Gordon L. Rottman entered the US Army in 1967, volunteered for Special Forces and completed training as a weapons specialist. He served in the 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam in 1969-70 and subsequently in airborne infantry, long-range patrol and intelligence assignments until retiring after 26 years. He was a Special Operations Forces scenario writer at the Joint Readiness Training Center for 12 years and is now a freelance writer, living in Texas. Adam Hook studied graphic design, and began his work as an illustrator in 1983. He specializes in detailed historical reconstructions, and has illustrated Osprey titles on subjects as diverse as the Aztecs, the Ancient Greeks, Roman battle tactics, several 19th-century American subjects, the modern Chinese Army, and a number of books in the Fortress series. His work features in exhibitions and publications throughout the world.
"""This book does a great job of providing the details of individual combat equipment used during the Viet Nam War."" --Mike Petty, Armor Modeling & Preservation Society ""Former Special Forces member Gor-don L. Rottman sorts out these variations [in gear] in Vietnam War US and Allied Combat Equipments. No. 216 in Os-prey's ""Elite"" series, with photographs and color illustrations by Adam Hook."" --Vietnam Magazine"