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Special Men: A LRP's Recollections
A recipient of two Purple Hearts gives readers an inside view of US Army special forces through his own trial by fire during the Vietnam War.
Days before he was drafted in 1962, Dennis Foley volunteered to join the army in the hopes of someday getting into West Point. He was only eighteen years old. At basic training in Fort Dix, New Jersey, a presentation by two impressive, self-confident special forces sergeants made an indelible impression on him.
His career would come full circle. In 1972, wearing a green beret, Foley would be given command of his own A-Team. But between those two pivotal moments, his determination, loyalty, and mental and physical strength would be tested as never before, fighting in the jungles of Vietnam alongside the bravest men he would ever know.
In Special Men, Foley describes his experience at the 7th Army NCO Academy in Germany, where he learned more about leadership than at any other school he would later attend. He takes us moment-by-moment on his heart-pounding introduction to combat—a nighttime, amphibious ambush patrol with the South Vietnamese Navy. We see the shock set in upon realizing that conventional training left him unprepared for the guerrilla army he faced in Vietnam. And we share his sadness over fallen comrades and his own relief at surviving his injuries. This is an unvarnished account of horror and heroism and a tribute to the unselfish devotion to duty of the LRPs, Rangers, and Green Berets.
Days before he was drafted in 1962, Dennis Foley volunteered to join the army in the hopes of someday getting into West Point. He was only eighteen years old. At basic training in Fort Dix, New Jersey, a presentation by two impressive, self-confident special forces sergeants made an indelible impression on him.
His career would come full circle. In 1972, wearing a green beret, Foley would be given command of his own A-Team. But between those two pivotal moments, his determination, loyalty, and mental and physical strength would be tested as never before, fighting in the jungles of Vietnam alongside the bravest men he would ever know.
In Special Men, Foley describes his experience at the 7th Army NCO Academy in Germany, where he learned more about leadership than at any other school he would later attend. He takes us moment-by-moment on his heart-pounding introduction to combat—a nighttime, amphibious ambush patrol with the South Vietnamese Navy. We see the shock set in upon realizing that conventional training left him unprepared for the guerrilla army he faced in Vietnam. And we share his sadness over fallen comrades and his own relief at surviving his injuries. This is an unvarnished account of horror and heroism and a tribute to the unselfish devotion to duty of the LRPs, Rangers, and Green Berets.
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1994
157 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Dennis Foley
14 books19 followersDennis Foley retired from the Army after several tours in Southeast Asia. He served as a Long Range Patrol Detachment commander, an Airborne Infantry company commander, a Ranger company commander, and a Special Forces “A” Detachment commander. After the Army he started working in Hollywood as an television writer. In addition to his novels, he has written and produced for television and film. He lives in Whitefish, Montana.
Dennis holds an MFA in Writing from Vermont College and is a member of the Writers Guild of America and the Authors Guild.
Dennis holds an MFA in Writing from Vermont College and is a member of the Writers Guild of America and the Authors Guild.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 6, 2022
Dennis Foley writes not as much about Vietnam as about his life before, in, and after Vietnam. I wish that he focused more on his experiences in Vietnam, but he seems reluctant to dive deeper into this topic, which makes his account rather impersonal if compared to others.
The most remarkable fact about Foley is that he served in the infamous Tiger Force unit – although after it had committed the atrocities that it became notorious for. I found an article about it in The New York Times. In 1967, Tiger Force made dozens of attacks on unarmed civilians, including rape and torture. Its men threw grenades into bunkers where women and children were hiding, shot prisoners and cut their ears and scalps for souvenirs, murdered villagers of all ages for the sake of it, and left them behind in mass graves. They carried out what records show to be the longest series of atrocities by a platoon in the Vietnam conflict. Combat fatigue and outrage over the deaths of their comrades were cited as reasons for the Tiger Force's cruelty, but members of the unit later confessed that they received orders from above to treat civilians like the enemy.
Back to Foley's work, the author mentions that the Tiger Force was created in 1965 as the American counterpart of the South Vietnamese Black Cats. The Tigers were an elite unit trained to defeat the enemy that operated in underground tunnels. They set deadly booby traps and disappeared into the jungle as they were counterattacked. The platoon’s 45 members were expected to survive for weeks at a time in the bush as they searched for enemy camps and called in air strikes. The Tiger Force was then sent to Quang Ngai province to move civilians into relocation centers so that farmers would not be able to grow rice and feed the Viet Cong.
By the time Foley joined this notorious unit, it had already fought in the Tet Offensive and had to be replenished with new people because many had been killed. The new members did not carry the vengeful spirit of the old ones, so the Tigers did not live up to their infamous reputation again.
Another topic of interest that Foley addresses is the widespread unpreparedness of the Americans for fighting in Vietnam. He criticizes the way soldiers were trained and led. For a war that was fought predominantly unconventionally, the lack of training in guerrilla and unconventional warfare was striking. Aside from special units like the Tiger Force, no troops were versed in reconnaissance, counterinsurgency, artillery observation, or ambushes. This resulted in whole units being butchered in the jungle by the Communists, who not only knew the terrain better, but were more experienced unconventional fighters. Furthermore, the Americans were unaccustomed to the way victory is measured in unconventional warfare, so many units, including well-trained ones like the Tiger Force, believed that the higher the number of killed enemies is, the more successful the war effort was. As members of the Tiger Force testified, one of the reasons for their butchering people indiscriminately was their superiors' expectations for a high body count from them. But high enemy casualties did not equal success in Vietnam. I agree with Foley that this is something that should have been understood and taught. Keeping it in mind would have allowed the Americans to see the real progress, or lack of such, that they were making.
Otherwise, I cannot say that Foley's memoir is particularly memorable. He dedicates to Vietnam less pages than to his subsequent career, which made his account boring for me because I was here for Vietnam.
SPECIAL MEN is a short and rather superficial account of one man's experience fighting in Vietnam. Foley touches on important and interesting topics like the Tiger Force and the training of American soldiers. This book could have turned out great had the author's focus been only the Vietnam conflict. He has tried to fit too much into a slim volume, and the result is more of a summary than a story.
The most remarkable fact about Foley is that he served in the infamous Tiger Force unit – although after it had committed the atrocities that it became notorious for. I found an article about it in The New York Times. In 1967, Tiger Force made dozens of attacks on unarmed civilians, including rape and torture. Its men threw grenades into bunkers where women and children were hiding, shot prisoners and cut their ears and scalps for souvenirs, murdered villagers of all ages for the sake of it, and left them behind in mass graves. They carried out what records show to be the longest series of atrocities by a platoon in the Vietnam conflict. Combat fatigue and outrage over the deaths of their comrades were cited as reasons for the Tiger Force's cruelty, but members of the unit later confessed that they received orders from above to treat civilians like the enemy.
Back to Foley's work, the author mentions that the Tiger Force was created in 1965 as the American counterpart of the South Vietnamese Black Cats. The Tigers were an elite unit trained to defeat the enemy that operated in underground tunnels. They set deadly booby traps and disappeared into the jungle as they were counterattacked. The platoon’s 45 members were expected to survive for weeks at a time in the bush as they searched for enemy camps and called in air strikes. The Tiger Force was then sent to Quang Ngai province to move civilians into relocation centers so that farmers would not be able to grow rice and feed the Viet Cong.
By the time Foley joined this notorious unit, it had already fought in the Tet Offensive and had to be replenished with new people because many had been killed. The new members did not carry the vengeful spirit of the old ones, so the Tigers did not live up to their infamous reputation again.
Another topic of interest that Foley addresses is the widespread unpreparedness of the Americans for fighting in Vietnam. He criticizes the way soldiers were trained and led. For a war that was fought predominantly unconventionally, the lack of training in guerrilla and unconventional warfare was striking. Aside from special units like the Tiger Force, no troops were versed in reconnaissance, counterinsurgency, artillery observation, or ambushes. This resulted in whole units being butchered in the jungle by the Communists, who not only knew the terrain better, but were more experienced unconventional fighters. Furthermore, the Americans were unaccustomed to the way victory is measured in unconventional warfare, so many units, including well-trained ones like the Tiger Force, believed that the higher the number of killed enemies is, the more successful the war effort was. As members of the Tiger Force testified, one of the reasons for their butchering people indiscriminately was their superiors' expectations for a high body count from them. But high enemy casualties did not equal success in Vietnam. I agree with Foley that this is something that should have been understood and taught. Keeping it in mind would have allowed the Americans to see the real progress, or lack of such, that they were making.
Otherwise, I cannot say that Foley's memoir is particularly memorable. He dedicates to Vietnam less pages than to his subsequent career, which made his account boring for me because I was here for Vietnam.
SPECIAL MEN is a short and rather superficial account of one man's experience fighting in Vietnam. Foley touches on important and interesting topics like the Tiger Force and the training of American soldiers. This book could have turned out great had the author's focus been only the Vietnam conflict. He has tried to fit too much into a slim volume, and the result is more of a summary than a story.
May 5, 2018
Not my usual fare. I dont usually read military books but this one kept my interest. It is more about the guy and his personal experience than it is about war, which is probably what kept me interested. He was one tough guy. I admired how he kept persevering through adversity and pain. There was no 'poor me' attitude here. The guy truly loved what he did even though sometimes it was hard. If you need to read a war book for a challenge this one is a pretty easy read.
June 5, 2011
"Special Men" is a terrific book. Dennis Foley takes us through his entire twenty year Army career in this book, but the bulk of it is spent in the first ten years of his career. I really enjoyed this memoir. It's well written in a conversational, humble voice. Foley comes across as likeable. The years prior to Vietnam were quite interesting. Foley tells us about his time as an enlisted man in Cold War Germany. He also gives quite detailed descriptions of OCS and Airborne School in the pre-Vietnam era.
One extremely unusual aspect of this story is the connection to LTC David Hackworth. Hack was famous as a warrior, author, and reporter. Foley served under Hackworth multiple times in Vietnam. It's interesting to see another view of Hack. The descriptions of combat in this book are gripping and real. This is a good overview of an impressive military career. Most of Foley's career was spent with special operations (LRP/Ranger/Special Forces) units. He is extremely humble about what was an amazing career. I recommend this book highly.
One extremely unusual aspect of this story is the connection to LTC David Hackworth. Hack was famous as a warrior, author, and reporter. Foley served under Hackworth multiple times in Vietnam. It's interesting to see another view of Hack. The descriptions of combat in this book are gripping and real. This is a good overview of an impressive military career. Most of Foley's career was spent with special operations (LRP/Ranger/Special Forces) units. He is extremely humble about what was an amazing career. I recommend this book highly.
May 7, 2025
Good, solid, story of Dennis Foley’s journey through the ranks and the events he saw in his tours of duty in Vietnam. His story will bring back memories to former service members who went through the same trials while climbing the promotion ladder, myself included.
He gives you his views on the Army, his fellow NCO’s and superior officers, but never with an abrasive tongue. The time he spent in Vietnam gave me insight into what a soldier goes through during his tour of duty. What’s even more remarkable is that he came back for a second tour.
Dennis Foley was enthusiastic and eager to be the best soldier and not let down the men he served with or the men he led. He was dedicated to his country and the mission at hand. This is not a history of the Vietnam war or the political ramifications of it. What it is though is a memoir that kept me turning the pages.
Thank you, Mr. Foley, for your service!
He gives you his views on the Army, his fellow NCO’s and superior officers, but never with an abrasive tongue. The time he spent in Vietnam gave me insight into what a soldier goes through during his tour of duty. What’s even more remarkable is that he came back for a second tour.
Dennis Foley was enthusiastic and eager to be the best soldier and not let down the men he served with or the men he led. He was dedicated to his country and the mission at hand. This is not a history of the Vietnam war or the political ramifications of it. What it is though is a memoir that kept me turning the pages.
Thank you, Mr. Foley, for your service!
August 10, 2025
If you’re looking for a book with non-stop action and stories of a Rambo like character in Vietnam, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. Rather, this book is a fascinating look at the U.S. Army before, during, and after Vietnam and Foleys journey through it. Foley does a great job describing how unprepared the U.S. was for Vietnam and the changes that had to be made while on the ground in jungles and swamps and how they impacted the army in the post-war years. There are also plenty of combat stories that describe some of the horrors that were unique to Vietnam. Overall I think it’s a great book for someone with an interest in Vietnam and soldiering in the 60s and 70s.
July 19, 2023
First of all, Dennis - Thank you for your service!
Then, your book "Special Men" was a good read for me. I'm a veteran but not a Vietnam veteran. Your description of the day to day grind and activities were interesting to me. I've read numerous Vietnam era books and yours is one of the best!
Again, thank you for all you do to support other veterans and God Bless.
Fellow veteran.
Then, your book "Special Men" was a good read for me. I'm a veteran but not a Vietnam veteran. Your description of the day to day grind and activities were interesting to me. I've read numerous Vietnam era books and yours is one of the best!
Again, thank you for all you do to support other veterans and God Bless.
Fellow veteran.
January 15, 2024
From one grunt to another !
You have done a splendid job of telling your story. I was there with you between 69anand70 with the Marine Corps. I experienced a lot of what you wrote about. However, you opened my eyes to many aspects of what others were experiencing at the same time.
Thanks for your service!
You have done a splendid job of telling your story. I was there with you between 69anand70 with the Marine Corps. I experienced a lot of what you wrote about. However, you opened my eyes to many aspects of what others were experiencing at the same time.
Thanks for your service!
May 28, 2023
Simply outstanding !
A very real story without all the junk. I was in the 3rd Armored Division NCO Academy, Kirch Goens Germany, at the same time as the author was in Bad Toelz. It brought back very vivid memories! Every vet needs to read this book.
A very real story without all the junk. I was in the 3rd Armored Division NCO Academy, Kirch Goens Germany, at the same time as the author was in Bad Toelz. It brought back very vivid memories! Every vet needs to read this book.
January 10, 2023
Very good read
I appreciated that the story started in the beginning and followed through until his retirement. Many of the books just review the time that was spent in Vietnam.
I appreciated that the story started in the beginning and followed through until his retirement. Many of the books just review the time that was spent in Vietnam.
July 7, 2023
great read
it’s nice to read about a success story that was earned and the effort to make it happen we need more people like this in the world
it’s nice to read about a success story that was earned and the effort to make it happen we need more people like this in the world
April 6, 2024
Career Army
Very well written and told. As an Army Retired Aviator I generally don't read non aviation story's.
But this one kept me coming back to read another chapter.
Very well written and told. As an Army Retired Aviator I generally don't read non aviation story's.
But this one kept me coming back to read another chapter.
January 1, 2025
Special Men
Dennis Foley is a special man. Reading this book makes me proud to be an American and thankful for the men and women who serve.
Dennis Foley is a special man. Reading this book makes me proud to be an American and thankful for the men and women who serve.
November 25, 2025
wow, great military life.
Having grown up in a army household with an OCS father, I really appreciated the inside insight to his career. Great book and heroic author.
Having grown up in a army household with an OCS father, I really appreciated the inside insight to his career. Great book and heroic author.
July 12, 2013
While this book is subtitled "A LRP's Recollection" (Long Range Reconnaissance), and the Vietnam War makes up the heart of the book, it is only a small fraction of what Foley writes about, as he describes the complete arc of his military career, from an electronics tech in West Germany, to Officer Candidate School at Ft Benning, and then as the commander of Tiger Force under David Hackworth in Vietnam, and finally as a Ranger teacher. Combat and the physical demands of patrolling are not the main topics of the book, perhaps because those subjects are nearly impossible to write about, but Foley provides a vivid depiction of an army in transformation, and how soldiers are trained and lead. He humbly dedicates this book to his comrades in arms, but Foley is also an exceptional soldier and author.
March 12, 2010
I enjoy personal accounts of the Vietnam war and Dennis Foley definitely has an interesting one and i like how humble he is in his meteoric rise up the ranks although after a while it comes off as false. I mean, how can he keep being surprised at his success in the military when he delivers time and time again. Also, for me, the extensive account of his time before Vietnam and after was too much. And he glosses over his personal relationships that suffer due to his "marriage" to the army. Maybe he thought that this was too personal and not germane to the topic of Vietnam, but to me it would be very interesting to see how the military success comes at a personal price. But still an amazing account of battlefield action in Vietnam.
June 12, 2012
Awesome. Details life in the American Army before, during, and after Vietnam. The author worked in the elite Tiger Force.
Read
February 6, 2013If your into Vietnam war books it is a good quick read.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews