Product Description
"The best damned book from the point of view of the infantrymen who fought there."—Army Times

In 1967 Frederick Downs arrived in Vietnam as a green but determined twenty-three-year-old infantry lieutenant. In the months of brutal combat to follow, Downs was to face the most lethal and loathsome dangers, all the while following orders, keeping his men as safe as he could, and searching for the conviction and then the hope that the war was worth the sacrifice. He would leave with a shattered body, but a spirit still intact. The Killing Zone is his story, and it stands tall with the best books ever written about men in combat. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (32)

Tells It Like It Was.....
An outstanding story of a young Army lieutenant who pretty much saw it all.And in less than six months.From the time he arrived, through his harrowing and agonizing encounters with Charlie, he tells it like it was.Anyone can write war fiction, but he was there.He wrote it as only a true vet could write it.You could feel his relief, after surviving a horrible fire fight.You could feel his joy when he was on a 3-day pass.And you could feel his pain when he was nearly blown to pieces by what every 'Nam vet knows of - a bouncing betty.
Cinch your helmet, grab your web gear, lock and load, and prepare for Viet Nam the way it was.I was there too.As we used to say, "there it is."

Page-turner
I bought this for my dad for Father's Day. He is a Vietnam vet and I thought he might like reading about the war from another infantryman's perspective. I decided to read it before I gave it to him. I couldn't wait to pick it up each night. I am interested in this war since my father fought in it, and fortunately lived to come home from it. It seems to tell the reality of this war and the treatment of the veterans by other "Americans" (I use this term loosely), but it doesn't dwell on the disrespect angle. It gave me a very good picture of what it was like to roam the Vietnam jungles, fight, and try to survive. The author painted a very good picture of the situation and the book ended with good closure. I found myself wanting to read on to see the author back to the USA. Great book for anyone wanting to know more about the Vietnam War.

Enjoyed this book very much.
I very much enjoyed this book. It was well written and well worth reading in the context of the world in 2010 and the current conflicts around the globe. I have not been in the military myself, but I felt like it was portraying the thoughts and emotions of joining the service, training, and serving fairly and accurately as far as I could tell.

The Killing Zone
A no appologies account of the soldier's struggle to do his job, stay alive, and make some sense of it all.

Great Book
The book really puts into perspective what the ground troops endured during the war. It is well written and makes you feel as if you are their with them in the heat of the battle. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Praised and condemned for its aggressive coverage of the Vietnam War,the American press has been both commended for breaking public support and bringing the war to an end and accused of misrepresenting the nature and progress of the war.While in-depth combat coverage and the instantaneous power of television were used to challenge the war, Clarence R. Wyatt demonstrates that, more often than not, the press reported official information, statements, and views.Examining the relationship between the press and the government, Wyatt looks at how difficult it was to obtain information outside official briefings, what sort of professional constraints the press worked under, and what happened when reporters chose not to "get on the team." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Detailed Exploration of Print Reporters in Vietnam


Paper Soldiers is an in-depth look at print media and those who wrote it during the Vietnam War. Wyatt has really given us a LOT of information here:

- The media build-up during America's march to war.
- How, when and with whom the government's media briefings were held.
- Relationships between reporters (including preferential treatment of those newsmen who worked for organization giving pro-government coverage).
- Life in Saigon for the hundreds of newsmen who flocked there.
- Who really was in control of the flow of information, and how it was disseminated to the public.

Yes, Wyatt leans toward the media and away from the government, but in comparison to a lot of other Vietnam War sources out there this one weighs heavy on facts and light on commentary and/or bias.

And it purposely leaves out television news (except for comparison against print content) as a subject that's already been covered in depth.

An easy, informative read
This book is, for starters, a fairly easy read, and doesn't require much background knowledge of Vietnam.While it deflates the often overglorified view of the role of the press in Vietnam, the book does seem to favor the press over the South Vietnamese and U.S. governments.Wyatt stops short of actually laying blame of any negative reporting on the government, but they are certainly presented as the main indirect source.As for the common thread of television mentioned in other reviews, his attention paid to the topic is disappointing.While television should not have been the focus of the book, it probably deserves more than the one or two pages alloted to it.Still, overall the book does an excellent job of clarifying the role of news media in the war.I would certianly recommend reading it in order to gain a more enlightened view on this topic.

If you know how to write history, you know how good this is
As a graduate student of history, I know that you cannot possibly write about every aspect of anything (especially the Vietnam War) in a book.If one were to write about everything on the Vietnam War, there would be a library full of volumes.Wyatt has chosen to focus on one aspect, one that has been ignored so often (which is why the previous reviewer can only cite one public avenue - television).Many books have been written on the role of television.The challenge to historians is to find something new, and Wyatt does a beautiful job of it. The intricacies he finds within the paper media are amazing, and his analysis never fails.

Wyatt is an incredible historian and an equally incredible man.I absolutely recommend this book.

Misses the most important argument.
This book just does not cover the most important issues that arise from this controversial subject.The author goes on and on citing examples of how the press and the journalists were manipulated by the individuals who were responsible for supplying them with up to date military information.I agree that these arguments are supported well and hard to refute.But the main problem I have deals with the following:DURING THE COURSE OF THE ENTIRE BOOK HE SPENDS ONLY THREE PARAGRAPHS DISCUSSING THE TELEVISION MEDIA!His argument for this is that the television coverage only represented approximately 5% (This is from memory, and all that I know for sure was that it was very much less than what anyone might expect.) of the total coverage of the events of the war.That, to me, is just a cop out as anyone who knows anything about the Vietnam conflict also knows that it was called "The Television War."Since he manages to completely avoid probably the most important aspect of press coverage from the war with such an irrelevant and weak argument for skirting it, he is left with arguments for press manipulation that hold water as well as a bucket with no bottom ... Read more

Product Description
Written in a no-holds-barred, from-the-gut style, this one-of-a-kind story of resilience and determination during the Vietnam War focuses on action with a long-range patrol (LRP) team. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

CYCLOPS WILL OPEN YOUR EYES!
I have written a number of successful books and some of them were Vietnam books, and some were autobiographical. I know Vietnam and I know soldiers. Dave Walker has created a very honest, action-packed book which is a very good read. It is the storty of a soldier's soldier who has been there, done that in the specops world as a Ranger and LRRP. It is the honest story of a man who put his life on the line in the cause of freedom, not just once, but even after losing an eye to enemy fire. It is a story of passion, courage, grit, and determination, written by a true American hero, about true American heroes. If you want to understand the Vietnam War, buy this book. Don Bendell

Excellent book from the first page to the end
"Cyclops In The Jungle" is a great real life story of what I would call the true definition of a hero. You would be hard pressed to find anyone with the determination and courage to go back to combat in Vietnam after the loss of an eye due to a wound that could have easily been fatal. Not only that, but to return to a LRP unit operating in 4 to 6 man teams where there is almost certain death if discovered by the enemy. I haven't met Dave Walker but would be most honored to shake his hand and say, Welcome home! No Hollywood fantasy here, real life adventure and courage.

