{"title":"History--Military--Special Forces","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"every-weapon-i-had-a-vietnam-vets-long-road-to-the-medal-of-honor","title":"Every Weapon I Had: A Vietnam Vet's Long Road to the Medal of Honor","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe story of a Green Beret commander's heroism during the Vietnam War, and the long fight to recognize his bravery.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen Col. Paris Davis was selected to lead one of the Green Beret A-teams organizing resistance to Communist incursions into South Vietnam, his commanding officer warned him that some of his soldiers would resent his authority. This was no surprise; there were only a handful of Black officers in the Special Forces. Davis quickly won the respect of his soldiers, and would soon fight beside him as bullets snapped past and mortars exploded overhead. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eOn June 18th, Davis led a group of inexperienced locals and Special Forces soldiers in an attack on a Viet Cong base in Bong Son. They were met by a superior enemy force, and Davis led the charge in a grueling firefight. He was seriously wounded, but he disobeyed a direct order to retreat until he dragged three injured Green Berets off the battlefield to safety.\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEvery Weapon I Had \u003c\/i\u003eis an inspiring tale of valor and sacrifice, set against the backdrop of major escalations in both the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights movement. It is also a story of deferred honor and delayed recognition; Davis earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his actions, but his nomination for the Congressional Medal of Honor was repeatedly \"lost.\" No official reason has ever been given for this oversight, but those who fought to correct it believe that it was motivated by racial prejudice. Davis was finally awarded the Medal in 2023, 58 years after the battle.\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 1250387655\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9781250387653\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Davis, Paris, N\/A, N\/A\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: St. Martin's Press\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"St. Martin's Press","offers":[{"title":"HardCover (Jun 2025)","offer_id":45657274515653,"sku":"9781250387653","price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9781250387653.jpg?v=1768890080"},{"product_id":"born-twice-memoir-of-a-special-forces-sog-warrior","title":"Born Twice: Memoir of a Special Forces SOG Warrior","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"...a near-unbelievable story of deadly missions carried out by small Green Beret-led teams operating deep in enemy territory against all but impossible odds.\"\u003c\/p\u003e-\u003cstrong\u003eMichael P Buckland\u003c\/strong\u003e, Special Forces SOG warrior\u003cbr\u003e\"These were extremely dangerous, top secret operations, which tested Hanson's mettle; the Christian values of his youth...shone brightly. Read this book and you'll agree with the Green Berets who knew him: Hanson is one of the best.\"-\u003cstrong\u003eMaj. John Plaster\u003c\/strong\u003e, Ret. Special Forces, SOG author\u003cbr\u003e\"\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eBorn Twice\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e takes the reader from the bitterly cold Minnesota winters of his youth to leading a MACV-SOG recon team in the steaming jungles of Southeast Asia. If you want to know what it was like to run reconnaissance missions into denied areas during the Vietnam War, then \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eBorn Twice\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e is a book you must read.\" -\u003cstrong\u003eDennis J. Cummings\u003c\/strong\u003e, author of \u003cem\u003eThe Men Behind the Trident: SEAL Team One in Vietnam\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Dale Hanson was given the name Kam Baw Ya Chin, meaning 'eternal life, never die' by his Chinese mercenary counterparts in the secret Special Forces projects during the Viet Nam war. After reading some of his near death experiences, this name seems fitting. It may seem contradictory to be at once a committed Christian and a lethal Green Beret, but Hanson was and is. Highly recommended.\" -\u003cstrong\u003eMajor John \"Doc\" Padget\u003c\/strong\u003e, Special Forces Ret.\u003cbr\u003e\"Hanson brilliantly sets the stage for being hunted by communist soldiers on the ground in Laos in the dark of night, casually mentioning the damage his fingers sustained following face-to-face combat with three AK-47-firing enemy soldiers. Then he deftly shifts gears, taking you through his childhood in Ojibway country in northern Minnesota and his coming of age before joining the Army. Both aspects of this proud Green Beret's history make for a fascinating read. This isn't his first book and I hope it's not his last.\" -\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Stryker Meyer\u003c\/strong\u003e, author of \u003cem\u003eAcross the Fence: The Secret War in Vietnam\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eOn The Ground\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eSOG Chronicles: Volume One\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 0998135364\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9780998135366\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Hanson, Dale, N\/A, N\/A\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Dale Hanson\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Dale Hanson","offers":[{"title":"HardCover (Jul 2022)","offer_id":45657357320389,"sku":"9780998135366","price":51.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9780998135366.jpg?v=1768891203"},{"product_id":"born-twice-memoir-of-a-special-forces-sog-warriorr","title":"Born Twice: Memoir of a Special Forces SOG Warriorr","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"...a near-unbelievable story of deadly missions carried out by small Green Beret-led teams operating deep in enemy territory against all but impossible odds.