Diary of an Airborne Ranger: A LRRP's Year in the Combat Zone

Awesome and true story of young Ranger in Vietnam. The best part of this book is that it isn't written decades later, through hazy memories. But in journal form the day of or a day or two later while the memories are still fresh in the authors mind, using the slang of the time. This really paints a vivid picture of this soldier's experiences and how he evolved from young gung ho cherry to a cautious and competent combat leader.

The time and place was dear to my heart since I was there then. Although I had not worked with the 101 I worked very near the same AO. This was written in a way I didn't truly care for though. It was exactly what it says a diary. I would have much rather had seen the author use the diary as a source to write a book instead of just reading a diary. The only reason for the 4 stars is the time and place reminded me of when I was in Nam

As a former recon soldier under the rather more peaceful setting of an European conscript army, though also with experience of military service in a somewhat "hotter" setting though not in a reccie capacity, I find any sort of documentation relating to "the art of reconaissance interesting.Be it the Reconaissance corps of the WW-2 British army, Finnish army LRRP of WW-2, the role of recce forces in the Israeli/Arab wars of post WW-2 or the rolle of recce forces during the Vietnam war.This book is unique in that it's based on a diary written from fresh impressions and memory of the described events, during the authors service with 101st abd. L coy. rangers LRRP-unit.It is also, indirectly perhaps, gives a good insight to what I suspect was the still not fully matured mindset of a young soldier in his early 20's, in that most expressions in the book appears to have been left as they were originaly put on paper by the author in his Vietnam war diary. With no sort of post-polishing.This leaving of expressions as they were once written, is "the thing" about this book that gives it that little "extra" when compared with other Vietnam LRRP memoires.

This story is a recounting of the diary entries of a soldier serving as a LRRP in combat. I found it interesting although I don't prefer this format. The author spends a lot of the second half of the narrative whining and condemning his commanders and NCO leaders and I found this tedious. On the flip side, there are some combat diary entries that are worth reading.

Interesting account of a young trooper's year in Vietnam. Volunteering to join the Rangers where he went from FNG to Team Leader. A quick, easy read..

Lets you see a little bit what these guys did in Vietnam. Very interesting book with excellent writing. Be glad you weren't there.

A first hand account of actions as a LRRP including a very realistic review of the frustrations that frontline troops go through with detached commanders who are just there to check a box and move on in their career.

Diary of an Airborne Ranger: A LRRP's Year in the Combat ZoneThe reader is advised to take the title of this book very literally. It is simply the daily diary of Frank Johnson set into print and published. As such, the prose is very condensed and there are many pages with only a few lines written, and the rest left blank. If one is interested in one young man's immediate thoughts while participating in the Vietnam War as a long range patroller, you might enjoy this book. I suspect that most readers, however, will feel empty after reading it, like they missed something. Of course, what they missed was interesting prose, context, background, etc.This one's only for either those obsessed with LRRPs and want to read every book published on the subject, or those who want to read sketchy, dry descriptions of combat jotted down just after it happened. For others interested in LRRPs, try the books by Gary Linderer.

good book

A real insight to what it must have been like as a Lurp in Vietnam . Its the second time I've read this book and it still grips me .... Couldn't put it down . Highly recommended

A refreshingly different way to read about a soldier in Viet Nam. The diary format is easy to follow and as it was written at the time it doesn't have the flowery influence of a publisher at a later date. You really live each day with the author and get a sense of the thought processes he had day to day. You get to see the non-combat elements as well as some good write ups of some of his missions.I enjoyed it as an alternative to the usual 'Nam books and it was easy to pick up and put down for a quick read.

Very basic book about literally a soldiers diary entries. Not the most descriptive and glosses over big events or does not provide much detail about anything.

Do not be put off by the diary format, it builds into an excellent snapshot of howa young boy turned into a warrior. No holds barred account of brutal missions andthe truth about personalities in the most unique of combat units.