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Books > Humanities > History > American history > From 1900
This guide showcases knives used by America's clandestine military
in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. It provides the collector
and others interested in the period a way of identifying honest SOG
(Studies and Observations Group) specimens and separating them from
counterfeits. With beautiful color photographs that show a high
level of detail, the book identifies all known SOG specimens (over
165 knives) and includes rare personalized knives and custom combat
knives made in the United States. Sections of the book focus on
Randalls, Eks, Gerbers, and the knives made by tribal artisans in
Southeast Asia. This is the eighth in Mike Silvey's series on
military knives.
During his first tour in Vietnam - 1967-68 - Dick Taylor was a
well-trained and highly motivated amateur assigned to advise a
hard-bitten ARVN infantry battalion working in the mud and streams
of IV Corps. He became savvy in a hurry and found that he was both
brave and resourceful. He barely survived Tet 1968, then served on
an advisory team staff. For the next two years, Taylor earned a
Ranger tab, served on a division staff, and schooled on. He met a
woman, and married her days before he returned to Vietnam. Taylor's
second tour- 1970-71 - was altogether different. He immediately
assumed command of Bravo Company, 1/7 Cav, and excelled as a
commander and a leader. He was aggressive in the field, confident
in his command, and assertive with his superiors. He fought a good
war, a successful war, and when he was forced to take a staff job
it was as his battalion's intelligence officer. But the war was
winding down, its purpose lost. Taylor's spirit's flagged, but not
his fidelity. This well-written combat memoir is heartfelt,
earnest, honest, and just a little melancholy. About the Author
Colonel Richard Taylor was an original member of the first modern
Ranger battalion. He also commanded an infantry training battalion,
served with the 82nd Airborne, directed an academic department at
the Army's staff college and provided military advice to NATO
during the break up of the Warsaw Pact.
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