What do you think?
Rate this book
The Eyes of the Eagle: F Company LRPs in Vietnam, 1968
In the 101st Airborne, if you cared enough to send the very best, you sent The Howlers.
Gary Linderer volunteered for the Army, then volunteered for Airborne training. When he reached Vietnam in 1968, he was assigned to the famous “Screaming Eagles,” the 101st Airborne Division. Once there, he volunteered for training and duty with F Company 58th Inf, the Long Range Patrol company that was “the Eyes of the Eagle.”
F Company pulled reconnaissance missions and ambushes, and Linderer recounts night insertions into enemy territory, patrols against NVA antiaircraft emplacements and rocket-launching facilities, the fragging of an unpopular company commander, and one of the bravest demonstrations of courage under fire that has ever been described. The Eyes of the Eagle is an accurate, exciting look at the recon soldier's war. There are none better.
Gary Linderer volunteered for the Army, then volunteered for Airborne training. When he reached Vietnam in 1968, he was assigned to the famous “Screaming Eagles,” the 101st Airborne Division. Once there, he volunteered for training and duty with F Company 58th Inf, the Long Range Patrol company that was “the Eyes of the Eagle.”
F Company pulled reconnaissance missions and ambushes, and Linderer recounts night insertions into enemy territory, patrols against NVA antiaircraft emplacements and rocket-launching facilities, the fragging of an unpopular company commander, and one of the bravest demonstrations of courage under fire that has ever been described. The Eyes of the Eagle is an accurate, exciting look at the recon soldier's war. There are none better.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 2, 1991
105 people are currently reading
154 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 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 20, 2012
When my brother Scott came home on leave once, he brought a copy of "Eyes Behind the Lines" by Gary Linderer and told me it was a good, realistic idea of what life in the military could be like. I devoured that book (I must have been 14 or 15), unaware that it was the second in a series. I bought my own copy of "Eyes of the Eagle" back in the mid-90s, and I think I’ve read it three or four times now. Most recently, after "American Sniper" (the autobiography of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle), I was in the mood for more nonfiction military stuff and this is usually the first book I turn to.
Summary
Gary Linderer joined the Army hoping to become an officer, but was sent to Vietnam in June of 1968 instead. He volunteered to serve his tour with a LRP unit (Long Range Patrol), F Company, 58th Infantry Division attached to the 101st Airborne Division. He was soon going out into the jungles of Vietnam in small, six-man teams to spy on the enemy, call in artillery, and sometimes even spring an ambush and take prisoners. He made friends, fought the North Vietnamese Army (NVA), and lost friends too. This book recounts, in an journal format (and yet also a retelling), the first six months of his time in Vietnam.
OVERALL: 4.6 out of 5 (an amazing book)
Gary Linderer describes the Vietnam War, in his perspective, to the reader on a day-to-day basis. It is less of a narrative than it is a recollection that the reader can share and "live" in. While I can’t see the people and the mountains and battles Linderer did, I feel like I’ve been there now, at least as an untouchable observer.
It’s a war book, so there’s fighting and action. You learn to like the people Gary likes; you feel like you know them. You care about what he cares about. You care about him. He invites you into his heart, (or at least some of it) and you want to see this guy succeed. You want to see the people around him succeed.
I am sure credit is due Gary’s wife who kept all the letters he wrote her (it’s hard not to fall in love with her yourself), his friends he interviewed, and his own memories; but this book is a lot more than just past experiences. It is funny, it is heart-wrenching, and it is exciting. Mr. Linderer is obviously an incredibly talented writer, and this bears out in his other books. Fiction may often lack the importance, heart, and raw vitality of his real experiences, but I would bet dollars to donuts that he could write anything and make it good. I would love to see him write some original, non-Vietnam fiction (why write Vietnam fiction? It would be a pale shadow to his real life experiences).
This is an important book. It’s not just about Vietnam; Eyes of the Eagle does more to “enlighten and expand” the human condition that most other books I’ve read. It should be required reading in schools, not just for soldiers.
