Richard R. Burns

Richard Burns had a unique war, as befits as unique MOS. The Pathfinders have a storied history; they were the first units to jump into Normandy, setting guidance equipment for the main waves of paratroopers to arrive later. Burns was a Pathfinder in the 1960s, and as well as paratroop techniques, he was trained in the management of a helicopter landing zone, the delicate dance of landing and extracting troops as quickly and safely as possible under fire, in bad weather, or any other show more circumstances.

Burn's memoir is a chronological account of his time as a Pathfinder, from training stateside through his first deployment. There are plenty of interesting pieces, from him refusing an order from a Colonel to execute an extraction from an unsafe firezone, a unit dog named Torch, helping build firebase Bastogne near the A Shau valley, and training at the Recondo school, where graduation involved a deep patrol against the active enemy. As a special unit, the Pathfinders wen't a lot of places and did a lot of things, and Burns volunteered for more duties, including Recondo school and a couple of runs as a Huey door gunner.

Burns is clear, journeyman-like writer. Better than many, while not quite in the top tier of truly great memoirists. But this is still a good book, and well worth a read. show less

Insightful read into this very specialized, highly trained role in the war