A Warrior's Tale of Elite LRP Brotherhood
I am proud to call you my Ranger/LRP Brother-In-Arms.You have well written a lasting tribute to the heroic LRPs who served an ungrateful nation; all they had were each other.I am humbled by your feats of courage and dedication to your Brothers.Not pulling any punches, you wittily revealed the good, the bad, and the ugly of the Vietnam war plus the humorous anecdotes that always accompany the special elite LRPs, wherever they may be.I salute you for a riveting book.Well Done!RLTW
Gary "28" Dolan
Of Their Own Accord

Some Soldiers gave more than most and would not be denied!
This is the most gritty, down home realistic and yet enjoyable book I have ever read on Special Forces Combat in the Vietnam War! Dave also has a way with anecdotes that had me laughing harder than listening to Larry to Cable Guy. When I first met Dave at the local VFW in 2000, he was scrupulously vetting my DD214 and someone told me he was writing a book about his experiences in Vietnam as a one eyed LRP. I then thought I would ask a few questions myself since I was incredulous that the Army would ever allow anyone back into direct contact combat with only one eye. I was astounded to find out that local veterans, who had served with him, verified that he had in fact fought his way back to the front at Bong Son in 1970 to serve under Capt "Hog" Brown for 20 more months missing the eye he lost in 1967. While John Kerry was collecting purple hearts as fast as he could to get his ass out of combat, improve his political resume and return with Jane Fonda to denigrate the unselfish sacrifices Special Forces were making, Dave was fighting to get back over to the war that was the most important thing in his life to win! He has earned my eternal respect and a salute whenever I see him. All gave some and some gave all, and some, like Dave, gave more than most!

Thomas R. Charters
Lt Col, USAF (Ret)
429TFS, Takhli RTAFB 72-74

One Eyed Wonder
David Walker's book is the story of a true soldier. His call to duty superseded the limitations placed on him by his wounds and army regulations. Walker's grit and determination got him back to the elite units at the tip of the spear, to continue the mission that he started. His first person account of combat behind the lines is in the same spirit and descriptive manner as Gary Linderer's - spot on. It is an easy to read, compelling story, that describes recon missions in the harsh and deadly environment that was the war in Vietnam. His example, his knowledge, and his skill, were inspirational to many a young soldier. Rangers lead the way! Thank you for your service. ... Read more

Product Description
This beautifully crafted and solidly researched book explains why and how the United States made its first commitment to Vietnam in the late 1940s. Mark Atwood Lawrence deftly explores the process by which the Western powers set aside their fierce disagreements over colonialism and extended the Cold War fight into the Third World. Drawing on an unprecedented array of sources from three countries, Lawrence illuminates the background of the U.S. government's decision in 1950 to send military equipment and economic aid to bolster France in its war against revolutionaries. That decision, he argues, marked America's first definitive step toward embroilment in Indochina, the start of a long series of moves that would lead the Johnson administration to commit U.S. combat forces a decade and a half later.
Offering a bold new interpretation, the author contends that the U.S. decision can be understood only as the result of complex transatlantic deliberations about colonialism in Southeast Asia in the years between 1944 and 1950. During this time, the book argues, sharp divisions opened within the U.S., French, and British governments over Vietnam and the issue of colonialism more generally. While many liberals wished to accommodate nationalist demands for self-government, others backed the return of French authority in Vietnam. Only after successfully recasting Vietnam as a Cold War conflict between the democratic West and international communism--a lengthy process involving intense international interplay--could the three governments overcome these divisions and join forces to wage war in Vietnam.
One of the first scholars to mine the diplomatic materials housed in European archives, Lawrence offers a nuanced triangulation of foreign policy as it developed among French, British, and U.S. diplomats and policymakers. He also brings out the calculations of Vietnamese nationalists who fought bitterly first against the Japanese and then against the French as they sought their nation's independence. Assuming the Burden is an eloquent illustration of how elites, operating outside public scrutiny, make decisions with enormous repercussions for decades to come. ... Read more

Product Description
The Vietnam War was unlike any war the United States ever fought. Unlike the previous wars of the twentieth century, the Vietnam War left the United States divided, and it continues to influence U.S. domestic and foreign policy. Without question, the Vietnam Syndrome that emerged after the war's end altered the policies of Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, and the lessons learned from the war were applied to later conflicts in the Persian Gulf.

The Vietnam War story is one that has never been fully understood and probably never will be explained to the satisfaction of those who experienced it – and it will continue to spark debate and controversy for each new generation. The Vietnam War For Dummies attempts to tell that complicated story in a way that is easily accessible to everyone. If you've never read much about the Vietnam War, this book provides a general overview that covers all the major players and significant turning points and events of the war. If you're a history buff, this book can serve as a compact reference guide to the major subjects of the war.

The Vietnam War For Dummies covers the following topics and more:

Product Description
Shedding light on an understudied form of opposition to the Vietnam War, Michael Foley tells the story of draft resistance, the cutting edge of the antiwar movement at the height of the war's escalation. Unlike so-called draft dodgers, who evaded the draft by leaving the country or by securing a draft deferment by fraudulent means, draft resisters openly defied draft laws by burning or turning in their draft cards. Like civil rights activists before them, draft resisters invited prosecution and imprisonment.

