What do you think?
Rate this book
Phantom Warriors Book I: LRRPs, LRPs, and Rangers in Vietnam
Hardcover with dust jacket. Combat stories of Vietnam.
307 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2000
90 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 27, 2024
I enjoyed this read. Moved smoothly and the stories felt legitimate and not embellished. It’s a great way to honor those who served by reading of their deeds and sacrifices done in service to our nation. The only downside is the stories were not in chronological order which would have made more sense for context and historical unfolding. But, if you are reading it solely for the stories this organization the author has works just fine. Solid 4-star.
February 4, 2020
Really enjoyed this intimate look at Ranger, LRP, and LRRP missions during Vietnam. Linderer did an excellent job of taking the veteran interviews and weaving a coherent story for each mission/group featured rather than just quoting the veterans directly. I feel that Linderer is qualified to handle this sort of unique approach to writing as he himself was both a LRP and Ranger during Vietnam, and that experience shows.
November 1, 2018
This is the perfect companion book to the Ranger Handbook. It clearly uses ranger language and tactics (for continuity) but most importantly gives real world stories of what can happen when on patrol. That experience provides food for thought when planning, especially considering the consequences of REMFs making ill-advised decisions adversely affecting the patrols. This is also a good history of LRRPs, LRPs, and rangers in Vietnam. A few sketch maps would have been nice but their lack did not detract from the value of this book.
February 2, 2023
This book needed a better editor.
The stories included follow no pattern nor chronological order. You'll get an anecdote from 1968 and then from 1971 and then one from 1969.
It would have been better served if the author started in the early years of the war and proceeded through. Lots easier to follow and much better read.
The stories included follow no pattern nor chronological order. You'll get an anecdote from 1968 and then from 1971 and then one from 1969.
It would have been better served if the author started in the early years of the war and proceeded through. Lots easier to follow and much better read.
February 18, 2024
Phantom Warriors
- February 6th pages 1-6
- February 7th pages 6-56
- February 8th pages 56-106
- February 9th pages 106-122
- February 10th pages 122-124
- February 11th pages 124-174
- February 12th pages 174-201
- February 16th pages 201-228
- February 17th pages 228-351(end)
Gives you exactly what it promises to do
- February 6th pages 1-6
- February 7th pages 6-56
- February 8th pages 56-106
- February 9th pages 106-122
- February 10th pages 122-124
- February 11th pages 124-174
- February 12th pages 174-201
- February 16th pages 201-228
- February 17th pages 228-351(end)
Gives you exactly what it promises to do
January 6, 2018
A nice collection of LRP missions.
August 20, 2018
The stories of battle were very interesting, but personally, I like the combination of battle and life.
April 28, 2019
Raw action
This book takes you to the action. This shows the world how strong a man is when he is thrown into a battle.
This book takes you to the action. This shows the world how strong a man is when he is thrown into a battle.
April 2, 2021
Excellent read like all Gary's books!
July 20, 2021
This is an interesting book about the soldiers who did the fighting in Vietnam. I will keep it on my shelf so that I can read it again in a few yeas.
October 26, 2017
More of a compilation of stories by about the LRRP during the Vietnam War. If interested in Vietnam War or LRRP will highly suggest this book.
January 15, 2015
Book Love Review #1
Phantom Warriors by Gary A. Linderer is a book about LRRPs, LRPs, and Rangers in the Vietnam War. It explores stories from real soldiers in the Vietnam War, most being reconnaissance missions. The stories are from real soldiers that witnessed the Vietnam War first hand. The author, Gary Linderer, is a LRP/Ranger that operated during the Vietnam War. He explains that most of the missions these men did resulted in no combat, just reconnaissance. They would go behind enemy lines to gather intel, and get out without being discovered.
During these missions, men would put their lives at risk every minute in the dangerous jungles of Vietnam. Usually surrounded by NVA forces, the stories in the book told of missions gone haywire that push the men past their limits. With help from artillery or air support, the men had to use their wits to outsmart the enemy or simply hide and let them pass. Gary Linderer shows that to do these missions, you had to give it your all, “When a small and lightly armed reconnaissance team of five to twelve men, operating deep in the enemy territory, suddenly finds itself under attack, its survival depends on the courage, the tenacity, the professionalism, and the fight skills of the individual LRRPs on the team,” (Linderer 10). Each of these stories gives a picture of real human skill that is used to save lives when needed most. I recall a story of when a team of six men were surrounded and blocked off by NVA forces. They were moving slowly across a path when they were suddenly opened fire upon and had to sprint for a whole hour whilst bullets were whizzing past their heads to get to a chopper that lifted them to safety
As a book, Phantom Warriors is excellent for anyone interested in the Vietnam War. The stories it tells are true and it’s astonishing to think a human being could go through such a hell. The book shows heroism in its purest form, and what soldiers are willing to do to save the person next to them.
Phantom Warriors by Gary A. Linderer is a book about LRRPs, LRPs, and Rangers in the Vietnam War. It explores stories from real soldiers in the Vietnam War, most being reconnaissance missions. The stories are from real soldiers that witnessed the Vietnam War first hand. The author, Gary Linderer, is a LRP/Ranger that operated during the Vietnam War. He explains that most of the missions these men did resulted in no combat, just reconnaissance. They would go behind enemy lines to gather intel, and get out without being discovered.
During these missions, men would put their lives at risk every minute in the dangerous jungles of Vietnam. Usually surrounded by NVA forces, the stories in the book told of missions gone haywire that push the men past their limits. With help from artillery or air support, the men had to use their wits to outsmart the enemy or simply hide and let them pass. Gary Linderer shows that to do these missions, you had to give it your all, “When a small and lightly armed reconnaissance team of five to twelve men, operating deep in the enemy territory, suddenly finds itself under attack, its survival depends on the courage, the tenacity, the professionalism, and the fight skills of the individual LRRPs on the team,” (Linderer 10). Each of these stories gives a picture of real human skill that is used to save lives when needed most. I recall a story of when a team of six men were surrounded and blocked off by NVA forces. They were moving slowly across a path when they were suddenly opened fire upon and had to sprint for a whole hour whilst bullets were whizzing past their heads to get to a chopper that lifted them to safety
As a book, Phantom Warriors is excellent for anyone interested in the Vietnam War. The stories it tells are true and it’s astonishing to think a human being could go through such a hell. The book shows heroism in its purest form, and what soldiers are willing to do to save the person next to them.
April 25, 2015
The events in this book are absolutely mind-blowing. The dangers and sacrifices of these warriors is worth a read for any American. I only wish that the book had been written by a trained writer. The story-telling was poor at best and the tone of the book was overly casual without being comfortable (if that doesn't make sense, it will after reading it).
August 13, 2008
Detailed personal accounts and stories from the Vietnam War. The Long Range Recon guys sure had to know their stuff, or they didn't come home.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews