Whispers in the Tall Grass

Nick Brokhausen Memoirs #2

by Nick Brokhausen, George Spelvin (Narrator)

On his second combat tour, Nick Brokhausen served in Recon Team Habu, CCN. This unit was part of MACV-SOG (Military Assistance Command Vietnam Studies and Observations Group), or Studies and Observations Group as it was innocuously called. The small recon companies that were the center of its activities conducted some of the most dangerous missions of the war, infiltrating areas controlled by the North Vietnamese in Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. The companies never exceeded more than 30 Americans, yet they were the best source for the enemy's disposition and were key to the US military being able to take the war to the enemy. This was accomplished by utilizing both new and innovative technology, and tactics dating back to the French and Indian Wars.

This small unit racked up one of the most impressive records of awards for valor of any unit in the history of the United States Army. It came at a terrible price, however; the number of wounded and killed in action was incredibly high. Those missions today seem suicidal. In 1970 they seemed equally so, yet these men went out day after day with their indigenous allies - Montagnard tribesmen, Vietnamese, and Chinese Nungs - and faced the challenges with courage and resolve.

Whispers in the Tall Grass is the second volume of Nick's riveting memoir of his time with MACV-SOG. Written in the same irreverent, immediate style that made We Fewi a cult classic, he continues his hair-raising adventures behind enemy lines, and movingly conveys the bonds that war creates between soldiers.

Genres: History, Military Fiction, Nonfiction, War, Biography, Memoir, Audiobook

Audible Audio

First published December 19, 2019

About the author

Special Forces veteran Nick Brokhausen joined the SOG on his second tour in Vietnam, and took part in some of the most dangerous missions of the war, deep in enemy territory. After Vietnam, Nick Brokhausen has led an interesting life, which has included work in security projects in a number of countries. He now runs a tech company and an armoring company.

Reviews

[Brett C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nick Brokhausen wrote this as a personal account of ground Special Forces reconnaissance missions he did while in Vietnam. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam - Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) was activated on 24 January 1964 as strategic reconnaissance, covert action, and psychological warfare. They had three areas of operation that included both South Vietnam and North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

On 4 April 2001, the Presidential Unit Citation (Army) was awarded at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. The citation was awarded for extract heroism in combat from 24 January 1964 - 30 April 1972.

Per the citation:

MACV-SOG reconnaissance teams composed of Special Forces soldiers and indigenous personnel penetrated the enemy's most dangerous redoubts in the jungled Laotian wilderness and the sanctuaries of eastern Cambodia. Pursued by human trackers and even bloodhounds, these small teams out-manuevered, out-fought, and out-ran their numerically superior foe to uncover key enemy facilities, rescue downed pilots, plant wiretaps, mines and electronic sensors, capture valuable enemy prisoners, ambush convoys, discover and assess targets for B-52 strikes, and inflict casualties all out of proportion to their own losses. When enemy counter-measures became dangerously effective, Special Operations Group operators innovated their own counters, altitude parachuting and unusual explosives devices, to tactics as old as the French and Indian War. Fighting along their Montagnard, Chinese Nung, Cambodian, and Vietnamese allies, Special Forces-led Hatchet Force companies and platoons staged daring raids against key enemy facilities in Laos and Cambodia, overran major munitions and supply stockpiles, and blocked enemy highways to choke off the flow of supplies to South Vietnam.

Most of these operations remained classified up through the 1980s. This book gave insight into the combat action of these missions as experienced by the author. This was interesting and I'd recommend it to anyone interested in Special Forces history during the Vietnam War. Thanks!

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volume II of a MAGV-SOG warrior's combat tales. Horrifically vibrant and sobering while in the bush, followed by the antics of those needing to let off steam while in the rear providing the reader with much needed comic relief. Nick Brokhausen's descriptive narrative of his time in country with some of the United States finest Special Forces warriors and their native counter parts is truly something to listen to. In this second book the author preface's his account with a warning. Don't expect a Tolstoy prose, or an Ambrose history. If that's what you desire, best move on. This is a personal account seen through the eyes of and described by a soldier. Yet still an important story to recount of the horrors of war which we seem to swiftly forget, of the dedication and honor amongst warriros, of the bonds created in the worst of conditions. Most important of all I would hope politicians and diplomats would learn... learn how not to turn the State's back on the people which helped and relied on us the most. This craven behavior initiated in Vietnam has continued through the decades with it's last iteration in Afghanistan. Heart breaking the decisions of a State can have on individuals.

[Bob Mayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume two of Nick Brokhausen's time in MACV-SOG. He was later in 10th Group where I served and I heard stories of him. While he goes off on tangents occasionally, particularly a favorite of Special Ops guys: figuring out how to violently deal with situations, the action scenes are gut level. Also, the mindset of the type of person who can do these kinds of missions. Recommended.

[Abibliofob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read Whispers in the Tall Grass by Nick Brokhausen. It is not as good as the first book but you get a fealing about the dispare and fatigue setting in after all the time spent overseas. I can really recommend these two books, they are not like most biographies I have read and they give you a really good insight into the SOG side of the war.

[Ecdiv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

Excellent sequel to his first book. His writing transports you to Vietnam. Suddenly you are a member of his team, experiencing and feeling all that he felt in the jungle.

His wry sense of humor highlights the brotherhood and sense of team that bonded these men together. My only regret is that I have finished it!

Thank- you, sir, for your service and for your excellent books!

[James A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

I have read just about every book concerning SOG recon teams and SOG in general and this ranks right up there with the best. If you enjoy gallows humor at moments of incredible danger this book is definitely for you.

[DMurt · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I like the authors second book alot better. Super funny in a military carnage type of humor. Nick definitely did better this round.

[Shaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much better than his first book. A bit more focused in the right places and a bit more broad in others. There was a bit more detail in some of the operations Brokhausen participated in, which is something I felt was missing in "We Few". This was just more polished overall...he definitely learned from the experience of the first book.

[Kenneth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This books wasn’t great with the exception of the last chapter commenting on the US withdrawal and the few exciting combat action parts.

Mostly the author wanted to write a Laurel and Hardy style slapstick run of pranks, bar fights and crude humor. The book about the author not about the war.

[Matias Myllyrinne · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the better books on combat in Vietnam from the grunts perspective. Don’t expect any massive words of wisdom or large perspective. But tales from the jungle and of everyday life and mayhem. The writing is witty and the story moves along through encounters and mishaps on R&R. You almost feel guilty for finding the book entertaining and have to keep reminding yourself that this is not a movie, he is talking about real people (and animals and wildlife) perishing under bombs, napalm, when orange and a hail of bullets.

Recommended for fans of military history and those looking to get a first hand perspective of recon in a deadly war.

[Craig Mayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Not having been there, it’s impossible to understand everything that went on, as so profoundly described in this book. The highs, the lows, the laughs, the tragedies, the fear, the inner turmoil, friends left behind, and the decent people betrayed by forces so much greater than one man’s love of them. And not just the Yards - but good people on both sides who suffered and died terribly . . . . for what? An episode in history best forgotten, but one which must be remembered. An excellent read.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It is a well written account of the view of special forces from the man on the ground. I was surprised at how dense this slim volume is. It was fast paced but slow to read. I especially liked Brokhausen's view of the Bru, Sedang, and other Montagnard comrades. I found the section on finding the old wreckage of the plane from a previous war to be especially interesting.

I recommend this book for anyone who is interested in a good read on special forces in Vietnam war.

[Dave Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Sequel to "We Fee"

Great read about the US Army in Vietnam's "Best of the Best.Having served as a PEP in 1968, I can identify with DOG mission and tactics. However, though in outnumbered in most of our own fights, the odds and enemy numbers faced in every TH mission into Laos and Cambodia were beyond compare. The author, despite describing very serious fights and situations, does so with incredibly funny style. Great read!

[Charles Gehring · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Warrior's story written for Soldiers

I loved this book, it is compelling, painful and heartfelt. His respect and admiration for his comrades and team mates was artfully captured with sarcasm. Warriors can't use the "L" word. It has to remain unspoken. The reality of war is that you can lose a friend at any moment, and the pain is too great. His love and loyalty to his Bru Montagnards made my heart ache.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best account, I'd say. The author's arrogance (always knowing better than the "stupid" officers, or anyone else who isn't on his time frankly) gets old quickly. The book feels disjointed, and it felt like a few sections were chronologically out of order.

I appreciated Brokhausen's frank discussion of how scared they all were, but none wanted or could quit, which was a good acknowledgment of the bravery of these men who did unimaginable things.

[Reg Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is the real one!

I have this one a five star because it gave the real picture of the real war. There were not 3 chapters of the training and the home life left behind. I was there with them, felt the pain of their losses, the importance of the indigenous hill PEOPLE, Read this one.

[Bill Seaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best I've read about Special Forces in 'Nam

Nick Brokhausen has the gift of language and I enjoyed every page of this well written book. This is a must read for anyone who has followed the exploits of SOG teams and LRRPs as they worked behind the lines of the NVA and VC. Hair raising is too mild a description. Well done, Nick!

[Scott Meyerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I have read both books written by Nick Brokhausen I would strongly recommend both of them. Thanks for your service I hope you where able to reconnect with some of of the Bru people you mentioned in your book

[Shawn M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whispers is a fantastic tale on the front lines in Vietnam. You won't find too many like this. Brokhausen provides us with a detailed personal story - the kind you won't find reading about large battles and operations. I couldn't put it down.

[Russ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knows how much is true but even if only half true, it's one hell of a war memoir. Told in the first person by a one-one from MAC-V SOG, it tells the story of incredible men in unconscionable combat. Brokhausen is a master storyteller bringing emotion and levity to a deadly serious story.

[R. Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding Story

This is an excellent Story of the end of the Vietnam War with the men of the special forces SOC teams. This tale covers the recon missions and their antics between the missions. This is a well written book that is extremely difficult to put down.

[Wayne Wheeler · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading We Few, I started to read this book, but did not wish to continue. Nick started telling stories that happened to others and I lost interest.

