Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction
Origins of a Legend
American Commandos
The Spearheaders
Line Infantry
The Anomaly of the 6th Ranger Battalion
The Rangers in Eclipse
Raiders for Korea
A Turning Point
Rangers Lead the Way
"Lurps" and Green Berets
Improvisation in Vietnam
"A Foot Infantry Battalion . . . Finest in the World"
"Ronnie's Rangers"
Conclusion
Bibliographical Essay
Index

Promotional Information

This landmark study examines the nature and purpose of the U.S. Army Rangers over the past fifty years and shows how they have been used as scouts, raiders, assault troops, and elite infantry.

About the Author

DAVID W. HOGAN, JR. is Historian, Contingency Operations and Low Intensity Conflict Branch, Histories Division, U.S. Army Center of Military History.

Reviews

?. . . is an admirable effort that brings scholarly discernment to a topic encumbered by nostalgia and legend. . . . Hogan's bibliographic essay is an excellent starting point for those wishing to read more on the Rangers.?-Armed Forces Journal

?an admirable effort that brings scholarly discernment to a topic encumbered by nostalgia and legend. . . an excellent starting point for those wishing to read more on the Rangers.?-Armed Forces Journal INTERNATIONAL

?An admirable effort that brings scholarly discernment to a topic encumbered by nostalgia and legend. Rather than focusing exclusively on battles, Hogan directs his attention to the larger issues of the Army's Rangers. . . . Many readers will be surprised at just how dramatic the shift in attitudes toward, and roles for, the Rangers have been. . . . Hogan's bibliographic essay is an excellent starting point for those wishing to read more on the Rangers.?-Armed Forces Journal International

?The book is an excellent read and provides the SOF professional with perspective on developing and maintaining our forces.?-Special Warfare

?The great strength of the book is its comprehensive nature. It actually spans the Ranger experience from the eighteenth century all the way to the Gulf War . . . the after part of the volume contains an outstanding bibliographic essay and the most complete, helpful index this reviewer has seen in recent times.?-Journal of Military History

." . . is an admirable effort that brings scholarly discernment to a topic encumbered by nostalgia and legend. . . . Hogan's bibliographic essay is an excellent starting point for those wishing to read more on the Rangers."-Armed Forces Journal

"an admirable effort that brings scholarly discernment to a topic encumbered by nostalgia and legend. . . an excellent starting point for those wishing to read more on the Rangers."-Armed Forces Journal INTERNATIONAL

"The book is an excellent read and provides the SOF professional with perspective on developing and maintaining our forces."-Special Warfare

"The great strength of the book is its comprehensive nature. It actually spans the Ranger experience from the eighteenth century all the way to the Gulf War . . . the after part of the volume contains an outstanding bibliographic essay and the most complete, helpful index this reviewer has seen in recent times."-Journal of Military History

"An admirable effort that brings scholarly discernment to a topic encumbered by nostalgia and legend. Rather than focusing exclusively on battles, Hogan directs his attention to the larger issues of the Army's Rangers. . . . Many readers will be surprised at just how dramatic the shift in attitudes toward, and roles for, the Rangers have been. . . . Hogan's bibliographic essay is an excellent starting point for those wishing to read more on the Rangers."-Armed Forces Journal International