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e-\u003cstrong\u003eMichael P Buckland\u003c\/strong\u003e, Special Forces SOG warrior\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"These were extremely dangerous, top secret operations, which tested Hanson's mettle; the Christian values of his youth...shone brightly. Read this book and you'll agree with the Green Berets who knew him: Hanson is one of the best.\"-\u003cstrong\u003eMaj. John Plaster\u003c\/strong\u003e, Ret. Special Forces, SOG author\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eBorn Twice\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e takes the reader from the bitterly cold Minnesota winters of his youth to leading a MACV-SOG recon team in the steaming jungles of Southeast Asia. If you want to know what it was like to run reconnaissance missions into denied areas during the Vietnam War, then \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eBorn Twice\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e is a book you must read.\" -\u003cstrong\u003eDennis J. Cummings\u003c\/strong\u003e, author of \u003cem\u003eThe Men Behind the Trident: SEAL Team One in Vietnam\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Dale Hanson was given the name Kam Baw Ya Chin, meaning 'eternal life, never die' by his Chinese mercenary counterparts in the secret Special Forces projects during the Viet Nam war. After reading some of his near death experiences, this name seems fitting. It may seem contradictory to be at once a committed Christian and a lethal Green Beret, but Hanson was and is. Highly recommended.\" -\u003cstrong\u003eMajor John \"Doc\" Padget\u003c\/strong\u003e, Special Forces Ret.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Hanson brilliantly sets the stage for being hunted by communist soldiers on the ground in Laos in the dark of night, casually mentioning the damage his fingers sustained following face-to-face combat with three AK-47-firing enemy soldiers. Then he deftly shifts gears, taking you through his childhood in Ojibway country in northern Minnesota and his coming of age before joining the Army. Both aspects of this proud Green Beret's history make for a fascinating read. This isn't his first book and I hope it's not his last.\" -\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Stryker Meyer\u003c\/strong\u003e, author of \u003cem\u003eAcross the Fence: The Secret War in Vietnam\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eOn The Ground\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eSOG Chronicles: Volume One\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-13: 9798992753424\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Hanson, Dale, N\/A, N\/A\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Dale Hanson\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Dale Hanson","offers":[{"title":"Paperback (Aug 2025)","offer_id":45657455624389,"sku":"9798992753424","price":33.79,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9798992753424.jpg?v=1768891956"},{"product_id":"send-it-canadas-snipers-at-war-in-afghanistan","title":"Send It: Canada's Snipers at War in Afghanistan","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSee Through the Scope of Canadian Snipers\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSend It is a raw, unfiltered account that takes readers deep into the shadowy world of the Canadian sniper-among the most revered and deadly warriors on the modern battlefield. Through the eyes and voices of a handful of elite soldiers, this book delivers an unparalleled look at what it takes to earn the coveted sniper badge, survive the crucible of combat, and walk the razor's edge between life and death.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom brutal training grounds to the unforgiving terrain of Afghanistan, Send It follows these silent professionals through multiple tours of duty alongside Canadian and U.S. Special Forces. Their missions-precise, lethal, and often shrouded in secrecy-place them at the tip of the spear in the war on terror. But beyond the confirmed kills and enemy engagements lies a more personal story: the fear, adrenaline, purpose, and quiet cost of modern warfare.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTold in their own words, Send It is an emotional journey from the first trigger squeeze to the last. It is not just about the making of snipers, but how war remakes the men behind the scope.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 1998501574\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9781998501571\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Cullen, Gordon, Nisbet, Barry C., Bahmanyar, Mir\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Double Dagger Books\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Double Dagger Books","offers":[{"title":"Paperback (Jul 2025)","offer_id":45658830635205,"sku":"9781998501571","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9781998501571.jpg?v=1768904919"},{"product_id":"total-resistance","title":"Total Resistance","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTotal Resistance: The Swiss Army Guide to Guerrilla Warfare and Underground Operations\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOriginally published in 1965, the Panther Publications English translation of Swiss Army Major Hans von Dach's classic \u003cem\u003eDer totale Widerstand\u003c\/em\u003e brings one of the most influential guerrilla manuals back into print in its original format, right down to the distinctive red covers of the Panther Publications first printing. Universally known as being more complete than the later Paladin Press editions which have been widely reproduced, this edition is the best translation available. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTotal Resistance\u003c\/em\u003e is a comprehensive guide to guerrilla warfare, designed to empower civilians to resist occupation by a foreign power through sabotage, assassination, and the organization of underground movements.