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Highly Recommended
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Worth a look
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Don't bother
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| Good and bad books about the Vietnam War. |
Author/Title/Description |
Reviewer |
Review |
 |
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Alexander,
Ron. Taking
Fire.
Ron was a chopper pilot with A/1/9 (Apache Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Brigade, 1st Air
Cavalry Division) - call sign A37 - known as "mini-man". Even though I knew that
the book was a biography I could not put it down because I wanted to see what happened to
him next. He included a lot of history of the 1st Cavalry and talked about LZs that I've heard
mentioned by you guys. I give it a big smile. |
|
Gladys Grubb |
|
Arthurs,
Sergeant Major Ted G.. Land with no Sun - A year in Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne.
Stackpole Books (Stackpole Military History Series), Mechanicsburg, PA, 2006. You know
it's going to be hot when your brigade is referred to as a "Fireball unit". From
May 1967 through May 1968, Ted Arthurs was Command Sergeant Major for the 4/503rd
Infantry, This is an account of his tour which included action at Dak To & the Tet
Offensive. Well written with lots of detail of the load the 173rd Infantry Soldier
endured....right down to the 80 pound rucksack! Of particular interest was the discovery
in this book of the account of the death of LT Lawrence D. Greene, who, prior to
deployment to the 173rd, was Commanding Officer of 1/50th Charlie Company back at Fort
Hood! |
Jim S |
|
Atkinson, Rick. The Long Gray Line. The
American Journey of West Point's Class of 1966
1989, Houghton Mifflin Company/Boston: ISBN 0-395-48008-6. Rick Atkinson, a staff
writer for the Washington Post, won a Pulitzer Prize for national reporting in 1982 for a
series about West Point's class of 1966. This was an excellent read and packed with
interesting stories of the very talented and dedicated members of this memorable military
academy class. Our own Tom Schroeder and Bob Ballard were members of the class of
'66. Ballard served with Bravo Company as a platoon leader before being killed in
action after a transfer out of the 1/50th. Tom Schroeder, Charlie Company XO and
Delta Company CO was also a member of the Class of '66 and he brought this book to my
attention. The author interviewed hundreds of men from the class and took the story
beyond Vietnam to the years that followed...with the stories of many key members of this
fine group of officers. This book falls into the "Must Read" catagory if you are
a student or veteran of the war in Vietnam. |
|
Jim Sheppard
|
|
Bergerud,
Eric M. Red
Thunder, Tropic Lightning: The World of a Combat Division in Vietnam.
Boulder: Westview, 1993. Half of this classic book is interviews with 25th Infantry
Division veterans. |
|
|
Birdwell,
Dwight W. and Nolan, Keith W. A Hundred
Miles of Bad Road.
Presidio Press, 2000. A book about a cav unit working south and west of Saigon that deals
more with a tank company then APC's. It was interesting, but yet I think many points in it
were exaggerated a bit. It just seemed that every day they were being ambushed, which we
all know did not happen to the typical mechanized units (not saying that it could not
happen to his unit, of course). |
Ken Riley |
|
Boyle ,Charles J. Absolution: Charlie Company, 3d
Battalion, 22d Infantry.
Fredericksburg, VA: Sergeant
Kirkland's Press, 1999. Boyle arrived in Vietnam in 1967, commanded a platoon, and then
became a LT company commander in the 3/22 Infantry, 25th Infantry Division,
early in 1968. A very good read, even if all the insights aren’t exactly what the
author would have wanted. |
Ray |
|
Brennan,
Mathew. Brennan's War
1985, Presidio Press, Novato, CA.
Don Cross writes:"A Well Written narrative on Brennan's three tours in Vietnam
with the 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry. Hard to put down...his tours have parallels with areas of operation of the 1st Bn, 50th Infantry". |
|
Don Cross,
Jim Sheppard
|
|
Brennan,
Mathew (Editor). Headhunters. Stories from the 1st
Squadron, 9th Cavalry, in Vietnam 1965-1971.
1987, Presidio Press, Novato, CA.
This book is a collection of soldier's stories from the
1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry throughout their 6 years in Vietnam...very similar to the "War Stories"
section of the 50th Infantry Association Website. Some of these accounts took place in the same
Area of Operations covered by the 50th Infantry.Jim Sheppard adds: "I agree Brennan is an excellent writer
with a long and distinguished career, but I was
extremely disappointed that the author completely ignored the 1st
of the 50th role in bailing out the 1st of the 9th "Blues" at the outset
of the Battle of Tam Quan on December 6th. No mention is made of Dennis Hinton's "A"
Company heroism on Dec. 7th for which LT Hinton was awarded the nation's second
highest award ...the Distinguished Service Cross for Valor. Another
example of unit 'Grandstanding' which usually ignored or glanced over
the 50th Infantry's substantial contribution to the fight in II Corps
tactical zone". In Brennan's defense, He was not involved in the
Battle of Tam Quan & likely relied on the 1st Cavalry Division After
Action Report...which, as we know, was not very accurate...often
overlooking or only giving "passing comment" on the 50th Infantry's
extensive part in the battle. |
|
Don Cross
|
|
Carhart, Tom. The Offering. A generation
offered their lives to America in Vietnam--One soldier's story
1987, William Morrow and Company, Inc./New York: ISBN 0-688-05753-5. The Offering is
the true story of a Lieutenant fresh from West Point (Class of "66....see "Long
Gray Line") who arrives in Vietnam at the worst part of the war. Tom Carhart's vivid
re-creation of those hellish days keeps his faith with those who offered themselves to
their country. Some returned whole. Some came home badly wounded. Others made the greatest
sacrifice: Their Offering was accepted. They are remembered on the black granite panels of
the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington, D.C. I enjoyed reading this book.
