Throughout history there has always been a need, in military forces, for special units. In the past, these units have usually been ad hoc formations that were disbanded after their mission was complete. It has only been since the early 1950s that such units have remained active, but even in recent times special purpose, special mission units have been organised and used for a period of time or for a specific mission and then either deactivated or replaced by other units. This unique approach to the history of American special forces examines their development through a number of operations,...