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis translation preserves the detailed tactics and strategies that made the original a vital resource during the Cold War. With chapters covering everything from creating sabotage cells and conducting ambushes to psychological warfare and intelligence gathering, \u003cem\u003eTotal Resistance\u003c\/em\u003e remains a cornerstone in the study of unconventional warfare.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOver the decades, von Dach's manual has been both revered and controversial, influencing resistance movements across the globe. Its use by various insurgent groups during the 1960s and 1970s, as well as its relevance in modern conflict zones, underscores the enduring importance of this text.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis edition is perfect for historians, military enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the principles of asymmetric warfare. Whether you're studying the Cold War era, exploring military strategy, or looking for insights into modern resistance movements, \u003cem\u003eTotal Resistance\u003c\/em\u003e offers a wealth of knowledge on the power of civilian-based defense.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRediscover this seminal work that continues to shape the doctrine of guerrilla warfare and underground operations around the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 1925907562\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9781925907568\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Von Dach, Hans\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Conflict Research Group\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Conflict Research Group","offers":[{"title":"Paperback (Aug 2024)","offer_id":46080268173509,"sku":"9781925907568","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9781925907568.jpg?v=1776035759"},{"product_id":"alone-at-dawn-medal-of-honor-recipient-john-chapman-and-the-untold-story-of-the-worlds-deadliest-special-operations-force","title":"Alone at Dawn: Medal of Honor Recipient John Chapman and the Untold Story of the World's Deadliest Special Operations Force","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling true account of John Chapman, Medal of Honor recipient and Special Ops Combat Controller, and his heroic one-man stand during the Afghan War, as he sacrificed his life to save the lives of twenty-three comrades-in-arms.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the predawn hours of March 4, 2002, just below the 10,469-foot peak of a mountain in eastern Afghanistan, a fierce battle raged. Outnumbered by Al Qaeda fighters, Air Force Combat Controller John Chapman and a handful of Navy SEALs struggled to take the summit in a desperate bid to find a lost teammate.\u003cbr\u003eChapman, leading the charge, was gravely wounded in the initial assault. Believing he was dead, his SEAL leader ordered a retreat. Chapman regained consciousness alone, with the enemy closing in on three sides.\u003cbr\u003eJohn Chapman's subsequent display of incredible valor -- first saving the lives of his SEAL teammates and then, knowing he was mortally wounded, single-handedly engaging two dozen hardened fighters to save the lives of an incoming rescue squad -- posthumously earned him the Medal of Honor. Chapman is the first airman in nearly fifty years to be given the distinction reserved for America's greatest heroes.\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlone at Dawn\u003c\/i\u003e is also a behind-the-scenes look at the Air Force Combat Controllers: the world's deadliest and most versatile special operations force, whose members must not only exceed the qualifications of Navy SEAL and Army Delta Force teams but also act with sharp decisiveness and deft precision -- even in the face of life-threatening danger.\u003cbr\u003eDrawing from firsthand accounts, classified documents, dramatic video footage, and extensive interviews with leaders and survivors of the operation, \u003ci\u003eAlone at Dawn \u003c\/i\u003eis the story of an extraordinary man's brave last stand and the brotherhood that forged him.\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 1538729660\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9781538729663\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Schilling, Dan, Longfritz, Lori\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Grand Central Publishing\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Grand Central Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Paperback (Jun 2020)","offer_id":46080504398021,"sku":"9781538729663","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9781538729663.jpg?v=1776037941"},{"product_id":"sea-stories-my-life-in-special-operations","title":"Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations","description":"\u003cb\u003eFollowing the success of his #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestseller \u003ci\u003eMake Your Bed\u003c\/i\u003e, Admiral William H. McRaven is back with amazing stories of bravery and heroism during his career as a Navy SEAL and commander of America's Special Operations Forces. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \"Fascinating ... McRaven's war stories deliver remarkable insight into the life of a wartime leader.\" ―\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Admiral William H. McRaven is a part of American military history, having been involved in some of the most famous missions in recent memory, including the capture of Saddam Hussein, the rescue of Captain Richard Phillips, and the raid to kill Osama bin Laden. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eSea Stories\u003c\/i\u003e begins in 1963 at a French Officers' Club in France, where Allied officers and their wives gathered to have drinks and tell stories about their adventures during World War II-the place where a young Bill McRaven learned the value of a good story. \u003ci\u003eSea Stories\u003c\/i\u003e is an unforgettable look back on one man's incredible life, from childhood days sneaking into high-security military sites to a day job of hunting terrorists and rescuing hostages. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Action-packed, humorous, and full of valuable life lessons like those exemplified in McRaven's bestselling \u003ci\u003eMake Your Bed\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eSea Stories\u003c\/i\u003e is a remarkable memoir from one of America's most accomplished leaders.\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 153872975X\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9781538729755\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: McRaven, William H.\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Grand Central Publishing\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Grand Central Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Paperback (Jun 2020)","offer_id":46080664305861,"sku":"9781538729755","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9781538729755.jpg?v=1776039329"},{"product_id":"extreme-ownership-how-u-s-navy-seals-lead-and-win","title":"Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eJocko Willink\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e, the \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e best selling author of \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eDiscipline Equals Freedom\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e and \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eLeadership Strategy and Tactics\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003e, an updated edition of the blockbuster bestselling leadership book that took America and the world by storm, two U.S. Navy SEAL officers who led the most highly decorated special forces unit of the Iraq War demonstrate how to apply powerful leadership principles from the battlefield to business and life. Now with an excerpt from the authors' new book, THE DICHOTOMY OF LEADERSHIP. \u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eCombat, the most intense and dynamic environment imaginable, teaches the toughest leadership lessons, with absolutely everything at stake. Jocko Willink and Leif Babin learned this reality first-hand on the most violent and dangerous battlefield in Iraq. As leaders of SEAL Team Three's Task Unit Bruiser, their mission was one many thought impossible: help U.S. forces secure Ramadi, a violent, insurgent-held city deemed \"all but lost.\" In gripping, firsthand accounts of heroism, tragic loss, and hard-won victories, they learned that leadership--at every level--is the most important factor in whether a team succeeds or fails. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWillink and Babin returned home from deployment and instituted SEAL leadership training to pass on their harsh lessons of self-discipline, mental toughness and self-defense learned in combat to help forge the next generation of SEAL leaders. After leaving the SEAL Teams, they launched a company, Echelon Front, to teach those same leadership principles to leaders in businesses, companies, and organizations across the civilian sector. Since that time, they have trained countless leaders and worked with hundreds of companies in virtually every industry across the U.S. and internationally, teaching them how to develop their own high-performance teams and most effectively lead those teams to dominate their battlefields. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSince it's release in October 2015, \u003ci\u003eExtreme Ownership\u003c\/i\u003e has revolutionized leadership development and set a new standard for literature on the subject. Required reading for many of the most successful organizations, it has become an integral part of the official leadership training programs for scores of business teams, military units, and first responders. Detailing the resilient mindset and total focus principles that enable SEAL units to accomplish the most difficult combat missions, Extreme Ownership demonstrates how to apply them to any team or organization, in any leadership environment. A compelling narrative with powerful instruction and direct application, \u003ci\u003eExtreme Ownership\u003c\/i\u003e challenges leaders everywhere to fulfill their ultimate purpose: lead and win.\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 1250183863\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9781250183866\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Willink, Jocko, Babin, Leif\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: St. Martin's Press\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"St. Martin's Press","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover (Nov 2017)","offer_id":46080668008645,"sku":"9781250183866","price":40.3,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9781250183866.jpg?v=1776039342"},{"product_id":"surprise-kill-vanish-the-secret-history-of-cia-paramilitary-armies-operators-and-assassins","title":"Surprise, Kill, Vanish: The Secret History of CIA Paramilitary Armies, Operators, and Assassins","description":"\u003cb\u003eFrom Pulitzer Prize finalist Annie Jacobsen, the untold \u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling story of the CIA's secret paramilitary units.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eSurprise . . . your target. Kill . . . your enemy. Vanish . . . without a trace. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen diplomacy fails, and war is unwise, the president calls on the CIA's Special Activities Division, a highly-classified branch of the CIA and the most effective, black operations force in the world.\u003cbr\u003eOriginally known as the president's guerrilla warfare corps, SAD conducts risky and ruthless operations that have evolved over time to defend America from its enemies. Almost every American president since World War II has asked the CIA to conduct sabotage, subversion and, yes, assassination.\u003cbr\u003eWith unprecedented access to forty-two men and women who proudly and secretly worked on CIA covert operations from the dawn of the Cold War to the present day, along with declassified documents and deep historical research, Pulitzer Prize finalist Annie Jacobsen unveils -- like never before -- a complex world of individuals working in treacherous environments populated with killers, connivers, and saboteurs.