Carhart spent time in the best and worst of places and in Vietnam. I also
was familiar with both. |
|
Jim Sheppard
|
|
Cash, John
A. John Albright, and Allan W. Sandstrum, Seven Firefights in
Vietnam.
New York: Bantam, 1985;
reprint of 1970 U.S. Army publication. |
Ray |
|
Christian, David
Victor Six.
David Christian was the youngest, most decorated officer from the
Vietnam Conflict. A recipient of the DSC and seven purple hearts, he was
with a recon element of the "Big Read One" (1st Infantry Division). The
book is a chronicle of his military service and his post-war advocacy
for Vietnam Veterans. Odd ending. |
Don Cross |
|
Currey,
Cecil Bart. Long
Binh Jail, An Oral History.
Washington D.C.; Brassey's,
1999. A controversial look at infamous LBJ, this book has been panned by some reviewers
for overreliance on oral narratives from sometimes suspect sources. Whatever. This book
gives some idea of life at LBJ, and shows why the field was considered preferable by most
soldiers. |
Ray |
|
Dixon, Norman. On the Psychology of Military
Incompetence.
London: Plimico, 1976. This
is an unbelievably funny book which attempts to explain in parable form how a few can
inflict misery on the many when competence and authority are mismatched. That is, it would
be unbelievably funny if it weren't so true. |
Ray |
|
Downs, Frederick,
Jr. The
Killing Zone: My Life in the Vietnam War.
New York: Norton, 1978
(paperback Berkley, 1983). Excellent account by a 4th Infantry Division
infantry lieutenant who served in central Vietnam (partly in a populated area near the
coast, partly in the highlands) from about mid 1967 to early January of 1968 when he lost
a limb. He is now V.A. Director of Prosthetic and Sensory Aids. Hard to put down. |
Ray |
|
Downs,
Frederick, Jr.
Aftermath.
New York: Norton, 1984
(paperback Berkley, 1985). (Continuation of the book "The Killing Zone"): story
of Downs' recovery after having his arm blown off by a booby trap January 11, 1968.
Includes a few interesting facts about his previous combat service that hadn't gotten into
his first book. |
|
|
Dulany, Joseph P. Once A Soldier, A
Chaplain's Story.
ISBN 0-9708830-0-5. Excellent
Military Career Biography of the Battalion Chaplain for the 1st Battalion (Mechanized)
50th Infantry from September of 1967 until April of 1968. Chaplain Dulany gives an
accounting of our battalion's activities for the period in Chapter 2. To date (2007)
this is the only text to do so...although several persons have "works in
progress". I initially only intended to read what was pertenant to the 1/50th...but
was drawn to read on and finished the entire book. I found it to be a very good read and
highly recommend contacting the author for purchase of a copy. (Visit our 1/50th Chaplains page for purchase
information - Note that Joe Dulany is an Association Life Member) |
Jim S. |
|
Ebert, James
R. A
Life in a Year:
The American Infantryman
in Vietnam,1965-1972. Novato: Presidio, 1993. Based on a lot of interviews (One of whom
was with "B" 1/50th in 1970...a Mike Roberts), but not a straight oral history.
I found it a hard read...although comprehensive and very professionally written. The
author broke down a normal enlistment...beginning with induction...explaining all the
alternatives of the time based on the interviews. Would be a good book for a student
studying the war years, but not if you are looking for a story line or plot to follow.
I got bored after basic training...mainly because it's all stuff we lived...and not
real interesting as such...so I had to put it down and start another book! |
Ray & Jim S.
|
|
Edelman,
Bernard, ed. Dear
America: Letters Home from Vietnam.
New York: Norton,
1985. Paperback New York: Pocket Books, 1986. While the letters were selected to support
the antiwar tone of the book, they sound real, they feel real and they were real. This
book explores the human side of war through carefully screened and selected letters.
Thought-provoking stuff. |
Ray |
|
Estep, James
L. Comanche
Six: Company Commander, Vietnam.
Novato, CA: Presidio, 1991.New York: Dell, 1992. Estep served four tours in Vietnam: as a
Special Forces sergeant 11/62 to 11/63; a Special Forces officer 1/65 to 1/66; a company
commander of C/2/5 Cav, First Cavalry (the main focus of this book) from late 1967 until
he was seriously wounded north of Hue 3/68; and at the ARVN NCO Academy 7/72 to 3/73. |
Ray |
|
Evans, E. Franklin Stand To... A Journey to Manhood
2008, iUniverse Books/Lincoln, NE: ISBN 978-0-595-45053-4. Good personal account of a young Infantry Officer in the 4th Infantry
Division. He writes: "Stand to" is short for "stand to arms." During World War I, it was believed that most enemy attacks
occurred
immediately before dawn. The practice of ensuring that all soldiers were awake and alert for an impending attack just before first light
carried through into the Vietnam conflict. Each morning, soldiers on the defensive perimeters of firebases, patrol bases, and base camps
were awakened and instructed to arm and dress in full combat gear. In World War I, "Stand to" was also referred to as "the morning hate." |
|
Jim Sheppard
|
|
Fall, Bernard B. Hell in a Very Small Place.
