Inside Delta Force

The Story of America’s Elite Counterterrorist Unit

By: Command Sergeant Major Eric L. Haney

Narrated by: Robertson Dean

Length: 13 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Delta Force—the US Army’s most elite top-secret strike force. They dominate the modern battlefield, but you won’t hear about their heroics on CNN. No headlines can reveal their top-secret missions, and no book has ever taken readers inside—until now. Here, a founding member of Delta Force takes us behind the veil of secrecy and into the action to reveal the never-before-told story of First Special Forces Operational Detachment-D (Delta Force).

He is a master of espionage, trained to take on hijackers, terrorists, and enemy armies. He can deploy by parachute or arrive by commercial aircraft, survive alone in hostile cities, speak foreign languages fluently, strike at enemy targets with stunning swiftness and extraordinary teamwork. He is the ultimate modern warrior: the Delta Force operator.

In this dramatic chronicle, Eric Haney, one of the founding members of Delta Force, takes us inside this legendary counterterrorist unit. Here, for the first time, are details of the grueling selection process—designed to break the strongest of men—that singles out the best of the best.

With heart-stopping immediacy, Haney tells what it’s really like to enter a hostage-held airplane. From his days in Beirut, he tells a remarkable tale of bodyguards and bombs, of a day-to-day life of madness and beauty, and of how he and a teammate are called on to kill two gunmen targeting US Marines at an airport. As part of the team sent to rescue American hostages in Tehran, Haney offers a first-person description of that failed mission that is a chilling, compelling account of a bold maneuver undone by chance—and a few fatal mistakes.

From fighting guerrilla warfare in Honduras to rescuing missionaries in Sudan and leading the way onto the island of Grenada, Haney captures the daring and discipline that distinguish the men of Delta Force. Inside Delta Force brings honor to these singular men while it puts us in the middle of around-the-world action that is sudden, frightening, and nonstop.

©2002 Eric L. Haney; Afterword 2005 by Eric L. Haney (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“The story of the US military’s elite counterterrorism warriors… Timely… fascinating… well-written.” ( Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Superb Reading and eye opening closing

I started reading this book with an intention of reading about the elite combat unit called Delta Force Team. What I got back was much, much more.
Erick Haney shows the beginnings of the Delta Force, but then went to talk about events I listen to on tv or read about in news papers/magazines as I was in my late teens and early 20’s. It is refreshing and exciting to see the account from someone who was there, from the inside.
His explanation of what is at the root of the Arab issue alone, makes this book worth reading.

like the story and the end was the best

Eric have a great understand of the AO that he worked in, and the story give you a sight on what need to be fixed round the world in order to enjoy peace

Incredibly Insightful

This is the second book on the founding Delta Force that I have read, this one being more focused in South America. However, the final epilogue/update is insanely informative about current political climates in Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Pakistan. It is both terrifying and uplifting, and makes me very interested in learning more about the authors inference of how the fall of dictators in Latin America can inform our current world struggles in the Middle East.

Possibily the best military book I've read so far

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book to people who are interested in special forces operations.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Inside Delta Force?

This book is written so well that it would make you feel as if you're actually going through selection and deployment yourself. It's very detailed but not so much that it would bore you.

What does Robertson Dean bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

It was read well, but nothing special about it.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Seriously? What the hell kind of question is that?

Any additional comments?

Love this book!

Amazing

First, this book is recorded perfectly. I feel like I'm listening to a wise and experienced CSM, both in vocal quality and in the message. Not a Sgt. major who rode out his time dodging deployments so he could climb the ladder of the modern day bureaucratic Army, concerned only about your hands being in your pockets but one who understands the broad spectrum of warfare and getting the job done with minimal or no loss of life.

Second, and most importantly, the book is relatable to the military ear and exciting to the uninitiated. Hearing his descriptions of army life is amazing and will take you back. The moments just before the jump, the feeling of a wet uniform on a ruck march in the cool morning, the long nights on an LP/OP, the scenes of combat, it's all amazingly detailed as if you were there. CSM Haney does a perfect job of letting you know what life is like in the army, especially in the sand hill regions of N.C.

What did I like about the book, EVERYTHING. It was hard to stop listening. Exciting at every turn and relatable.

What did I dislike about the book, it ended.

Enlightening

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. An insiders look at special forces, especially Delta Force.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The first hand account from a true warrior.

Have you listened to any of Robertson Dean’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me appreciate how difficult it is to be in special forces, how advanced are their skills and how great is their mental toughness. I'm glad they are on our side!

Any additional comments?

Fascinating read!

Very good book

I really enjoyed the book. I now have a lot of respect for delta force operators. He is a very good author. He does use a few big words that I haven’t heard before.

Great Look Inside

I enjoy reading about spec ops, so this book was right up my alley. The author does a great job of telling his stories in a way that makes sense to an outsiders without giving away classified information. He also writes in such a way that the reader/listener feels like they are there.

The reader did a great job. I really felt like I was sitting there, listening to the author tell his tale.

Must-Read For Fans Of Military History

This is such a compelling and interesting story. If you’ve ever been interested in military and special forces lore, this is a must-read. Paced perfectly to be enjoyable but digestible. Enjoyed the performance as well.

Great story from somebody on the inside

Would you listen to Inside Delta Force again? Why?

I think once was enough for this one.

What other book might you compare Inside Delta Force to and why?

Fighter Pilot, see below.

Have you listened to any of Robertson Dean’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I think he also did "Fighter Pilot" which was in a similar vein (military history)

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

I wasn't really sure what Delta Force was about. I'm thankful that we have them.

Any additional comments?

A lot of the book--more than half--is about the grueling training that Haney went thru to become an operator. Some of this got a bit tedious at times. I might have preferred more stories about the operations. Still, this is an amazing story, told well.