\u003cbr\u003eDespite Hollywood notions of off-book operations and external secret hires, covert action is actually one piece in a colossal foreign policy machine.\u003cbr\u003eWritten with the pacing of a thriller, \u003ci\u003eSurprise, Kill, Vanish\u003c\/i\u003e brings to vivid life the sheer pandemonium and chaos, as well as the unforgettable human will to survive and the intellectual challenge of not giving up hope that define paramilitary and intelligence work. Jacobsen's exclusive interviews -- with members of the CIA's Senior Intelligence Service (equivalent to the Pentagon's generals), its counterterrorism chiefs, targeting officers, and Special Activities Division's Ground Branch operators who conduct today's close-quarters killing operations around the world -- reveal, for the first time, the enormity of this shocking, controversial, and morally complex terrain. Is the CIA's paramilitary army America's weaponized strength, or a liability to its principled standing in the world? Every operation reported in this book, however unsettling, is legal.\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 0316441422\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9780316441421\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Jacobsen, Annie\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Back Bay Books\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Back Bay Books","offers":[{"title":"Paperback (Jul 2020)","offer_id":46080669712581,"sku":"9780316441421","price":31.19,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9780316441421.jpg?v=1776039354"},{"product_id":"the-operator-firing-the-shots-that-killed-osama-bin-laden-and-my-years-as-a-seal-team-warrior","title":"The Operator: Firing the Shots That Killed Osama Bin Laden and My Years as a Seal Team Warrior","description":"\u003cb\u003eThis instant \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestseller--\"a jaw-dropping, fast-paced account\" (\u003ci\u003eNew York Post\u003c\/i\u003e) recounts SEAL Team Operator Robert O'Neill's incredible four-hundred-mission career, including the attempts to rescue \"Lone Survivor\" Marcus Luttrell and abducted-by-Somali-pirates Captain Richard Phillips, and which culminated in the historic raid that led to the death of the world's most wanted terrorist--Osama bin Laden.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eThe Operator\u003c\/i\u003e, Robert O'Neill describes his idyllic childhood in Butte, Montana; his impulsive decision to join the SEALs; the arduous evaluation and training process; and the even tougher gauntlet he had to run to earn a place on SEAL Team Six. After officially becoming a SEAL, O'Neill would spend more than a decade in the most intense counterterror effort in US history. For extended periods, not a night passed without him and his small team recording multiple enemy kills--and though he was lucky enough to survive, several of the SEALs he'd trained with and fought beside never made it home. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Impossible to put down...\u003ci\u003eThe Operator\u003c\/i\u003e is unique, surprising, a kind of counternarrative, and certainly the other half of the story of one of the world's most famous military operations...In the larger sense, this book is about...how to be human while in the very same moment dealing with death, destruction, combat\" (Doug Stanton, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author). O'Neill delivers a military memoir as he describes the nonstop action of his deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, evokes the black humor of years-long combat, brings to vivid life the lethal efficiency of the military's most selective units, and reveals details of the most celebrated terrorist takedown in history. Perfect for fans of \u003ci\u003eAmerican Sniper\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eLone Survivor\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eHorse Soldiers\u003c\/i\u003e, this gripping page-turner is \"a riveting, unvarnished, and wholly unforgettable portrait of America's most storied commandos at war\" (Joby Warrick).\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 1501145037\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9781501145032\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: O'Neill, Robert\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Scribner Book Company\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Scribner Book Company","offers":[{"title":"Paperback (Apr 2018)","offer_id":46081205207237,"sku":"9781501145049","price":26.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9781501145032.jpg?v=1776043950"},{"product_id":"us-army-small-unit-tactics-handbook","title":"US Army Small Unit Tactics Handbook","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe purpose of this book is intended as a conceptual overview of all relevant topics of small unit tactics every Special Forces soldier, Ranger and dismounted light Infantryman ought to be familiar with in order to be effective on today's battlefield. In the US Army Small Unit Tactics Handbook, learn about: The heritage, lineage and legacy of today's US Army Special Forces and Rangers, US Army doctrine, leadership, tactics, combat and reconnaissance patrols, planning, close quarters battle and urban warfare, counterinsurgency, introduction to Special Operations missions, small arms, and much more. This handbook is categorized into five functional areas: History, Doctrine, Planning, Operations, and Common Skills.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 0997743417\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9780997743418\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Lefavor, Paul D.\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Blacksmith Publishing\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Blacksmith Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover (Sep 2015)","offer_id":46081370816709,"sku":"9780997743418","price":49.34,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9780997743418.jpg?v=1776045253"},{"product_id":"no-ordinary-dog-my-partner-from-the-seal-teams-to-the-bin-laden-raid","title":"No Ordinary Dog: My Partner from the Seal Teams to the Bin Laden Raid","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTHE INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNo Ordinary Dog\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e is the powerful true story of a SEAL Team Operator and military dog handler, and the dog that saved his life.