Excellent book on Vietnam history, which chronicles the French disaster at the battle of
Dien Bien Phu in 1954. Bernard B. Fall wrote from the persective of a former member of the
French military and continued to write throughout most of the American involvement. He
died covering the war in Vietnam. A top read. |
Doc Melendez, Ray
|
|
Fall,
Bernard B. Street
Without Joy
Excellent book that
examines how the United States came to be involved in Vietnam by examining US and European
events of the 1940s and 1950s. It provides a good account of the attack of Group Mobile
100 in Mang Yang Pass and other operations where the 1/50 operated along the "Street
Without Joy", the north-south highway through Vietnam. There is not a better nor more
apt book on Vietnam. (1961) |
Doc Melendez, Ray
|
|
Fall, Dorothy Bernard Fall: Memories of a
Soldier-Scholar
2006, Potomac Books: ISBN-10: 1-57488-957-5, ISBM-13: 978-1-57488-957-4. Dorothy Fall has
written a fantastic biography on her late husband, Bernard...author of "Street
without Joy" and other books on Vietnam. She aptly refers to Vietnam as
Bernard's "Mistress"...and I sometimes wonder if we are not all in the clutches
of this same seductress...dragging our thoughts back to her constantly.This is another "Must
Read" in my opinion. Bernard was misunderstood by many in high places who could
have benefited from his vast knowledge of the region and it's people. A point made
in Bernard's books...which I had not noticed before, was his belief that U.S. power had
made the war militarily "unlosable"...yet politically unwinnable. |
|
Jim Sheppard
|
|
Farinacci, Donald J. Last Full Measure of Devotion.
A Tribute to America's Heroes of the Vietnam War
2007, Author House: ISBN-10: 978-1-4343-1856-5 (hc). Donald Farinacci, a Vietnam-era
veteran, wrote this descriptive book which chronicles 22 individual Vietnam Heroes.Leaving Politics out of this book,
Farinacci does a fantastic job of bringing the action to life and giving us a clear
picture of just how heroic these men were long ago. I highly recommend this
book...an easy read at only 122 pages.
The author also wrote
"When One Stood Alone, John Sirica's Battle against the Watergate Conspiracy".
|
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Jim Sheppard
|
|
Fitzgerald,
Francis. The
Fire in the Lake.
One of the earlier, prize-winning books about the Vietnam conflict. It traces the
historical, social and cultural differences between the U.S. and Vietnam and how these
monumental differences played a large role in our misunderstanding and eventual failure in
establishing the government of South Vietnam as an independent, viable government capable
of surviving on its own. |
Doc Melendez
|
|
Flanagan,
John F. Vietnam Above
the Treetops: A
Forward Air Controller Reports
1992, Praeger Publishers, One Madison Avenue, New York: Just as
Tom Johnson's book won my heart as the best "Huey" novel of the Vietnam
era...clearly John Flanagan's work describing his year as a FAC wins my
high endorsement for his milieu. As an Air force Academy Graduate,
Flanagan never expected to be so "up close and personal" to the ground
pounders of Vietnam in 1966...yet found himself earning a spot with the
crack U.S. Army "Delta force" teams in War Zone "C", with the Koreans
near our old AO in Phu Cat (Before the massive air base was built) and
finally at Khe Son during the massive NVA buildup that lead to the
infamous siege in 1967-8. He ended his book with a wonderful paragraph
that will hit home for many Combat Veterans of Vietnam: "But we who served have learned and gained.
We have faced adversity, hardship, death, and, in some cases , ridicule,
yet our values have survived and we can face eternity alone with them.
We have our commitment, our commitment to each other tempered by the will to survive,
something that only we fully understand. It is our values and our commitment that we must
impart to our children and our successors. We are not obligated to pass the warrior sword to
someone who chooses not to hold it as high as we did". John F. Flanagan, USAF Forward Air Controller, Vietnam, 1966
|
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Jim Sheppard
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Garland, LTC Albert
N., ed. A Distant
Challenge: The US Infantryman in Vietnam, 1967-1972.
Nashville: Battery Press, 1983. |
|
|
Glasser,
Ronald J. M.D., 365 Days.
New York: George Braziller, 1971. A U.S. Army doctor experiences the war by listening to
wounded men who passing through the hospital where he served. |
Ray |
|
Glenn, Russell W. Reading Athena's Dance Card: Men
against Fire in Vietnam.
Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 2000. Particular attention is devoted to the
S.L.A. Marshall thesis about reluctance to fire, and to the effects of the tour
system. Glenn looked in his research especially but not exclusively at the 1st
Cavalry Division, interviewing 1st Cav Vets in 1987 as part of a PhD project. |
Ray |
|
Goff, Stanley and
Robert Sanders, with Clark Smith, Brothers: Black Soldiers in the Nam.
Novato, CA: Presidio Press, 1982. pb New York: Berkley, 1985. Oft quoted in COL D.M.
Malone, Ret. excellent book-of-the-trade "Small unit leadership-A common-sense
Approach", as giving excellent accounts of combat at the small-unit level described
by soldiers in their own words and from their ground-level points of view. |
Shane Sarlin,
Australian Army Officer Cadet |
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|
Gwin, Larry. Baptism: A Vietnam Memoir.