Focusing on Boston, one of the movement's most prominent centers, Foley reveals the crucial role of draft resisters in shifting antiwar sentiment from the margins of society to the center of American politics. Their actions inspired other draft-age men opposed to the war--especially college students--to reconsider their place of privilege in a draft system that offered them protections and sent disproportionate numbers of working-class and minority men to Vietnam. This recognition sparked the change of tactics from legal protest to mass civil disobedience, drawing the Johnson administration into a confrontation with activists who were largely suburban, liberal, young, and middle class--the core of Johnson's Democratic constituency.

Examining the day-to-day struggle of antiwar organizing carried out by ordinary Americans at the local level, Foley argues for a more complex view of citizenship and patriotism during a time of war. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A slice of what the Draft Resistance movement was about
A very informative book on a era in which either you weren't alive at the time, too young, or couldn't believe that you went through all of what happened during the 1960's to early 1970's.

Wonderful Overview Of Vietnam War Draft Resistance Movement
Nothing inspires so much enduring controversy and strongly held opinions as the subject of active draft resistance during the Vietnam War.The draft resisters were composed of a relatively small segment of the hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of young American men of draft age who avoided serving in the Army in one fashion or another. While most avoided active service in one or another fashion by enrolling in colleges or graduate schools, getting married and quickly having children, or by crossing the border into Canada, the draft resisters stood their ground and actively (and often quite dramatically) confronted the system by openly opposing the draft, burning their draft cards publicly, and serving themselves up for the legal and social consequences of refusing to serve in the military.

The author's approach is both appealing and effective; he uses a plethora of anecdotes and then places them in context by providing an overall history of the movement as well as an effective analysis of the effect of the movement both for the individuals choosing to participate in it as well as for the society at large.Author Michael Foley is a history professor at the City University of New York College of Staten Island, and he obviously has some personal experience informing his awareness of the phenomenon, which was in his estimation one of the most important and most progressively attempted efforts at defanging the war machine, a technique which comprising the cutting edge of young Americans opposition to the war in Southeast Asia. It found its inspiration in the Gandhi-like examples of the civil rights movement, and found widespread philosophical and legal support for a method that eventually forced the formal apparatus of government to sit up and take notice.

What I found especially fascinating about Foley's approach is his concentration on events transpiring in the greater Boston area, where I had many personal experiences, both with the active resistance against the war as well as the other related anti-war activities. So the author's cogent analysis and colorful anecdotes often churn up memories of people and the times from my own reservoir of such experiences some thirty-five years ago. What was so intriguing about the movement was the way it transformed what was initially a massive loathing for what was considered an unmanly and suspect strategy into one that was much more widely supported and endorsed by mainstream Americans. Thus, by placing themselves and their futures on the line (many resisters eventually served time in prison rather than serve in the military), the resisters did change public opinion and popular perception of the war itself and on the ways in which honorable young men could behave in response to it.

Eventually, such efforts actually helped to end the draft, as President Nixon foisted a lottery system as an interim approach to the patently unfair policies of the draft, and soon thereafter created an all-volunteer service in response to the public outcry over 'selective service'. The actions of the war resisters sparked a wide-spread recognition among their peers of the obviously unfair nature of the draft itself, and helped to legitimize the mass-protests against the war involving millions of Americans outraged by the racist and social class distinctions made in draft policies.Finally, Foley shows how greater civic awareness is required to ensure a more enlightened and informed understanding of one's patriotic duties to the country during time of war. Enjoy! ... Read more

Product Description
The fall of Saigon in 1975 signaled the end of America’s longest war. Yet in many ways the conflict was far from over. Although the actual fighting ended, the struggle to find political justification and historical vindication for the Vietnam War still lingered in American consciousness. A plethora of images from America’s first "televised war" has kept the conflict all too fresh in the memories of those who lived through it, while creating a confusing picture for a younger generation. The political process of attaching meaning to historical events has ultimately failed due to the lack of consensus—then and now—regarding events surrounding the Vietnam War.

Reviewing the record of American politics, film, and television, this volume provides a brief overview of the war’s appearance in American popular culture. It examines the ways in which this conflict has consistently resurfaced in social and political life, especially in the arena of contemporary world events such as the Soviet incursion into Afghanistan, the Gulf War and the 2004 presidential campaign. To this end, the work explores the contexts and uses of the Vietnam War as a recurring subject. The circumstances and symbolism used in the rhetoric of the political elite and the news media, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, Time, and Newsweek, are discussed. Emphasis is also placed on the role of film and television as the book examines movies such as The Deer Hunter and Apocalypse Now and TV series such as M*A*S*H.In weaving together the political and screen appearances of the Vietnam War, the book reexamines the influence of a major episode in American history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Awell researched and clearly written book that helps one see and percieve, reflect and ponder
Gordon Arnold, Professor of Liberal Arts at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, Massachusetts in his book 'THE AFTERLIFE OF AMERICA'S WAR IN VIETNAM: Changing Vision In Politics And On Screen' traces the development of how this complex and confusing war was portrayed in films, television, books, and politics since the final denouement in April of 1975 after 12 long years of conflict that tore our nation apart.

As he states, "Even as the generation that fought the war (and opposed it) recedes into their (so called) golden years, the war remains an emotionally charged topic. Eventually new larger scale events are likely to push the Vietnam conflict into a less visible place in the national consciouness. By the time that may happen, however, the Vietnam War (and its 'Afterlife') will have helped shape events that extended far beyond its time."

Professor Arnold in this book with his fine concise writing focuses our attention on how the conflict has been presented since 1975, often it seems warped and manipulated for a particular purpose in politics, on television, or simply to explain a limited viewpoint in books, or mainly for entertainment emphasis in film.

What I gained from 'The Afterlife of America's War in Vietnam' is how certain attitudes that evolved in our country out of the aftermath of the conflict, have contributed (rightly or wrongly according to a viewpoint) to the present situation our nation finds itself engaged in, forcing probing questions that will certainly surface in the 2008 presidential primary and election: WHAT ARE WE AS A NATION, WHO ARE WE AS A PEOPLE, WHERE ARE WE GOING, AND WHY? As a disabled Vietnam veteran I find these questions most important.

'The Afterlife of America's War in Vietnam' has helped me to see these issues more clearly and challenged me to ponder them. It is a worthy read. Not only for students, but also for people of all ages.