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eTwo dozen Navy SEALs descended on Osama bin Laden's compound in May 2011. After the mission, only one name was made public: Cairo, a Belgian Malinois and military working dog. This is Cairo's story, and that of his handler, Will Chesney, a SEAL Team Operator whose life would be irrevocably tied to Cairo's. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eStarting in 2008, when Will was introduced to the SEAL canine program, he and Cairo worked side by side, depending on each other for survival on hundreds of critical operations in the war on terrorism. But their bond transcended their service. Then, in 2011, the call came: \u003ci\u003ePick up your dog and get back to Virginia. Now.\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWhat followed were several weeks of training for a secret mission. It soon became clear that this was no ordinary operation. Cairo was among the first members of the U.S. military on the ground in Pakistan as part of Operation Neptune Spear, which resulted in the successful elimination of bin Laden. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAs Cairo settled into a role as a reliable \"spare dog,\" Will went back to his job as a DEVGRU operator, until a grenade blast in 2013 left him with a brain injury and PTSD. Unable to participate in further missions, he suffered from crippling migraines, chronic pain, memory issues, and depression. Modern medicine provided only modest relief. Instead, it was up to Cairo to save Will's life once more--and then up to Will to be there when Cairo needed him the most.\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 1250756960\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9781250756961\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Chesney, Will, Layden, Joe\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: St. Martin's Griffin\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"St. Martin's Griffin","offers":[{"title":"Paperback (Mar 2021)","offer_id":46081380548805,"sku":"9781250756961","price":27.3,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9781250756961.jpg?v=1776045320"},{"product_id":"on-killing-remotely","title":"On Killing Remotely","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA \"can't-miss for anyone interested in current military affairs,\" \u003ci\u003eOn Killing Remotely \u003c\/i\u003ereveals and explores the costs--to individual soldiers and to society--of the way we wage war today (\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews, \u003c\/i\u003estarred). \u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThroughout history society has determined specific rules of engagement between adversaries in armed conflict. With advances in technology, from armor to in the Middle Ages to nerve gas in World War I to weapons of mass destruction in our own time, the rules have constantly evolved. Today, when killing the enemy can seem palpably risk-free and tantamount to playing a violent video game, what constitutes warfare? What is the effect of remote combat on individual soldiers? And what are the unforeseen repercussions that could affect us all? \u003cbr\u003eLt Col Wayne Phelps, former commander of a Remotely Piloted Aircraft unit, addresses these questions and many others as he tells the story of the men and women of today's \"chair force.\" Exploring the ethics of remote military engagement, the misconceptions about PTSD among RPA operators, and the specter of military weaponry controlled by robots, his book is an urgent and compelling reminder that it should always be difficult to kill another human being lest we risk losing what makes us human.\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 0316628298\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9780316628297\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Phelps, Wayne\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Little Brown and Company\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Little Brown and Company","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover (Jun 2021)","offer_id":46099867599045,"sku":"9780316628297","price":49.4,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9780316628297.jpg?v=1776646033"},{"product_id":"w-e-fairbairns-complete-compendium-of-lethal-unarmed-hand-to-hand-combat-methods-and-fighting","title":"W.E. Fairbairn's Complete Compendium of Lethal, Unarmed, Hand-to-Hand Combat Methods and Fighting","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe fully illustrated distilled knowledge of W.E. Fairbairn, legendary SOE instructor in unarmed combat, and co-inventor of the Sykes-Fairbairn knife, who learned his deadly skills in 30 years on the Shanghai waterfront. It has been suggested that Fairbairn was the inspiration for Q Branch, in Ian Fleming's fictional books about the British Secret Service agent James Bond.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGet Tough! is the fully illustrated manual of lethal unarmed combat methods taught to British and US Special Forces in the Second World War by Major W.E. Fairbairn, co-inventor of the Sykes-Fairbairn knife, and senior instructor to WW2's Special Forces. The methods used in this book should only be employed when life is in danger from an attacker, since correctly applied they can kill or maim an opponent.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAll-In Fighting shows how to deliver deadly blows with hand, fist, knee and boot; wrist, bear and strangle holds (and how to break them); how to throw an enemy, and how to break their backs; how to disarm a pistol-wielding attacker; and securing a prisoner.