Rating: 
Summary: America's Elite Counter-Terrorist Unit
Review: This was a fascinating book covering a fascinating topic. The creation of "Delta Force" is a topic that should interest all military history buffs. Col Beckwith gives a blow by blow account of the obstacles endured in creating Delta. He sometimes drowns you in the day to day bureacratic fight but the reader gets an appreciation for the difficulties he faced. Col Beckwith gives an excellent narrative of the fiasco at "Desert One" in 1980 while attempting to save the American hostages in Iran. It was a difficult time for all Americans and most would not wish to be reminded, but lessons are to be learned. And in order to learn those lessons Col Beckwith takes us back to that night in the desert. Overall a very informative read.
Rating:
Summary: Very good read
Review: This was a really good read, and who better to write about Delta Force than the creator and first commander? All and all it is a slow paced book, but it is straight forward and the time span is relatively small. You have to remember Col Beckwith founded Delta Force but as tradition goes he was only the commander for a few years. I would recommend Inside Delta Force by Eric Haney if you are going to get this book. When you put them together you get a really good unclassified account of what Delta Force is about.
Rating:
Summary: Very good read
Review: This was a really good read, and who better to write about Delta Force than the creator and first commander? All and all it is a slow paced book, but it is straight forward and the time span is relatively small. You have to remember Col Beckwith founded Delta Force but as tradition goes he was only the commander for a few years. I would recommend Inside Delta Force by Eric Haney if you are going to get this book. When you put them together you get a really good unclassified account of what Delta Force is about.
Rating: 
Summary: A book written by a man who was before his time
Review: To understand Charlie Beckwith and Delta Force, probably the best way to do that is to first understand the British SAS. Beckwith was a huge fan of the SAS, he got most of his ideas from the SAS and all in all had it not been for the SAS, there would have been no Delta.This book is a story that describes how Beckwith went thru a life changing experience when he underwent a Green Beret exchange tour with the British 22nd SAS Regiment in the early sixties. And then he came back to the USA and spent the rest of his Army career lobbying the Army bureaucracy to build a unit based on the SAS model. This lobbying effort was intensely personal and emotional for Beckwith and frequently involved frustration and disappointment. Beckwith describes his battles with the Army's conventional bureaucracy, which was powerful and all encompassing. But he also describes his frustrations with the Army's already established special forces of that era...the Green Berets and Ranger Battalions of the sixties and seventies. Beckwith describes how he got little to no support from the regular Army in establishing an SAS type unit, but also how the Green Berets and Ranger Battalions tried to block and stymie his efforts. Eventually, in the mid to late seventies Beckwith got his wish with the help of a handful of sympathetic, high ranking General officers. To build a truly unique special operations unit based exclusively on the British SAS model. It was neither Green Beret based nor Ranger Battalion based, although most of the early Delta operators were veterans of one of the two mentioned units. It was an American unit, but based on a foreign unit known as the SAS. This all occurred in the extremely anti-special forces political climate of the seventies...right after Vietnam. Beckwith's career ultimately culminated in the failed 1980 Iranian rescue mission. Which was a huge political disaster for the Carter administration. After which he retired from the Army and sort of faded away. He died in 1994. Its sad that Beckwith never got to see his life's hard work become fully appreciated after the 911 debacle. Beckwith was truly a futuristic thinker, an innovator and creative person. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in the British SAS, Delta or for anyone who has an intense dislike for bureaucracy and the status quo.
Rating:
Summary: Worth Reading, Good History of Desert One and Other Things
Review: Well worth the money and the book reads fast. The prologue itself is a history lesson in itself and offers insights into Carter, Mondale, and Warren Christopher that few see. The account of Col. Beckwith's service is both interesting and impressive and the perspective he offers on the Desert One mission is unmatched. If you are a student of special ops warfare this is definitely a welcome addition to your shelf. I concur again with the reviewer from Ft Bragg and would suggest THE RAID if you can get it and would also add SPEC OPS by William McRaven. DELTA FORCE is both a good biography of an American patriot but also a good reference on the evolution of both American special operations thinking and resolve. Bottom line -- BUY this book if you like reading real life histories of modern warriors, Col. Beckwith will not disappoint you.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent guide to the beginning
Review: When I was a young man and interested in every aspect of the military, I learned that my best friends father had served in a variety of military special operations. The one that interested me the most was Delta Force. When I met his father, I had many questions;he suggested this book. These soldiers are a special breed. Delta Force is built from a set of America's most intelligent as well as toughest men. Although this book was written many years ago, it is unique. Anybody who is tired of military novels written in typical cookie cutter fashion will enjoy this interesting and informative read.
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