No Room for Error: The Covert Operations of America’s Special Tactics Units From Iran to Afghanistan 

By Col. John T. Carney Jr. and Benjamin F. Schemmer. Ballantine, 2002. ISBN 0-345-45333-6.

Almost everyone has heard of special operations units like the Army’s Delta Force and Green Berets and the Navy’s SEALs (Sea, Air, Land), but few know much about the Air Force’s “special tactics” units.

No Room for Error is author John Carney’s personal history of these elite units, of those who perform unconventional warfare roles in support of other special operations missions, often behind enemy lines in combat situations. Carney is a retired Air Force colonel, and this is his first book. Coauthor Ben Schemmer is an acclaimed journalist best known for his gripping book, The Raid (Harper & Row, 1976), about the Son Tay raid into North Vietnam to rescue American POWs.

This is Carney’s story, written in the first person and filled with his observations, experiences, and criticism of special operations failures and mistakes over the years. Carney traces the creation of Air Force special tactics units from 1980 to 2002 and shows how they contributed to the overall special operations missions in places like Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He stresses the selection of the team members, the rigorous and extensive training, and the dangers of the work done by small, isolated teams deep in enemy territory.

He also tells of the intense interservice jealousies, political maneuvering, and myopic military brass and politicians who have meddled and tweaked the whole concept of special operations. Such interference, he says, resulted in the deadly fiascos of the hostage rescue attempt in Iran in 1980 and the invasion of Grenada in 1983.

Carney has great praise for the special tactics operatives. But he heaps equal criticism on those responsible for undermanning, underfunding, and under-equipping the special tactics units, as well as those who either misuse or misunderstand the importance of such units to the country’s special operations capability.

Once past Carney’s self-congratulations and his criticism, one finds a remarkable and little-known story of courage, initiative, and dedication. 

The Liberty Incident: The 1967 Israeli Attack on the U.S. Navy Spy Ship By A. Jay Cristol. Brassey’s Inc., 2002. 

ISBN 1-57488-414-X.

In June 1967, during the Six Day War, the U.S. Navy surveillance ship USS Liberty was attacked in international waters in the Mediterranean in broad daylight by Israeli aircraft and torpedo boats. Thirty-four Americans were killed, and 171 were wounded. The Israelis always have claimed it was an accident, a tragic case of mistaken identity.

Controversy and conspiracy theories have shrouded this attack for years, and author A. Jay Cristol, a retired naval aviator and reserve officer who now is a federal judge, says he knows the truth. The Liberty Incident is a detailed analysis of Cristol’s evidence and his conclusions about how such a deadly attack among allies possibly could have been a mistake. 

Originally written for his doctoral thesis, Cristol’s narrative is dry and uninspired, heavily footnoted, and loaded with technical charts and diagrams. Still, despite the dull delivery, Cristol presents a clear summation of events that led to the tragedy.

As Cristol relates, the Liberty was supposed to be at another position when it was attacked. The Arabs and Israelis were fighting the Six Day War, and the U.S. high command didn’t want the Liberty exposed to any combatants. However, communication foul-ups prevented the Liberty from receiving its new orders to move farther out to sea. Instead, the ship executed earlier orders to gather intelligence closer to the shoreline.

The Israelis initially knew of the Liberty’s presence from an aerial reconnaissance flight. Unfortunately, the ship’s location symbol was later erroneously removed from the Israeli naval headquarters plotting board. Watch officers changed, and no one passed on information about the presence of a U.S. ship in the war zone.

Several hours later, after receiving reports of an enemy ship shelling Israeli positions on shore, Israeli aircraft and torpedo boats found the Liberty, thought it was an Egyptian warship, and attacked, according to Cristol.

He takes great pains to debunk conspiracy theories that claim the Israelis knew the ship was American, that they attacked to prevent intelligence collection of alleged Israeli atrocities ashore in the Sinai, that they thought the United States was spying on Israel for the Egyptians, and that they wanted to blame the attack on the Arabs. He also has little good to say about authors of other books on the Liberty, whom he claims perpetuate various conspiracy theories but have done little or no research on the incident.

Cristol sensibly acknowledges that some people never will be convinced the Liberty attack was anything but deliberate; however, his argument is persuasive and offers grim insight into how a series of mistakes easily can result in tragedy.

— Reviews by William D. Bushnell

FICTION

Co Van My Va Thiet Giap: The American Advisor and Vietnamese Armor. By Lt. Col. Art Luckenbach, AUS-Ret.
Unexpectedly thrust into the senior advisor’s job at the Vietnamese Armor School during the ’68 TET Offensive, the author gives a totally different overview of the Vietnam War.
Bootin Annie Publishing, P.O. Box 4641, Woodbridge, VA 22192. www.bootinannie.com. ISBN 0-9721596-1-4. 306 pp. $17.95 postpaid.

The Café: A Place of Good Repute. By Cmdr. Ross W. Wright, USN-Ret.
The Café is a story of an old merchant ship and its ancient crew, hurricanes at sea, a waterfront bar in Rio de Janeiro, and the loss of honor of a strong man. It relates the miraculous power of redemption and the necessity to pass the torch from one generation to another.
1st Books Library, 1663 Liberty Dr., Suite 200, Bloomington, IN 47403. (888) 280-7715. www.1stbooks.com. ISBN 1-4107-2191-4. 242 pp. $10.50 plus postage.


Thunderchief: What is the Right Stuff and how do fighter pilots get it? By Col. Don Henry, USAF-Ret.
Thunderchief explores a young pilot’s struggle to gain confidence and respect as an F-105 combat pilot. His mentor, a tortured survivor of a POW camp, is obsessed by aerial combat and revenge. Their relationship launches an intricate emotional web that leads to a dangerous and passionate journey of self-discovery.
Benton Books, 1048 Irvine Ave., #262, Newport Beach, CA 92660. (949) 500-4442. www.donhenry.net. ISBN 1-4010-9036-2. 298 pp. $29 postpaid.

NONFICTION

Airpower in Small Wars: Fighting Insurgents and Terrorists. By Lt. Col. Wray R. Johnson, USAF-Ret., and James S. Corum.
This is the first comprehensive history of the use of airpower in conflicts pitting states against non-state groups such as insurgents, bandits, factions, and terrorists — tracing it from the early years of the 20th century to the present day. It examines dozens of conflicts with strikingly different scenarios: the Greek Civil War, the Philippine Anti-Huk campaign, French and British colonial wars, the war in South Vietnam before the American escalation, counterinsurgency in southern Africa, Latin American counter-guerrilla operations, and counterinsurgency and counter-terrorist campaigns in the Middle East over the last four decades.
University Press of Kansas, 2501 West 15th Street, Lawrence, KS 66049-3904. (785) 864-4155. www.kansaspress.ku.edu. ISBN 0-7006-1240-8. 528 pp. $24.95 plus postage.


Character in Action: The U.S. Coast Guard on Leadership. By Donald T. Phillips with Adm. James Loy, USCG-Ret.
This case study uses the Coast Guard as an example for other organizations that want to imbue every one of their members with leadership. An effective leadership primer, the book is replete with tangible examples, vivid anecdotes, and explicit guidelines on how to instill leadership throughout an entire organization. From the military and government communities to the business world, a variety of organizations can benefit form this leadership guide.
Naval Institute Press, 291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402-5034. (800) 233-8764. www.NavalInstitute.org. ISBN 1-59114-672-0. 200 pp. $22.50 plus postage.


Hart Dietary Procedure Plan: Cancer, the Cure in the Food. By Lt. Col. Francis J. Hart, USAF-Ret.
This book is written in easy-to-understand, non-medical language used in communicating with several hundreds of victims. It describes in simple terms information learned from thousands of hours of research, working with victims who have experienced successful results in following the diet, and interesting results of personal experiences and experiments. Included are foods to avoid, foods to consume, and suggested recipes.
Available from author, 390 Ryan Road, Pea Ridge, AR 72751. 
(478) 451-8517. coljoe@specent.com. ISBN 0-9726457-0-5. 209 pp. $16.80 postpaid.

Lightning in the Storm: The 101st Air Assault Division in the Gulf War. By Col. Thomas Taylor, USAR-Ret.
Taylor delivers a gripping portrayal of the Gulf War of 1991. As the only air assault division in the world, the 101st Airborne Division — the Screaming Eagles — flew off to Saudi Arabia in 1990 to join Operation Desert Shield. Its 18,000 soldiers and 400 helicopters played a crucial role in the resulting Desert Storm. This is their story, based on dozens of interviews and hundreds of army videos.
Hippocrene Books Inc., 171 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10016. (718) 454-2366. www.hippocrenebooks.com. ISBN 0-7818-1017-5. 470 pp. $19.95 plus postage.


Red Devils on the 38th Parallel. By Col. Harold E. Fischer, USAF-Ret.
The author was asked to accompany representatives from the Department of Defense’s POW/MIA office to Kiev to obtain information on dead American flyers. While there, he met former Soviet flyers who were involved in the Korean War. It was the 41st year after the end of the Korean War, and the information about their involvement could be made public. From these meetings came the inspiration for this book.
Available from author, c/o Ginger Lynch, 2310 N. Central Park, Chicago, IL 60647. (773) 292-0804. ginlynch@msn.com. ISBN 0-9711556-1-5. 374 pp. $25 postpaid.

In Lieu of Memoirs. By Lt. Col. Edwin T. Nance Jr., USA-Ret.
Nance has compiled a wonderful, thought-provoking, and often humorous collection of quotes, notes, and observances that have influenced his life. He hopes that they will be “interesting to some, maybe valuable to others.”
Vantage Press, 516 West 34th St., New York, NY 10001. (212) 736-1767. ISBN 0-533-14161-3. 193 pp. $16 plus postage.

The Inadvertent Conspiracy: The Nursing Home Killers. By Lt. Col. James A. Eberwine, USA-Ret.
This is a survival guide for nursing facility residents and vital reading for Americans over the age of 50. Eberwine taps his experience as a nursing home administrator and makes recommendations on dealing with abuse, safety, and protecting the dignity of American seniors.
Available from author, 6590 E. Kings Crown, San Antonio, TX 78233. (210) 657-0669. ISBN 1-57087-620-7. 114 pp. $28.90 postpaid.

MEMOIRS

All That Glitters: Memoirs of a Minister.  By Capt. Lester L. Westling Jr., USN-Ret.
Westling, an Episcopal priest, left missionary work in the Philippines to volunteer as a Navy Chaplain in Viet Nam. He served two years with Marine Infantry, Riverine Forces, and stayed to spend a career with the fleet. Experiences in civilian churches before and after military services also are related.
Global Publishing Services, P.O. Box 7956, Bend, OR 97708-7956. (866) 554-2665. ISBN 0-9714100-2-X. 445 pp. $19.99 plus postage.


Parallel Flights: A Father-Daughter Memoir. By Marilyn McCord.
Imagine flying the Nile River at 300 feet in a B-25 salvaged from the desert. Picture a search-and-rescue team looking for a downed plane in Western China as machete-brandishing bandits attack from nearby hills. Consider being responsible for troop morale in a war in which combat soldiers welcome real or imagined wounds that take them off the front lines. McCord has documented these real-life World War II experiences of her father.
1st Books Library, 2595 Vernal Pike, Bloomington, IN 47404. (800) 839-8640. www.1stbooks.com. ISBN 1-4033-7596-8. 415 pp. $15 plus postage.


Without Prejudice. By Maj. Ben R. Games, USAR-Ret.
This is a flying adventure story about a pilot who flew during the Vietnam War period. He is married to a beautiful lady who he tries to impress with his flying skills. They live on a Thai Fire Base called Bear Cat where he flew a Chinook Helicopter named the “City of Elkhart.” 
Available from Starr Galaxy, L.C., 12902 US Hwy 301 South, Riverview, FL 33572. (813) 645-2257. ISBN 1-4107-0355-X. 334 pp. $21.29 postpaid.


Dreams of Aces: The Hal Fischer Story, Korea and Vietnam. By Col. Harold E. Fischer, USAF-Ret., with Penny Wilson.
As an only child growing up on an Iowa farm, Fischer dreamed of flying. His hero’s were the aces of the First World War, and he dreamed of becoming an ace. The Second World War ended before he could pursue that dream. But when the dark clouds of conflict loomed over Korea, he got his chance. This is his story.
Available from author, c/o Ginger Lynch, 2310 N. Central Park, Chicago, IL 60647. (773) 292-0804. ginlynch@msn.com. ISBN 0-9711556-0-7. 243 pp. $25 postpaid.

I Forgot to Get Old. By Helen Lewison
This is a book of childhood recollections; reminiscences of events important and unimportant in the scheme of things; poetry, humorous and otherwise; and essays on life in particular. Lewison takes the reader on a random walk through her life story stopping now and then to laugh, cry, remember, and most of all to look back and say “Hey, look at me I’m still dancing.”
Xlibris Corp., 436 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19101. (888) 795-4274. www.xlibris.com. ISBN 1-4010-6138-9. 449 pp. $20 postpaid.


No Nuts Please: 15 Years of My 40Year Walk With Cancer. By Madeline Fitz.
A memoir of Fitz’s first 15 years of her 40-year walk with cancer. Her children were so small that few remembered why Mother looked different or what she had gone through. Fitz wrote the book for family history but found that many other people took away feelings of hope after reading it
Available from author, (402) 462-6748, mfitz@inebraska.com. ISBN 0-933909-12-8. 200 pp. $20 postpaid.

Mr. National Guard: A Civilian Soldier. By Col. Thomas J. Makal, USAR-Ret.
As a civilian soilder who once dreamed of military service, Makal ultimately served 33 years with the Wisconsin National Guard before retiring in 1969. This is his story.
Available from author, 12561 N. Woodberry Dr., Mequon, WI 53092. (262) 242-9146. ISBN 0-9725005-2-9. 80 pp. $8.00 postpaid.

All My Goodbyes. By Jacqueline Burt Henkel.
The author, having survived two strokes, has written a collection of letters to those she loves, living and deceased. She takes us through her life and the lives of her family and friends as she says a heartfelt good-bye to each one in a personal letter.
Available from author, 5865 Friars Road, #3303, San Diego, CA 92110-6011. (619) 297-6163. ISBN 1-58982-035-5. 220 pp. $19.95 plus postage.

REFERENCE

Adventure Guide to the Champlain & Hudson River Valleys. By Lt. Cmdr. Robert Foulke, USN-Ret., and Patricia Foulke
A great resource and preparation for a visit to this magnificent region. It is a four-season guidebook, covering the best ski resorts in Vermont, New York, and Massachusetts; horseracing in Saratoga; and activities such as biking the canal towpaths of the Mohawk and Hudson rivers. Included are fishing and boating opportunities from Canada to Connecticut.
Hunter Publishing Inc., 130 Campus Plaza Dr., Edison, NJ 08818. (732) 225-1900. www.hunterpublishing.com. ISBN 1-58843-345-5. 324 pp. $17.99 plus postage.