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eActual incidents provided the basis for Shooting to Live; this is an instruction manual on life-or-death close-quarters shootouts with the pistol. The emphasis is on training to fight with no notice, at very close ranges, in poor lighting and in unexpected environments.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOriginally published during the Second World War, Hands Off! shows the emancipated woman how to deal with any 'unpleasant'situation which would immeasurably increase their efficiency in the War effort. The methods of self-defence were especially selected for use by women, taking into account their disadvantages of weight, build and strength.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eScientific Self-Defence is the hand-to-hand combat system based on practical experience mixed with jujutsu and boxing that Fairbairn developed to train the Shanghai Municipal Police and was later taught in expanded form to the Office of Strategic Services and Special Operations Executive members during World War II.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDefendu is the classic hand-to-hand combat system based on practical experience mixed with jujutsu and boxing that Fairbairn developed to train the Shanghai Municipal Police.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 1783317051\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9781783317059\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Fairbairn, W. E.\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Naval \u0026amp; Military Press\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Naval \u0026 Military Press","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover (Sep 2020)","offer_id":46291826901189,"sku":"9781783317059","price":79.3,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9781783317059.jpg?v=1780113142"},{"product_id":"american-spartan-the-promise-the-mission-and-the-betrayal-of-special-forces-major-jim-gant","title":"American Spartan: The Promise, the Mission, and the Betrayal of Special Forces Major Jim Gant","description":"\u003cp\u003eLawrence of Arabia meets Sebastian Junger's \u003cem\u003eWar\u003c\/em\u003e in this unique, incendiary, and dramatic true story of heroism and heartbreak in Afghanistan written by a Pulitzer Prize-nominated war correspondent.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eArmy Special Forces Major Jim Gant changed the face of America's war effort in Afghanistan. A decorated Green Beret who spent years in Afghanistan and Iraq training indigenous fighters, Gant argued for embedding autonomous units with tribes across Afghanistan to earn the Afghans' trust and transform them into a reliable ally with whom we could defeat the Taliban and counter al-Qaeda networks. The military's top brass, including General David Petraeus, commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan, approved, and Gant was tasked with implementing his controversial strategy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eVeteran war correspondent Ann Scott Tyson first spoke with Gant when he was awarded the Silver Star in 2007. Tyson soon came to share Gant's vision, so she accompanied him to Afghanistan, risking her life to embed with the tribes and chronicle their experience. And then they fell in love.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIllustrated with dozens of photographs, \u003cem\u003eAmerican Spartan\u003c\/em\u003e is their remarkable story--one of the most riveting, emotional narratives of wartime ever published.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 0062114999\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9780062114990\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Tyson, Ann Scott\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: William Morrow \u0026amp; Company\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"William Morrow \u0026 Company","offers":[{"title":"Paperback (Mar 2015)","offer_id":46291834241221,"sku":"9780062114990","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9780062114990.jpg?v=1780113153"},{"product_id":"tc-3-21-76-ranger-handbook-september-2025","title":"TC 3-21.76 Ranger Handbook September 2025","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUS Army Ranger Handbook TC 3-21.76 - 2025 Completely Revised \u0026amp; Updated Edition\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ePocket-Sized Paperback (4.75 x 6 Inches) identical Format to the Official Version Issued at the US Army Ranger Training Brigade\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Ultimate Field Guide for US Army Rangers Now Fully Updated for 2025\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe definitive \u003cstrong\u003eUS Army Ranger Handbook, \u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eTraining Circular TC 3-21.76\u003c\/strong\u003e, dated 19 September 2025. This \u003cstrong\u003ebrand-new, completely revised and up-to-date edition\u003c\/strong\u003e supersedes the April 2017 version and incorporates the latest tactics, techniques, and procedures used by the 75th Ranger Regiment and Ranger Training Brigade.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePresented here by \u003cstrong\u003eConflict Research Group\u003c\/strong\u003e, this \u003cstrong\u003ecompact 4.75 x 6-inch paperback\u003c\/strong\u003e matches the exact size and portable format of the official handbook issued to soldiers at the US Army's Ranger Training Brigade making it perfect as a field reference for ruck marches, field ops, training, or everyday carry. it's the go-to reference for anyone serious about small-unit tactics, leadership, and survival.