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LRRP Team Leader: A Memoir of Vietnam
For the LRRPs, courage was a way of life
Vietnam, 1968. All of Sergeant John Burford's missions with F Company, 58th Infantry were deep in hostile territory. As leader of a six-man LRRP team, he found the enemy, staged ambushes, called in precision strikes, and rescued downed pilots. The lives of the entire team depended on his leadership and their combined skill and guts. A single mistake—a moment of panic—could mean death for everyone.
Whether describing ambushes in the dreaded A Shau Valley or popping smoke to call in artillery only yards away from his position, Burford demonstrates the stuff the LRRPs are made of—the bravery, daring, and sheer guts that make the LRRPs true heroes. . . .
Vietnam, 1968. All of Sergeant John Burford's missions with F Company, 58th Infantry were deep in hostile territory. As leader of a six-man LRRP team, he found the enemy, staged ambushes, called in precision strikes, and rescued downed pilots. The lives of the entire team depended on his leadership and their combined skill and guts. A single mistake—a moment of panic—could mean death for everyone.
Whether describing ambushes in the dreaded A Shau Valley or popping smoke to call in artillery only yards away from his position, Burford demonstrates the stuff the LRRPs are made of—the bravery, daring, and sheer guts that make the LRRPs true heroes. . . .
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 5, 2016
A great story base with clear descriptions of events experienced in a war zone. The seemingly trivial and mundane day to day existence in camp Eagle comes to life through humor and brotherly interactions. Although I served six years honorably in the U.S., I actually felt to be a team member of the LURPs!! What a great read!
See my reasons detailed above. (Oh well. I inserted my review in the wrong space.) I'm 70 yrs old and trying to master the tools of the 21st century. Give me "E" 4effort.
See my reasons detailed above. (Oh well. I inserted my review in the wrong space.) I'm 70 yrs old and trying to master the tools of the 21st century. Give me "E" 4effort.
December 16, 2013
I've read "LRRP Team Leader" before, but it has been a few years. After reading a lot of nonfiction war books recently ("Delta Force" by Charlie Beckwith, "Black Hawk Down" by Mark Bowden, and "Recondo" by Larry Chambers), I decided to read this one again.
John Burford's book forms a kind of trilogy (or quartet if you count both of Gary Linderer's books separately) with "Recondo" by Larry Chambers and "Eyes of the Eagle" and "Eyes Behind the Lines" by Gary Linderer. All three men served in F Company 58th Infantry from 1968 – 1969 (roughly), and all three men provide different perspectives of the same events.
SUMMARY
John Burford was a sergeant and had already spent a few years in the Army when he was sent to Vietnam in 1968. He volunteered for Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) after arriving, and was soon an important member of a fraternity of fighting men engaged against a tough opponent with a nearly impossible mission; collecting intelligence in small, six-man teams operating deep in enemy territory.
Burford presents selected stories from his tour in Vietnam in the form of "interviews" conducted by his brother and nephews in the early 1980s.
OVERALL: 3.2 out of 5
"LRRP Team Leader" is a good book, but it feels to me like the reader can get the most from it by also reading the books by Gary Linderer and Larry Chambers. They each provide their own memories of the same events, and their own voices. For example, Linderer and Chambers both write positively about a helicopter pilot who pulled a rifle and got out of his chopper to help a LRRP team, while Burford has a less pleasant memory of the event.
Burford doesn't have a "last stand" battle to talk about like Gary Linderer, and he spends less time describing Recondo School than Larry Chambers. His stories don't follow a solid timeline, but are presented by subject matter. He doesn't spend any time at all in describing his personal life, wife, or family, and his previous time in the Army and his time spent as a "cherry" without field experience are condensed into one or two sentences at the most.
What Burford does provide is the perspective of a highly competent and respected leader who has to constantly appraise the soldiers around him, the environment, and his own performance. Burford is judgmental, but he has to be in order to present this leadership-view side of the story.
