Charles, I want to thank for writing this book. For years I lived with the memories, questioning what had happened. I was in Company D, and on Jan 3,1968 they did use a flame thrower, the guy just missed me. I became a WIA just days before the end of your book and I was able to relate my experience during this time. Again, Thank You, it really helped.

I was the 2-12 Cav S-2 from January 2000 to July 2001, this book is everything a staff officer should and must read. I came upon the book because it was about my unit, it has been deliberately overlooked by army professional reading lists. Mr. Krohn's account highlights the unfathomable value of honesty and integrity in our profession; the lack thereof causes lives. An excellent read, a heart-wrenching story even today for those who were not there. "Those who do not study the past are doomed to repeat it." Thank you Mr. Krohn.

Charles Krohn has presented a well researched book that sheds new light on a complicated battle, the fighting for Hue City during Tet. His book is a valuable addition to history because it specifically deals with a regularly overlooked topic: the 2/12 Cavalry's involvement in the battle for Hue and it's fight against the NVA headquarters there. He was there. In addition, he touches upon the battalion's earlier fighting in the Que Son Valley.

Unlike the other LRRP books out there this one is organized topically. It starts off kind of slow but if you can get into it, it really gets good. Unlike the Recon Marines who purposely engaged in firefights with the NVA and VC the airborne LRRPs were mostly used for scouting and tended to withdraw (or try to) when in close proximity to the enemy. The accounts of the ambushes in the second half of the book are very tense. Sgt. Burford's return to CONUS at the end of his tour to an unappreciative nation and a bunch of peaceniks is pretty sad.

I picked it up on a lark but wound up immensely enjoying it. It is definitely a very personal account of Burford's time and tour of duty in Vietnam with 101st LRRPs. It is written in a very interpersonal way that I find makes it different than many other books I have read. If you enjoy light reading about an important subject, I HIGHLY recommend this book to you.

John Burford wrote this book in a unique and interesting way by telling the story to his family while sitting around the kitchen table. My hat's off to him for a well-told story. It's a must-read for anyone who wants to know the full truth about that fateful patrol of 20 Nov 68. John does not embellish, modify, or exaggerate the facts. From his own research and investigation immediately after the patrol members returned to base, and his own combat experience in that unit, and his own knowledge regarding artillery and claymores, he came to his own conclusions about what actually happened on that patrol. He has put forth an account that differs from the other books written about that mission. It took courage for him to do that. Death and injury in a combat environment are horrific experiences, no matter what the circumstances. History appreciates the truth, painful though it may be.

No movie I have seen about the Vietnam war comes close to the action, drama and emotion contained in this book. I was on edge the entire time I was reading it to the point I was dreaming about it at night.

I soaked up every detail of the battle set-up, the day-to-day struggle in the field, and the bureaucracy, frustration and hypocrisy the soldiers had to deal with by being involved in a non-declared war. The guts and courage the soldiers (on both sides) displayed in some of the battles described in this book is almost impossible for me to comprehend. All of the action, machismo and old-fashioned fighting is dampened by the descriptions of gore, waste of life and guilt the author so eloquently shares with the reader.

I am fortunate to have never had to see or experience the events described in this book. I am also fortunate to have had the pleasure to meet the author. We are all fortunate that he has taken the time to record his experiences and share the romance and horror of U.S. Operations in Cambodia.

This account of ground and air operations in Cambodia is riveting. I flew over 300 missions in Vietnam as an A-4 attack pilot and as a forward air controller in an O-1 Bird Dog. Paul Morgan did a masterful job of portraying the relationship between ground and air operations. His grasp of the action from the pilot's viewpoint is flawless.
I've had enough "grunt" training to appreciate his vivid account of the ground action. The action seemed so real that at times I felt my heart rate increasing, seemed bone tired at 0300 or could feel the perspiration in my eyes!
Most veterans will also relate to his respect and sympathy for the enemy combatants he faced.
This book should be required reading for the Army's Ranger school and for all forward air controllers!

Paul Morgan is the military story teller par excellence. In "The Parrot's Beak" he elicits the full gamut of emotions encountered by the warrior involved in the war that crossed the many borders of Vietnam. There is the feeling of duty, daring, elation and even despondency. We also see all the faces of the true warrior as the soldier on a mission, as a prisoner and as the enemy. He even gives us an insight into another type of warrior, the patrol dog. This part of the story is touching and unique. He was there and it shows in his vivid descriptions and accurate portrayal of military tactics. We get to see the irreverence bred in all wars with ill defined purposes. This is a must read book told by someone who saw the war "as it was".