RATINGS BY CATEGORY
CHARACTERS: 4 out of 5
The people in this book aren’t described as much as they are introduced (often without fanfare; they might be mentioned numerous times before there’s any description of them), but the people who are important to Linderer feel like living people regardless. For instance, the reader can accept Ray “Zo” Zoschak as a capable, stand-up team leader (maybe the best in the company) even though I’m not sure he is mentioned once before Linderer is assigned to his team. His hobbies and interests are never described (in a personal e-mail to me a couple of years ago, Mr. Linderer told me that Zo’s dream during Vietnam was to own a big rig truck), but he simply exists. People like Riley Cox, Billy Walkabout, and others are only mentioned prominently at specific entries, but they are larger than life people who leap off the page.
Perhaps the most interesting character is Gary himself. He wanted to be an officer, he went hunting a lot, had a strong Catholic upbringing (attending a Catholic high school is “strong” to people like me), played bridge, and was somewhat involved in his local community... and yet none of that seems to matter. The way he writes, the way he observes things, it allows the reader to really experience Vietnam with him (well, as well as any book can). I am curious what it would be like to meet with him in real life.
PACE: 5 out of 5
In this journal-like recounting of Linderer’s first six months in Vietnam, even the slow days where nothing is happening are a delight to read. The truth is, I wish this book was even longer and detailed just the regular, boring conversations the soldiers would have. The book flies by.
STORY: 5 out of 5
As this is a piece of nonfiction (regardless of what some unfortunate morons on the internet seem to think), this category is more about the content than “story”.
And this content is amazing.
Maybe the Green Berets were pulling more daring missions north of the border, and maybe others went on secret missions into Laos, but Linderer’s story of Vietnam is nothing short of a thrill ride like nothing else. As I said under Pace, even the slow days where it’s raining and nothing is happening are fun to read. The action, the descriptions, and the humor are all perfectly placed, and I would recommend this book to anyone, whether they are interested in the military or not.
DIALOGUE: 4 out of 5
Someone who was born in 1979 can’t testify whether the dialogue in this book is realistic for soldiers during the Vietnam War, but it feels real enough to me (I think it is in the second book that Linderer admits that he may have toned some of the language down, since otherwise every other word would be a profanity). Whatever the reality, Linderer strikes a perfect balance; the dialogue feels real and profanity-laced without necessarily becoming a chore to read.
STYLE/TECHNICAL: 5 out of 5
The journal-style form of this book (collected from Linderer’s own notes and letters to his fiancé, etc.) serve the content perfectly. Action is described, days are passed, and the reader feels like they’re at Camp Eagle with these brave soldiers. You see things through Linderer’s eyes and care about the things he cares about.
I really can't praise the "voice" in this book enough. It is a current "this is happening" journal combined with a recounting of past events at the same time. This is NOT an easy thing to accomplish, and it literally blows me away.
I particularly like the beginning, where he starts things out at the first 1st Brigade/F Company/L Company (the different designations of the unit through the war) reunion in 1986. This important prologue later bookends with the ending of the second book (Eyes Behind the Lines) and adds additional heart and importance to the entire narrative.
Summary
Gary Linderer joined the Army hoping to become an officer, but was sent to Vietnam in June of 1968 instead. He volunteered to serve his tour with a LRP unit (Long Range Patrol), F Company, 58th Infantry Division attached to the 101st Airborne Division. He was soon going out into the jungles of Vietnam in small, six-man teams to spy on the enemy, call in artillery, and sometimes even spring an ambush and take prisoners. He made friends, fought the North Vietnamese Army (NVA), and lost friends too. This book recounts, in an journal format (and yet also a retelling), the first six months of his time in Vietnam.
OVERALL: 4.6 out of 5 (an amazing book)
Gary Linderer describes the Vietnam War, in his perspective, to the reader on a day-to-day basis. It is less of a narrative than it is a recollection that the reader can share and "live" in. While I can’t see the people and the mountains and battles Linderer did, I feel like I’ve been there now, at least as an untouchable observer.
It’s a war book, so there’s fighting and action. You learn to like the people Gary likes; you feel like you know them. You care about what he cares about. You care about him. He invites you into his heart, (or at least some of it) and you want to see this guy succeed. You want to see the people around him succeed.
I am sure credit is due Gary’s wife who kept all the letters he wrote her (it’s hard not to fall in love with her yourself), his friends he interviewed, and his own memories; but this book is a lot more than just past experiences. It is funny, it is heart-wrenching, and it is exciting. Mr. Linderer is obviously an incredibly talented writer, and this bears out in his other books. Fiction may often lack the importance, heart, and raw vitality of his real experiences, but I would bet dollars to donuts that he could write anything and make it good. I would love to see him write some original, non-Vietnam fiction (why write Vietnam fiction? It would be a pale shadow to his real life experiences).