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features of the 2025 Ranger Handbook Paperback: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e380 pages\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePocket-sized design\u003c\/strong\u003e (4.75\" x 6\") - identical size to the Ranger School-issued edition\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLatest updates\u003c\/strong\u003e on leadership, troop leading procedures, operations, fire support, demolitions, movement, patrols, battle drills, urban operations, waterborne ops, mounted patrols, aviation, and tactical combat casualty care\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComprehensive coverage including: \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTroop Leading Procedures (TLPs) \u0026amp; Operation Orders (OPORDs)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFire Support \u0026amp; Close Air Support\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDemolitions \u0026amp; Explosives\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMovement Formations \u0026amp; Hand \u0026amp; Arm Signals\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReconnaissance, Ambush, Raid, \u0026amp; Patrol Tactics\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMountaineering, Rope Bridge, \u0026amp; Waterborne Operations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) - Care Under Fire to Evacuation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eQuick Reference Cards, Glossary, and Index\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhether you're preparing for Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (RASP), Special Forces training, military leadership courses, law enforcement tactical units, or simply want the most authoritative source on elite light infantry tactics, this \u003cstrong\u003e2025 Ranger Handbook\u003c\/strong\u003e delivers the proven doctrine used by America's premier light infantry raiding force.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot for the weak or fainthearted.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrab your copy of the \u003cstrong\u003elatest US Army Ranger Handbook\u003c\/strong\u003e in the most practical, portable paperback format available outside Ranger School.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 1925907732\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9781925907735\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Department of the Army, Headquarters, Research Group, Conflict\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Conflict Research Group\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Conflict Research Group","offers":[{"title":"Paperback (Jan 2026)","offer_id":46291843055813,"sku":"9781925907735","price":19.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9781925907735.jpg?v=1780113166"},{"product_id":"the-unvanquished-the-untold-story-of-lincolns-special-forces-the-manhunt-for-mosbys-rangers-and-the-shadow-war-that-forged-americas-special-oper","title":"The Unvanquished: The Untold Story of Lincoln's Special Forces, the Manhunt for Mosby's Rangers, and the Shadow War That Forged America's Special Oper","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom the bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Indispensables\u003c\/i\u003e, the unknown and dramatic story of irregular guerrilla warfare that altered the course of the Civil War and inspired the origins of America's modern special operations forces\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Civil War is most remembered for the grand battles that have come to define it: Gettysburg, Antietam, Shiloh, among others. However, as bestselling author Patrick K. O'Donnell reveals in \u003ci\u003eThe Unvanquished\u003c\/i\u003e, a vital shadow war raged amid and away from the major battlefields that was in many ways equally consequential to the conflict's outcome.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt the heart of this groundbreaking narrative is the epic story of Lincoln's special forces, the Jessie Scouts, told in its entirety for the first time. In a contest fought between irregular units, the Scouts hunted John Singleton Mosby's Confederate Rangers from the middle of 1863 up to war's end at Appomattox. With both sides employing pioneering tradecraft, they engaged in dozens of raids and spy missions, often perilously wearing the other's uniform, risking penalty of death if captured. Clashing violently on horseback, the unconventional units attacked critical supply lines, often capturing or killing high-value targets. North and South deployed special operations that could have changed the war's direction in 1864, and crucially during the Appomattox Campaign, Jessie Scouts led the Union Army to a final victory. They later engaged in a history-altering proxy war against France in Mexico, earning seven Medals of Honor; many Scouts mysteriously disappeared during that conflict, taking their stories to their graves.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn expert on special operations, O'Donnell transports readers into the action, immersing them in vivid battle scenes from previously unpublished firsthand accounts. He introduces indelible characters such as Scout Archibald Rowand; Scout leader Richard Blazer; Mosby, the master of guerrilla warfare; and enslaved spy Thomas Laws. O'Donnell also brings to light the Confederate Secret Service's covert efforts to deliver the 1864 election to Peace Democrats through ballot fraud, election interference, and attempts to destabilize a population fatigued by a seemingly forever war. Most audaciously, the Secret Service and Mosby's Rangers planned to kidnap Abraham Lincoln in order to maintain the South's independence.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA little-known chronicle of the shadow war between North and South, rich in action and offering original perspective on history, \u003ci\u003eThe Unvanquished\u003c\/i\u003e is a dynamic and essential addition to the literature of the Civil War.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv style=\"display:none\"\u003eISBN-10: 0802165214\u003cbr\u003eISBN-13: 9780802165213\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: O'Donnell, Patrick K.\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Grove Press\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Grove Press","offers":[{"title":"Paperback (Oct 2025)","offer_id":46356607893701,"sku":"9780802165213","price":26.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0708\/6414\/2533\/files\/9780802165213.jpg?v=1781309419"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.inveni.store\/collections\/history-military-special-forces.oembed","provider":"Inveni","version":"1.0","type":"link"}