One man's story sandwiched into a lot of facts/astute observation. Since I was only 11 at the time, it filled in a good number of gaps. Yes, cooks cover their mistakes with spices, doctors with earth, and the CIA with lots of duct tape tape, boundings, and gag orders. And, worse, they never learn fully, blundering again and again (just a guess). Such is life and the public's general willingness, in my life opinion, and this book fills a very important niche in that.

This book can be a little hard to grind through, and that give it 'only' 4 stars, as the reading public demands to be favorably entertained -- so a more difficult book by a small margin will be mostly preaching to the choir (the already converted or few read-a-holics as well I guess in this case).

When this book was originally published in the late 1970s, it caused a firestorm of controversy due to its savage critique of the conduct of both the CIA and military advisory units within Vietnam. Written by a career CIA officer who resigned in disgust over the ways in which American policy both undermined and betrayed the very purposes we were supposed to be in Vietnam to promote, the book quickly became an international best-seller. Frank Snepp was the chief strategy analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency in Saigon, and from his unique vantage point was able to discern most of policy discussions regarding the American approach to the ongoing conduct of the war assistance being provided to the South Vietnamese. What he discovered alarmed and surprised him, for the authorities were making plans to allow the fall of the Saigon regime even while reassuring their Vietnamese clients they would support them to the very end.

As the title of the book indicates, the most salient characteristic of the American policy was to withdraw our forces in such a way as to allow a sufficient amount of time to go by before the North Vietnamese forces made a final fatal thrust into the south to take over, so that America would save face by not directly involved in the action resulting in the losing of the decade-long war. Instead, according to this strategy, there was to be a so-called "decent interval" of time separating the associated events of American withdrawal on the one hand, and the final campaign by the NVA (North Vietnamese Army) forces, on the other. Snepp was outraged by the treachery involved in such a strategy, and argued strenuously against thus, which would leave hundreds if not thousand of ardent and loyal South Vietnamese operatives at extreme risk, for they would be caught unaware when the final critical days came that the American forces would not come to their rescue.

Snepp was even more surprised when he discovered that this strategy was not either the result of a local CIA operative such as the station chief, nor that of the CIA itself at the Langley, Virginia headquarters, but rather that it appeared to emanate from the highest levels of the executive branch of the government, from the office of Henry Kissinger and the office of the National Security Advisor to the President. This meant, of course, that it was a deliberate betrayal of the South Vietnamese by the American Government with full knowledge of the savage consequences this action would have for most of those who had worked so closely with the Americans for so long. For Snepp, this was treachery of the lowest and most unforgivable sort, a policy that served to punish our friends and reward our enemies, all done in the name of political expediency.

Of course, in order to be effective, this strategy must remain secret, for having such information made public would expose both the Executive branch and the CIA for the craven treachery they were conspiring to commit. Thus, the press releases associated with the rapidly accomplished American withdrawal of troop, material and advisors were spun to give the public the impression that all of this was part of the so-called successful "Vietnamization" of the war, under which the ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) was increasingly shouldering the exclusive burden for conduct of the war against the NVA. What both the CIA and the U.S. Army command authority hoped for was a campaign in which the ARVN performed well enough to make the eventual NVA victory appear to be more gradual than it was feared it might be.

Of course, after the hasty American withdrawal, the NVA rapidly pressed their advantage and the ARVN collapsed so rapidly that no such "decent interval" was realized. Instead, the campaign took a disastrous turn, and the final result was a panic for the American loyalists now trapped in Saigon with little hope of rescue. The rest, as they say, is the stuff of history. Yet the facts laid out by Snepp in this book show just how treacherous, cynical, and self-concerned the actions of the American authorities were toward their South Vietnamese clients. In the end, we failed the loyal citizens of South Vietnam by largely abandoning them in the time of their greatest need. Left to choose between doing the honorable thing and doing what was expedient, we chose to beat feet. This is a wonderful book and a mind-boggling reading experience

The author captured the dismay and controversy of the age i.e. the overwhelming desire to help everybody but not being able to. As an Air Force Security Policeman I was a guard on a C-130 as we loaded refugees up at Da Nang and Ton Sun Knut. On another assignment I had sniper duty on off loading refugees due to intelligence fears that refugees might be used as cover for an assualt.

This book was alright, a good description of Vietnam for those that have never been and want to know what is about over there. I studied in Hanoi for four months during college and it was a real trip back for me while reading this, especially when the author speaks of her visit to Hanoi. I stayed in Bach Khoa while I was there and lived in that very neighborhood for four months and it made me very nostaligic. However, the author tended to irritate me at times with what I saw as an attitude towards the culture and traditionalism of the northern region. Frankly, I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would...but then again I'm very biased when it comes to Vietnam since the country means a lot to me...

As a child of the Vietnam era, I've long been curious to find out what became of the people that populated the Time magazine of my youth. Shillue brings up to date with a personal look at the lives and times of the Vietnamese. It is reassuring to hear about the resiliency of the Cambodian people and I was glad to see that Shillue's first-hand accounts bring us right into the lives of those we left behind. I particularly liked when she compared contemporary Americans to their counterparts in Asia.

Excellent Read! In the early 1990s I was an American businessman living in Vietnam and this well written book takes me back to the country and a time which I still miss every day.

It reminds Americans that Vietnam is a place and not a war.

If anyone wishes to see and feel Vietnam and Cambodia as they are today this is THE book to read. I look forward to Ms Shillue's next book.

I haven't read this book, but I did notice that the first chapter is devoted to Rudy of "Survivor" fame, who holds the record for longest service in naval special warfare.

This was a great book!! I started it on a Friday & was finished by Sunday. 15 great stories told by the men who lived it. A must read if you enjoy SEAL books.

This is a great book about 15 SEALS and their experiences from training to the Vietnam war and life in the teams. It is interesting to read about the different personalities of this elite group and the things that make them alike. Highly recommended.

I was attached to A Battery 2nd/32nd F.A. - 2 8inch S.P. guns that arrived at F.S.B. Illingsworth 10 Days before the Battle ! The Book has some misinformation - like we arrived 1 day before the Battle ! I have already had 14 months inside War Zone C before arriving at Illingsworth ! A Battery has had many conflicts with the enemy - lived over 2 years continuiously inside War Zone C . The plans were forming in mid - march about using our 8inch S.P. guns, before entering Cambodia in May, being used as a Baiting Operation ! 79 Brave Americans were given orders to stay , after the fall of F.S.B. Jay , and to face the enemy ( 272 Reg. 1,050 strong )without any Hardline defense . Between the second hour to the 5 hour - 3,372 Friendly Artillery shells were fired at us - around us ! After the smoke cleared - 24 Brave Americans died - 100 Enemy bodies found ! We ( Proud Americans 2nd/32nd F.A. ) attacted and raised our American flag on a chopped down small tree . Everyone there were the BRAVEST Combat troops that the Army ever gave orders to stay and fight ! We all knew that a lot of us were going to be killed ! The Army knew that too ! Sent out the 1st. Cav. Chaplin the day before the Battle . The I.I.F.F. units received a Unit Battle award but the 1st. Cav. units did not ! Embarrassement that has to be corrected - going to try to correct it ! The Unit Battle awards should be Upgraded to a U.S. Presidential Unit award - Baiting Operation - is the Supreme Sacrifice that a Soldier does by giving his Life by following orders . Everyone of us still LIVING has the duty telling everyone of the Couragious men at F.S.B. Illingsworth on April 1 , 1970 .

The Cambodian invasion of 1970 is treated in a string of interrelated episodes; the story-telling is good but as military history, this falls short. No real analysis because the author is non-military. Note, intelligence is virtually ignored throughout the book; no S-2s were contributors (yet virtually every S-3 operations officer is listed). The book does point out how armor-heavy the Cambodian incursion was and also how effective the NVA was in dealing with US armor. Numerous M113 ACAVs and M551 Sheridans, as well as M48 Pattons were knocked out by the ever-present RPG-7s. Nolan is a conservative, pro-military author who wants to paint the US military in a good light, but he does allow lapses, such as the occasional apathetic or druggie soldiers. His conclusion is that the incursion was a military success that saved US lives and bought us 12-18 months of relative quiet from the enemy. Unfortunately, he does not discuss ARVN operations much and ignores the wider political issues. Better maps, an Order of Battle appendix, a little more info from the enemy side and a better strategic overview would have made this a superb book.

Chapter 5-7 regarding Fire Support Illingsworth was so accurate. I was there on 1 April 1970 with A Troop 1/11 ACR. I thought about my experience, and the book read as if I was writing down from my own memory. The accounts came to life! email: george@foreveryone.net

The book was recommended to me, and I bought it. It struck me as just another anti-war, anti-warrior plaint from the academic left. I don't recognize any of the Vietnam veterans I know in this book, nor do I recognize the Vietnam that I traveled through as a reporter in 1964. Shucks, I'm not even sure that I recognize the nation that the Vietnam vets supposedly returned to! Hugely disappointed, I sent it back, and I am glad to report that Amazon.com gamely refunded my money. Thank you, Amazon.com, and bad cess to you, Myra MacPherson. -- Dan Ford

This gripping generational saga remains as fresh and moving as "Hey Jude." In an astounding feat of reporting, Myra Macpherson takes us from the priviledged sanctuaries of middle-class college students to the bloody battlefields where poor blacks and whites faced the terror of massed North Vietnamese Army divisons. Today's post-draft generation of college students would do well to read how lucky they are, how their forebears faced the agony of having to choose between fighting in a loathsome war or fleeing to Canada. In one scene as alarming as it was when it was written nearly 25 years ago, one young man facing conscription cuts off his trigger finger with a kitchen knife.rather than go to Vietnam. Macpherson's real triumph of reporting, however, is in finding two brothers who served in Vietnam -- one now a United States senator -- who come home from the war with distinctly different opinions on whether it was worth fighting. This, of course, serves as a metaphor for the entire generation. If you think the 60s were all about flower children and free love, you will be shocked, and moved, by this engrossing book.

Joseph Heller, author of Catch 22, said of "Long Time Passing: Vietnam and the Haunted Generation" "There has been no better body of war literature that I know of." Arnold R. Isaacs, noted autority on Vietnam, author of "Vietnam Shadows" writes "Any approach to the subject of Vietnam's aftermath must begin with Myra MacPherson's ground breaking book. Her book, among the first to break the long national silence on the war, remains one of the most moving and important works on the Vietnam bookshelf."
This new edition features a vital and topical new introduction that links the Vietnam Veteran Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)experience with today's civilian trauma following 9/11. It also connects Vietnam with present foreign affairs and military policies, including the war on terrorism in Afghanistan.
Yesterday's foot soldiers in Vietnam who are now leaders in the military and politics also reflect on Vietnam and provide new insight, as do those who were youthful leaders in the anti-war movement.
This brilliant examination of the generation is must reading, not only for those who lived through the war, but especially for a younger generation who can learn about--and learn from--the past.

Donald Simons' "I Refuse" is a personal memoir of one man's attempt to declare himself a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, and the consequences of his decision. One of the signs of excellent narrative writing is the ability to keep the reader turning the pages, and Simons manages this admirably well, building up and dramatizing each step of his confrontation with the local draft board and his subsequent trial. In doing so, he demonstrates a kind of courage different from that normally associated with war - the courage of conviction.

One of the strongpoints of the book is that the author never tries to convince the reader that his beliefs are absolutely right. He merely presents his story as if to say "I felt this way, I found myself in this situation, and this is what I decided to do." Even those who disagree with his decision can still understand and sympathize with his plight. The focus remains on the human reactions to the circumstances, and the effect on him and his family.

The author does a good job of describing the historical circumstances of the era, firmly rooting his personal story into a greater context. The excellent preface also gives a short history of coscientious objectors and the consequences they have faced, providing a more detailed historical backdrop to the scenes described in the book. For those interested in the Vietnam War era, this book represents a forgotten piece of the puzzle.

A relation of one man's struggle to declare himself a conscientious objector to the Vietnam war, "I Refuse" is a compelling and unique reflection on a turbulent era. The sign of a good narrative writer is the ability to keep the reader turning the pages, and Simons does this admirably well, building up and dramatizing each step in his confrontation with the local draft board and his subsequent trial. In doing so, the author illustrates a different kind of courage than that normally associated with war - moral courage.

One of the strengths of Mr. Simons' excellent memoir is that at no point in time does he attempt to persuade the reader that his beliefs about war are absolutely true. Rather, he presents his story by essentially saying, "This is how I felt, this is the situation I was in, and this is what I decided to do." Even those who completely disagree with his viewpoint can still sympathize with his predicament. This lack of ideological preaching allows the reader to focus in on the human side of the equation: how the events impact him and his family.

The author also does an excellent job of detailing the history of the era and rooting his story in this history, showing how his life becomes intertwined with events outside his control. The excellent preface gives a history of conscientious objectors and provides additional background, placing Simons' very personal narrative within a historical context. For anyone interested in the Vietnam draft era, this book provides an often neglected piece of the puzzle.

Although now a decade old, Donald Simons' I Refuse continues to be instructive for our times. This is a nonfiction account of a Vietnam War objector's experiences as he faced the prospect of being drafted into a war he found morally indefensible. His problem was doubly complicated by the fact that his home state of West Virginia, unlike other states, didn't recognize philosophical conscientious objection. The book is fascinating as Simons wrestles with tough moral decisions that have a direct impact on his life. He is no armchair philosopher pondering otherworldly concerns, but a person driven by his conscience, even when the personal consequences are life-changing. I Refuse is a page-turner that grips the reader intellectually and emotionally, and I strongly recommend it.