This is an important book. It’s not just about Vietnam; Eyes of the Eagle does more to “enlighten and expand” the human condition that most other books I’ve read. It should be required reading in schools, not just for soldiers.
RATINGS BY CATEGORY
CHARACTERS: 4 out of 5
The people in this book aren’t described as much as they are introduced (often without fanfare; they might be mentioned numerous times before there’s any description of them), but the people who are important to Linderer feel like living people regardless. For instance, the reader can accept Ray “Zo” Zoschak as a capable, stand-up team leader (maybe the best in the company) even though I’m not sure he is mentioned once before Linderer is assigned to his team. His hobbies and interests are never described (in a personal e-mail to me a couple of years ago, Mr. Linderer told me that Zo’s dream during Vietnam was to own a big rig truck), but he simply exists. People like Riley Cox, Billy Walkabout, and others are only mentioned prominently at specific entries, but they are larger than life people who leap off the page.
Perhaps the most interesting character is Gary himself. He wanted to be an officer, he went hunting a lot, had a strong Catholic upbringing (attending a Catholic high school is “strong” to people like me), played bridge, and was somewhat involved in his local community... and yet none of that seems to matter. The way he writes, the way he observes things, it allows the reader to really experience Vietnam with him (well, as well as any book can). I am curious what it would be like to meet with him in real life.
PACE: 5 out of 5
In this journal-like recounting of Linderer’s first six months in Vietnam, even the slow days where nothing is happening are a delight to read. The truth is, I wish this book was even longer and detailed just the regular, boring conversations the soldiers would have. The book flies by.
STORY: 5 out of 5
As this is a piece of nonfiction (regardless of what some unfortunate morons on the internet seem to think), this category is more about the content than “story”.
And this content is amazing.
Maybe the Green Berets were pulling more daring missions north of the border, and maybe others went on secret missions into Laos, but Linderer’s story of Vietnam is nothing short of a thrill ride like nothing else. As I said under Pace, even the slow days where it’s raining and nothing is happening are fun to read. The action, the descriptions, and the humor are all perfectly placed, and I would recommend this book to anyone, whether they are interested in the military or not.
DIALOGUE: 4 out of 5
Someone who was born in 1979 can’t testify whether the dialogue in this book is realistic for soldiers during the Vietnam War, but it feels real enough to me (I think it is in the second book that Linderer admits that he may have toned some of the language down, since otherwise every other word would be a profanity). Whatever the reality, Linderer strikes a perfect balance; the dialogue feels real and profanity-laced without necessarily becoming a chore to read.
STYLE/TECHNICAL: 5 out of 5
The journal-style form of this book (collected from Linderer’s own notes and letters to his fiancé, etc.) serve the content perfectly. Action is described, days are passed, and the reader feels like they’re at Camp Eagle with these brave soldiers. You see things through Linderer’s eyes and care about the things he cares about.
I really can't praise the "voice" in this book enough. It is a current "this is happening" journal combined with a recounting of past events at the same time. This is NOT an easy thing to accomplish, and it literally blows me away.
I particularly like the beginning, where he starts things out at the first 1st Brigade/F Company/L Company (the different designations of the unit through the war) reunion in 1986. This important prologue later bookends with the ending of the second book (Eyes Behind the Lines) and adds additional heart and importance to the entire narrative.
December 15, 2022
I am really really sorry I read this book! Not because it wasn’t a well written recount of what Mr. Linderer went through, or informative of the Vietnam War. No, it was because of his views of what he so disparagingly calls REMFs. The front line combat soldiers were obviously most in danger, most wounded, and carried much of the war on their shoulders. But the Rear Echelon Mother Fuc**** were the people who supplied, fed, supported, and in my case - fixed the helicopters that did much of the transportation and flew them to a hospital when necessary. I spent two tours in Vietnam to make sure these troops had what they needed. When we came back to the world, we were treated just like the combat veterans. I am sorry that he feels as he does.
August 12, 2010
This was not bad for a autobiography of a LRP, Long Range Patrol, soldier's account of his time in Vietnam during 68. The book was built from hundreds of letters he sent home to his wife and is surprisingly detailed and accurate. It was part 1 of a 3 part book and am interested in continuing to see what happens.
March 9, 2021
I have read better. I have an interest in the LRPs because they were my generation in the time when we all served (well almost all of us). We all had friends or family that died there. It made it a lot more real than later wars. These guys were incredible. That said, the writing is a bit disjointed and the end just stops without any real conclusion. There is a bit of puffery, not in the fighting, but in the other things going on when they are not in the jungles.
It's an ok read but not the best in my view
It's an ok read but not the best in my view
May 22, 2025
Mr. Linderer gives an extremely honest and thorough account of life as a LRP in Vietnam. He doesn't come across with false bravado or thinking he's invincible, he tells you the frightening feeling of not being sure you're doing things right, second guessing himself, and facing the realities of a combat soldier. This is also a good glimpse into Army life of canceled missions, killing time waiting for the next one, and the monotony of idle time. A true perspective of a kid turned into an American hero.
May 27, 2021
This is a very well written account of a LRP team member in Vietnam by Linderer. He does an excellent job describing the details of Army life in the field and forward of the lines in Indian country. You get a true sense of the high wire act our men had to walk to survive in the unforgiving jungle. I particularly liked the part about the bamboo vipers and what they did for snakebite. Very interesting read you will breeze through it. My respect to those guys!
March 2, 2018
Fast paced and action packed
The author recounts his first six months in Vietnam. It's an action packed, fast paced adventure. Clearly the man has met moment. You go with him as he advances from a scared child to a cool calculating killer. The 's writing style is a pleasure to read. The on!y negative is the frequent ode of profanity.
The author recounts his first six months in Vietnam. It's an action packed, fast paced adventure. Clearly the man has met moment. You go with him as he advances from a scared child to a cool calculating killer. The 's writing style is a pleasure to read. The on!y negative is the frequent ode of profanity.
August 1, 2020
Fabulous book. It's the diary of a soldier during the Vietnam war in 1968. A realistic and honest account of life as a soldier on the frontline. It's a warts and all description of his experiences, some good and some bad. I read it in a couple of days because I couldn't put it down. This is 1 from a series of 3 books. I loved it so much I've ordered the others.
May 20, 2017
A great history of an individual infantryman in the Vietnam war. This isn't a grand overlook of the LRRPS in the war but the story of one man who was trying to find his way. It ended quite abruptly wanting me to wish for more
I recommend this book highly
I recommend this book highly
April 1, 2025
Wanted to learn something about the Vietnam War. Expected this to be a tell all story. It told very little. It reads like a censor got to the story before me. Some good action scenes. Lots of racism, bigotry and sexism. I suppose that's what it was like to be young in the 60s.
June 12, 2025
[4.5] I can’t express how much I loved this book, I very well may be changing this to a 5 star rating. I was on the edge of my seat for the whole book, Gary Linderer has a real way of storytelling. I can’t recommend this book enough, I immediately ordered the last two books in the series.
November 3, 2025
Best yet !!!
I have read many "Nam" action books written a warrior. This is one of the best. They fought bravely ! In a politically driven action that once started should have ended quickly. scs
I have read many "Nam" action books written a warrior. This is one of the best. They fought bravely ! In a politically driven action that once started should have ended quickly. scs
September 13, 2017
First person account of actual missions in the Vietnam war. Linderer does a good job of describing the intense stress along side the doldrums of waiting around for a mission.
March 2, 2019
Good
An honest account of what it’s like to be with people who you would never meet in the real world , then you end up owning those brothers your life and your gratitude
An honest account of what it’s like to be with people who you would never meet in the real world , then you end up owning those brothers your life and your gratitude
January 26, 2020
Great book
Excellent writing. I felt as if I was in the jungle during the stories. I will be purchasing all this authors books to add to my library.
Excellent writing. I felt as if I was in the jungle during the stories. I will be purchasing all this authors books to add to my library.
April 2, 2021
Fantastic like all his memoirs!
Read
June 16, 2025Very good read, considering information is 57 years old.
