Inside Delta Force

''Inside Delta Force: The Story of America's Elite Counterterrorist Unit'' is a 2002 memoir written by Eric L. Haney about his experiences as a founding special forces operator in the ''1st Special Forces Operational Detachment–Delta'' (also known as Delta Force) the U.S. Army's counterterrorist unit. Haney recounts the formation and early operations of the unit, as well as his own recruitment, selection and training. Haney also evaluates the impact of inter-service rivalries and potential overlap created when Delta Force was formed, including the challenges of dealing with the Central Intelligence Agency. Central to the book is Haney's participation in Delta Force's first operation – the aborted 1980 Operation Eagle Claw to Iran to free American hostages.

''Inside Delta Force'' formed the inspiration for the CBS television series ''The Unit'', in which Haney was involved as a writer, producer, and technical advisor.

Criticism

Since the publication of ''Inside Delta Force'' in 2002 and Haney's subsequent success with ''The Unit'' television show, three of his former Delta colleagues accused him of embellishing his accomplishments within the unit and fabricating several of the events depicted. Some of the criticism directed at Haney has focused on his stating that he was a "founding member" of Delta Force. Former operators acknowledge only one "founder," Colonel Charlie Beckwith, who helped establish the unit and was its first commanding officer. Haney used the term "founding member" to indicate that he was among the first operators assigned to the 1SFOD-D.

One operator, Logan Fitch, who first wrote publicly of the Eagle Claw mission for ''Penthouse Magazine'' in 1984 and was highly critical of Beckwith, called Haney a "crass opportunist" for capitalizing on his past service for personal gain. Despite the falling-out between Haney and some former Delta members, Haney stands behind the accuracy of his book.

Another original member criticized Haney for revealing too much about Delta Force's training, tactics and early missions. A U.S. Army historian has questioned if this is really the case, as the information in Haney's book was current in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and Delta Force has surely changed its procedures since then. Moreover, operational information by Delta veterans had been made public before, including in '' Black Hawk Down'', Mark Bowden's book about the Battle of Mogadishu, in which Delta operators participated, and most notably in Beckwith's own book on the formation and training of the unit.

Reviews

Michael F. Dilley, ''Infantry Magazine'', Summer 2002

Col. J. H. Crerar, Army Historical Foundation

References

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Books about the United States military
Delta Force