Mobile Strike Forces in Vietnam 1966-70

Description

US Special Forces in Vietnam created the Civilian Irregular Defence Group (CIDG), a large paramilitary organization designed to protect the local population from Viet Cong incursions, whilst conducting border surveillance, raids and combat patrols in the local area. Their camps were often overrun and having no spare manpower the US Special Forces created dedicated reaction units which could act in a responsive and flexible manner - Mobile Strike (MIKE) Forces. This book examines the MIKE Force units, which were formed from the CIDG, the parachute and airmobile training they were given, and the operations that they undertook, from relieving friendly camps to independent offensive operations, providing the first organizational history of the MIKE forces in combat.

Gordon L Rottman entered the US Army in 1967, volunteered for Special Forces and completed training as a weapons specialist. He served in the 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam in 1969-70 and subsequently in airborne infantry, long-range patrol and intelligence assignments until retiring after 26 years. He was a special operations forces scenario writer at the Joint Readiness Training Centre for 12 years and is now a freelance writer, living in Texas.

"In this book [author Rottman] does a subperb job of telling the story of MIKE forces, something that was initially quite confusing to this reader who knew nothing about them, aside from hearing the name from time to time... It all makes for a superb read and one that I personally found quite interesting. I'm sure you will as well and can recommend this one to you without reservation." --Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com (May 2007)