Beyond Hell and Back: How America's Special Operations Forces Became the World's Greatest Fighting Unit

 Author's Summary

The accounts of seven pivotal special operations from Vietnam to present day that were instrumental in the creation of Special Operations Command.

MWSA Review

Beyond Hell and Back by Dwight Jon Zimmerman and John D. Gresham presents a good overview of seven special operations missions from the Son Tay Raid in Vietnam to Task Force Viking at Debecka Pass at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The book also provides a background for the creation of the Special Operations Command, and why that Command is so vital to the mission of the 21st Century American military. The book contains photos from the missions, graphics illustrating the missions, and technical details of the craft and weapons used on the missions. One comes away with a much better understanding of how special ops work, their purpose and importance. As such, Beyond Hell and Back is a great tribute to the warriors involved.

Some of the missions are well known, such as the Son Tay Raid, the rescue of Bat 21 and the rescue of Captain Scott O’Grady. Others covered in the book are less well known, often because of a cover of still-classified material. But in each case the book presents a clear, technical overview of the events. This is a must read for anyone interested in Special Operations from the Vietnam War to today. The authors have an extensive knowledge of military affairs, know their subject and convey it well. Professionals and military buffs alike will profit from reading Beyond Hell and Back.

Reviewed by: Weymouth Symmes (2011)