Silent Warriors of World War II

by Lance Q. Zedric

Book Overview

The Alamo Scouts, Sixth Army's Special Reconnaissance Unit of World War II, provided intelligence-gathering and tactical reconnaissance in the Pacific Theatre. During the war, they performed over 106 successful missions in the Admiralty Islands, New Guinea and the Philippines, most deep behind enemy lines. The Scouts took part in liberating two POW camps. The Scouts evolved from a simple reconnaissance unit to a sophisticated intelligence unit supplying...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0934793565
• ISBN13: 9780934793568
• Release Date: March 1995
• Publisher: Pathfinder Publishing of California
• Length: 287 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.8" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Important Part of History

This book covers a group of little known heros of WWII. While small in number it's importance to the success of the war in the Pacific cannot be measured by it's size. Their contribution cannot be in operations alone as the very existance of the group was a foundation for future units such as theirs. It could even be said that the Special Forces of today might possibly not exist had it not been for the foresight of the founder and the execution of operations of the men of The Alamo Scouts. The book is well written and with plentiful photographs. Their accompolishments are truly astounding.

Long on Training, Short on Action

This chronological review of the Alamo Scouts is interesting, but...The story spends a great deal of time describing the organization, setup, and mission of the Alamo Scouts. Mr. Zedric does a very good job of providing this background information. The author also does a very god job of outlining the missions performed by the Scouts and the positive impact of the Scouts on the US war effort in the Pacific. However, the book falls short by overviewing many missions, instead of detailing a few particular missions.I would have enjoyed the book more had Mr. Zedric introduced me to 1-2 of the teams, and explored in greater detail, their efforts.Having said that, the book is still interesting and explore's a fascinating portion of the war in the Pacific. As a result, I do want to learn more about the Phillipin campaigns.

WOW!

Read this book! Real people, real heroes. I have no idea why they haven't made a movie about these guys.They have a record no unit on the planet can top: 106 missions in 18 months, 138 personnel (including staff, support and operators), and no wounded or killed in action.Freaking Unbelievable! One of the more interesting anecdotes was a prayer by one of the Scouts (paraphrased): "Lord, If you don't want me to kill the enemy, don't let me see them..."Get this book, it's history and it's not dry at all!

It has more details than I remember.

The story on page 240 is more clear than I remember it. I was a Gunners Mate on PT Boat 379 of Squdron 28 and have pictures of the two prisoners that Lt. Dove brought back to the boat. Also took a picture of the 39 people we rescued. Lt. Morton was our skipper. At least one part of the operation was in daylite. The "team" was made up of only two men, Lt. Dove and a Filipino Scout. We in the boat crew couldn't believe the scouts could get away with some of the operations they were on. A most fantastic group of men.

Outstanding Read! Never heard of the Alamo Scouts until now!

Silent Warriors of World War II is the amazing story of the Alamo Scouts, Sixth Army's elite commando, reconnaissance and intelligence gathering unit, which performed 106 missions behind Japanese lines in New Guinea and in the Philippines without losing a man killed or captured. The author not only informs and educates, he tells a complex story in very readable way. From the first page, the reader can picture what the Scouts look like, their personalities and their devotion to accomplishing the mission at all costs. This is not "dry" history! Zedric breathes life into the characters and puts the reader alongside the commandos in a rubber boat or deep in a tropical jungle. But the author does not embellish. He didn't need to--what the Alamo Scouts accomplished needed no embellishment. Zedric has done a masterful job in telling their story--one which should have been told years ago. A must read