Despite the humor, Burford's book is also sad. Gary Linderer and Larry Chambers fantasize about going back home, girls (a fiancé for Linderer, and girls in general for Chambers), and so forth. Burford doesn't talk about his personal life until he gets home and finds himself totally estranged from his wife. More than any other story, Burford's "welcome home" is painfully depressing and written so simply and succinctly that it becomes perfect. It's impossible not to feel sorry for the guy, and some of his bad feelings about coming home from the war were obviously still pretty strong when he wrote the book. I don't blame him.
RATING BY CATEGORY
CHARACTERS: 3 out of 5
As an NCO (non-commissioned officer) and later team leader, Burford has a more appraising and critical eye toward the other soldiers around him. This is actually a good way to offer memorable descriptions to a reader though: Larry Chambers (who is filled with praise of Sergeant Burford in his book) is presented as a particularly competent LRRP, others get less-than-satisfactory opinions from the author.
In general, Burford spends less time on men he didn't personally work with in the field (though still might have had friendships with back at the base), but spends most of his time talking about a core of five or seven soldiers that he spent most of his time in the field with.
PACE: 3 out of 5
"LRRP Team Leader" has a fast pace; the only place it really slows down is when the author specifically describes missions where his team didn't make contact (encounter the enemy). It also suffers from a bit of repetition; some stories and events are mentioned more than once (enough that I was confused at some points whether he was repeating himself or I was remembering a similar story from a different book and author).
STORY: 4 out of 5
Burford's story is unique in that he was a leader (a sergeant, though not necessarily a team leader) before he had any field experience in Vietnam. He was also a married man, though the reader doesn't learn about that until the end. His perspective is very different from his colleagues, and he presents a more serious, no-nonsense approach to life and operations in I Corps (region of South Vietnam closest to North Vietnam) in 1968.
By providing a "framing story" of his family asking questions, Burford gives himself a good way to present a variety of stories: ambushes, operations gone wrong, people he worked well with and those he didn't, tedium between missions, and close scrapes with enemy soldiers. There is humor, and his humanity is on display too; he comes to all the same conclusions and realizations that soldiers (the smart ones) seem t: the enemy is human but still needs to be defeated, death can be a second away at any time, his own youth and the youth of those around him.
DIALOGUE: 3 out of 5
There isn't as much dialogue in Burford's book; conversations and communication is typically summarized rather than provided in detail. The dialogue that is present is undoubtedly from the author's memory, and probably very accurate. Being quiet was important in the job of a LRRP, and the men communicated mostly through sub-vocal whispering in each other's ears or through hand signals, facial expressions, etc.
STYLE/TECHNICAL: 3 out of 5
Burford's book is well written, and the framing device of telling stories to his family works without feeling cheesy or contrived. Some events and missions are mentioned (or even described) more than once, and there is also some word or phrase repetition that bogged down the reading in a few parts.
John Burford's book forms a kind of trilogy (or quartet if you count both of Gary Linderer's books separately) with "Recondo" by Larry Chambers and "Eyes of the Eagle" and "Eyes Behind the Lines" by Gary Linderer. All three men served in F Company 58th Infantry from 1968 – 1969 (roughly), and all three men provide different perspectives of the same events.
SUMMARY
John Burford was a sergeant and had already spent a few years in the Army when he was sent to Vietnam in 1968. He volunteered for Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) after arriving, and was soon an important member of a fraternity of fighting men engaged against a tough opponent with a nearly impossible mission; collecting intelligence in small, six-man teams operating deep in enemy territory.
Burford presents selected stories from his tour in Vietnam in the form of "interviews" conducted by his brother and nephews in the early 1980s.
OVERALL: 3.2 out of 5
"LRRP Team Leader" is a good book, but it feels to me like the reader can get the most from it by also reading the books by Gary Linderer and Larry Chambers. They each provide their own memories of the same events, and their own voices. For example, Linderer and Chambers both write positively about a helicopter pilot who pulled a rifle and got out of his chopper to help a LRRP team, while Burford has a less pleasant memory of the event.
Burford doesn't have a "last stand" battle to talk about like Gary Linderer, and he spends less time describing Recondo School than Larry Chambers. His stories don't follow a solid timeline, but are presented by subject matter. He doesn't spend any time at all in describing his personal life, wife, or family, and his previous time in the Army and his time spent as a "cherry" without field experience are condensed into one or two sentences at the most.