... Read more

Product Description
Vietnam and American Doctrine for Small Wars is the firstcomprehensive treatment of the evolution of U.S. military doctrine forcountering guerillas and other irregular forces in small wars.Sinceits inception, the United States has been engaged in small wars, orlow intensity conflict, and has contested irregular opponents in each.The end of World War II ushered in what has since become known as the"counterinsurgency era," its genesis arguably the containment strategyof the Truman Doctrine of 1947, upon which policy-makers and militaryplanners constructed rudimentary counterinsurgency doctrine forcombatting communist guerrillas in Greece.Yet Vietnam was the realtest for counter-insurgency doctrine, and the war in Vietnam hasremained the touchstone for American involvement in small wars eversince.With the end of the Vietnam War, small wars doctrine has risenor fallen according to the perceived threat to the national securityinterests of the United States, concurrent with the success orfailure of scholars and military professionals in persuading thenational security bureaucracy to make qualitative changes in doctrineand force structure.In that light, this study examines the roots ofAmerican military doctrine for small wars and its subsequent evolutionfrom "counterinsurgency" in the 1960s to "stability and supportoperations" in the 1990s, and concludes with an analysis of the legacyof Vietnam and the implications for emergent military doctrine in thepost-Cold War era. ... Read more

Product Description

More than 50,000 draft-age American men and women migrated to Canada during the Vietnam War, the largest political exodus from the United States since the American Revolution. How are we to understand this migration three decades later? Was their action simply a marginal, highly individualized spin-off of the American antiwar movement, or did it have its own lasting collective meaning?

John Hagan, himself a member of the exodus, searched declassified government files, consulted previously unopened resistance organization archives and contemporary oral histories, and interviewed American war resisters settled in Toronto to learn how they made the momentous decision. Canadian immigration officials at first blocked the entry of some resisters; then, under pressure from Canadian church and civil liberties groups, they fully opened the border, providing these Americans with the legal opportunity to oppose the Vietnam draft and military mobilization while beginning new lives in Canada. It was a turning point for Canada as well, an assertion of sovereignty in its post-World War II relationship with the United States.Hagan describes the resisters' absorption through Toronto's emerging American ghetto in the late 1960s. For these Americans, the move was an intense and transformative experience. While some struggled for a comprehensive amnesty in the United States, others dedicated their lives to engagement with social and political issues in Canada. More than half of the draft and military resisters who fled to Canada thirty years ago remain there today. Most lead successful lives, have lost their sense of Americanness, and overwhelmingly identify themselves as Canadians.

Customer Reviews (2)

Terrific Study Of Draft Reisters Fleeing to Canada !
This is truly a fascinating book for anyone familiar with the decade-long 'sturm und drang' associated with the anti-war movement of the 1960s, when tens of thousands of young American men fled across the Canadian border in an effort to avoid the military draft and service in Vietnam. In many respects this emigration became a lightening rod for the conflict between the pro-war forces within this country and the wider anti-war movement composed at first of hundreds of thousands and then even millions of Americans willing to aid and abet such young men in their efforts to avoid becoming part of what was referred to as the "war machine".What is most interesting in this scholarly account of the phenomenon, however, is its examination of what happened to the welter of young men so intent on living life on their own terms that they were willing to become expatriates to do so.

The author, Professor John Hagen, is a sociologist interested in examining the pilgrim's progress of individual draft-dodgers/emigrants who poured over the border for close to a decade, often with a surprising set of expectations and unresolved internal conflicts associated with the personal experiences that had led them so far from home. His ability to recount the many levels on which the war continued to determine the options and the world view of the individuals so affected is fascinating stuff, and the author does a yeoman's job of breathing life and substance into a work that might otherwise be dry and difficult reading indeed. While his account is earnest and quite well documented, it is also quite revealing and entertaining to read. Hagan often poses questions for the respondents that result in illuminating glimpses into the lingering ways in which the fateful decision to move north continue to affect them in most fateful ways, both for better and for worse. What is most amazing is the degree to which the majority of the individuals rose above the difficulties associated with this move and made successes of their lives.

In this sense, the work is a penetrating effort to unmask and explore the consequences of the war in Vietnam for all of us. In this sense it is a resounding affirmation of how each of us was transformed and changed by our participation in the culture of the sixties, whether for better or for worse. The best in sociology is its ability to locate the individual meaningfully in his times and embedded within the context of his or her cultural meanings. Such a book is this, an effort to locate and recognize the ways in which our times help to determine how we live and under what specific set of existential circumstances we strive to realize our most important goals and most personal dreams. This is a great book, and one I wish many more people would read. Enjoy!

More case studies should have been added.
This is a sociological study of the Americans who emigrated to Canada during the late 1960s and early 1970s.I believe that there is an attempt to draw an analogy with the Americans who chose Peace Corps service during this period of time with those who went to Canada.This is an invalid comparison.American Peace Corps volunteers served in places like Atar, Mauritania; Qandahar, Afghanistan; Bilma, Niger; Kikwit, Zaire; Sarh, Tchad; and Zabol, Iran.Most of the Americans that went to Canada chose to live in southern Onatrio, viz. Toronto.How many went to Lac St. Jean, Quebec or Churchill, Manitoba?Few.These sites would have been partially commensurate with the difficulty of the Peace Corps sites. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Coast Guard in Vietnam not just cuttermen.
Great book.As a Coast Guardsman, I appreciate learning about those who served for me.This book tells the tale of those who served aboard the cutters, (the Point Welcome and other 82's are the most familiar to Coasties) and the Aids to Navigations Teams, the Port Security units, Marine Inspectors and the Loran Station Personnel.The last four had stories that I never known.I would have appreciated more from the Enlisted personnel but I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Coast Guard.

Accurate to detail considering the scope of subject matter
The majority of the information was culled from Coast Guard records, interviews and recollections from officer grades. There was very little input from the enlisted ranks. As an former enlisted man and veteran of theTan My loran station, I enjoyed the book but it was a bit general in thecoverage.

A must read for the military enthusiast or Coast Guard fans
The awesome Coast Guard fired 77,000 rounds of naval gunfire support to help Army and Marine troops.The small patrol boats sent up the dangerous rivers in the south were sitting ducks. You'll find out why all were notdestroyed by enemy fire.The ammunition depots in the harbors weredisasters waiting to happen until the Coast Guard got there and put thingsin order.It is incredible to learn the other military services top battlecommanders were so ignorant about Coast Guard assets and expertise.But,once they learned, they couldn't get enough of the Coast Guard.Book coulduse some more detailed maps and a pronunciation guide to Viet words. Alsosuggest reading Mayday! Mayday! Most exiciting stories of US Coast Guard. Agreat read.

Cutters and Sampans
Very few Americans realize the U.S. Coast Guard is a military organization and has fought in all the wars of the United States.Capt. Alex Larzelere, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.) has written one of the very few excellent accounts of the service in combat.Captain Larzelere,as a young officer,commanded patrol boats in Vietnam so is able to bring his perspective to this book on the Vietnam conflict. Larzelere has done a great service to those who wish to study how this nation's smallest armed force performed during the long and divisive war.The small amount of publicity the U.S. Coast Guard received from their efforts in Southeast Asia came from the patrol boats and high endurance cutters.In this account,however,the author covers all the activities,from explosive loading details,shipping advisors and aids to navigation duties.Furthermore,what makes the account even more valuable is Larzelere's interviews with many of the U.S. Coast Guardsmen who served in Vietnam,although this tends to be mostly from officers,there are very few enlisted men interviewed. On the debit side,this is an uncritical history.Readers will believe no one made any mistakes while serving in Vietnam,nor is there any discussion about how the war affected the service as a whole,or even what lessons were learned during the war.These demurs are the reason for the rating I have assigned to this book. These caveats aside,Captain Larzelere's account is very readable and should be read by anyone interested in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard or the Vietnam War.It will be a standard book on the history of the service. ... Read more

Product Description
Summer's inspired analysis of America's war in Vietnam answers the most pressing questions remaining from that terrible conflict more than a decade before Robert McNamara's painful admissions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Definitive
In On Strategy: A Critical Analysis of the Viet Nam War, Colonel Summers places the blame squarely on America's top military command, including the Commander in Chief and the bureaucracy of the Pentagon.The problems?Summers paints them in broad categories: a failure to understand the enemy, a failure to understand the nature of the war the enemy was fighting, a failure to appreciate the relationship between government, military, and populace, a failure to understand the difference between preparation for war (in which economy is a driving principle) and the conduct of war (in which victory is the driving principle), and many others.But above all, the failure to use what we should have known: the timeless principles enumerated by von Clausewitz, the plain evidence of the situation, and most especially the American experience of war over two centuries, two centuries in which the USA's effectiveness on the battlefield was unmatched.

This is as near a definitive treatment as we are ever likely to see, and every American should read it.

Ojective and Unity Of Command
On Strategy is a careful postmortem on the American phase of the Viet Nam War. Col. Summers analyzes why we failed in Viet Nam; as B. B. Fall did for the French. America forgot some of the basic principles of war.
Their was never a clearly stated Objective for our efforts. In Washington the President and Congress vacillated and compromised trying to judge the political ramifications instead of the military.
A second major fault was in the execution of the war. Their was no Unity of Command. The Commanding General in Viet Nam only commanded the Army. The Navy, Marines, and Air Force were consulting but not under his command.
The President and Sec. of Defense ran the war from Washington dictating tactical as well as strategic policy and targets, which could change from day to day.
Even with these crippling defects the defeat of South Viet Nam was only assured by passage of the Church Amendment, which promised North Viet Nam
that we would give the south no aid in any form no matter what. Thus North Viet Nam was able to reverse the defeat of 1972 Ester Offensive, and win in 1975 against a completely dispirited South.
I often wonder how Israel, or South Korea would have fared with a similar
Amendment.

Theory of Friction In War - Worth the Read Alone
A strategic examination based on the classic principals of war that provides insight into how a superpower with overwhelming conventional superiority can exhaust itself against a militarily sophisticated third world country.Clausewitz's theory and Summers explanation of "friction"in war ..."how even the simplest of tasks become difficult as countless minor incidents combine to lower the general level of performance"...is worth the read alone.

Summers makes clear there is no such thing as a "splendid little war," "a war fought on the cheap,"or"a slam dunk war."Contrary to popular mythology, maintaining public support for a war is always a problem.It was problem during the American Revolutionary War, World War II and as it is now during the fifth year of the war in Iraq. The enemy always has havens, political sanctuaries and brutal responses in every war:Apache Indians skillfully used Mexican territory to avoid capture, the North Viennese used tunnels and neutral countries to move troops and supplies, the Taliban hides in remote mountain caves, Al Qaeda rules from the lawless tribal regions of Pakistan and Iraqi insurgents use IED's andsuicide bombers.

Arrogance, superpower status and wishful thinking don't win wars...even winning every encounter doesn't mean you will inflict your will on the enemy or cause the enemy to beg for peace.If you want to know how to use an army wisely and understand the need to manage political expectations, On Strategy will get you started.

On Startegy is about the best thing I have read on Vietnam
The title of my review was actually made by Drew Middleton, The New York Times. Coming from that source with the agenda they have, it's a pretty compelling endorsement, and it is 100% correct.

The following are quotes from the book which should give you some idea how fair and objective Colonel Summers was. So, if you're trying to understand the Vietnam War (as I am), buying this book is an absolute requirement. And, ironically, it does not matter whether you were for or against this war. It's not one of those books where the ideology driven people will get all bent out of shape trying to defend the positions they took 30 or so years ago. Read the quotes; I think you'll agree that Summers was fair.

"In failing to press their military advice they [the military leadership] allowed the US to pursue a strategic policy that was faulty from the start."

Colonel Lung, Army of the Rrepublic of Vietnam: "The Americans had designed a purely defensive strategy for Vietnam. It was a strategy that was based on the attrition of the enemy through a prolonged defense and made no allowance for decisive offensove action."

"The confusion over [our political and military] objectives detailed above had a devastating effect on our ability to conduct the war."

"Our new "strategy" of counterinsurgency blinded us to the fact that the guerrilla war was tactical and not strategic."

"And the critics were right. It was a different. All of America's previous wars were fought in the heat of passion. Vietnam was fought in cold blood, and that was intolerable to the American people."

Unmitigated garbage
Read this when it first came out and cannot believe the gullibility of some of its present reviewers. Ah, we could have won if only (fill in the blank). Cut the Ho Chi Minh Trail? When? In 1965, when first the Marines and then the Army went ashore with barely enough manpower to defend their enclaves? What was the ARVN supposed to be doing, letting the merry-go-round of a government fall (as they were well on the way to doing when we showed up)?

Maybe in it would have been in 1966, when Westmoreland, by his own admission, barely had the logistical capability to maintain the troops at hand? Perhaps in 1967, the first year that MACV felt that it could conduct toe-to-toe operations with PAVN? Maybe post-Tet in 1968 (which would actually have been the strategic thing to do), when the American politicians (and people, lets not forget them) decided that enough spin by the government (and military) was enough and that one open-ended military commitment in Asia was plenty. Does Summer's forget that the Joint Chiefs themselves turned down the physical barrier concept back in '65 as a logistical and political impossibility?

And what were the North Vietnamese and NLF supposed to be doing while the U.S. threatened their logistical jugular? Sitting back, moping, and taking it? The only reason that they did not topple the Lao government and actually threaten Thailand (the great American boogy-man at the time) was that they did'nt have to. And God, let's not get into how the Soviets (who, like the U.S., were a guarantor of Laotian neutrality) and Chinese would have reacted to the expansion of the war into "neutral" Laos.

This sort of revisionist, post-historical "what if" works (i.e. Mark Moyar) has become quite the rage today. "Let us find some way to 'reexamine' the greatest American military and political fiasco of the second half of the 20th Century and see if we can't polish it up." Forget our mistakes, it was a glorious cause, all those millions of Southeast Asians died for their own good. Forget all those lessons - see how well it has worked? Just ask your average Iraqi.

... Read more

Product Description

CMH Pub. 30-22. Army Historical Series.
Richard W. Stewart, General Editor. 
Contains an historical survey of the organization and accomplishments of the United States Army from the eve of World War 1 to the war against terrorism still under way. Designed to inculcate in young officers and soldiers an awareness of our nation's military past and to demonstrate to them that the study of military history is an essential ingredient in leadership development. Intended primarily for use in the American Military History course in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program in civilian colleges and universities.

Customer Reviews (2)

History behind the Scenes
Having just audited a course for college ROTC students, with this book as the text, and being a military history buff, I was enlightened by the history behind the history that this book brings to the fore.It is awonderful resource.

Good survey of US Military History
This book, and its predecessor (Volume I) are great for people interested in learning about the history of America's Army.

It covers all major battles and leaders from World War I until the War on Terror.Wonderful bibliography and "suggested reading" sections.

Just an all-around great reference for scholars and military history buffs alike.

-JCM ... Read more

Product Description
In examining the influence of historical analogies on decisions to use--or not use--force, military strategist Jeffrey Record assesses every major application of U.S. force from the Korean War to the NATO war on Serbia. Specifically, he looks at the influence of two analogies: the democracies? appeasement of Hitler at Munich and America's defeat in the Vietnam War. His book judges the utility of these two analogies on presidential decision-making and finds considerable misuse of them in situations where force was optional. He points to the Johnson administration's application of the Munich analogy to the circumstances of Southeast Asia in 1965 as the most egregious example of their misuse, but also cites the faulty reasoning by historical analogy that prevailed among critics of Reagan's policy in Central America and in Clinton's use of force in Haiti and the former Yugoslavia.

The author's findings show generational experience to be a key influence on presidential decision-making: Munich persuaded mid-twentieth-century presidents that force should be used early and decisively while Vietnam cautioned later presidents against using force at all. Both analogies were at work for the Gulf War, with Munich urging a decision for war and Vietnam warning against a graduated and highly restricted use of force. Record also reminds us of the times when presidents have used analogies to mobilize public support for action they have already decided to take. Addressing both the process of presidential decision-making and the wisdom of decisions made, this well-reasoned book offers timely lessons to a broad audience that includes political scientists, military historians, defense analysts, and policy makers, as well as those simply curious about history's influence. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very important read for leaders and citizens alike
I don't know if Jeffrey Record had the then-impending, now underway, war against Iraq in mind when he wrote this important book, but I don't think he could have made this any more timely if he had. From politicians to talk radio, the metaphors of "appeasement" and "avoiding another Vietnam" loom large in the debate over Iraq. I would suggest that this title be made required reading for anyone who dares send those metaphors into battle.

Record argues that Munich and Vietnam have been the dominant historical memes in White Houses deciding whether or not to employ American power around the world. For better or worse, what various Presidents and their advisors have taken to be "the lessons of Munich" and/or "the lessons of Vietnam" have been important, sometimes deciding, factors. Not surprisingly, Record finds that those "lessons" have often been misinterpreted and mis-applied by our political leaders, many times with serious consequences.

While this book is especially useful for anyone in, or who fancies themselves someday being in, a position of political influence, Record's work is also valuable reading for the rest of us. That's because he also analyzes how those same historical memes have been used by Presidents and their spokesmen to justify particular courses of action to the American people. It's important that we be able to recognize when that's being done, and equipped to decide whether the metaphor is valid. This title is a very useful tool in that process.

Duff Cooper, a British politician and contemporary of Winston Churchill, once wrote that one of the problems with democracy is that too few democratic leaders read history. The corollary of that, Record might argue, is that even the ones who have read history are apt to misinterpret it, or color their interpretations to justify actions they have already decided are desirable. An attractive metaphor can exert powerful force on decision-makers. Few things are more seductive ... or potentially more dangerous. Jeffrey Record is to be commended for helping the reader see though the seductiveness and apply the cold light of logical thought. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

The VietNam War handbook
Good overall review of the VietNam war. Like the unit histories. Some errors. There were no Physician Asst's in the Viet Nam war. I am one and the idea did originate there. There were no PAs in VietNam. First war was Grenada. Few other minor errors, still a good review. Worth buying. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Reporting the Underreported
Edward J. Marolda has managed to fill in many gaps in the literature of the Vietnam War. Much has been published on the guys on the ground and even the Brown Water Sailors but not nearly enough on the Blue Water Navy that sailed the Tonkin Gulf. The U.S. Navy in the Vietnam War: An Illustrated History is an excellent way to cover the entirety of the United States Navy with a thoughtful selection of photographs on every aspect from carrier ops and aviation to amphibious ops to gunline to underway replenishment to the lonely outpost of PIRAZ. There are many, many photos and they depict all facets including the human face of the conflict. Those of us offshore often wondered whether what we did made a difference and from the included recon pictures we get a much better appreciation of the results of aerial bombing and naval gunfire. If you wore navy blue in Vietnam you'll want this book. ... Read more

Product Description
The War Within is a painfully engrossing account of America’s internal battle over the Vietnam War. Hailed by critics of every persuasion, this absorbing narrative is the product of over a decade’s worth of research: the author sifted through thousands of government and antiwar documents and interviewed virtually all of the key players on both sides of the fence, from Dean Rusk, John Ehrlichman, and H. R. Haldeman to Dave Dellinger, Philip Berrigan, and Daniel Ellsberg. The result is this remarkable chronicle: the story of how a powerful grassroots movement ended our longest and least popular war. In these pages the Vietnam era comes to life through the words of scores of participants, who speak with candor and passion about this tumultuous time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Solid historically, weak analytically
This is THE most thorough treatment of the Vietnam war's history from the perspective of the ruling class figures who waged the war (McNamara, Kissinger, etc) and individual opponents in the anti-war movement. Students of the Vietnam war, and history students in particular, will benefit greatly from reading this book.

The main weakness of the book, in my opinion, is its analysis, which is weak at best and wrong at worst. After you finish the book, there is no clear explanation as to why the war ended and to what extent the movement was crucial in accomplishing its own goals. Also, in many areas of the book, one of the main radical anti-war organizations, the Socialist Workers Party, is depicted as a dogmatic Marxist sect that repeatedly undermined the movement's unity by fighting liberal or pacifist forces some of whom sought to channel the movement into the Democratic Party. While there is certainly room for criticism of the SWP's role at the time (and I have plenty), the fact of the matter is that without the SWP many, and maybe even most, of the national demonstrations against the war would not have happened at all, or if they did happen, would have been much smaller and less well organized.

People who liked this book should look into getting a few more to round out their understanding of the Vietnam war: a People's History of the Vietnam War by Jonathan Neale is an excellent analysis of the class forces in the U.S. and Vietnam from the end of WWII to the present, it covers the nature of the National Liberation Front in Vietnam and the U.S. anti-war movement, and also talks about the war's impact on Laos, Cambodia, and the U.S. after the war; grab Christian Appy's Working-Class War, which is an analysis and oral history of the working-class kids who became Vietnam GIs; and last but not least, see the new movie Sir! No Sir! which is about GI resistance to the Vietnam war, which has been written out of history because it was THE key element that brought the war to an end.

An interpretative chronology of the antiwar movement
If you feel you missed out on the sixties pro or antiwar movements, this book is you chance to vicariously capture the sequence of events, year by year from 1965 to 1975. And if you were a participant, this book will set your experience in some broader context.

Wells provides an almost encyclopedic chronological narrative replete with interviews. Its appearance a few years after the 1991 Gulf War also provides some perspective on how American attitudes have evolved. Wells contends that the American movement against the Vietnam war was perhaps the most successful antiwar movement in history. Nonethelss, America's surprisingly quick victory with minimal casualties in the 19912 Gulf may have reshaped the view of the military option which had haunted American foreign policy since the 1970s.

Wells concludes QUOTE So, while the public remains opposed to the spilling of American blood overseas, it seems prepared to accept - even cheer - the swift, continued use of American force. The Vietnam syndrome continues to give Washington pause. But whether it will prevent other unnecessary conflicts is, sadly, open to doubt UNQUOTE

A balanced and insightful look at American society
I was glad to see that Wells took the time to present a balanced perspective that took into account the political backgrounds of all parties involved in the events surrounding the Vietnam War.There are some great interviews which allow some behind-the-scene looks at what both sides were thinking and planning during the war era. ... Read more

Product Description
“I was always happy to see first light.
By first light it was over . . . for a while.”
–from Down South

There were a lot of ways to get killed in Vietnam. You could get “zapped,” “dinged,” “burned,” “popped,” “smoked,” or “wasted.” Marine 2nd Lt. William H. Hardwick was familiar with all of them because, unlike most USMC artillery officers–who waged their war from bunkers inside protected compounds–Hardwick as a forward observer fought alongside rifle companies and lived like a grunt for most of his thirteen-month tour.

In Okinawa, Vietnam was referred to as “Down South,” and in 1968, “Down South” was a bad place to be. Hardwick did it all–walking point, springing ambushes, capturing prisoners, and spending months in the bush surrounded by crack NVA troops. At times the attacking enemy was so close, Hardwick had to call in air strikes almost on top of the Marines themselves just so they could survive. William Hardwick volunteered to fight as one of the few, the proud, the Marines. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A Marine in Vietnam.
I have read a lot of Vietnam war paperbacks.Hardwick did a good job for his first book, and I generally enjoyed the read.However, there are many of these books in the book stores.This is the first one that I have read which takes the point of view of a forward observer for arty.I learned some new perspectives from his point of view.Generally in all these books, America puts its young men (and women) at risk.We need to be careful if these policies are just.

Hardwick came to hate the war.He did some pretty stupid things in the war.One was targeting the farmer with bombs.The farmer and his water buffalo may have been in restricted territory, but that didn't give him the right to drop a bomb on him.Hardwick came to realize the hopelessness of this war.An OK read of the Vietnam War.

A Must Read
This is a must read for all individuals.For those of us who did not serve in Viet Nam, this book puts you on the front line.Very well written, I couldn't put the book down.

A guided tour of hell
This is the single best book I have read yet of the Marine experience in Viet Nam.Hardwick does an outstanding job of communicating the episodes of sheer terror that punctuated the more routine aspects of his tour.Uncommon valor is described as unremarkable, a refreshing change from the current political diatribe. ... Read more

Product Description
No one in Vietnam had to tell door gunner and gunship crew chief Al Sever that the odds didn’t look good. He volunteered for the job well aware that hanging out of slow-moving choppers over hot LZs blazing with enemy fire was not conducive to a long life. But that wasn’t going to stop Specialist Sever.

From Da Nang to Cu Chi and the Mekong Delta, Sever spent thirty-one months in Vietnam, fighting in eleven of the war’s sixteen campaigns. Every morning when his gunship lifted off, often to the clacking and muzzle flashes of AK-47s hidden in the dawn fog, Sever knew he might not return. This raw, gritty, gut-wrenching firsthand account of American boys fighting and dying in Vietnam captures all the hell, horror, and heroism of that tragic war. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Helicopter gun ship combat experience detailed
Xin Loi, Viet Nam by Al Sever

In June 1966 author Al Sever graduated from high school and joined the Army. Enlisting in the military provides the individual with an important advantage over draftees; they usually get a slot in a technician school. His real motivation was to fly in a helicopter gun ship so he could experience combat as a door gunner. There was no "school" for door gunners so Sever was trained as a helicopter repair technician and shipped off to Viet Nam. After several months repairing shot up helicopters and making a nuisance of himself requesting transfers to a gun ship crew he finally achieved his goal. The vivid descriptions of his aerial combat experiences certainty add credence to the old saying "be careful what you ask for you might just get it".

Like the vast majority of us "armchair warriors' I have never stepped inside a helicopter. The author's descriptive accounts of his duties and experiences as a door gunner are graphic and compelling.

At some point all soldiers must reflecting upon the uncertainty combat subjects one too.The author ruminates about the ambiguous position he found himself in. It was difficult enough for the foot soldiers to tell the innocent villagers from the VC so how the hell could he make the distinction from a moving aerial perch. The old saw "kill them all and let God sort them out" or "Xin Loi" is the only answer to this anguishing conundrum.

After his tour in Viet Nam Sever was returned to the United States and was discharged from the Army. He had experienced numerous aerial firefights and saw the grisly aftermath of combat. So it is somewhat amazing that after a year as a civilian he re-enlisted with the stipulation that he return to Viet-Nam and be assigned to helicopter combat squadron. Considering the attrition of gun ship crews he was extremely fortunate to have survived thirty-one months of combat duty.

The helicopter played a critical role the Army's combat strategy in Viet Nam.
This book helps us understand how that strategy was employed and the valiant men who carried it out.

The term "Xin Loi" according to the author is the only Vietnamese phrase a lot of soldiers knew. It was the standard reply to any of the multitude of the unfathomable circumstances soldiers faced in Viet Nam. It could mean "sorry about that", "why me?" or "F#&* this place" and many others.

Xin Loi
This is a very strange book.In the prologue, there's the following sentence:"The muzzle flashes of the enemy guns wink like the eyes of the gods."What's that about?The book then leaves these heights and proceeds in rather prosaic I-was-there fashion, though the effect of the prose derives as much from its discipline as from its laconic and colloquial tone.For example, of two doomed US soldiers, the author writes, "I machined gunned both of them."And then, in a sort of climax, his helicopter flips, lands upside down in a paddy and evidently knocked unconscious, the author has a near-death experience:"Life may be an illusion, but this was real."This experience clearly means a great deal to the author.Due to the gifts of the author, it also means something to me.I came away thinking, if this beneficent experience is granted to a killer as remorseless and relentless as he, there may really be something to this whole tunnel thing after all.Picking up an I-was-there book, I was granted something far more mysterious than I had any right to expect.Who would have expected the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita?I recommend this book.

A thrilling perspective of Vietnam
I've read and studied tons of books on the Vietnam War.I loved this one!It's among my top 5 favorites now.The way Sever tells the stories of war were so compelling I couldn't put the book down.This book is different from so many others in that it's told from the perspective of a helicopter gunship Crew Chief.After all he went through, I was surprised to read he re-enlisted for a 2nd tour of duty (thus, the subtitle).Most of the ones I've seen are either about Infantrymen or Special Forces.I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Vietnam War.It will add to your overall understanding because it comes from a unique perspective.

Don't miss this one!
This is a gritty, realistic look at all aspects of the helicopter war in Vietnam. Al Sever is a decorated soldier who volunteered for some of the most hazardous duty in Vietnam. It's nice to get a look at what it was like for an enlisted man to fly on a Gunship in Vietnam. Thanks Mr. Sever for giving us this inspiring look into your service.

Xin Loi, Viet Nam
I'm only 27 so I don't really know that much about the Viet Nam war. This is the 9th or 10th book I've read and I have to say that it is easily one of the best. Al Sever does a great job explaining in detail the highs and lows of the war and also the day to day operations of what it was like to be a machine gunner on a gun ship. ... Read more

Product Description
Captain William Van Zanten was one of the “Magnificent Bastards” of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, in 1966–a year when any day could bring death or dismemberment from a Bouncing Betty or a punji stake, a firefight or a sniper bullet. He and his men faced B-52-sized mosquitoes, rain, heat, disease, and a determined and elusive enemy who kept the Marines off-balance, edgy, and sleepless.

Yet Van Zanten persevered with a soldierly professionalism built on rigorous training. Dedication and boot camp forged the volunteer Marines of the early war years, so when the stakes went through the roof in Vietnam, commitment of man to man and man to unit was total. They supported each other with a soldier’s intimacy and endured with a soldier’s humor–and together that meant survival. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Good honest work...
Van Zanten could have written a couple of hundred more pages and probably did.The editing is tough but does the job and takes care of the reader, kind of like the Marines.The story is spare and authentic.He clearly and honestly writes about things many people would leave alone, and helps illustrate a time that is still confusing and difficult for Baby Boomers. I enjoy the "one Marine's perspective" approach and his account of his peers and leaders is welcome in the aftermath of that lousy war.I recommend reading this just to get the bitter taste of that distant painful time.Great job.

Worth the read
The writing style was a little disjointed by times, but the story covered any flaws. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the history of the Vietnam War

Dont Bunch Up
A good read . . . but an afterward needed..wher is this guy now?how and what is he doing? loose ends abound to an otherwise sorta good read. I think.

What's Going On Here? This Is A Good Book!
Since my newest book, "Kill Me If You Can" came out I've read every book about the Vietnam War I've come across, and "Don't Bunch Up" was an interesting read. Truth is, I'd have to rate it higher than my book because it attacks the NVA, not the sociopaths in Washington as does my work. I was spellbound; Zanten's writing was rich, firm and moving. I didn't even know Marines could read, more less write. ... Read more