A Nobel Peace Prize winner’s story of his first year in combat.
“The best book I have ever read about combat in Vietnam.” — Major General Thomas P. Lynch, USA (Ret.)
What was it like to be on the front lines in a controversial war thousands of miles away from home?
This book is a powerful and moving account of a highly-decorated battalion's journey through extraordinary times. This action packed story waited 47 years to be told. It is finally available to the public who should be aware of the sacrifices put forth by the men sent to war in Vietnam a half century ago. Incorporating the author's viewpoint, taken from his daily journals, the non-political story line is augmented by remembrances of his men about the same events as they occurred.
Firefights and battles are described as the men of the battalion fight them. Action is intense. The book covers the stories of the men who fought with great valor and bravery, sometimes against literally overwhelming odds. A platoon is overrun by the enemy and the acting-platoon leader calls artillery fire on its position. The combat operations tempo is such that in a 60-day period, four men were awarded the Medal of Honor, and five men received the Distinguished Service Cross for actions above and beyond the call of duty. Included in the awards were many Silver Stars, Bronze Stars and other awards for bravery and valor.
Before they encountered even the first adversary, the young soldiers had to learn how to overcome and cope with the weather, terrain, flora and fauna. These conditions could not be duplicated in training, so it was all on the job training, faced by an armed enemy. When someone thinks about combat, they don't think about killer ants, mosquitoes, termites, leeches, hornets, and bees. Because a U.S. soldier is considered to be the fiercest predator in the jungle, not much thought is given to tigers, elephants, venomous snakes, raucous monkeys and untrusting water buffalo, though any one of those will disturb a day. Other environmental obstacles to be overcome are the slippery slopes of precipitous mountains, the rushing and dangerous streams to be crossed, bamboo thickets with closely-spaced 8-inch diameter bamboo stalks hindering movement by soldiers with 70-pound rucksacks on their backs, trees with 6-inch toxic spikes, difficult to see wait-a-minute vines snag clothing and equipment. All of this to be moved through in monsoon downpours or drought periods where water has to be lowered from helicopters through the triple canopy forest. Sometimes movement is held to 2-5 kilometers (1-3 miles) in a day, while at other times forced marches and runs for up to 20 plus miles are required with an evening ground assault at the end of the march to clear an unsecured area for a firebase. This book is raw infantry with no excuses for the mission or apologies for the way it went down. In the Central Highlands of Vietnam, this is the way it was.
General Gordon R. Sullivan, U.S. Army (Ret.), 32nd Chief of Staff and President of the Association of the U.S. Army wrote the Foreword and stated in review comments that, “If it were up to me, I would make this a mandatory read for the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses”.
Colonel Robert H. Sholly served as the Chief of Operations of UNTSO headquartered in Jerusalem from 1981-1983. The mission area encompassed Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.
As a result of the international peacekeeping efforts of the men of UN Truce Supervision Organization and other UN organizations, Colonel Sholly shared the award of the 1988 Nobel International Peace Prize with other UN peacekeepers.
This critically-praised book was the Grand Prize Winner of the Great Southeast Book Festival, the winner of the Military Non-Fiction Award given by the National Indie Excellence Awards and recipient of 18 other book awards.
“The best book I have ever read about combat in Vietnam.” — Major General Thomas P. Lynch, USA (Ret.)
What was it like to be on the front lines in a controversial war thousands of miles away from home?
This book is a powerful and moving account of a highly-decorated battalion's journey through extraordinary times. This action packed story waited 47 years to be told. It is finally available to the public who should be aware of the sacrifices put forth by the men sent to war in Vietnam a half century ago. Incorporating the author's viewpoint, taken from his daily journals, the non-political story line is augmented by remembrances of his men about the same events as they occurred.
Firefights and battles are described as the men of the battalion fight them. Action is intense. The book covers the stories of the men who fought with great valor and bravery, sometimes against literally overwhelming odds. A platoon is overrun by the enemy and the acting-platoon leader calls artillery fire on its position. The combat operations tempo is such that in a 60-day period, four men were awarded the Medal of Honor, and five men received the Distinguished Service Cross for actions above and beyond the call of duty. Included in the awards were many Silver Stars, Bronze Stars and other awards for bravery and valor.
Before they encountered even the first adversary, the young soldiers had to learn how to overcome and cope with the weather, terrain, flora and fauna. These conditions could not be duplicated in training, so it was all on the job training, faced by an armed enemy. When someone thinks about combat, they don't think about killer ants, mosquitoes, termites, leeches, hornets, and bees. Because a U.S. soldier is considered to be the fiercest predator in the jungle, not much thought is given to tigers, elephants, venomous snakes, raucous monkeys and untrusting water buffalo, though any one of those will disturb a day. Other environmental obstacles to be overcome are the slippery slopes of precipitous mountains, the rushing and dangerous streams to be crossed, bamboo thickets with closely-spaced 8-inch diameter bamboo stalks hindering movement by soldiers with 70-pound rucksacks on their backs, trees with 6-inch toxic spikes, difficult to see wait-a-minute vines snag clothing and equipment. All of this to be moved through in monsoon downpours or drought periods where water has to be lowered from helicopters through the triple canopy forest. Sometimes movement is held to 2-5 kilometers (1-3 miles) in a day, while at other times forced marches and runs for up to 20 plus miles are required with an evening ground assault at the end of the march to clear an unsecured area for a firebase. This book is raw infantry with no excuses for the mission or apologies for the way it went down. In the Central Highlands of Vietnam, this is the way it was.
General Gordon R. Sullivan, U.S. Army (Ret.), 32nd Chief of Staff and President of the Association of the U.S. Army wrote the Foreword and stated in review comments that, “If it were up to me, I would make this a mandatory read for the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses”.
Colonel Robert H. Sholly served as the Chief of Operations of UNTSO headquartered in Jerusalem from 1981-1983. The mission area encompassed Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.
As a result of the international peacekeeping efforts of the men of UN Truce Supervision Organization and other UN organizations, Colonel Sholly shared the award of the 1988 Nobel International Peace Prize with other UN peacekeepers.
This critically-praised book was the Grand Prize Winner of the Great Southeast Book Festival, the winner of the Military Non-Fiction Award given by the National Indie Excellence Awards and recipient of 18 other book awards.