What Burford does provide is the perspective of a highly competent and respected leader who has to constantly appraise the soldiers around him, the environment, and his own performance. Burford is judgmental, but he has to be in order to present this leadership-view side of the story.
Despite the humor, Burford's book is also sad. Gary Linderer and Larry Chambers fantasize about going back home, girls (a fiancé for Linderer, and girls in general for Chambers), and so forth. Burford doesn't talk about his personal life until he gets home and finds himself totally estranged from his wife. More than any other story, Burford's "welcome home" is painfully depressing and written so simply and succinctly that it becomes perfect. It's impossible not to feel sorry for the guy, and some of his bad feelings about coming home from the war were obviously still pretty strong when he wrote the book. I don't blame him.
RATING BY CATEGORY
CHARACTERS: 3 out of 5
As an NCO (non-commissioned officer) and later team leader, Burford has a more appraising and critical eye toward the other soldiers around him. This is actually a good way to offer memorable descriptions to a reader though: Larry Chambers (who is filled with praise of Sergeant Burford in his book) is presented as a particularly competent LRRP, others get less-than-satisfactory opinions from the author.
In general, Burford spends less time on men he didn't personally work with in the field (though still might have had friendships with back at the base), but spends most of his time talking about a core of five or seven soldiers that he spent most of his time in the field with.
PACE: 3 out of 5
"LRRP Team Leader" has a fast pace; the only place it really slows down is when the author specifically describes missions where his team didn't make contact (encounter the enemy). It also suffers from a bit of repetition; some stories and events are mentioned more than once (enough that I was confused at some points whether he was repeating himself or I was remembering a similar story from a different book and author).
STORY: 4 out of 5
Burford's story is unique in that he was a leader (a sergeant, though not necessarily a team leader) before he had any field experience in Vietnam. He was also a married man, though the reader doesn't learn about that until the end. His perspective is very different from his colleagues, and he presents a more serious, no-nonsense approach to life and operations in I Corps (region of South Vietnam closest to North Vietnam) in 1968.
By providing a "framing story" of his family asking questions, Burford gives himself a good way to present a variety of stories: ambushes, operations gone wrong, people he worked well with and those he didn't, tedium between missions, and close scrapes with enemy soldiers. There is humor, and his humanity is on display too; he comes to all the same conclusions and realizations that soldiers (the smart ones) seem t: the enemy is human but still needs to be defeated, death can be a second away at any time, his own youth and the youth of those around him.
DIALOGUE: 3 out of 5
There isn't as much dialogue in Burford's book; conversations and communication is typically summarized rather than provided in detail. The dialogue that is present is undoubtedly from the author's memory, and probably very accurate. Being quiet was important in the job of a LRRP, and the men communicated mostly through sub-vocal whispering in each other's ears or through hand signals, facial expressions, etc.
STYLE/TECHNICAL: 3 out of 5
Burford's book is well written, and the framing device of telling stories to his family works without feeling cheesy or contrived. Some events and missions are mentioned (or even described) more than once, and there is also some word or phrase repetition that bogged down the reading in a few parts.
January 17, 2024
LRRP Team Leader
- January 13th pages 1-13
- January 14th pages 13-67
- January 15th pages 67-89
- January 16th pages 89-159
- January 17th pages 159-204(end)
It’s storytelling isn’t the greatest, I really disliked the Q and A format but a good read nonetheless. But there’s just something downright depressing about the ending
- January 13th pages 1-13
- January 14th pages 13-67
- January 15th pages 67-89
- January 16th pages 89-159
- January 17th pages 159-204(end)
It’s storytelling isn’t the greatest, I really disliked the Q and A format but a good read nonetheless. But there’s just something downright depressing about the ending
December 17, 2021
John Burford served as a LRRP alongside two other future authors; Larry Chambers and Gary Linderer. Out of each of their debut books about their shared ordeal, Burford's is probably the weakest. Compared to the two others, his comes more across as a fact sheet; this is what happened on this particular mission, end of story. I felt like the other books let me get to know the soldiers better, making me care more. The narrative setting for LRRP Team Leader, is the author sitting down and discussing his experiences with family members. He sticks very close to that formula throughout the book, and it comes across a little forced.