New York: Ivy, 1999. On arrival in Vietnam as a lieutenant, approximately the beginning of
August 1965, Gwin was sent to Vi Thanh in the Mekong Delta as an advisor to the 3d
Battalion, 31st Regiment, 21st ARVN Division. He spent just over a month with this unit,
which seemed to have little interest in combat. The bulk of the book covers his service as
executive officer, A Company, 2/7 Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, September 1965 through
the end of June 1966. He was at Landing Zone Albany in the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley. |
Ray |
|
Hayes, Roger. On Point: A Rifleman's Year in
the Boonies: Vietnam, 1967-1968.
Novato, CA: Presidio, 2000. Hayes served with C Company, 1/5 Infantry (Mechanized), 25th
Infantry Division. It is basically a story about an armored cavalry unit, such as ours,
working out of the Saigon-west area. It pretty much defines a mechanized infantry unit's
day to day operations. I found it interesting to read, and pretty much follows what we
encountered as a mechanized unit. |
Ken Riley
|
|
Hackworth, David H.
and England, Eilhys. Steel
my Soldiers' Hearts
Ruggedland, LLC. ISBN: 1-59071-0029. "The Hopeless to Hardcore transformation of U.S.
Army, 4th Battalion 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division, Vietnam, 1969." Retired
Colonel Hackworth chronicles his tour as Battalion Commander of the 4/39th Infantry in
1969. Extremely well written, but I would, just once, like to read a book by a
Battalion Commander who didn't think he had it all right...and everyone else had their
heads up their butts. Sad part is....this guy was probably right! He's the
leader who would insist you "dig in" and "be prepared"...saving many
lives in the process. |
Jim Sheppard
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|
Hemphill, Robert. Platoon: Bravo Company.
Fredericksburg, VA: Sergeant Kirkland's Press, 1998. Hemphill commanded (late 1967 to
early 1968) Company B, 3/22 Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, the company portrayed in the
movie "Platoon." |
|
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Herr, Michael. Dispatches.
New York: Knopf, 1977. New York: Avon, 1978. Herr went to Vietnam as a reporter for Esquire
in 1967. |
Ray |
|
Humphries,
James F. Through The Valley: Vietnam 1967-1968
Lynne Rienner
Publishers, 1999, ISBN 1-55587-821-0. Meticulously researched and carefully documented,
Jim Humphries' account of '67-68 operations with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade is
gut-wrenchingly accurate to anyone who served at rifle company level in Vietnam. Even as
he tells the real story of the American rifleman's fight, his considerable research
enables him to present as well enemy intentions along the way. This book sets a new
standard for combat accounts from Vietnam. It tells about the soldier's fight in a way
that only a fellow soldier could, but is at the same time a fascinating, detailed and
accurate historical account. This is a "must read" for anyone interested in how
it really was.
Dick Guthrie Commented: "Written by a very close friend of mine from the 8th Special
Forces in 1965. He lost an eye his first tour and went back to be S-3 his second
tour.Great guy.Great soldier." |
|
Dick Guthrie
|
|
Jacobs, Jack If not now, when?: Duty and
Sacrifice in America's time of need...
2008, The Berkley Publishing Group, Published by the Penguin Group, New York: ISBN:
978-0-425-22359-8. Colonel Jack
Jacobs pens his own story, only briefly telling the story of the action which won him America's
highest award for Valor, the Medal of Honor. His work is flawless, from diction,
punctuation and sentence structure standpoints! If it can be a negative...At times I
felt I was reading a work meant to impress a college English Composition professor, as
every other page contained text that would send most college students scurrying to check a
dictionary! As advertised, the book does have it's humorous moments! Jack Jacobs is
very opinionated about our war efforts...both years ago and today...As are most former
career officers who are now tapped for TV editorials! I gave it high marks since it
is well written...and Jacobs is not too "In your face" with his opinions...but,
in fact, rather convincing. I am finding that most authors of this kind who reference
Sun-Tzu's "The Art of War" actually do give arguments worth your attention. |
|
Jim Sheppard
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Johnson, Tom A. To The Limit: An Air Cav Huey
Pilot in VIETNAM
Published by Potomac
Books, Inc., 2006, Herndon, Virginia, 20172-0605 ISBN 1-59797-001-8. One of the most
exciting books written about the Vietnam Helicopter War. In every chapter and every
paragraph, you will ride along with Tom Johnson who was a huey "Slick"
helicopter pilot as he flies for "A" Company - 229th Helicpter Assault Battalion
- 1st Air Cavalry Division in Vietnam 1967-68
Jim Sheppard Comments: "Tom Johnson may very well have flown many of us in those
opening months of our operations in Binh Dinh Province around Lake Dam Trao and Bong Son!
We exchanged quite a few e-mail messages. I HIGHLY recommend this book. Tom's writting
style has you easily understanding the workings of that Huey Slick we all knew so well!
(They sure beat walking!)
"Get an autographed copy from the author
by visiting his website for an order form at Bandit88.com...or download an order form from
here: To The Limit Order Form.
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Jim Sheppard
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Jorgenson,
Kregg P.J. Acceptable Loss.