[Joe S Jacoby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written account of a history Americans should understand better. Very good read.

This is a thoughtful account of an elite soldier's experience in one of the most clandestine units of the entire American involvement in the Vietnam War. It's written from the perspective of a man who fought while living among the indigenous peoples that we collectively call 'Montagnards,' in the classic setting Special Forces was designed for. As such, the author's story is both a great read, and tells of the incredibly dangerous missions and deep bonds with his adopted brothers (Bru tribe). It also paints the backdrop, explaining how we got to where we were with SOG and gives us a picture of some of the daily routine, making the whole story lucid. Highly recommended for students of the Vietnam War, special operations, or the unvarnished war story.

[Steve Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A serious subject but a very humourous telling. The author and his colleagues come across as crazy but one imagines that this is simply a reaction to the daily routine of facing death.

I learned that this is the second volume in the author's memoirs; perhaps his earlier volume explained some things this one did not. An example is his use of the name Covey with little explanation of what this referred to. I was very pleased to have recently listened to Tom Yarborough's
Da Nang Diary: A Forward Air Controller's Gunsight View of Flying with SOG. He was a Covey pilot and explained in detail that they were a secret group of forward air controllers who flew in support of the MACV SOG special forces teams that Brokhausen was a member of. Listening to both of these books close together has given me a more complete picture of this aspect of the Vietnam war.

[Erich · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the book for you if you are interested in your pucker-factor-raising, behind-enemy-lines thrill ride being chopped into bite size pieces with back-at-base or R&R antics bordering on the psychopathic serving as the palate cleanser. This time around, a MACV-SOG account that just really didn’t do it for me. I think I’m mostly chalking it up to an audiobook narrater who’s style tends to make what reads as badass in the right mindset sound more like something from the looney bin. Don’t get me wrong, these guys were crazy enough and absolutely beyond brave, but something about the narrator made this account make my skin crawl more than get me amped up like I do when hearing Jocko read passages from John Stryker-Meyer books. On a content note, I’m also less interested in after action antics…..so 3.5 stars rounded down for all those reasons.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Vietnam memoir. Ever.

I've read at least 500 memoirs by Vietnam veterans; this book, and it's predecessor 'We Few' by the same author, are by far the best I've read.

It's not just that he has had more hairy situations to talk about than most soldiers; it's that the author has an incredible gift for storytelling, better than most authors, fiction and nonfiction.
I've read other memoirs that were tremendous and deeply moving, but this one is at a whole new level. His stories are exciting, funny as hell, emotional and poignant. He conveys themes, dialogue, and emotions without being whiny, overtly political, preachy, or any of a multitude of sins commonly committed by authors.

My next move will be to buy a physical copy of any book Nick Brokhausen has written, assuming he's written any others. I'm about to go find out...

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is fascinating and the author recounts activity that I have not heard about through other sources of SOG information. Some areas the book are engaging and well written, while others could have used a bit more editing. I really appreciated the authors description of working with the indigenous people because I have read similar stories about extreme awareness and it was great to read a personal account. The author's description of Bong's ability to read his mind was great and the latter showing up in his malaria fever fed dream was astounding. It's a quick read that is captivating throughout.

[Evan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does not provide a historical account of what special forces accomplished in Vietnam. It is a collection of personal stories that convey how the author acted in battle and while on leave, what he emotions he felt in battle, and his general impressions of the war. I don't know when he wrote this book in relation to when the events take place, so I did find myself wondering if his stories represented his views at that time or if they were representations of how his views changed once everything was settled. Overall, many of the stories were awe inspiring and somewhat horrifying - especially the details of the concussive blast of an Ark light strike.

[Josef Gottlieb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Studies and Observations

"Whispers in the Tall Grass" is Nick Brokhausen's follow-up to "We Few," his account of the time he served at Command and Control North (CCN) in Vietnam. In that book and in this one, Brokhausen shows the unique culture of United States Army Special Forces. They are indeed a special group for a special job. This book is candid and honest about the war, not overly negative as many films and books about Vietnam tend to be. Brokhausen and his fellow soldiers, Vietnamese and American alike, served and served well.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book (We Few), and for me it stood on its own as a much stronger read than this one. That’s mostly because the first book had a wider appeal as it wasn’t just for readers interested in military topics. We Few as a book worked almost like a well-navigated diary: entertaining and lighthearted on the surface, yet full of depth and meaning underneath. It was an easy read that could still give you nightmares, and the questions it raised both directly and indirectly made it engaging long after finishing. And how it finished... It was simply on another level.

This second book, by contrast, feels more like a homage to fallen comrades and an attempt to follow in the footsteps of its predecessor’s success. While it’s still a good and accessible read, it doesn’t carry quite the same spark or broader resonance for me.

All in all, it’s a solid continuation, but not one I’d recommend to everyone. If you enjoy war stories, or if you’ve developed an interest in Vietnam or MACV-SOG, then this is definitely worth checking out. Brockhausen has a very engaging writing style, and that alone makes it a worthwhile read.