In conclusion, I'd recommend Chambers' and Linderer's books over this. But if you're committed to getting the full story about these brave guys, you should definitely read this one too.
In conclusion, I'd recommend Chambers' and Linderer's books over this. But if you're committed to getting the full story about these brave guys, you should definitely read this one too.
January 12, 2021
LRRP TEAM LEADER: A Memoir of Vietnam
An interesting read of a first person account of the Vietnam War. It is so much like what I was told by someone close to me who was there, especially the lack of a homecoming worthy of what they went through. Only now do people say thank you to Vietnam Era Vets, I thank you all who have been there and made it back, may your writings free you of the painful lack of support from the people of America! I love you one and all for your sacrifice ! To those who never came home Rest In Peace!
An interesting read of a first person account of the Vietnam War. It is so much like what I was told by someone close to me who was there, especially the lack of a homecoming worthy of what they went through. Only now do people say thank you to Vietnam Era Vets, I thank you all who have been there and made it back, may your writings free you of the painful lack of support from the people of America! I love you one and all for your sacrifice ! To those who never came home Rest In Peace!
March 29, 2025
Great read__painful finish
My brother in law joined the Marines in 68 , saw plenty of action and came home to the same welcome as John Burford.
His wife left him and their two daughters. I'm sure way too may warriors suffered the same . I remember Ron suffered from a bullet wound, jungle rot feet ,malaria and PTSD . He was on a hospital ship and sent home in a period of about three weeks. He never over came his demons RIP..scs
My brother in law joined the Marines in 68 , saw plenty of action and came home to the same welcome as John Burford.
His wife left him and their two daughters. I'm sure way too may warriors suffered the same . I remember Ron suffered from a bullet wound, jungle rot feet ,malaria and PTSD . He was on a hospital ship and sent home in a period of about three weeks. He never over came his demons RIP..scs
May 24, 2021
A Very Interesting and well articulated story told from a first person experience
I have read just about every book written about the Special Forces expedience in Vietnam and the stories about the airborne ranger LRRP teams command all my attention. I read this book in 7.5_Hours and couldn't pull away because it is precise and easy to read and understand.
I have read just about every book written about the Special Forces expedience in Vietnam and the stories about the airborne ranger LRRP teams command all my attention. I read this book in 7.5_Hours and couldn't pull away because it is precise and easy to read and understand.
February 27, 2024
Those LRRPs were really brave. I didn’t care for the family asks a question approach but this author covered the bases training , missions and the return. It is worth the read. I had a friend on submarines off of north viet nam. They used to put seals into the rivers in the north. I would like to hear some of those stories too
January 30, 2025
Welcome Home
Great read. Liked how the story was.told. No b.s. The book was realistic.and I could almost smell the jungle and feel how coming home was.harder for some than fighting.the war.
Great read. Liked how the story was.told. No b.s. The book was realistic.and I could almost smell the jungle and feel how coming home was.harder for some than fighting.the war.
March 21, 2025
Good read
Very good, matter of fact description of the LRRP's in action, without any embellishment! Particularly poignant description of his return to the US and an ungrateful public's appreciation of the events experienced by soldiers in action.
Very good, matter of fact description of the LRRP's in action, without any embellishment! Particularly poignant description of his return to the US and an ungrateful public's appreciation of the events experienced by soldiers in action.
August 20, 2014
Great stories well written. No b.s. just the straight stuff. Loved it could not put it down.
I would recommend this book to anyone who had military experience and too a lot the kids who were to young at the time to know what was going on. I would also include those who believed the B.S. the MEDIA has been putting out.
I would recommend this book to anyone who had military experience and too a lot the kids who were to young at the time to know what was going on. I would also include those who believed the B.S. the MEDIA has been putting out.
December 25, 2012
well written, personal, poignant. The "coming home" sentiments could have been mine 30+ years later...
June 15, 2015
Honest
Very honest account of his experience. Enjoyed the explanations of the military terms and inner workings. Will be looking for his teammates books.
Very honest account of his experience. Enjoyed the explanations of the military terms and inner workings. Will be looking for his teammates books.
June 28, 2016
This was a very good book, well written and easy to follow. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in some first hand history.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews