Books & more: Gentlemen Bastards

Kevin Maurer was there. No, not at Operation Neptune's Spear, about which he wrote the book "No easy day" with a DEVGRU, which made Maurer very famous overnight. As a journalist, he was also traveling multiple times with Special Operation Forces, both in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Embeded" makes it possible. "Gentlemen Bastards" is the result of a several-week tour with a Special Forces Group in southern Afghanistan. Maurer accompanied the team, which gave itself the name that is the title of the book, in their tasks, specifically in the training of an Afghan police unit, the ANCOP, and in building a base in the Taliban-controlled area around Kandahar. Maurer proves to be a meticulous observer, who not only describes what Green Berets are doing today, but also describes the characters of the men he is with on the mission, their careers and approaches. At the same time, he reflects on the scope of modern Special Forces missions, who are supposed to work with locals. He describes how it rubs against them when they have to coordinate with regular American units that have little appreciation for an unconventional approach. An excellent book that provides great insight into the basic work of today's US Special Forces.

"Gentlemen Bastards: On the Ground in Afghanistan with America's Elite Special Forces" by Kevin Maurer, Berkley Caliber, 2012, 245 pages. The book is available on Amazon for Kindle Gentlemen Bastards: On the Ground in Afghanistan with America's Elite Special Forces for 8.42 euros. The hardcover book is available for 19.40 euros on Amazon.com. Paperback 11.40.