Newly Released—
Textbook Special Ops:
The Son Tay Raid

By Colonel John Gargus, Son Tay Raider
with Cliff Westbrook

Former USSOCOM Commander Admiral William McRaven said this about this book:

“John Gargus and Cliff Westbrook have written a masterpiece. Incredibly well researched, brilliantly presented, this book should be the standard for all students of special ops!”

After such a glowing endorsement, the best response is to offer a glimpse of what readers will find inside.

Gargus is the only author to fully document the largely media-ignored Naval support for the Son Tay raid, including what he calls “the greatest deception of the Vietnam War,” which enabled joint Army and Air Force Special Forces to reach the POW camp unchallenged. He is also the only author to successfully present North Vietnamese accounts of the attempted rescue, explaining why the POWs were moved and who occupied the nearby facility known to the raiders as “the secondary school.”

The book introduces additional new material, taking readers aboard three aircraft carriers and support ships, into the RC-135 airborne command post that intercepted NVA and SAM operator communications, and into the cockpits of high-flying jets evading SA-2 missiles. Readers will also see examples of clandestine intelligence passed out by POWs, learn about Col. “Bull” Simons’ concerns regarding the secondary school, and uncover the deceptive narratives that followed the initial denial of a helicopter landing there.

The authors assess the current body of knowledge on the Son Tay raid, debunking misconceptions, conspiracy theories, rumors, and fabrications that have accumulated over time. They caution against repeating unverified sources and emphasize that serious students of this operation deserve accurate, verifiable facts. This book helps clarify and improve understanding of a mission that remains a model for professional special operations planning.

The book, not available in bookstores, can be ordered online under the title Textbook Special Ops: The Son Tay Raid from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, ThriftBooks, and Better World Books. Copies may also be ordered directly from John Gargus at Gartalon70@gmail.com or by phone at 702-787-5513.