Whispers in the Tall Grass

By: Nick Brokhausen

Narrated by: George Spelvin

Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's Summary

On his second combat tour, Nick Brokhausen served in Recon Team Habu, CCN. This unit was part of MACV-SOG (Military Assistance Command Vietnam Studies and Observations Group), or Studies and Observations Group as it was innocuously called. The small recon companies that were the center of its activities conducted some of the most dangerous missions of the war, infiltrating areas controlled by the North Vietnamese in Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. The companies never exceeded more than thirty Americans, yet they were the best source for the enemy's disposition and were key to the US military being able to take the war to the enemy. This was accomplished by utilizing both new and innovative technology, and tactics dating back to the French and Indian Wars.

This small unit racked up one of the most impressive records of awards for valor of any unit in the history of the United States Army. It came at a terrible price, however; the number of wounded and killed in action was incredibly high. Those missions today seem suicidal. In 1970 they seemed equally so, yet these men went out day after day with their indigenous allies - Montagnard tribesmen, Vietnamese, and Chinese Nungs - and faced the challenges with courage and resolve.

Whispers in the Tall Grass is the second volume of Nick's riveting memoir of his time with MACV-SOG.

©2019 Nick Brokhausen (P)2019 Tantor

OUTSTANDING

U S Marine here. Great book. I felt as I was there with you. I felt your pain and sorrow. my war was is the desert but combat is the same. Thank you brother for sharing part of your life with us.

hyperbole filled good shtuff

great balance of mission and character development.. looking for similar books like, "across the fence"

Poignant Vietnam Memoir

Narration: a bit sing song, needs more variation in inflection and rate of speech. Story: Humorous and sad at the same time. Better than average and recommended.

Excellent

Both the book and the performance are absolutely perfect. An excellent, brutally honest look into SOG in Vietnam and Laos. The incredible feats of these men and their montanyards and their Chinese nung. It’s amazing that any of them ever survived. My respect for these men boils over.

awesome, powerful sequel to "We Few"

This combination of story, author, and voice actor is once again superlative... very informative and entertaining reading / listening for an accurate historical boots on the ground portrayal of life in SOG in Vietnam in the 70s

Second time listen

such a wonderfully written and narrated book I just hated it to come to an end. Truly a great book especially if you love and appreciate the course sense of humor used by the military.

Amazing!

The most amazing book I have ever read. The humor is great. Violence is well described. I have read this book and Mr. Brockhausens other "The Few" several times I just love it.

Phenomenal Follow-Up

Brokhausen's follow-up to We Few is a must read. He continues running with and running recon teams, all the while running into (creating?) trouble when on leave. The reader can feel the comradeship, the pain, the laughter, and a litany of emotions in between. I knew the end was coming, but when it finally happened, I couldn't help but feel that we truly left our friends to their own fate. Tragic. Absolutely tragic.

As Good As the 1st

Fantastic again! So well written and narrated. The author takes you into a world where you can smell and feel the adrenal sweat running down your back and neck. The dry-mouth gulp of anticipation. And the pounding hangover of the night before. If only there was a podcast!

a great 2 book series

I loved the story. the author has a great sense of humor. the reading was almost as good as the material.

kamerad

if you dig the tales of SOG.. then this is another tale that's been there.. something no current SF or elite force can truley comprehend.. in fact ,something that no one ever could..

Great overall, in performance and story.

I served in SOG recon in 1967 FOB 2 And the book brought back memories of long forgotten bits humour and pain. I enjoyed the story as if I was there, as I to was fortunate enough to live through the madness. I got off on the performance, as it reminded me of a one “Rat Wilson”, complete madman, he had your back when it got down and dirty. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to get a feel what SOG recon was like. S. Freedom

Solid

Nice balance between war and life. Not too dry Bit short but still worth a credit

Perfectly narrated story of camaraderie in war!

A story told with a dry, deadpan type humour fitting for such a life experience one will never forget. George Spelvin seemed to narrate this story perfectly as far as I was concerned. He seemed to perfect the kind of dry, dulcet tones perfectly befitting what I imagine the author to be lime in real life. The bravery of these men who fought in Vietnam under such extreme circumstances is hard to comprehend fully, but what is most certainly not difficult to understand is the bonds they made with their Montagnard brothers. These 'Little People' I cannot begin to do justice to with my lack of intellect and insufficient vocabulary, READ this book and meet a people through one man's story, because it is unlikely you will ever have the privilege of doing so in real life!

Humerous recollection

I've read most of the other accounts of these guys but this gives, in my opinion, the best feel for what they experienced on and off operations. The operational side is not overly in depth and is punctuated with sometimes funny and at others hilarious comments. It's when taking a few days off that you really experience what these guys are about. Most of us will never have anything to compare what they went through on ops, however most of us have been upto no good when out drinking and these guys take it to a new level. Loved every minute of it.

A story that must be told

The book made me Laugh out loud & cry, probably one of the best books every to come out of Vietnam! You have to read both books in the correct sequence.

brilliant

like nicks other book brilliant, loved every minute, from a worriers heart, thank you

Wish it was longer!

Listened to the first and second book multiple times now. These books have everything the story, the humour, the action all described hilariously.

Great storyteller

Absolutely loved the way Nick told his story. Excellent narration too! A great war memoir.

throughly enjoyable and enlightening

an honest, aching, yet often witty account of this man's journey through the Vietnam war. beautifully read, too. I felt transported to each and every situation in a way that only exceedingly high quality writing and performance can do.