American Guerrilla: the Forgotten Heroics of Russell W. Volckmann The Man Who Escaped from Bataan, Raised a Filipino Army Against the Japanese, and Became “Father” of Special Forces
Produktdetaljer
Biografisk notat
Mike Guardia, currently an armored captain in the 4th Infantry Division, is also author of two highly acclaimed biographies, American Guerrilla, about the life of the true founder of Special Forces, Russell Volckmann, and Shadow Commander, about the career of Donald Blackburn.…an interesting, thought provoking and well written read…
Defenceweb
This is a book anyone wanting to learn more about the guerrilla warfare in the Philippines during World War II Japanese occupation should find interesting. For military history buffs and students of guerilla warfare, it’s a must read.
Gun Week
In American Guerrilla, Mike Guardia, a young armor officer with a master’s degree in history . . . has based his work largely on Volckmann’s memoir and diary, the written and oral testimony of those who served with him, and official records in the archives. He has succeeded very largely in his mission. . . . Guardia calls him ‘the progenitor of modern counterinsurgency doctrine and the true father of Army Special forces.’ Volckmann . . . laid down the operational concepts for Army Special Forces and worked energetically to spread the doctrine. His efforts led to the establishment of the Army’s first special operations unit, the 10th Special Forces Group.
ARMY Magazine
Sadly, historians of the Philippine campaign have largely ignored Volckmann, focusing instead on conventional forces under MacArthur. Fortunately for Mr. Guardia, a serving Army officer, Volckmann kept a rudimentary diary for much of the period, describing how he managed to put together his "private army," one that waged arguably the most successful guerrilla campaign of the entire war. . . . Mr. Guardia argues, convincingly, that Volckmann deserves the title of 'father' of Special Forces.
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
This long overdue book not only chronicles the dramatic military exploits of Russell Volckmann, but analyzes how his leadership paved the way for modern special warfare doctrine
Small Wars Jourrnal
For military history buffs and students of guerrilla warfare it’s a must read.
Gun Week Magazine
This book establishes how Volckmann’s leadership was critical to the outcome of the war in the Philippines. His ability to synthesise the realities and potential of guerrilla warfare led to a campaign that rendered Yamashita’s forces incapable of repelling the Allied invasion. Had it not been for Volckmann, the Americans would have gone in “blind” during their counter-invasion, resulting in much greater loss of life and potentially stalling the entire Pacific campaign.
American Guerilla also establishes Volckmann as the progenitor of modern counterinsurgency and the true “Father” of Army Special Forces. In 1950, Volckmann wrote two field manuals that became the Army’s first handbooks outlining the precepts for both special warfare and counter-guerrilla operations. At a time when U.S. military doctrine was conventional in outlook, he marketed the ideas of guerrilla warfare as a critical force multiplier for any future conflict, ultimately securing the establishment of the Army’s first special operations unit.
Volckmann himself remains a shadowy figure in modern military history, and in much of the Special Forces literature. This long overdue book not only chronicles his dramatic military exploits, but analyses how his leadership paved the way for modern special warfare doctrine.