New York: Ivy Books, 1991. Jorgenson arrived in Vietnam in September 1969 as a
nineteen-year old sergeant assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division. He served as a
Ranger/LRRP, and later in a Blue Team. |
Ray |
|
Karlin, Wayne Wandering Souls...Journeys with the Dead and the Living in Vietnam
2009,Nation Books/New York: ISBN 978-1-56858-405-8. Wayne Karlin is the author of numerous books of fiction and nonfiction. He served in
the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam from 1966-1967. In 1998 he was awarded the Paterson Prize in Fiction, and in 2005 he received an Excellence
in the Arts Award from the Vietnam Veterans of America. Here he authors the memoirs of Homer Steedly, a former 4th Infantry Division Platoon
Leader who sent home belongings from an NVA Soldier he killed near the Mang Yang Pass...years later to find the family of the man he killed
in combat and make an amazing return to meet the family and help bring their long lost family member's "soul" home. Personally, it is hard
for me to be objective about the book, or more specifically, the author...since I have corresponded with the book's main character, Homer Steedly,
in North Carolina, and tentative plans have been made to meet at the National Archives in the future. Homer Steedly is a man one could NOT POSSIBLY
"dislike" after reading his story...The book is very well written. |
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Jim Sheppard
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Lamb, David
Vietnam Now: A Reporter Returns.
2002, Public Affairs Books: ISBN 1-58648-089-8. Whenever I see a book dealing with present
day Vietnam, I immediately get defensive & "assume" it to be another liberal
media blast at our role many years ago. THIS BOOK doesn't fit that negative mold...and is
extremely objective. A very informative and interesting look at how a whole new generation
of Vietnamese are welcoming not only American visitors by the thousands...but embracing
american principles of economics (in spite of the old school communist "die
hards"). David Lamb has captured the "feel" of Vietnam as it is
today...a changed land. As well as I thought I knew the people of Vietnam...I
realize I knew very little. Planning a trip back to Vietnam??...I am...and I
recommend reading this book before you go! Informative and very well written. |
|
Jim Sheppard
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Lanning, Michael Lee. The Only War We Had.
New York: Ivy Books, 1987. Account by a lieutenant who commanded a platoon of C
Company, 2/3 Infantry, 199th Light Infantry Brigade, April-October 1969, in III Corps. |
Ray |
|
Lanning, Michael Lee. Vietnam, 1969-1970: A Company
Commander's Journal.
New York: Ivy Books, 1988. Lanning commanded B Company, 2/3 Infantry, October 1969
to January 1970. |
Ray |
|
Laurence, John. A Cat From Hue
2002, Public Affairs, ISBN I-891620-31-2. An award-winning reporter for CBS television
news writes compellingly about his experiences covering the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1970.
During those years he reported with compassion and insight on the tremendous bravery and
sacrifice of our soldiers. As time went on, he grew increasingly disillusioned with the
upper leadership and the national level decisions that kept our troops in that fight. For
850 pages, he vividly recounts credible stories of brave grunts in combat as he renders
his journalist's viewpoint. And he does it well. The stories are told so vividly that the
book is hard to put down. At times it even seems to be about the troops. In fact, though
it is - as advertised - about reporting, and the association the reporter makes between
himself and the bravery of the troops is just a little bit gratuitous. They were ordered
there and doing their unpleasant duty; he was there getting recognition, getting ahead. I
give it two bayonets up. It's self-serving, but extremely well told. |
Dick Guthrie
|
|
Leppelman, John. Blood on the Risers: An
Airborne Soldier's Thirty-five Months in Vietnam.
New York: Ivy Books, 1991. Leppelman joined the 173d Airborne Brigade in February 1967.
Extremely bitter about what he regarded as lousy weapons and lousy officers, he
transferred first to riverine forces, and eventually the Rangers. |
Ray |
|
Lind, Michael. Vietnam The Necessary War
The Free Press, ISBN 0-684-84254-8, 1999. His theories of the liberal left in the US war
were particularly interesting to me. He shoots down or argues against a lot of the
anti-war myths. His bottom line is we had to get in for international politics and we had
to get out for domestic politics. Although it more or less ignores the successes in the
later years of the war as most do. |
James Hansen
SGT, 11F40
G3, 1st Inf Div
69-69 |
|
Littauer, Raphael
and Uphoff, Norman. The
Air War in Indochina.
Boston: Beacon Press, 1972. Scholarly study of Vietnam by antiwar team from Cornell.
Prepare for a real hoot! The strong antiwar flavor coupled with academic rigor produced a
book with excellent Vietnam statistics coupled with wildly inacurate deductions as to what
the statistics meant! If you want to quote cost per bomb or correlate the fish harvest
with B52 strikes, this is the book for you. Despite my political ranking, I love this
book!!! |
Ray |
|
Marrin, Albert. America and Vietnam: The
Elephant and the Tiger
New York;1992. Dr. Marrin is chairman of the history dept. at Yeshiva University in New
York. This book is a good starting point for younger readers such as high schoolers first
studying the war. He covers everything from the early Chinese occupation, the French, the
American involvement and the aftermath of the war all in 268 pages. Worth a look. |
Mark Hannan
|
|
Marshall,
S. L. A. Battles in the Monsoon.
New York: William Morrow, 1967. Three battles in the Central Highlands, summer 1966. Our
own Dick Guthrie studied this book with his Bravo Company Platoon Leaders on the trip to
Vietnam aboard the USNS John Pope. S.L.A. Marshall was a retired US Army Brigadere
General and an Operation Analyst for the US Army, Vietnam. This is a well written account
of some major encounters in the area between An Khe and the "Crows Foot" region
(Northwest of our LZUplift) Marshall also wrote the DA Pamphlet "Vietnam Primer -
Lessons Learned" with the late David Hackworth...another good reference book for
Vietnam bound officers and enlisted men. |
|
Jim Sheppard
|
|
Marshall,
S. L. A. The Fields of Bamboo.
New York: The Dial Press, 1971. Three battles just beyond the South China Sea, during
Operation Nathan Hale and Operation Thayer-Irving in June and October of 1966. Another
well written account of some major encounters in the vicinity of Quin Nhon...one of which
was in the southern reaches of our Area of Operations in late 1967 and early
1968. This is the second book I've read by "SLAM" (As Dick Guthrie called
him)....and another good read. I will say, if you are familiar with the area of Hoa
Hoi (which is in view on one of the L7014 map sheets we have in our archives), that the
location description in the book is way off. Marshall desribes the setting as 2
clicks from the beach...where the map shows this to be more like 12 clicks. |
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Jim Sheppard
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Mason, Robert. Chickenhawk
New York: The Viking Press, 1983. An excellent first person view of the war from the pilot
seat of a Huey during the period from 1965-66. Mason went in with the 1st Cavalry when
they first set up Camp Radcliff in An Khe. The book has heartache and humor as well as
breathtaking descriptions of flying in the most incredible conditions. |
Mark Hannan
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McDonough,
James. Platoon Leader.
Novato, CA: Presidio, 1985 New York: Bantam, 1986. 173d Airborne Brigade, 1970-71. |
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Miller, Frank D.. Reflections of a Warrior
The amazing story of a Medal of Honor winner who spent the majority of his time in Vietnam with MACV_SOG. Hard to put down. |
Don Cross
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Milliken, James W. Enter and Die!
2009,Xlibris Corporation: ISBN 978-1-4415-3187-2. This is "easy to read" account of life as an Infantryman in the Delta of Southern
Vietnam. Jim "Milkman" Milliken lives not too far from your Historian, Jim Sheppard, in Southeastern Pennsylvania. We
exchanged e-mail over the term "Tu Dia", for which I could find no Vietnamese Translation, but was used to marked heavily
booby-trapped areas in Jim Milliken's areas of operation with the 9th Infantry Division. |
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Jim Sheppard
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Moore, Lt. Gen.
Harold G. & Joseph L. Galloway. We Were Soldiers Once . . . and
Young.
New York: Random House, 1992. The battle of the Ia Drang, 1965. Moore was a battalion
commander; his friend Galloway witnessed the battle as a journalist. Written as part
historical account and part first person reporting; this book is both inspiring as it
chronicles the heroes and sad as it describes poor command decisions which ultimately cost
many soldiers to die. Arguably the best book on Vietnam. Highly recommended. |
Doc Melendez, Ray
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Moore, Lt. Gen.
Harold G. & Joseph L. Galloway. We Are Soldiers Still.
New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2008. ISBN 978-0-06-114776-0. Hal Moore & Joe
Galloway chronical their return to the Ia Drang...accompanied by a small group of 7th Cav
vets and several Commanders from the NVA Forces they faced years before. An interesting
read. |
Jim Sheppard
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Murphy,
Edward F. Dak To: The 173d Airborne Brigade in South Vietnam's Central
Highlands, June-November 1967.
Novato, CA: Presidio, 1993. Explains very well the heavy casualties suffered by the 173rd
in the first half of 1967. Compelling....yet very depressing. |
Dan Schlecht |
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Newby, Claude D. It Took Heroes, A Cavalry
Chaplain's Memoir of Vietnam.
New York: Ballantine Books, 2003. Claude Newby recounts his experiences as an Infantry
Battalion Chaplain during 2 tours in Vietnam. His first tour finds him in many areas
that the 1/50th would occupy a year later. Chaplain Newby took his duties to the
field with the line Companies of the Infantry whenever possible....often getting caught up
in the battles and firefights of his troops. Of interest is that Newby was recommended to
receive a Combat Infantry Badge by former 1/50th Charlie Company Commander Jay Copley.
Chaplain Newby became the only Chaplain to receive a CIB during the Vietnam War.
Highly recommended. |
Jim Sheppard |
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Ninh, Bao The
Sorrow of War.
New York: Pantheon Books & Writer's Association Publishing House, Hanoi, 1991. ISBN
0-679-43961-7
Bao Ninh was born in 1952. During the Vietnam War he served with the 27th Youth Brigade.
Of the 500 who went to war with the brigade in 1969, he is one of ten who survived. A best
seller in Vietnam, but I was dissapointed by the fact that this is Fiction. Although based
on Bao Ninh's experiences...I could not help but wonder where fact and fiction started and
stopped. I suppose, to be honest, I could identify with the "sorrows"
involved, but the book could not hold my interest. Although a best seller in
Vietnam, the book was not well received by the communist party since it does not laud
their victory over the south...but consentrates on it's title as a theme. |
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Jim Sheppard
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Nolan,
Keith W. Sappers in the Wire: The Life and Death of Firebase Mary Ann.
College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 1995. The 1/46 Infantry (Americal), night
of March 27, 1971, Quang Tin province. First person accounts of a disastrous sapper attack
several months after the 1/50 had left Nam. It is a thought-provoking account of declining
standards and morale. |
Ray |
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Nolan,
Keith. Ripcord: Screaming Eagles Under Siege, Vietnam 1970.
I have not read this book yet, but several people have recommended it to me. |
Doc Melendez
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Novosel, Michael J. Dustoff.