November 18, 2014
This book was nothing short of one terrific account of what it was like to be an LRRP (“LURP” spoken phonetically) during the Vietnam War. It seems so easy for people to think of 1968 as the year of turmoil at home in the USA with an unfavorable populist view of the war within the Republic of Vietnam. What is often viewed on the macro consideration of this time frame is the lost micro view of individual people. Here we have a personal account of the war from one man, a hero (not by his own account), a soldier who was also someone’s son and brother. Military personnel who decide to write on their personal accounts of war, battles and other such related activity should take a page from Mr. Linderer. His writing style is easy to understand and follow and he simply “tells the story” with next to no personal opinion on “liberals” or “conservatives”; instead his main objective as an individual is to assist his team and platoon and to do his part to attempt (in vain) to win the war he volunteered to go fight.
The book starts out with the brief familiar scenes of innocence, a desire for manhood, and a willingness to “do the right thing.” We witness his transformation from level headed civilian to soldier to “LURP” with enough detail to keep us interested but not so much as to detract the reader from the story this author wants to tell. Along the war there is danger, laughter, tears, honesty, openness of heart, and courage for self and soldier buddies. As I was once a Marine (fulltime but Marine for life) - I found it most honorable that Mr. Linderer would periodically reference, and give credit toward, other branches of the U.S. Military and their special outfits solely designed for high danger tasks and missions. As a reader of history and more specifically military history I found this book a simple pleasure to cover an account of a war that had little press support in a Post Tet Offensive period in our history. To a large degree, Mr. Linderer and many other U.S. Army Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen and Coastguardsmen were simply ignored and had to find and fight a whole new battle after getting home (this part is not in the book) – most of us have read stories of people such as these after their discharge from the military during Vietnam; but, I had the pleasure to have worked with many that stayed in the military after the Vietnam War ended.
Any person that has a knack for continuous education in history and military reading should pick up this book. It’s less than 240 pages and they fly by when you sit to read.
The book starts out with the brief familiar scenes of innocence, a desire for manhood, and a willingness to “do the right thing.” We witness his transformation from level headed civilian to soldier to “LURP” with enough detail to keep us interested but not so much as to detract the reader from the story this author wants to tell. Along the war there is danger, laughter, tears, honesty, openness of heart, and courage for self and soldier buddies. As I was once a Marine (fulltime but Marine for life) - I found it most honorable that Mr. Linderer would periodically reference, and give credit toward, other branches of the U.S. Military and their special outfits solely designed for high danger tasks and missions. As a reader of history and more specifically military history I found this book a simple pleasure to cover an account of a war that had little press support in a Post Tet Offensive period in our history. To a large degree, Mr. Linderer and many other U.S. Army Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen and Coastguardsmen were simply ignored and had to find and fight a whole new battle after getting home (this part is not in the book) – most of us have read stories of people such as these after their discharge from the military during Vietnam; but, I had the pleasure to have worked with many that stayed in the military after the Vietnam War ended.
Any person that has a knack for continuous education in history and military reading should pick up this book. It’s less than 240 pages and they fly by when you sit to read.
June 21, 2014
I thought this was an amazingly well told piece of Vietnam history. I will definitely be reading more books by this author.
His humour is actually quite startling at first, but incredibly laugh out loud funny!
What an outfit and as he said the brotherhood between these LRPs were awesome, as is expressively told in the last battle in the book.
What a war, what amazing young people in the hairiest circumstances, and the most excruciating boredom, it just shows you the human spirit, and that is what I think impressed me the most of this book, is that he gets that across so well.
His humour is actually quite startling at first, but incredibly laugh out loud funny!
What an outfit and as he said the brotherhood between these LRPs were awesome, as is expressively told in the last battle in the book.
What a war, what amazing young people in the hairiest circumstances, and the most excruciating boredom, it just shows you the human spirit, and that is what I think impressed me the most of this book, is that he gets that across so well.
May 5, 2016
Having read his second book prior to this first one, his limited perspective in book 1 was quite obvious. He presents as a more mature individual in his second book and I am looking forward to seeing his character development and how his writing progresses in book 3.
August 13, 2013
A very good read, however not as good as Gary's second book.
September 22, 2015
Half a Tour in Vietnam
I feel a bit cheated; I wanted to read about this soldier's last six months in he'll. Most of my last six months in Nam were the most exciting and bloody.
I feel a bit cheated; I wanted to read about this soldier's last six months in he'll. Most of my last six months in Nam were the most exciting and bloody.
November 28, 2016
A good read but not a great one.
Fairly interesting although a little dull in place.
Fairly interesting although a little dull in place.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews