A list of recommended readings, each with a theme about the Vietnam War, other units we worked with or from the 2-12th and written by one of our own. There's information about the book in review format and where you can purchase them. - Sarge (updated 2/12/2023)
List of Books and Reviews
1. The Box - A memoir - 2-12th
2. A Weather Walked In - 2-12th
3. Hero Found - Navy
4. The Year of the Rooster - 2-12th
5. About Face - Army
6. U.S. Army Helicopter Names
7. VN War Helicopter Art Vol. 1
8. VN War Helicopter Art Vol. 2
9. Courage on the Mountain - 3-22nd
10. Absolution - 2-22nd
1. The Box - A memoir - 2-12th
2. A Weather Walked In - 2-12th
3. Hero Found - Navy
4. The Year of the Rooster - 2-12th
5. About Face - Army
6. U.S. Army Helicopter Names
7. VN War Helicopter Art Vol. 1
8. VN War Helicopter Art Vol. 2
9. Courage on the Mountain - 3-22nd
10. Absolution - 2-22nd
The Box
by Lynn Higgins self-published
–After five years of writing, rewriting, editing and designing, Atascadero resident Lynn Higgins self-published “The Box,” which is a memoir about her Uncle Edward August Schultz.
Higgins was 19 when her uncle lost his life in combat in Vietnam at the age of 21, just three months after he was deployed. “He never wanted to go to war, but he never complained,” Higgins said.
Edward "Eddy" August Schultz graduated from San Luis Obispo High School in 1965. He died in Vietnam in 1968.
Edward “Eddy” August Schultz graduated from San Luis Obispo High School in 1965. He died in Vietnam in 1968.
Higgins started the book after her friend Jim Petersen told her he was traveling to Vietnam in 2009. She asked if he would stop by the village of Hoc Mon if he went by it. He did, and he stopped in the village. She said he came across some men who were Viet Cong members.“These men were in the same battle [as my uncle],” she said. “One of the men started crying and told of his loss.”
That man then told Petersen to wait, and he took off on his bicycle and returned with a box; a gift for Higgins.“To me, they were the enemy,” she said, but then she said she realized that they suffered as much, if not more, loss than those on the side of the United States. “I was so blown away by it. i knew this was a story I had to share. It’s not just for me, but for anyone with loss. I had to share his gift.”
Not long before Petersen’s trip, Schultz’s best friend and former platoon mate, Andy Wahrenbrock –a man he spent 24/7 with during the war– had contacted Higgins’ family. “I thought everyone in his platoon had died – that’s not the true story, but what I thought for years,” she said. Eddy Schultz service photo (left) from 1968. He was drafted and sent to Vietnam. Three months into his deployment he was killed in action.
Wahrenbrock, who now lives in Bakersfield, told them of the battle that took Schultz’s life, as well as the battles that preceded it. With his help, Higgins was able to write about Schultz’s life leading up to his death. Until Wahrenbrock visited Higgins’ family, they did not know that anyone from his platoon has survived. He was able to tell the family what happened in the war, and how Schultz died. Because Schultz and Wahrenbrock were together all day and night during the war, Higgins said she was able to get a pretty good picture of what her uncle experienced.
She knew the age and where the man from the Viet Cong was from and used the history of people growing up there in her book. She told the story of both sides from when Schultz was a boy through his death.
Schultz graduated from San Luis Obispo High School in 1965 and was drafted in 1968 when he was 21. Three months after he was deployed to Vietnam he was killed in action. Because Schultz was only two years older than Higgins, he was the last of six children in her mother’s family, they were very close. Higgins mom, Lorine, was the oldest and often took her mother and Schultz places around town. Higgins said Schultz was more like a brother to her than an uncle.
The 182-page book was released on Jan. 9 via Amazon.com through its print-on-demand feature under the name Lynne Lorine Ludwick. The book is $10 and is printed and mailed once it is purchased. As of Jan. 15, Higgins said she had already sold 40 books. A friend of hers will be having a book signing and book launch party for her in the near future, most likely in March. She will announce the event on her website. Her sister, Judy McPhail, a speech therapist at Almond Acres Charter Academy in San Miguel, took the photo on the cover of the book and Higgins’ daughter, Lauren Christophel, who currently lives in Truckee, designed the cover.
Higgins taught special education full-time for Atascadero Unified School District for 20 years, after subbing for 10 years. She has three children, Lindsey Lau, who graduated from Atascadero High School in 1998; Christophel, who graduated from AHS in 2001; and Michael Higgins, who graduated from AHS in 2003.
Higgins was born and raised in San Luis Obispo. She graduated from SLO High School in 1967 and spent her eighth grade year in Atascadero.
Publisher: Lockwood and Ludwick; 1 edition (January 9, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1943624003
ISBN-13: 978-1943624003
Can be ordered through www.Amazon.com for $10
by Lynn Higgins self-published
–After five years of writing, rewriting, editing and designing, Atascadero resident Lynn Higgins self-published “The Box,” which is a memoir about her Uncle Edward August Schultz.
Higgins was 19 when her uncle lost his life in combat in Vietnam at the age of 21, just three months after he was deployed. “He never wanted to go to war, but he never complained,” Higgins said.
Edward "Eddy" August Schultz graduated from San Luis Obispo High School in 1965. He died in Vietnam in 1968.
Edward “Eddy” August Schultz graduated from San Luis Obispo High School in 1965. He died in Vietnam in 1968.
Higgins started the book after her friend Jim Petersen told her he was traveling to Vietnam in 2009. She asked if he would stop by the village of Hoc Mon if he went by it. He did, and he stopped in the village. She said he came across some men who were Viet Cong members.“These men were in the same battle [as my uncle],” she said. “One of the men started crying and told of his loss.”
That man then told Petersen to wait, and he took off on his bicycle and returned with a box; a gift for Higgins.“To me, they were the enemy,” she said, but then she said she realized that they suffered as much, if not more, loss than those on the side of the United States. “I was so blown away by it. i knew this was a story I had to share. It’s not just for me, but for anyone with loss. I had to share his gift.”
Not long before Petersen’s trip, Schultz’s best friend and former platoon mate, Andy Wahrenbrock –a man he spent 24/7 with during the war– had contacted Higgins’ family. “I thought everyone in his platoon had died – that’s not the true story, but what I thought for years,” she said. Eddy Schultz service photo (left) from 1968. He was drafted and sent to Vietnam. Three months into his deployment he was killed in action.
Wahrenbrock, who now lives in Bakersfield, told them of the battle that took Schultz’s life, as well as the battles that preceded it. With his help, Higgins was able to write about Schultz’s life leading up to his death. Until Wahrenbrock visited Higgins’ family, they did not know that anyone from his platoon has survived. He was able to tell the family what happened in the war, and how Schultz died. Because Schultz and Wahrenbrock were together all day and night during the war, Higgins said she was able to get a pretty good picture of what her uncle experienced.
She knew the age and where the man from the Viet Cong was from and used the history of people growing up there in her book. She told the story of both sides from when Schultz was a boy through his death.
Schultz graduated from San Luis Obispo High School in 1965 and was drafted in 1968 when he was 21. Three months after he was deployed to Vietnam he was killed in action. Because Schultz was only two years older than Higgins, he was the last of six children in her mother’s family, they were very close. Higgins mom, Lorine, was the oldest and often took her mother and Schultz places around town. Higgins said Schultz was more like a brother to her than an uncle.
The 182-page book was released on Jan. 9 via Amazon.com through its print-on-demand feature under the name Lynne Lorine Ludwick. The book is $10 and is printed and mailed once it is purchased. As of Jan. 15, Higgins said she had already sold 40 books. A friend of hers will be having a book signing and book launch party for her in the near future, most likely in March. She will announce the event on her website. Her sister, Judy McPhail, a speech therapist at Almond Acres Charter Academy in San Miguel, took the photo on the cover of the book and Higgins’ daughter, Lauren Christophel, who currently lives in Truckee, designed the cover.
Higgins taught special education full-time for Atascadero Unified School District for 20 years, after subbing for 10 years. She has three children, Lindsey Lau, who graduated from Atascadero High School in 1998; Christophel, who graduated from AHS in 2001; and Michael Higgins, who graduated from AHS in 2003.
Higgins was born and raised in San Luis Obispo. She graduated from SLO High School in 1967 and spent her eighth grade year in Atascadero.
Publisher: Lockwood and Ludwick; 1 edition (January 9, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1943624003
ISBN-13: 978-1943624003
Can be ordered through www.Amazon.com for $10
A Weather Walked In
By Charlie Haughey, A Co 2/12th Infantry 68-69
A collection of over 100 photos of the officers and men who served with the 2-12th between the periods of June 68 to June 69. Photos were taken by Charlie who was the battalion photographer. There is a iPad version and other items as well on the website. Everyone is encouraged to help identify some of these men in the photos by contacting the website by email with any information you may have.
This is a print version of many of Charlie's photos found in the Photo Album section of the website, Albums 60-68.
Can be ordered through www.crowdsupply.com/photography - cost is $55
By Charlie Haughey, A Co 2/12th Infantry 68-69
A collection of over 100 photos of the officers and men who served with the 2-12th between the periods of June 68 to June 69. Photos were taken by Charlie who was the battalion photographer. There is a iPad version and other items as well on the website. Everyone is encouraged to help identify some of these men in the photos by contacting the website by email with any information you may have.
This is a print version of many of Charlie's photos found in the Photo Album section of the website, Albums 60-68.
Can be ordered through www.crowdsupply.com/photography - cost is $55
Hero Found
by Bruce Henderson - The greatest POW escape of the Vietnam War
From the #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of And the Sea Will Tell comes Hero Found: the incredible but true story of Dieter Dengler, the only pilot to escape captivity from a POW camp in the Laotian jungle during the Vietnam War. This amazing story of triumph over seemingly insurmountable odds has been filmed by Werner Herzog as both a documentary (Little Dieter Needs to Fly) and a motion picture (Rescue Dawn, starring Christian Bale), and now receives its book treatment from Bruce Henderson, who served with Dengler in Vietnam.
“I read this book recently when it was given to me as a gift. I read the book in a day and a half. A very fast, gripping story of survival and the internal insight of a man who learned early on, what survival really mean't. Well worth the time to find out how the U.S. Navy functioned, some of their missions and the men who flew the Skyraider, the only prop fighter plane used in the Vietnam War and a description of the plane and the men who flew her.” - Sarge Arnold Krause C 2/12th 68-69
Can be ordered through www.Amazon.com for $15 new
by Bruce Henderson - The greatest POW escape of the Vietnam War
From the #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of And the Sea Will Tell comes Hero Found: the incredible but true story of Dieter Dengler, the only pilot to escape captivity from a POW camp in the Laotian jungle during the Vietnam War. This amazing story of triumph over seemingly insurmountable odds has been filmed by Werner Herzog as both a documentary (Little Dieter Needs to Fly) and a motion picture (Rescue Dawn, starring Christian Bale), and now receives its book treatment from Bruce Henderson, who served with Dengler in Vietnam.
“I read this book recently when it was given to me as a gift. I read the book in a day and a half. A very fast, gripping story of survival and the internal insight of a man who learned early on, what survival really mean't. Well worth the time to find out how the U.S. Navy functioned, some of their missions and the men who flew the Skyraider, the only prop fighter plane used in the Vietnam War and a description of the plane and the men who flew her.” - Sarge Arnold Krause C 2/12th 68-69
Can be ordered through www.Amazon.com for $15 new
Year of the Rooster
By Ben Walderin ( Larry "Snuffy" Goodson, Charlie Co, 2nd Plt 2-12th - 68-69)
This is mostly a short story collection recorded from the memories of a combat veteran of the Vietnam War. The Stories are mingled with present day thoughts and actions so as to show how recollections of war are triggered and intrude into the lives of some soldiers for decades after they leave the war zone. The opening paragraphs describe the old veteran relaxing in Hawaii, living his idea of what being a tourist. Then, he is jolted into the past that he has needed to forget every day since 1969.
"A true story about the young American infantry soldier, this is it.100% facts and no John Wayne - Jerry Dyer, 1st plt, C 2-12th 68-69.
This book puts you back in the field and in the midst of some firefights, and the after thoughts that we all had afterward. A different style of writing, but it gets the writers thoughts and feelings across to the reader - Sarge Arnold Krause C 2-12th 68-69
By Ben Walderin ( Larry "Snuffy" Goodson, Charlie Co, 2nd Plt 2-12th - 68-69)
This is mostly a short story collection recorded from the memories of a combat veteran of the Vietnam War. The Stories are mingled with present day thoughts and actions so as to show how recollections of war are triggered and intrude into the lives of some soldiers for decades after they leave the war zone. The opening paragraphs describe the old veteran relaxing in Hawaii, living his idea of what being a tourist. Then, he is jolted into the past that he has needed to forget every day since 1969.
"A true story about the young American infantry soldier, this is it.100% facts and no John Wayne - Jerry Dyer, 1st plt, C 2-12th 68-69.
This book puts you back in the field and in the midst of some firefights, and the after thoughts that we all had afterward. A different style of writing, but it gets the writers thoughts and feelings across to the reader - Sarge Arnold Krause C 2-12th 68-69
About Face: The Odyssey of an American Warrior
by Col David Hackworth
My neighbor bought this book for me. I think he was trying to punish me as it's 860 some odd pages long. I'm not much of a book reader anymore, although I read the hell out of the internet. Anyway, I opened the book and dove in. Three weeks later, I surfaced from this long odyssey, a story which started out with a 14 year old seeking adventures and ended with a LTC leaving the service after 25 years of duty. The book takes you from the end of WWII, through the bitter cold of Korea, the Cold War in Europe, several stops at the Pentagon and four tours in Vietnam. This is a fascinating read and took four years to write. I was shocked at the detail and recall of daily events, and the descriptions that unfolded before me. Hackworth is truly a soldier's soldier who received 110 decorations in his career, including two DSC's, 10 Silver Stars, an equal number of Bronze Stars with V devices and 8 Purple Hearts. He was a brash foot soldier who worked his way into a field commission, although he had to be talked into becoming an officer. He worked his way up through the ranks, starting as a rifleman, squad leader, platoon leader, company commander an finally a battalion commander. He was exposed to more than the life of a 11Bravo and served in other capacities during his service.
Hackworth is unabashed about his criticism of the Army and how it was run down, in his opinion, starting soon after we entered the Korean War. The focused shifted from 'winning' to 'filling a punch list' and getting a good "ER" (evaluation report), which then let to someone's advancement. This last sentence is devoted to those men in the ranks who sought out advancement as career officers hoping to achieve the rank of General.
What also grabbed my attention, was his failed attempts to get the DOD (Dept of Defense) and the Armed Services to drop WWII tactics, and train officers and troops on guerrilla warfare as we got deeper into the Vietnam War. This candid reflection of his and what he attempted to do caused him grief within his own ranks and fellow officers to the point that it drove him into leaving the service. For me, it heightened my own observations about how we conducted the war and how I and others questioned our lack of desire to win. The book also points out the utter failure of the Vietnamization Program. This was our attempt to train the South Vietnam troops how to tactically fight and lead their own war effort. The fact that the South Vietnamese government was so corrupt along with it's military leaders was reason enough that lead to their overthrow when we left. The only Vietnamese troops worth fighting alongside, was their Marine and Ranger units.
Like most veterans of that war, it's difficult to settle on a vision in our minds that what was asked of us was for the right reasons and not just the pawn's of our own government who fabricated a falsehood to justify a war. The reality of that statement cannot be overlooked. Personally, I believe I was trying to help the people of Vietnam to have a choice in how they wanted to live and under their own choice of government. Most of us draftees had to have something to believe in once we arrived in Vietnam, some reason to hang our hats on for risking our lives or dying for in that country. I'm not sure from the White House that it was really viewed that way.
What I really think is that the war was a convenient excuse to be used for political gain and control of the government and it all backfired on the Democrats. Once we got into the war, it became quicksand and only the revolt of the general population got us out. Unfortunately, it was us that paid the price for all those political decisions and many of us to this day, have not basked in the light of duty, honor and country as today's soldiers have. The controversy of Vietnam will never be put to rest. - Sarge Arnold Krause - Charlie Co 68-69
Can be ordered through www.Amazon.com for $17 new and cheaper used.
by Col David Hackworth
My neighbor bought this book for me. I think he was trying to punish me as it's 860 some odd pages long. I'm not much of a book reader anymore, although I read the hell out of the internet. Anyway, I opened the book and dove in. Three weeks later, I surfaced from this long odyssey, a story which started out with a 14 year old seeking adventures and ended with a LTC leaving the service after 25 years of duty. The book takes you from the end of WWII, through the bitter cold of Korea, the Cold War in Europe, several stops at the Pentagon and four tours in Vietnam. This is a fascinating read and took four years to write. I was shocked at the detail and recall of daily events, and the descriptions that unfolded before me. Hackworth is truly a soldier's soldier who received 110 decorations in his career, including two DSC's, 10 Silver Stars, an equal number of Bronze Stars with V devices and 8 Purple Hearts. He was a brash foot soldier who worked his way into a field commission, although he had to be talked into becoming an officer. He worked his way up through the ranks, starting as a rifleman, squad leader, platoon leader, company commander an finally a battalion commander. He was exposed to more than the life of a 11Bravo and served in other capacities during his service.
Hackworth is unabashed about his criticism of the Army and how it was run down, in his opinion, starting soon after we entered the Korean War. The focused shifted from 'winning' to 'filling a punch list' and getting a good "ER" (evaluation report), which then let to someone's advancement. This last sentence is devoted to those men in the ranks who sought out advancement as career officers hoping to achieve the rank of General.
What also grabbed my attention, was his failed attempts to get the DOD (Dept of Defense) and the Armed Services to drop WWII tactics, and train officers and troops on guerrilla warfare as we got deeper into the Vietnam War. This candid reflection of his and what he attempted to do caused him grief within his own ranks and fellow officers to the point that it drove him into leaving the service. For me, it heightened my own observations about how we conducted the war and how I and others questioned our lack of desire to win. The book also points out the utter failure of the Vietnamization Program. This was our attempt to train the South Vietnam troops how to tactically fight and lead their own war effort. The fact that the South Vietnamese government was so corrupt along with it's military leaders was reason enough that lead to their overthrow when we left. The only Vietnamese troops worth fighting alongside, was their Marine and Ranger units.
Like most veterans of that war, it's difficult to settle on a vision in our minds that what was asked of us was for the right reasons and not just the pawn's of our own government who fabricated a falsehood to justify a war. The reality of that statement cannot be overlooked. Personally, I believe I was trying to help the people of Vietnam to have a choice in how they wanted to live and under their own choice of government. Most of us draftees had to have something to believe in once we arrived in Vietnam, some reason to hang our hats on for risking our lives or dying for in that country. I'm not sure from the White House that it was really viewed that way.
What I really think is that the war was a convenient excuse to be used for political gain and control of the government and it all backfired on the Democrats. Once we got into the war, it became quicksand and only the revolt of the general population got us out. Unfortunately, it was us that paid the price for all those political decisions and many of us to this day, have not basked in the light of duty, honor and country as today's soldiers have. The controversy of Vietnam will never be put to rest. - Sarge Arnold Krause - Charlie Co 68-69
Can be ordered through www.Amazon.com for $17 new and cheaper used.
This is a 2nd announcement for the first of two in-country themed books, "U.S. Army Helicopter Names In Vietnam". My name is John Brennan, and I am the VN vet author of this "names" database from Hellgate Press. The listed price is $31.95, however, you may obtain a signed copy for $28.00, shipping included, by sending a check or money order to: John Brennan, 17355 Via Annette, San Lorenzo, CA 94580. They are a tandem set that go hand-in-hand and compliment each other.
“I ordered this book for my collection - Well done with beautiful photos and a lot of research that went into producing this find book.” - Sarge Arnold Krause - Charlie Co 68-69
You can checkout www.hellgatepress.com
“I ordered this book for my collection - Well done with beautiful photos and a lot of research that went into producing this find book.” - Sarge Arnold Krause - Charlie Co 68-69
You can checkout www.hellgatepress.com
Vietnam War Helicopter Art, Vol 1,
(Fall 2012), features 300 beautiful color nose art photos, together with 400 anecdotes from Army helo veterans. From Stackpole Publishers.
Order by check payable to: John Brennen, 17355 Via Annette, San Lorenzo, CA, 94580 or you can pay by Paypal, johnmailman@yahoo.com but you will need to add $1 more to the price. Shipping is included in the price.
“I ordered this book for my collection - Well done with beautiful photos and a lot of research that went into producing this find book.” - Sarge Arnold Krause - Charlie Co 68-69
(Fall 2012), features 300 beautiful color nose art photos, together with 400 anecdotes from Army helo veterans. From Stackpole Publishers.
Order by check payable to: John Brennen, 17355 Via Annette, San Lorenzo, CA, 94580 or you can pay by Paypal, johnmailman@yahoo.com but you will need to add $1 more to the price. Shipping is included in the price.
“I ordered this book for my collection - Well done with beautiful photos and a lot of research that went into producing this find book.” - Sarge Arnold Krause - Charlie Co 68-69
Vietnam War Helicopter Art, Vol 2,
(Spring, 2014) is a second in the series on artwork found on many of the choppers flown in Vietnam.
Order by check payable to: John Brennen, 17355 Via Annette, San Lorenzo, CA, 94580 or you can pay by Paypal, johnmailman@yahoo.com but you will need to add $1 more to the price. Shipping is included in the price.
“I ordered this book for my collection - Well done with beautiful photos and a lot of research that went into producing this find book.” - Sarge Arnold Krause - Charlie Co 68-69
(Spring, 2014) is a second in the series on artwork found on many of the choppers flown in Vietnam.
Order by check payable to: John Brennen, 17355 Via Annette, San Lorenzo, CA, 94580 or you can pay by Paypal, johnmailman@yahoo.com but you will need to add $1 more to the price. Shipping is included in the price.
“I ordered this book for my collection - Well done with beautiful photos and a lot of research that went into producing this find book.” - Sarge Arnold Krause - Charlie Co 68-69
Courage on the Mountain
by George Reischling 3/22nd Infantry
Projecting skyward ominously 3200 feet above the surrounding flat jungle terrain towered a solitary goliath of a mountain shrouded with an ancient mystical legend and now an enemy stronghold. Nui Ba Dien or the “Black Virgin Mountain” served as a major staging area for the last finger of the infamous Ho Chi Minh trail as it crossed the Cambodian border just a few miles to the West. Honeycombed with hundreds of caves and fortified with elite NVA and Viet Cong soldiers, she stood as a “Thorn in the Side” of American military control of the region. The 25th Infantry Division held a communication site on her highest peak and also the land encircling her base but her slopes were voraciously defended by large numbers of elite enemy soldiers. Anytime any American unit undertook to engage her slopes, a hellacious battle was guaranteed with the “Angel of Death” always hovering near!
These memoirs illuminate more than just the courage of battle but also the courage and inner strength that the soldiers of Vietnam had to shoulder upon their return home. Courage and dignity qualify all Vietnam Veterans such that the country that at one time turned their back on them now holds them in high esteem. This is my story, start to finish and it was written to enlighten the reader to a greater understanding of the American men and women and their struggles for survival in America’s most unpopular war!
Available through www.Amazon.com Kindle Books for $2.99
George also has his own website with ordering information - www.courageonthemountain.com
by George Reischling 3/22nd Infantry
Projecting skyward ominously 3200 feet above the surrounding flat jungle terrain towered a solitary goliath of a mountain shrouded with an ancient mystical legend and now an enemy stronghold. Nui Ba Dien or the “Black Virgin Mountain” served as a major staging area for the last finger of the infamous Ho Chi Minh trail as it crossed the Cambodian border just a few miles to the West. Honeycombed with hundreds of caves and fortified with elite NVA and Viet Cong soldiers, she stood as a “Thorn in the Side” of American military control of the region. The 25th Infantry Division held a communication site on her highest peak and also the land encircling her base but her slopes were voraciously defended by large numbers of elite enemy soldiers. Anytime any American unit undertook to engage her slopes, a hellacious battle was guaranteed with the “Angel of Death” always hovering near!
These memoirs illuminate more than just the courage of battle but also the courage and inner strength that the soldiers of Vietnam had to shoulder upon their return home. Courage and dignity qualify all Vietnam Veterans such that the country that at one time turned their back on them now holds them in high esteem. This is my story, start to finish and it was written to enlighten the reader to a greater understanding of the American men and women and their struggles for survival in America’s most unpopular war!
Available through www.Amazon.com Kindle Books for $2.99
George also has his own website with ordering information - www.courageonthemountain.com
Absolution - Charlie Co 3-22nd Infantry
by Charles Boyle
Fresh out of Infantry OCS, 2nd Lieutenant Dennis Riley gets a reality check when he joins his platoon in the Hobo Woods, south of Cui Chi, home of the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam. It was a blistering hot August in 1967 when he met the men of the Third Platoon, Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry. By nightfall they are in contact with elements of the 272nd NVA and the blood letting seldom takes a break for the next twelve months. Dennis and his men are frequently ambushed, mortared and booby trapped, but by New Year’s 1967/68 they are ready for the fight of their life at Fire Support Base Burt, north of Tay Ninh, astride the Cambodian border. The 2nd Battalion (Mech) and the 3rd Battalion hold off the combined assaults of four North Vietnamese regiments killing over 600 of the enemy by daybreak. Absolution vividly describes the carnage and American heroism of that battlefield using the eyewitness accounts of helicopter gunship and medivac pilots, platoon leaders, sergeants and the fighting men.
Now a First Lieutenant, Dennis Riley is selected to command Charlie Company, badly demoralized after losing twelve killed and dozens wounded at Burt. At the onset of the Tet Offensive, ten more gallant Americans die as Riley and his company slug it out during sixteen days of frontal assaults against an entrenched enemy at the village of Ap Cho, south of Cui Chi. The description of this battle is as close to combat as you can get without having been there. And if you were there... anywhere in Vietnam, thank you and God Bless you!
April 12, 1968 was Good Friday, but the 3rd Battalion saw nothing good about a regiment of NVA screaming across their positions in the middle of the night. They paid dearly for it, losing hundreds of their Communists attackers to the 22nd Infantry. It fell to hand to hand combat, bayonet for bayonet... all night long. One hundred, fifty three NVA died within the perimeter.
In the aftermath of that carnage and the loss of so many lives, Dennis Riley grows disenchanted with the war. He is quietly reassigned to administrative duties, eventually retuning to America in late 1968. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder steals his mind and his soul as he wanders the country aimlessly, grieving the loss of so many of his men. We find Dennis astride a Texas railroad track as a fast moving Western Pacific freight train bears down on his car.
Few books can get you as close to combat and the men who sacrificed so much in Vietnam as “Absolution” does. It is action packed and factual. You’ll shed a tear or two as you travel those deadly battlefields with Dennis Riley, Charlie Company, and the 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry. If you want to know what PTSD is all about, how it effects all fighting men, and how to resolve it; this book may be a very big help to you.
Great reviews.....
I just finished this novel. It was sent as a gift from Doc Andy Wahrenbrock and is signed by the author. There is a lot of tension in this book, especially describing the "high command" and the expectations that were given through orders that seemed surreal to me at times. We all carry the war in our heads and many impressions can be both true and skewed based on our own experiences. I found the relationship between Riley and his enlisted buddies somewhat of a reach, knowing most officers viewed their men as tools to get the job down, despite truely carrying for their welfare, but being "buddy buddy" with them, I'm not so sure. Just my opinion on that subject. Overall, a good read about one of our fellow brigade units.
---Sarge Arnold Krause C 2-12th
Available at www.amazon.com for $9 new or Kindle Books for $2.99
by Charles Boyle
Fresh out of Infantry OCS, 2nd Lieutenant Dennis Riley gets a reality check when he joins his platoon in the Hobo Woods, south of Cui Chi, home of the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam. It was a blistering hot August in 1967 when he met the men of the Third Platoon, Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry. By nightfall they are in contact with elements of the 272nd NVA and the blood letting seldom takes a break for the next twelve months. Dennis and his men are frequently ambushed, mortared and booby trapped, but by New Year’s 1967/68 they are ready for the fight of their life at Fire Support Base Burt, north of Tay Ninh, astride the Cambodian border. The 2nd Battalion (Mech) and the 3rd Battalion hold off the combined assaults of four North Vietnamese regiments killing over 600 of the enemy by daybreak. Absolution vividly describes the carnage and American heroism of that battlefield using the eyewitness accounts of helicopter gunship and medivac pilots, platoon leaders, sergeants and the fighting men.
Now a First Lieutenant, Dennis Riley is selected to command Charlie Company, badly demoralized after losing twelve killed and dozens wounded at Burt. At the onset of the Tet Offensive, ten more gallant Americans die as Riley and his company slug it out during sixteen days of frontal assaults against an entrenched enemy at the village of Ap Cho, south of Cui Chi. The description of this battle is as close to combat as you can get without having been there. And if you were there... anywhere in Vietnam, thank you and God Bless you!
April 12, 1968 was Good Friday, but the 3rd Battalion saw nothing good about a regiment of NVA screaming across their positions in the middle of the night. They paid dearly for it, losing hundreds of their Communists attackers to the 22nd Infantry. It fell to hand to hand combat, bayonet for bayonet... all night long. One hundred, fifty three NVA died within the perimeter.
In the aftermath of that carnage and the loss of so many lives, Dennis Riley grows disenchanted with the war. He is quietly reassigned to administrative duties, eventually retuning to America in late 1968. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder steals his mind and his soul as he wanders the country aimlessly, grieving the loss of so many of his men. We find Dennis astride a Texas railroad track as a fast moving Western Pacific freight train bears down on his car.
Few books can get you as close to combat and the men who sacrificed so much in Vietnam as “Absolution” does. It is action packed and factual. You’ll shed a tear or two as you travel those deadly battlefields with Dennis Riley, Charlie Company, and the 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry. If you want to know what PTSD is all about, how it effects all fighting men, and how to resolve it; this book may be a very big help to you.
Great reviews.....
I just finished this novel. It was sent as a gift from Doc Andy Wahrenbrock and is signed by the author. There is a lot of tension in this book, especially describing the "high command" and the expectations that were given through orders that seemed surreal to me at times. We all carry the war in our heads and many impressions can be both true and skewed based on our own experiences. I found the relationship between Riley and his enlisted buddies somewhat of a reach, knowing most officers viewed their men as tools to get the job down, despite truely carrying for their welfare, but being "buddy buddy" with them, I'm not so sure. Just my opinion on that subject. Overall, a good read about one of our fellow brigade units.
---Sarge Arnold Krause C 2-12th
Available at www.amazon.com for $9 new or Kindle Books for $2.99
A Hundred Miles of Bad Road:
An Armored Cavalryman in Vietnam, 1967-68
by Dwight W Birdwell and Keith William Nolan
Dwight Birdwell and William Nolan have produced a very good personal account of an armored crewman's 16-month tour in Vietnam. In addition to absorbing combat narratives, Birdwell provides a lot of details and context to help readers understand his story. He gives explicit reasons why his unit's morale and performance deteriorated over his tour, and how the Tet Offensive changed the nature of the war. I highly recommend this book to any student of the military or the Vietnam War. U.S. military officers should read it for examples of how good leadership can inspire a unit, and bad leadership can cost lives. Birdwell highlights the role of good, solid NCOs as the beating heart of a military unit.
Hardcover: 218 pages, Available through Amazon.com for $20.00 (new) - $6 (used)
Publisher: Presidio Press
An Armored Cavalryman in Vietnam, 1967-68
by Dwight W Birdwell and Keith William Nolan
Dwight Birdwell and William Nolan have produced a very good personal account of an armored crewman's 16-month tour in Vietnam. In addition to absorbing combat narratives, Birdwell provides a lot of details and context to help readers understand his story. He gives explicit reasons why his unit's morale and performance deteriorated over his tour, and how the Tet Offensive changed the nature of the war. I highly recommend this book to any student of the military or the Vietnam War. U.S. military officers should read it for examples of how good leadership can inspire a unit, and bad leadership can cost lives. Birdwell highlights the role of good, solid NCOs as the beating heart of a military unit.
Hardcover: 218 pages, Available through Amazon.com for $20.00 (new) - $6 (used)
Publisher: Presidio Press
To the Limit:
An Air Cav Huey Pilot in Vietnam Paperback – October 2, 2007
by Tom A. Johnson
"A riveting, well-written book that puts the reader right there in the cockpit. . . . To the Limit is worthy of its own screen rendition. What makes [it] such a credible work is that it is not just blood and guts. Johnson writes with passion and earnestness regarding these character-building episodes that helped define him. . . . The only whining you will hear is the powerful engine of the Huey that Tom Johnson describes so vividly that you can almost feel the ground shake."
Tom was a 1st Lt pilot in the Air Cav and served with the 2nd Sqdn 229th AHC in I Corp. He was in country from June 67-June 68 and is a detailed book about his experiences in learning to fly a Huey in combat, and later becoming a air commander.
For a grunt reading this novel, is does give me insight about the life of a pilot both from the cockpit to the after hours down time they used to unwind from the tension they felt flying their missions.
The book lays it all out from the screw ups to Johnson getting shot down in the A Shau Valley and how his crew and passengers escaped to fight another day. After meeting the men from the 116th AHC in April of 2015 and listing to them talk about the pride they felt looking after the 11 Bravo's, I never felt that sense of determination or caring come across in the book from Johnson.
Still, it's a good read and there are plenty of stories Tom tells of his exploits and how difficult it was learning to fly a helicopter. He details his entry into pilot's school all the way to completing his tour of duty in Vietnam. - Sarge Arnold Krause, C 2-12th.
Available at Amazon for about $12. - Sarge
Dead Men Flying
by Patrick Henry Brady
General Patrick Brady is one of the most highly decorated veterans in American history. After reading this book, you will understand why. He truly merited the Congressional Medal of Honor, which he was awarded during his second tour in Vietnam, for an almost unbelievable rescue effort as a "Dust Off" helicopter ambulance pilot. Flying in bad weather, in enemy held territory, his helicopters badly damaged by enemy fire,utilizing 3 different helicopters, he still managed to evacuate 51 seriously wounded soldiers, many of whom would have died without the rapid treatment that his efforts afforded. Flying over 2500 combat missions, he was responsible for the rescue of over 5000 wounded during his two tours in Vietnam. This book chronicles many of his most notable rescue missions. It also tells the story of the "Dust Off" ambulance helicopter units and the legendary figures that became associated with these units. These units, composed of pilots, crew members and their supporting crews, in my view, were the real heroes of the Vietnam War, though never receiving the recognition that I thought that they deserved. This book should change that. Brady brings forth new information about other heroes of the Vietnam War era, Major Charles Kelly, Doctor Pat Smith and a host of others who devoted their lives to the rescue of others. The stories of Brady's determination, hard work, and faith cannot help but be an inspiration for anyone who, like he, suffered setbacks during the course of their lives.
Available through Amazon.com for $17 new, less for used
This book was the second of three that I got for Father's Day. Brady was part of the first unit to be deployed to Vietnam as a Medical Detachment designed for aerial ambulance service with the 57th Med. Detachment. It's a story of their success to create the operational rules and struggles to become a highly regarded and dedicated unit bent on the idea that "no one" will be left on the battlefield. Hard not to realize the effort and sacrifice this units and the pilots and crews were willing to do, in order to save lives on the battlefield. The shear determination comes through time and again. The fact that each Huey had large RED CROSSES painted on the fuselage meant nothing to the enemy and were a relentless target of opportunity. This book does provide the backdrop to the whole concept, development, best practice and success of the Medical Detachments assigned throughout Vietnam,known to us as call signs MEDEVAC or DUSTOFF ---- Sarge Arnold Krause C 2-12th
by Patrick Henry Brady
General Patrick Brady is one of the most highly decorated veterans in American history. After reading this book, you will understand why. He truly merited the Congressional Medal of Honor, which he was awarded during his second tour in Vietnam, for an almost unbelievable rescue effort as a "Dust Off" helicopter ambulance pilot. Flying in bad weather, in enemy held territory, his helicopters badly damaged by enemy fire,utilizing 3 different helicopters, he still managed to evacuate 51 seriously wounded soldiers, many of whom would have died without the rapid treatment that his efforts afforded. Flying over 2500 combat missions, he was responsible for the rescue of over 5000 wounded during his two tours in Vietnam. This book chronicles many of his most notable rescue missions. It also tells the story of the "Dust Off" ambulance helicopter units and the legendary figures that became associated with these units. These units, composed of pilots, crew members and their supporting crews, in my view, were the real heroes of the Vietnam War, though never receiving the recognition that I thought that they deserved. This book should change that. Brady brings forth new information about other heroes of the Vietnam War era, Major Charles Kelly, Doctor Pat Smith and a host of others who devoted their lives to the rescue of others. The stories of Brady's determination, hard work, and faith cannot help but be an inspiration for anyone who, like he, suffered setbacks during the course of their lives.
Available through Amazon.com for $17 new, less for used
This book was the second of three that I got for Father's Day. Brady was part of the first unit to be deployed to Vietnam as a Medical Detachment designed for aerial ambulance service with the 57th Med. Detachment. It's a story of their success to create the operational rules and struggles to become a highly regarded and dedicated unit bent on the idea that "no one" will be left on the battlefield. Hard not to realize the effort and sacrifice this units and the pilots and crews were willing to do, in order to save lives on the battlefield. The shear determination comes through time and again. The fact that each Huey had large RED CROSSES painted on the fuselage meant nothing to the enemy and were a relentless target of opportunity. This book does provide the backdrop to the whole concept, development, best practice and success of the Medical Detachments assigned throughout Vietnam,known to us as call signs MEDEVAC or DUSTOFF ---- Sarge Arnold Krause C 2-12th
11. Hundred Miles of Bad Rd - 3-4 Cav
12. To the Limit - 229th AHC
13. Dead Men Flying - 57th Med Attach.
14. U.S. Army Helicopter names Vol 2
15. Enduring Vietnam - All units
16. The Killing Zone - 1-14th
17. Donut Dollies - ARC
18. Brutal Battles of Vietnam '65-72
19. Young Men in Harm's Way - 2-12th
20. Duel with the Dragon - 2-12th
12. To the Limit - 229th AHC
13. Dead Men Flying - 57th Med Attach.
14. U.S. Army Helicopter names Vol 2
15. Enduring Vietnam - All units
16. The Killing Zone - 1-14th
17. Donut Dollies - ARC
18. Brutal Battles of Vietnam '65-72
19. Young Men in Harm's Way - 2-12th
20. Duel with the Dragon - 2-12th
Vietnam War, U.S. Army Helicopter Names, Vol 2, Second Edition
by John Brennan
by John Brennan
4,000+ copter names recorded! Signed copies of, "Vietnam War, U.S. Army Helicopter Names, Vol 2, Second Edition" will be available from the author on October 2nd. Featuring 40 additional pages of text, 284 newly found copter Names, 3 new b+w photos and 2 new color pics. Priced at $20.95.
Email HYPERLINK "mailto:johnmailman@yahoo.com" johnmailman@yahoo.com for ordering instructions. Rotors forever, John Brennan
PS - The Vol 3 helicopter photo-book is slated for a late 2017 publishing date
Email HYPERLINK "mailto:johnmailman@yahoo.com" johnmailman@yahoo.com for ordering instructions. Rotors forever, John Brennan
PS - The Vol 3 helicopter photo-book is slated for a late 2017 publishing date
Advance Readings of Enduring Vietnam: An American Generation and its War
James Wright’s Enduring Vietnam offers an intimate, moving, sometimes heartbreaking account of Americans who fought in Vietnam, focusing on 1969, a time when combat was still at a peak of intensity but when a majority of citizens—including many GIs—had turned against the war. Wright takes us from the harrowing bloodbath of Hamburger Hill to the troubled homecomings of veterans and never reduces the human complexity of his subject with sentimentality or broad brush polemics. —Christian Appy, author of Patriots: The Vietnam War Remembered from All Sides
There's something utterly revealing about the Vietnam War, something that speaks directly to the divisions we experience today. With Jim Wright's new book, we take a giant step closer to unlocking the mystery, and gain, at the same time, the intimate consequences of the conflict many of us would rather forget. —Ken Burns Filmmaker
"The best books about conflict and combat weave into their narrative personal stories, vignettes that plumb the human landscape of war. James Wright has written one of those best books. Anyone who wants a glimpse into the psyche of the Vietnam combat veteran should – must – read Enduring Vietnam.—Bernard Edelman, editor of Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam. Vietnam veteran
This clear, concise, and highly readable book is a must read for anybody who wants to understand the Vietnam War, its politics, critical decisions, effects on individuals who lived through it, and its reverberations in current American culture and foreign policy. It provides the reader with a greater understanding of the nature of war and personal experiences of those who served, and a feeling for the times usually only found in a novel. It is destined to become a standard reference for the history of the Vietnam War. This is a great book. —Karl Marlantes, author of Matterhorn. Vietnam veteran
“Broad in scope and as human a history as could be written of the “enduring” impact of our nation’s Vietnam experience, this is a beautiful piece of work. Richly informative and uncompromising, Jim Wright captures the tone of those tumultuous years, unflinchingly acknowledging the mistakes, courage and long-lasting effects on America through the lens of a generation that came of age in the sixties. With honesty and compassion for those who carried and still carry burdens from the war years, no book better captures the totality of that era. —James N. Mattis, General (ret.) United States Marine Corps
Jim Wright’s history of the Vietnam War captures the voices of the combat veterans who bore the brunt of their leaders’ mistakes in the Vietnam War. His pitch perfect account of what those men experienced reminds us again of so many lives lost too soon, of wounds both physical and psychological, of the losses that last for lifetimes, all for a cause that was never clear or compelling. Enduring Vietnam is an important addition to the literature of the Vietnam War. —Peter S. Prichard, retired editor, USA Today, Chairman, Newseum. Vietnam veteran
James Wright’s Enduring Vietnam offers an intimate, moving, sometimes heartbreaking account of Americans who fought in Vietnam, focusing on 1969, a time when combat was still at a peak of intensity but when a majority of citizens—including many GIs—had turned against the war. Wright takes us from the harrowing bloodbath of Hamburger Hill to the troubled homecomings of veterans and never reduces the human complexity of his subject with sentimentality or broad brush polemics. —Christian Appy, author of Patriots: The Vietnam War Remembered from All Sides
There's something utterly revealing about the Vietnam War, something that speaks directly to the divisions we experience today. With Jim Wright's new book, we take a giant step closer to unlocking the mystery, and gain, at the same time, the intimate consequences of the conflict many of us would rather forget. —Ken Burns Filmmaker
"The best books about conflict and combat weave into their narrative personal stories, vignettes that plumb the human landscape of war. James Wright has written one of those best books. Anyone who wants a glimpse into the psyche of the Vietnam combat veteran should – must – read Enduring Vietnam.—Bernard Edelman, editor of Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam. Vietnam veteran
This clear, concise, and highly readable book is a must read for anybody who wants to understand the Vietnam War, its politics, critical decisions, effects on individuals who lived through it, and its reverberations in current American culture and foreign policy. It provides the reader with a greater understanding of the nature of war and personal experiences of those who served, and a feeling for the times usually only found in a novel. It is destined to become a standard reference for the history of the Vietnam War. This is a great book. —Karl Marlantes, author of Matterhorn. Vietnam veteran
“Broad in scope and as human a history as could be written of the “enduring” impact of our nation’s Vietnam experience, this is a beautiful piece of work. Richly informative and uncompromising, Jim Wright captures the tone of those tumultuous years, unflinchingly acknowledging the mistakes, courage and long-lasting effects on America through the lens of a generation that came of age in the sixties. With honesty and compassion for those who carried and still carry burdens from the war years, no book better captures the totality of that era. —James N. Mattis, General (ret.) United States Marine Corps
Jim Wright’s history of the Vietnam War captures the voices of the combat veterans who bore the brunt of their leaders’ mistakes in the Vietnam War. His pitch perfect account of what those men experienced reminds us again of so many lives lost too soon, of wounds both physical and psychological, of the losses that last for lifetimes, all for a cause that was never clear or compelling. Enduring Vietnam is an important addition to the literature of the Vietnam War. —Peter S. Prichard, retired editor, USA Today, Chairman, Newseum. Vietnam veteran
Enduring Vietnam
by James Wright
by James Wright
The Killing Zone
by Frederick Downs Jr.
This book belongs on a short list including Phillip Caputo's "A Rumor of War" and Lt. General Harold G. Moore's "We Were Soldiers Once...and Young," as one of the best first person narratives to come out of the Vietnam War. Downs was a fresh faced platoon leader who, like "Born on the Fourth of July"'s Ron Kovic, looked forward to the opportunity to prove his mettle under fire. Like Kovic, Downs came back from the war with a shattered body and a psyche that was deeply affected by what he experienced. Down's account of Vietnam is simple and straightforward. He is also an excellent writer and his book is a compulsive page turner. This is not a book that should be missed by those with an interest in America's most tragic war.
“The best damned book from the point of view of the infantrymen who fought there.”-Army Times
Among the best books ever written about men in combat, The Killing Zone tells the story of the platoon of Delta One-six, capturing what it meant to face lethal danger, to follow orders, and to search for the conviction and then the hope that this war was worth the sacrifice. The book includes a new chapter on what happened to the platoon members when they came home.
by Frederick Downs Jr.
This book belongs on a short list including Phillip Caputo's "A Rumor of War" and Lt. General Harold G. Moore's "We Were Soldiers Once...and Young," as one of the best first person narratives to come out of the Vietnam War. Downs was a fresh faced platoon leader who, like "Born on the Fourth of July"'s Ron Kovic, looked forward to the opportunity to prove his mettle under fire. Like Kovic, Downs came back from the war with a shattered body and a psyche that was deeply affected by what he experienced. Down's account of Vietnam is simple and straightforward. He is also an excellent writer and his book is a compulsive page turner. This is not a book that should be missed by those with an interest in America's most tragic war.
“The best damned book from the point of view of the infantrymen who fought there.”-Army Times
Among the best books ever written about men in combat, The Killing Zone tells the story of the platoon of Delta One-six, capturing what it meant to face lethal danger, to follow orders, and to search for the conviction and then the hope that this war was worth the sacrifice. The book includes a new chapter on what happened to the platoon members when they came home.
This book is all about Lt Fred Downs time in country. It is an accounting of his experience as a First Lieutenant with Delta Co., first platoon. It describes jungle fighting unlike some of the terrain we experienced in III Corp.and the complete opposite as they patrolled the local villages of the coastlines of I Corp. He writes mostly of his day to day experiences with his men and the actions they were involved in. A good perspective of how another unit looked at the war through the lens of their prism. --- Sarge Arnold Krause C 2-12th
Available at www.amazon.com for $9.00 new
Donut Dollies in Vietnam Baby Blue Dresses and OD Green
by Nancy Smoyer
The young women who served in South Vietnam with the Red Cross Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas (SRAO) program were known informally as
Red Cross recreation workers. To the American men who served during the Vietnam
war they were simply Donut Dollies.
Ask any Donut Dollie why she was in Vietnam and she would tell you that she was there
because the men were there. Ranging from large bases such as Cam Ranh Bay to forward Landing Zones and ?re bases, their job was to provide GIs with a brief respite from the war through games, Kool—aid, or just their presence.
In Donut Dollies in Vietnam: Baby—Blue Dresses, Nancy Smoyer, who served as a Donut Dollie during 1967—68, writes a poignant memoir ofher Vietnam experience, both during and after the Vietnam war. Based on Nancy’s photographs and letters and tapes home, as well as emails written to veteran groups since 1993, she pulls together material from others to share the emotions and events she and other Donut Dollies experienced.
Donut Dollies in Vietnam flew two million miles in helicopters to remote outposts to bring a little bit of home to thousands of guys who were far from it. They were unique and welcome guests, a reminder in the grim and overwhelmingly masculine war zone that girlfriends, wives, and sisters waited back home. Nancy Smoyer, one of these brave and dedicated women, offers a sincere, can- did, and humorous first person account of their discomforts, rewards, joys, and agonies. Her book is a long overdue recognition of the service and sacrifice of the Red Cross Girls as well as a much needed contribution to Vietnam War literature.” – Robert W. Doubek, Project Director - Vietnam Veterans Memorial
“Over 600 young American women volunteered to go to Vietnam with the American Red Cross as recreation workers. The troops they visited in the field loved the touch of home they brought to a hostile environment and dubbed them Donut Dollies. Nancy Smoyer has drawn on all her letters home during her tour to craft this book. Well worth reading an untold story of the war of our youth!” – Joe Galloway, co-author of We Were Soldiers Once...and Young.
“Having been to Vietnam with the Red Cross, this book resonates as a very real and tangible depliction of what that experience was like. It is painful, funny, poignant and oh so familiar. The “Afterword” stands out as succinct expression of something that it so difficult to put into words — and so well written. The highest praise that I can give this book is that I would want my kids and grandkids to read it in order to understand what that year in my life meant.” – Ann, a Donut Dollie
The cost is $15 and the proceeds will go to the Semper Fi Fund, an A+ - rated organization that helps injured service members and their families. It can be ordered as follows: at CreateSpace.com, go to https://www.createspace.com/7079785 which will take you directly to the book, or at Amazon.com. (The proceeds for the Semper Fi Fund are greater at createspace.)
by Nancy Smoyer
The young women who served in South Vietnam with the Red Cross Supplemental Recreation Activities Overseas (SRAO) program were known informally as
Red Cross recreation workers. To the American men who served during the Vietnam
war they were simply Donut Dollies.
Ask any Donut Dollie why she was in Vietnam and she would tell you that she was there
because the men were there. Ranging from large bases such as Cam Ranh Bay to forward Landing Zones and ?re bases, their job was to provide GIs with a brief respite from the war through games, Kool—aid, or just their presence.
In Donut Dollies in Vietnam: Baby—Blue Dresses, Nancy Smoyer, who served as a Donut Dollie during 1967—68, writes a poignant memoir ofher Vietnam experience, both during and after the Vietnam war. Based on Nancy’s photographs and letters and tapes home, as well as emails written to veteran groups since 1993, she pulls together material from others to share the emotions and events she and other Donut Dollies experienced.
Donut Dollies in Vietnam flew two million miles in helicopters to remote outposts to bring a little bit of home to thousands of guys who were far from it. They were unique and welcome guests, a reminder in the grim and overwhelmingly masculine war zone that girlfriends, wives, and sisters waited back home. Nancy Smoyer, one of these brave and dedicated women, offers a sincere, can- did, and humorous first person account of their discomforts, rewards, joys, and agonies. Her book is a long overdue recognition of the service and sacrifice of the Red Cross Girls as well as a much needed contribution to Vietnam War literature.” – Robert W. Doubek, Project Director - Vietnam Veterans Memorial
“Over 600 young American women volunteered to go to Vietnam with the American Red Cross as recreation workers. The troops they visited in the field loved the touch of home they brought to a hostile environment and dubbed them Donut Dollies. Nancy Smoyer has drawn on all her letters home during her tour to craft this book. Well worth reading an untold story of the war of our youth!” – Joe Galloway, co-author of We Were Soldiers Once...and Young.
“Having been to Vietnam with the Red Cross, this book resonates as a very real and tangible depliction of what that experience was like. It is painful, funny, poignant and oh so familiar. The “Afterword” stands out as succinct expression of something that it so difficult to put into words — and so well written. The highest praise that I can give this book is that I would want my kids and grandkids to read it in order to understand what that year in my life meant.” – Ann, a Donut Dollie
The cost is $15 and the proceeds will go to the Semper Fi Fund, an A+ - rated organization that helps injured service members and their families. It can be ordered as follows: at CreateSpace.com, go to https://www.createspace.com/7079785 which will take you directly to the book, or at Amazon.com. (The proceeds for the Semper Fi Fund are greater at createspace.)
During the Paris Peace talks in the early 1970s, American Col. Harry Summers was talking to his North Vietnamese counterpart during a break. Summers reportedly told the Vietnamese that we had won every battle in the war. The Vietnamese replied, “That is true, but it is also irrelevant.” It is not irrelevant to the surviving veterans who fought those battles or to the families of Americans who did not return.
With the exception of Hue City and Khe Sanh, most of the big battles have faded into history. We are as far in time from Vietnam today as we were from World War I in 1967, and the sacrifices of those who fought the war are in danger of being forgotten by the majority of the American people. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) strive mightily to keep those memories alive. “Brutal Battles of Vietnam” is an attempt to recreate those desperate battles largely in the words of those who fought them.
The book is the culmination of a seven-year project of articles from the VFW magazine. Each chapter focuses on a specific battle and there are separate chapters on the naval and air wars. The book is edited by Richard K. Kolb, who wrote the majority of the magazine articles that make up the anthology. Each chapter is painstakingly researched and the interviews with participants of the battles represent primary sources in a way that has not been done in any of the literature of the war that I have come across. In addition to some excellent photographs, this readable volume lists the award winners of the highest medals for heroism.
Can be purchased through Veterans of Foreign Wars, $29.95, 480 pages, illustrated
www.vfwstore.org then search for "books"
With the exception of Hue City and Khe Sanh, most of the big battles have faded into history. We are as far in time from Vietnam today as we were from World War I in 1967, and the sacrifices of those who fought the war are in danger of being forgotten by the majority of the American people. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) strive mightily to keep those memories alive. “Brutal Battles of Vietnam” is an attempt to recreate those desperate battles largely in the words of those who fought them.
The book is the culmination of a seven-year project of articles from the VFW magazine. Each chapter focuses on a specific battle and there are separate chapters on the naval and air wars. The book is edited by Richard K. Kolb, who wrote the majority of the magazine articles that make up the anthology. Each chapter is painstakingly researched and the interviews with participants of the battles represent primary sources in a way that has not been done in any of the literature of the war that I have come across. In addition to some excellent photographs, this readable volume lists the award winners of the highest medals for heroism.
Can be purchased through Veterans of Foreign Wars, $29.95, 480 pages, illustrated
www.vfwstore.org then search for "books"
Brutal Battles of Vietnam
AMERICA’S DEADLIEST DAYS, 1965-1972
by Richard K. Kolb
AMERICA’S DEADLIEST DAYS, 1965-1972
by Richard K. Kolb
Young Men in Harm's Way follows the true story of Arnold W Krause, a soldier in Charlie Company, 2nd Bn, 12th Infantry Regiment and his tour in Vietnam from March 1968 to March 1969. While Young Men chronicles the unit's encounters with the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army, it also paints a picture of a soldier's life away from combat and his interactions with the people of the country. Further, it digs into what the unit did, how they did it, and what was required for them to function as an effective combat unit.
Though a personal look into one soldiers time in Vietnam, Young Men in Harm's Way remains an informative and poignant, yet often funny, glimpse into unit life.
"I began this book as an afterthought, trying to create the diary I never kept nor ever thought about wanting to retain information about my tour in Vietnam. I began to write snippets of things I remembered doing while there. It was only after I began to find and socialize with guys from my platoon did this grow into a quest for more information as I began to tap NARA, the National Achieves for records and information about our unit's movements. This propelled me further to create a full chronology of what happened during my time in country.
I finally decided to go all in, when talking to others about the importance of capturing our history and not loosing it to time and to our mortality. It was then that I began to modify my diary and turn it into a book. I have taken care to include major events that involved the whole battalion and not just limit my story to Charlie Company. I have also included many quotes from other veterans who had shared their thoughts at the time of a particular action.
The book also covers the time leading up to my arrival in March, the TET Offensive, Battle of Suoi Tre and what happened after we pulled out of Vietnam. This book was my way of honoring the men who served with the Warriors, those whom we lost and those who made it home."
---Arnold Krause
Review:
I did not actually serve in the 2-12th. My cousin, Arlin Franken, served from May through July 17, 1969 (KIA) in Charlie Company. I just finished reading Sgt. Krause's book, "Young Men in Harms Way". It was an excellent read and he did a great job of reviewing his year in Vietnam. His writing put me into that place with the realism that he carefully crafted. I would highly recommend the book. History has been recorded by Sgt. Krause. If anyone has any recollection of my cousin, I would love to hear from you. He and Sgt. Michael Emeigh were KIA in the same incident, I believe near PB Dees after a night ambush.
Brandt Bensema, 4/23/2020
Review:
Arnold is a man of details. With this Book he has taken me into his, and his comrades lives, of deployment in the Vietnam War. Arnold takes you into the “nitty gritty” of combat reality and the mental/psychic astute it takes to be a soldier. Humidity, months of monsoon rains, muddy rice patties, days and weeks of sweat soaked fatigues and much more. Interspersing chapters of personal civilian life brings together the wholeness of life. Thank you, Arnold.
Fred Jagow, 5/18/2020
Review:
I just finished reading “Young Men in Harm’s Way” and want to tell you how much I enjoyed it. The way you describe the everyday life in an Infantry platoon . For 50 years I have wanted to answer the question “ what was it like” but I could never attempt to answer the question.
I will have my wife and kids read your book because it describes the life and duties perfectly without telling war stories. Also the constant turnover of members of a close knit platoon and the sadness when someone was either KIA or WIA and we just moved on. This book has really helped me realize how much my tour in Vietnam affected my life. Again I want to thank you for writing such a great book.
Welcome Home
John “Sully “Sullivan 6/27/2020
E Co 2/12th 25 inf.
E Co 1/52nd 23rd inf.
More reviews can be read on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Just search the book title.
ISBN 978-1-950794-03-4 Paperback version
Prices do not include shipping costs
Amazon: $21.95 + shipping and handling (approx $30)
Kindle eBook - $4.99
ISBN 978-1-950794-04-1 Hardcover version
Prices do not include shipping costs
Any bookstore: $34.95 (approx $42+)
Though a personal look into one soldiers time in Vietnam, Young Men in Harm's Way remains an informative and poignant, yet often funny, glimpse into unit life.
"I began this book as an afterthought, trying to create the diary I never kept nor ever thought about wanting to retain information about my tour in Vietnam. I began to write snippets of things I remembered doing while there. It was only after I began to find and socialize with guys from my platoon did this grow into a quest for more information as I began to tap NARA, the National Achieves for records and information about our unit's movements. This propelled me further to create a full chronology of what happened during my time in country.
I finally decided to go all in, when talking to others about the importance of capturing our history and not loosing it to time and to our mortality. It was then that I began to modify my diary and turn it into a book. I have taken care to include major events that involved the whole battalion and not just limit my story to Charlie Company. I have also included many quotes from other veterans who had shared their thoughts at the time of a particular action.
The book also covers the time leading up to my arrival in March, the TET Offensive, Battle of Suoi Tre and what happened after we pulled out of Vietnam. This book was my way of honoring the men who served with the Warriors, those whom we lost and those who made it home."
---Arnold Krause
Review:
I did not actually serve in the 2-12th. My cousin, Arlin Franken, served from May through July 17, 1969 (KIA) in Charlie Company. I just finished reading Sgt. Krause's book, "Young Men in Harms Way". It was an excellent read and he did a great job of reviewing his year in Vietnam. His writing put me into that place with the realism that he carefully crafted. I would highly recommend the book. History has been recorded by Sgt. Krause. If anyone has any recollection of my cousin, I would love to hear from you. He and Sgt. Michael Emeigh were KIA in the same incident, I believe near PB Dees after a night ambush.
Brandt Bensema, 4/23/2020
Review:
Arnold is a man of details. With this Book he has taken me into his, and his comrades lives, of deployment in the Vietnam War. Arnold takes you into the “nitty gritty” of combat reality and the mental/psychic astute it takes to be a soldier. Humidity, months of monsoon rains, muddy rice patties, days and weeks of sweat soaked fatigues and much more. Interspersing chapters of personal civilian life brings together the wholeness of life. Thank you, Arnold.
Fred Jagow, 5/18/2020
Review:
I just finished reading “Young Men in Harm’s Way” and want to tell you how much I enjoyed it. The way you describe the everyday life in an Infantry platoon . For 50 years I have wanted to answer the question “ what was it like” but I could never attempt to answer the question.
I will have my wife and kids read your book because it describes the life and duties perfectly without telling war stories. Also the constant turnover of members of a close knit platoon and the sadness when someone was either KIA or WIA and we just moved on. This book has really helped me realize how much my tour in Vietnam affected my life. Again I want to thank you for writing such a great book.
Welcome Home
John “Sully “Sullivan 6/27/2020
E Co 2/12th 25 inf.
E Co 1/52nd 23rd inf.
More reviews can be read on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Just search the book title.
ISBN 978-1-950794-03-4 Paperback version
Prices do not include shipping costs
Amazon: $21.95 + shipping and handling (approx $30)
Kindle eBook - $4.99
ISBN 978-1-950794-04-1 Hardcover version
Prices do not include shipping costs
Any bookstore: $34.95 (approx $42+)
Young Men in Harm's Way
By Arnold W Krause
Duel with the Dragon
at the Battle of Suoi Tre
by Bill Comeau
at the Battle of Suoi Tre
by Bill Comeau
This book chronicles the story of the members of Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division from their Basic Training days in early 1966 through their fighting as a unit in Vietnam. It includes stories about the soldiers who led during that year and other soldiers who came, served, and went home to lead normal lives.
Two stories stand out. One is the story of Donald Evans, the first 4th Infantry Division soldier (and Medic) to receive the Medal of Honor (posthumously) for Vietnam service. His story is told from long before he was drafted and illustrates the many tributes he has received since his untimely and heroic death in Vietnam.
Also, inside is the story of the notorious 9th Vietcong Division and their crushing defeat on March 21, 1967 when they challenged the 3rd Brigade of the 4th ID at the Battle of Suoi Tre. It was an amazing team effort to achieve that great American victory.
The bravery and determination of American soldiers who refused to lose, even against overwhelming odds, is a story you must read.
These books (552 pages) are printed on premium white gloss paper. If you want a book, make a check out for $40 ($30 for the book and $10 for shipping and mailing) and mail it directly to me .
William Comeau
372 Brooklawn Avenue
New Bedford, MA
02745-5129
Make checks out to William Comeau
All books will be personalized and signed by me. Just tell me who the book is for, and I will gladly place it in the front of the book.
Two stories stand out. One is the story of Donald Evans, the first 4th Infantry Division soldier (and Medic) to receive the Medal of Honor (posthumously) for Vietnam service. His story is told from long before he was drafted and illustrates the many tributes he has received since his untimely and heroic death in Vietnam.
Also, inside is the story of the notorious 9th Vietcong Division and their crushing defeat on March 21, 1967 when they challenged the 3rd Brigade of the 4th ID at the Battle of Suoi Tre. It was an amazing team effort to achieve that great American victory.
The bravery and determination of American soldiers who refused to lose, even against overwhelming odds, is a story you must read.
These books (552 pages) are printed on premium white gloss paper. If you want a book, make a check out for $40 ($30 for the book and $10 for shipping and mailing) and mail it directly to me .
William Comeau
372 Brooklawn Avenue
New Bedford, MA
02745-5129
Make checks out to William Comeau
All books will be personalized and signed by me. Just tell me who the book is for, and I will gladly place it in the front of the book.