LTC Novosel, a WWII veteran choper instructor pilot, flew 2,345 missions that evacuated
5,589 wounded, winning the CMH and DSC along the way, |
Ray |
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O’Brien,
Tim. If I Die in a Combat Zone.
True story of O'Brien's tour in Vietnam....an excellent follow-up to his book "The Things they Carried". Hard to put down. Highly recommended. |
Don Cross
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O’Brien,
Tim. The Things They Carried.
This piece of fiction stands as monumental work on the enigma of Vietnam. While being a
fictional work, the author says that many of the stories are grounded in fact. Yet
throughout the various stories truth and reality and fact and fictional become mixed with
one another. This work emphasizes the reality of the experience. Highly recommended. |
Doc Melendez
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Pham,
Andrew X. Catfish and Mandal: A 2-Wheeled Voyage Through the Landscape and
Memory of Vietnam.
Andrew Pham was born in Vietnam and returns after nearly all of his life in the U.S. |
Doc Melendez
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Rowe, James N. Five Years to Freedom: A Young
American's own story of defiance, survival and courageous escape from the Viet Cong after
more than five years as a prisoner of war.
1971, Little, Brown & Company (Canada) Limited. One of the best books I've read this year (2009)...and
I cannot say how I missed this one for so long. Rowe gives us more insight into just how brainwashed the NLF had become to
Communist propaganda. A vivid account of life as a prisoner of the Viet
Cong in the deep delta regions south of Saigon. |
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Jim Sheppard
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Schwarzkopf
,General H. Norman, with Peter Petrie. It Doesn't Take a Hero.
New York: Bantam, 1992. Several chapters deal with Schwarzkopf's service in Vietnam, as an
advisor to the ARVN Airborne Brigade (a very good unit) 1965-66; and then as commander of
the 1/6 Battalion, 198th Infantry Brigade, 23d Infantry (Americal) Division, a very bad
battalion that Schwarzkopf was able to improve a lot but not make really good, 1969-70,
serving near Chu Lai and in the Batangan Peninsula. |
Ray |
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Scruggs, Jan To Heal A Nation: The Vietnam
Veterans Memorial
1986, Harper & Row, Publishers, New York: ISBN: 0-06-015404-7. This moving, inspiring,
and beautifully illustrated book tells the inside story of the building of the Vietnam
Veterans Memorial in our nation's capital. It also includes, in an appendix in the back,
the names of the 58,000 Americans who lost their lives in Southeast Asia during the war -
the names that are inscribed on the memorial's granite walls. |
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Jim Sheppard
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Sheehan,
Neil. A Bright Shining Lie.
One of the best (and biggest!) you’ll ever read on Vietnam. Tells the story of John
Paul Vann, one of the chief architects of the Vietnam War and of his eventual
disillusionment. Highly recommended. |
Doc Melendez, Ray
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Sorley,
Lewis. A Better War: The Unexamined Victories and the Final Tragedy of America's
Last Years in Vietnam.
New York: Harcourt, Brace, 1999. An outstanding review from command's perspective of the
period from when Abrams took over through the middle of 1972 or so. It is well researched
and documented and explains in detail the change from a search and destroy war of
attrition strategy to a clear and hold pacification strategy that resulted in a drastic
improvement in both cost and success. His very persuasive conclusion is the war was
essentially won in 1972 as is evidenced by the NVA defeat and the subsequent peace treaty
or cease-fire. |
James Hansen
SGT, 11F40
G3, 1st Inf Div
69-69 |
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Stanton,
Shelby L. Anatomy of a Division: The 1st Cav in Vietnam.
Novato, CA: Presidio Press, 1987. |
Ray |
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Stanton,
Shelby L. Rangers at War - LRRPs in Vietnam
ISBN 0-8041-0875-7, New York: Ballantine Books, 1992. This publication is described by
Colonel David H. Hackworth as "The best book on Ranger history and operations I've
read...Beautifully written and exhaustively researched". Of note are excellent
accounts of the 50th Infantry LRP teams that operated with the 9th and 25th Infantry
Divisions. I am submitting a request to Ballantine Books to copy several pages to
our website for those Long Range Patrol units...Echo and Foxtrot Companies. |
Jim Sheppard |
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Stanton,
Shelby L. Vietnam Order of Battle.
New York: Galahad Books, 1986. This 416 page book covers the organization, structure and
operations of U.S. and Allied ground forces in Vietnam frm 1961-1973. It covers every
major unit with base locations and dates served, and lots more information including two
dozen illustrated maps. While there are some errors and the author rated a mention in Stolen
Valor, this is a valuable reference work as a secondary source of information. |
Ray |
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Starry,
General Donn A. Armored Combat in Vietnam.
Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1980. Starry had commanded the 11th Armored Cavalry in
Vietnam 1969-70. The book attempts to chronicle the history of Armor, Cav and Mech
Infantry in Vietnam, but inevitably focuses on General Starry’s own 11th
ACR. |
Ray |
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Terry, Wallace. Bloods: An Oral History of the
Vietnam War by Black Veterans.
New York: Random House, 1984. Reissued with an epilogue added, 1992. |
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Tonsetic, Robert L. Days of Valor: An Inside Account
of the bloodiest six months of the Vietnam
War.
2007, Casemate Publishers, Drexel Hill, PA: ISBN: 1-932033-52-1. Former Green Beret tells of
his experiences commanding an Infantry Company in the 199th Light Infantry Brigade in 1968. Very Well Written. |
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Jim Sheppard
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Tonsetic, Robert L. Forsaken Warriers
2009, Casemate Publishers, Havertown,PA: ISBN: 978-1-935149-03-3. The story of an American Advisor with the South Vietnamese Rangers and AIrborne, 1970-71. Insightful and, well written. |
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Jim Sheppard
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Tripp,
Nathaniel. Father, Soldier, Son: Memoir of a Platoon Leader in Vietnam.
South Royalton, VT: Steerforth, 1997. Tripp was with the 1st Infantry Division,
1968-69. |
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Truong Nhu Tang. A Viet Cong Memoir
1986, Published in the U.S. by Random House, New York: ISBN: 0-394-74309-1. This book by a former high official of the Provisional Revolutionary Government
and National Liberation Front is the first I have read by one of our former foes who gave a clear and concise view of the war effort as waged by people of Southern Vietnam.
For a change, this work is not a redundant "Communist diatribe", but rather an extremely informative and intelligent look at how the successive South Vietnamese Presidents
wielded a strong and totalitarian arm against anyone who voiced an opposing political opinion. Author Truong Nhu Tang was from a prominent South Vietnamese family and schooled
at the best French-Vietnamese institutions...both in the former republic of South Vietnam and in France. He was one of a large group of influential businessmen in the Saigon
region who opposed "strong arm" rule in the early 60's. Truong explains the process by which the NLF and PRG were formed...and eventually lied to by the North Vietnamese...led
to believe by a grandfatherly "Uncle" Ho Chi Minh that a victorious combined effort to defeat the South Vietnamese Government would lead to a democratic representation of all
political persuasions. In the end, the Communists betrayed all these influential southern leaders and forced an even worse totalitarian regime of Communism, led only by Northern
Cadre. This betrayal was something most of them never suspected as they gave everything for what they thought would be a democratic victory. In retrospect, Truong, who eventually
fled the country to an exile in France, reveals that the Soviets replaced the Americans as a strong but repressive "colonial" Influence. He adds that Southern commerce was much
better when the Americans were there in force! Reading this book made me realize (for the first time) that the United States backed the wrong series of leaders for the south.
Things might have ended drastically differently had we given others in the south a voice without fear of imprisonment...or worse. Truong further reveals that the massive successes
of the U.S. Military against the indigenous NLF "Viet Cong" opened the door for more and more North Vietnamese communists to infiltrate the southern ranks.
I would rank this book among my top 10 "Must Read" books about the Vietnam war...seriously! For the first time, I finished a book written, essentially, by the enemy that left me
feeling sincere sympathy for the author and the original NLF cause.
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Jim Sheppard
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Walker,
Paul D. Jungle Dragoon: The Memoir of an Armored Cav Platoon Leader in Vietnam.
Novato, CA: Presidio, 1999. Walker commanded a mixed platoon of tanks and ACAVs in
the 1/4 Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division, 1966-67. |
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Webb,
James. Fields of Fire.
Multi-award winning personal account of one Marine’s war from the Navy Cross
decorated man who became Secretary of the Navy. |
Ray |
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Wollner, James Parker The Bamboo Shoot: The story of
the 2nd Airboat Platoon
2007, Xlibris Corporation, ISBN: 978-1-4134-5339-3 (Hardcover). I was searching for photos
of an Air Boat for our SRAP page when I came across mention of this book. Apparently there
were two platoons of Air Boat Infantry in "I" CORPS Tactical Zone (The Mekong
Delta Region and Saigon Environs). The book is not edited, but a "paid for"
publication of Jim Wollner's Memoirs. I found it refreshingly plain and simple...written
mostly in short "letters home" format, it covers his experiences with the 2nd
Air Boat Platoon, 9th Infantry Division. There's the base for a serious work here if
pursued...and I couldn't help thinking this man should start his own web site for the
Platoon...but that's all supposition. He sent me a "Gratis" copy of the book,
for which I am grateful! Don't read this with high expectation. It is informative on this
specialized subject. |
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Jim Sheppard
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Woodruff, Mark W. Unheralded Victory: The defeat of the Viet Cong
and North Vietnamese Army 1961-1973
Arlington, VA:
Vandamere Press, 1999. ISBN 0-918339-51-0. THIS IS THE BOOK that has the
answers for ANY idiot who thinks the United States lost the war in Vietnam! If you
are like me...it is extremely frustrating to here this new generation talk as though I
lost that war! When the United States was there...every major engagement was
won...and we NEVER left a battlefield as "Loosers". Here's the book you need to
buy and have your children (Or maybe by now it's grandchildren!) take to school for their
History teachers to read! This book is a MUST HAVE for your Vietnam library. |
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Jim Sheppard
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Yezzo,
Dominick. A G.I.'s Vietnam Diary: 1968-1969.
New York: Franklin Watts, 1974. Yezzo served in G-5 of the 1st Cavalry Division. |
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Zaffiri,
Samuel. Hamburger Hill: May 11-20, 1969.
Novato, CA: Presidio Press, 1988. |
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Zumbro,
Ralph. Tank Sergeant.
Novato, CA: Presidio, 1986. b New York: Pocket Books, 1988. Zumbro joined the Army in
1957, left it, and re-enlisted to serve in Vietnam, with Company A, 1/69 Armor. At the
time he arrived, the 1/69 was part of the 25th Infantry Division, but on loan to the 4th
Infantry Division. The battalion served with various units while he was in it, ending June
1968. |
Ray |
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