NVA after another with expert marksmanship: "Chieu Hoi, surrender!". Eventually an NVA soldier hit Black in the head with a grenade, which dropped to his feet and exploded. The blast bent the barrel of Black's CAR-15, knocked him unconscious, and filled him with shards of shrapnel. After Cowboy poured water on him, Black came to, making him even more determined to kill every living NVA soldier on that battlefield. Black recorded his thoughts: "You have now officially pissed me off. I am declaring a Prairie Fire Emergency! A Prairie Fire should drop enough Napalm on you suckers to ruin your day!" In a Prairie Fire, all aircraft in South Vietnam that were within flight distance of Black's position were obligated to immediately divert to support him. With 5000 Communist soldiers against one surrounded SOG Recon Team, it was obvious they could have overran Alabama anytime they wanted to. There were multiple extraction attempts with repeated disastrous results. As long as the NVA were downing American birds, they were content. Whisky Tango Foxtrot is a story of American perseverance, never quitting regardless of the odds. How that day ended has to be read to be believed, as only Blackjack can tell it. He paints a poignant mental image, as if the reader is right next to him firing over the cadaver wall at the charging NVA onslaught. At a post battle debriefing, he was asked why he reenlisted a second time. Aside from avenging his brother, his answer was classic Blackjack: When I got out the first time and went home it bugged me that so many of us had been killed or wounded and I couldn't say I had really seen the enemy. If I'm going to fight a war, I want to see the enemy. I want to see the look on their face when I pull the trigger or have them roasted with napalm. Don't ask me this crap again. I'm doing a job that most guys back home don't want to do. Just be satisfied you can get people like me who want to be here and are qualified."
On his own mortality, he would comment later in his tour: "The enemy might shoot me, fill me full of shrapnel, or blow me up, but I'm not going to die. I refuse." Blackjack would later soften his position, realizing the biggest danger to him would ironically be himself. Experimenting once with C-4 he blew himself up on the range, being unconscious and AWOL for 2 days until he came to. Although WTF only describes his first tour of SOG, he would go back for a second dose. Doug Le Tourneau, Blackjack's 1-1 with RT Idaho, would remember him as follows: "Black's one of those guys you can go to the field with and come back alive, but go to the firing range with him and you'll get a Purple Heart!". Addicted to the combat adrenalin, Black explained himself: "I'm not even interested in sex most of the time. I calm my nerves with alcohol and after mission stories in the club. I live for the field, the mission, that "Okay what's next?" rush. Fast forward to 2011. Blackjack has put it all down for others and can now move on, without living in the past, living on yesterday's emotions. There were other participants of October 5th, 1968, that could not leave the past in the past. According to Michael Orban, author of "Souled Out," he asserts that: "More Vietnam Veterans have died by suicide than died in the war." This includes a few veterans Black knew. Blackjack puts it all in perspective: "It's the quality of our lives that count. If we are staring at "The Reaper" and are in debilitating pain, ending our own lives is a viable option. Many of my friends have ended their lives under those circumstances. I miss them, but am happy they are at peace." While simultaneously being both horrifying and astonishing, WTF tells this Sogger's story, allowing Lynne Black his personal serenity to move on! This is a memorable book about an incredible man you will never forget!
March 9, 2016
"Just great"
Wow wot a read, this man has seen an done things that would turn your hair grey. But a fantastic read really enjoyed it, just wish there was more of it. Any one interested in this subject will appreciate this book.
Wow wot a read, this man has seen an done things that would turn your hair grey. But a fantastic read really enjoyed it, just wish there was more of it. Any one interested in this subject will appreciate this book.
May 17, 2016
If you are into sog ops or the secret war this is a must read
Like the head line says if you like to learn more about special ops in south east Asia this is a must read
Like the head line says if you like to learn more about special ops in south east Asia this is a must read
March 12, 2025
After quite a hiatus, WTF has finally been finished. A fine work by Black, which combines comedy well with the seriousness of SOG, a writing style that Brokhausen had also used effectively in “We Few”. As for its story, it helps paint a much better picture in the most insane and forgotten battle in the Vietnam War. The remaining parts of the book still live up to what the beginning promised. Its ending leaves me only wanting more, a more which will probably never be written down but is in SOGCAST, to my dismay.
April 24, 2025
A brilliant read and one of my favourite books of all time.
August 29, 2022
One of the best autobuographies I've ever read. Lynne's style of weaving in narrative with his own personal thoughts as events unfold keep the book exciting and personal, making it difficult to put down. His attention to detail is unparalleled, and serves as a perfect introduction to the secret war the United States waged in Vietnam.
December 17, 2019
Real Deal!
Blackjack tells the real story without the politically correct BS getting the way..! SF to the max and more. MAC-SOG in the eyes of real MAC-SOG team member! I spent 6 weeks working on a SOG team and it was in a word, BRUTAL..! This is the real deal...! Thanks Blackjack...!!!
Blackjack tells the real story without the politically correct BS getting the way..! SF to the max and more. MAC-SOG in the eyes of real MAC-SOG team member! I spent 6 weeks working on a SOG team and it was in a word, BRUTAL..! This is the real deal...! Thanks Blackjack...!!!
November 3, 2014
Very well-written and contemporary semi-noir semi-thriller, an enjoyable novel even though not too convincing in the credibility department. Seems to be set up for a sequel, which I would definitely want to read - lots of threads still dangling.
January 22, 2015
Sparkling writing. Wonderful turn of a phrase such as "Nigel was well past his expiration date" or "greener pastures schtick." Can't wait for the sequel.
July 29, 2019
Clarry Rule. NOT A JOB FOR JUST ANYONE
Lynne Black's book 'Whisky Tango Foxtrot' very clearly showed that only a man with courage, dedication, battlefield awareness and lots of Good Luck should apply for this line of work. I have read several Green Beret books on SOG operations and it seemed to me that these recon teams were inserted into areas with a guaranteed chance of landing on top of the NVA, shot to ribbons, and then a few survivors extracted at the cost of many other lives and equipment involved in the rescue, not counting the many teams who were never heard of again. Lynne gave me the impression that it was only a matter of time before Luck would run out. The NVA were a formidable force that demanded respect. I found myself turning every page, wondering who was going to get 'the chop' next. He certainly laid it on the line that the word 'longevity' was never used. His story showed that with rock solid teamwork, survival was possible. I served in Vietnam for 18 months straight as an advisor and, NO THANKS, this was not the job for me. I salute Lynne Black, his comrades and indigs for displaying absolute courage in the face of terrible odds.
Lynne Black's book 'Whisky Tango Foxtrot' very clearly showed that only a man with courage, dedication, battlefield awareness and lots of Good Luck should apply for this line of work. I have read several Green Beret books on SOG operations and it seemed to me that these recon teams were inserted into areas with a guaranteed chance of landing on top of the NVA, shot to ribbons, and then a few survivors extracted at the cost of many other lives and equipment involved in the rescue, not counting the many teams who were never heard of again. Lynne gave me the impression that it was only a matter of time before Luck would run out. The NVA were a formidable force that demanded respect. I found myself turning every page, wondering who was going to get 'the chop' next. He certainly laid it on the line that the word 'longevity' was never used. His story showed that with rock solid teamwork, survival was possible. I served in Vietnam for 18 months straight as an advisor and, NO THANKS, this was not the job for me. I salute Lynne Black, his comrades and indigs for displaying absolute courage in the face of terrible odds.
January 28, 2021
SOG brilliance — a must read. Lynn drops the hammer early as the narrative jumps to the wild streets Saigon - Black and his immediate past [across the fence] team’s 1-1 are in a JEEP headed to a formal after action report at SOG Headquarters & all is not as it seems. Black let’s the insanity flow as he tells the most amazing combat story ever (?) to a room full of experts, each w a unique personal perspective and agenda. Black s narrative stream, especially in these debriefing passages are ... WTF disturbing in the senses that you know immediately the biggest mistake was believing the bosses s didn’t k is where those 10000 NVA actually were prior to your team’s doomed insertion - Paraphrase: “I knew it was bad when an NVA flag was flying over the LZ ...” Limitless courage, paralyzing fear - it’s all here.
December 23, 2022
Nicely written book about one of the most incredible survival stories of the Vietnam War. Mr. Black brings you right into the team as the enemy has you surrounded in the jungle. The courage and bravery of these men, American and South Vietnamese, alike, is incredible and these stories need to be told. War is not pretty, and Vietnam was widely unpopular with the American civilians. But the soldiers were doing their jobs, in near impossible situations at times. It is said that war brings out the worst in humanity and it also brings out the best in humanity. Whisky Tango Foxtrot is one man’s story that gives you a flavor of both. Thank you, Mr. Black, for writing this book.
October 30, 2018
Hero's we never New about
Good book about heros we never knew about that managed to accomplish so much with so grew . I am glad for the guys that made it back to tell about it and grieve for the
Good book about hero's we never knew about. I am glad for the ones that made it back to tell about it and grieve for the ones that did not. It is amazing they were able to accomplish so much with so few.
Good book about heros we never knew about that managed to accomplish so much with so grew . I am glad for the guys that made it back to tell about it and grieve for the
Good book about hero's we never knew about. I am glad for the ones that made it back to tell about it and grieve for the ones that did not. It is amazing they were able to accomplish so much with so few.
September 26, 2020
Not for me
As a REMF with the 219 MID Long Bien, RVN, reading aireal photos (Image Interpreter) with a few, very few, VR missions I have tremendous respect for the real soldiers. After being discharged I spent my active reserve time with the 5th SF at Fort Meade as a SIGINT wannabe. That's a lot of verbiage just to say that you should read this. Especially if you were a REMF. Guys like Black used the Intel guys like me provided.
As a REMF with the 219 MID Long Bien, RVN, reading aireal photos (Image Interpreter) with a few, very few, VR missions I have tremendous respect for the real soldiers. After being discharged I spent my active reserve time with the 5th SF at Fort Meade as a SIGINT wannabe. That's a lot of verbiage just to say that you should read this. Especially if you were a REMF. Guys like Black used the Intel guys like me provided.
November 7, 2020
Strength and Attitide Provided Courage and Fighting Effectiveness in the Most Challenging Combat Situations
Action described best by those who were participants. Sometimes jargon and military communications muddied the water. The use of a poker game to describe situation reports also could have been confusing to those with little or no military experience. Overall, an exciting read written by a brave patriot.
Action described best by those who were participants. Sometimes jargon and military communications muddied the water. The use of a poker game to describe situation reports also could have been confusing to those with little or no military experience. Overall, an exciting read written by a brave patriot.
September 11, 2025
True hero - book needs some clean up
Mr. Black is a true hero, and I thoroughly enjoyed this fast paced book. The first part reads like a spy novel, or something out of Hollywood. Wow that was intense. However, as other reviews have pointed out there needs to be some sort of chronological order to stuff, or at least dates and times. Overall a really good read. Thank you for your brave and selfless service Mr. Black.
Mr. Black is a true hero, and I thoroughly enjoyed this fast paced book. The first part reads like a spy novel, or something out of Hollywood. Wow that was intense. However, as other reviews have pointed out there needs to be some sort of chronological order to stuff, or at least dates and times. Overall a really good read. Thank you for your brave and selfless service Mr. Black.
December 16, 2025
I'm impressed by the man his feats. I am really a fan of the subject but I believe this book needs further editing to make sure there is a better flow. It's hard to keep track of the story. A lot of it revolves on conversations that took place around a dice game they played a lot and the war stories that we're told during those specific games. Sometimes it is not clear if a substory is seen through the eyes of the writer or someone else. Finishing the books was a slog for me.
August 26, 2018
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
A story that grabs you, pulls you in and doesn’t let go till the end. The story carries you from mission to mission and makes you feel the downtime as well. An interesting look at what one of my family members did in service. Thank you for your service and the sacrifices made!
A story that grabs you, pulls you in and doesn’t let go till the end. The story carries you from mission to mission and makes you feel the downtime as well. An interesting look at what one of my family members did in service. Thank you for your service and the sacrifices made!
September 4, 2019
Outstanding - where’s the rest?
Loved this book although it did end abruptly. The chronology was a little tricky to follow at times, I think the author over did that technique, but the narrative, humour and combat exploits were excellent. A true hero among hero’s. Read this and ponder what these soldiers faced and triumphed over.
Loved this book although it did end abruptly. The chronology was a little tricky to follow at times, I think the author over did that technique, but the narrative, humour and combat exploits were excellent. A true hero among hero’s. Read this and ponder what these soldiers faced and triumphed over.
June 10, 2021
Gifted writer tells a great SOG/MACV story
I’ve read many ‘Nam memoirs and this one by Lynne Black ranks in the top tier. He captures conversations and narrates with his thoughts. Combat encounters are told authentically and the little precise details enhance “Blackjack’s” story. I hope a second book follows as this one was gripping.
I’ve read many ‘Nam memoirs and this one by Lynne Black ranks in the top tier. He captures conversations and narrates with his thoughts. Combat encounters are told authentically and the little precise details enhance “Blackjack’s” story. I hope a second book follows as this one was gripping.
November 3, 2022
Although never having lived through the 60s/70s, this is an interesting take at first hand experience at being involved with the conflict as an SOF member. Although written as direct and to the point, I found it still interesting to read and learn about a time long since passed and would enjoy reading more projects from the author in the future.
May 19, 2025
A great first person account of someone who served in the MACV-SOG Team Alabama and Team Idaho across the fence. A must have addition to any Spec-Ops library. Especially for those currently serving in LRS detachments and/or want to read some of the historical components of what reconnaissance units developed/do.
July 19, 2025
simply outstanding
A true
A true story of a warrior in combat in Viet Nam in SOG. The bravery and astute tactical ability is clearly demonstrated by him and his “family”,his brotherhood. Great camaraderie and team work. They learned from each other and survived together. A great read.
A true
A true story of a warrior in combat in Viet Nam in SOG. The bravery and astute tactical ability is clearly demonstrated by him and his “family”,his brotherhood. Great camaraderie and team work. They learned from each other and survived together. A great read.
March 9, 2020
Highly recommend
Very well written and captures so much of the reality of the Vietnam special ops war on the ground. In addition to so much else, the author weaves in those things that unite men to perform in extremely difficult situations. One of the best I've read!
Very well written and captures so much of the reality of the Vietnam special ops war on the ground. In addition to so much else, the author weaves in those things that unite men to perform in extremely difficult situations. One of the best I've read!
February 16, 2021
The man is a patriot and hero. While he is a talented SOG, he is an average writer. If you enjoy feeling the thrill of what it must have been like to be a RECO in nam, read this book. First hand accounts of his service. Thank you Mr. Blackjack! I salute you.
December 3, 2021
Interesting but got tedious at times
Interesting book about an interesting man. A lot of details that I found interesting when it related to action but tedious between actions. End did come abruptly. I want to know what happened to Bucky and the child he had with her.
Interesting book about an interesting man. A lot of details that I found interesting when it related to action but tedious between actions. End did come abruptly. I want to know what happened to Bucky and the child he had with her.
January 2, 2024
Excellent read. One of the best Vietnam War memoirs that I've read. These SOG missions had suicide written all over them, yet men volunteered to do it. They were the epitome of courage. Highly recommend.
November 2, 2019
Good read
Good book describes every day life for the guys of special forces. Not just about combat. Tells what life was like and the close community of these special soldiers
Good book describes every day life for the guys of special forces. Not just about combat. Tells what life was like and the close community of these special soldiers
March 5, 2020
Straight shooter with stories to tell
I have previously read Tilt's two excellent books and this is such a fine compliment to it. Different but in a delightful way
I have previously read Tilt's two excellent books and this is such a fine compliment to it. Different but in a delightful way
December 22, 2020
Great Memoir from one of the brave recon men of SOG
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