THE VIETNAM SCRAPBOOK 'The Second ANZAC Adventure' by Mike Subritzky. Published by Three Feathers Publishing. Reviewed by Bruce Hill for the NZSAS Newsletter "The Free Glance". This is a book that all Vietnam Veterans will want to have in their bookshelves. This book contains a brief history of all NZ Army units that took part in the Vietnam War and also the NZ Surgical Team at Qui Nhon. There are over 300 (A4) pages of text, including over 200 pages of personal accounts. There are more than 400 photographs, maps etc. The book includes lists of the Roll of Honour of the 39 dead and 200 wounded of that war, and also lists of the honours and awards presented to New Zealanders for service in Vietnam - including honours and awards presented by the Governments of USA and SVN. I found the book a very useful reference, with a good range of material.

The Vietnam Scrapbook 'The Second ANZAC Adventure' by Mike Subritzky. Reviewed by Warrant Officer Willy Walker (Mentioned in Despatches during the Battle of Long Tan) Royal New Zealand Armoured Corps. Reviewed for: New Zealand Army Newspaper. During the weekend of 14 and 15 July 1995 I had the honour of attending the 30th anniversary of 161 Battery's involvement in Vietnam with the United States of America Meritorious Unit Commendation for service in Vietnam with the United States 173rd Airborne Brigade. At this weekend Mike Subritzky launched his new book. This book contains the roll of honour, New Zealand battle casualties, honours and awards-both British and foreign. There is a brief biography of New Zealand units that served in Vietnam, personal accounts of combat and memories plus a complete New Zealand nominal roll. As the book title suggests it is a scrapbook containing photographs, letters, jokes, poems, memorabilia, personal accounts and citations for bravery. The book tells of soldiering under difficult conditions and it gives an insight into the lifestyle of the modern Kiwi soldier at war. It deals with the human and humorous, as well as the serious aspects of life on the field of battle. It is a book I thoroughly enjoyed. Highly recommended. (photograph of book cover included)

THE VIETNAM SCRAPBOOK by Mike Subritzky. (Three Feathers Publishing). Reviewed by D.H.Blanshard for The Bay of Plenty Times Newspaper. FOR MANY New Zealanders the single word "Vietnam" still produces strong emotions - for sometimes very different reasons. The country's involvement in the Vietnam War was quite unlike any previous conflict to which we had sent forces and caused deep divisions in society. Regardless of one's stance then, or now, the fact is New Zealand was involved - more heavily than many realised. One need only read the Roll Of Honour in this book, along with the eight close typed pages of those wounded, and a Nominal Roll listing more than 3600 service personnel, to realise it was a sizeable contribution. Politics of the war were not the fault of the combatants. Young New Zealanders who served in Vietnam did so for much the same reasons as their fathers had enlisted in previous wars - a mixture of idealism and desire for adventure. The Vietnam troops were different however in finding themselves in a particularly savage and deadly close-quarters fight over which they had no control, against an indeterminate enemy. And when they got home again they were treated poorly by their country. A few veterans have tested the water in recent years and written of their experiences. Most have remained silent in public. Here Katikati born Mike Subritzky, who never served in Vietnam, has sought to redress the ballance, and mark the 30th anniversary of the arrival of New Zealand's first troops in Vietnam, with his "scrapbook" that brings together photos, individuals' (not always identified) recollections of specific events, and much other relevant material. The author spent more than two years interviewing veterans and their families, then assembled the material with minimum editing or comment. As a result the book leaps around a lot. I was frustrated by the failure to match pictures and text, in an even general manner, however that does not detract from a powerful overall book, that contains a strong anti-war message. Not without reason the cover, and opening pages feature explicit warnings that "The Vietnam Scrapbook" is about war and things that happen in wartime. If people are uncomfortable with the truths they are advised to read something else. Those interested in, and willing to face the realities of Vietnam will find much of interest though. Personal testaments and thoughts of those involved are far more moving than any "official" history could be. Aside from the author's local links, readers will discover in this book many well known Bay of Plenty names, and faces, among those to have served in Vietnam. With the conflicts created by Vietnam now receding, this is a timely book that finally gives those involved their say. Not always happy, but certainly compulsive reading.

If my son were to enter the service, I would require him to read Mr Parker's book. The details of how to survive Army life are staight forward and important. I found the book easy and enjoyable to read. Could not put it down. As with any super book, I often found myself looking at the number of pages left to read-the more the merrier. Mr. Parker has truely made something of himself and the people of the United States have reaped the benefits. Thank you Mr. Parker.

This book is a necessary and thorough follow-up to the author's first account of his involvement in southeast Asia on behalf of our government: CovertOps. It is yet another compelling story in exquisite detail and poignant analysis of his development as an infantry officer into a paramilitary officer and finally into a skilled case officer for CIA. It provides the essentials for anyone considering such a career, as well as properly articulated facts for historians and others who are interested in hearing "the other side of the story" about those who served with honor, dignity and courage (or as he would put it, "hang")in a noble cause to preserve, protect, and defend freedom on behalf of our country. His wit, humor, objectivity, and humility are testimony to his credibility as a professional in service to his country and as a skilled writer. Read now with the advantage of historical hindsight, it brings into focus with uncommon clarity and precision what we were fighting for then, and the political and social values that our efforts there continue to serve our national interests today, despite what many conclude was a lost war.

Last Man Out: A Personal Account of the Vietnam War by James E. Parker, Jr. is the best book I've read in a long time. If this author didn't have a tape recorder or a diary that he wrote in everyday then I have to say he has a most remarkable memory. James takes the reader back to his home in North Carolina and introduces his family and friends. He continues as he makes the decision to enlist in the Army at a time when others were already doing everything they could to avoid serving their country. The reader goes through Basic Training with James and his buddies at Fort Gordon, Georgia in February 1964. Two months later after being named "Outstanding Trainee" James reiterates some of his time while at his Advanced Infantry Training. You are there when he signs up for Officer Candidate School and while he waited to be selected. You go through that six-month course with him too beginning in November at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon graduation James goes to Jump School. From there the book gets even better. James first Permanent Party duty station was at Fort Riley, Kansas with the 1st Infantry Division. Then through his Tour of Duty in Vietnam. James told about an encounter with General William Westmoreland following a mission. The general flew in to review the troops, present medals and then was gone. It was a mere media event. When the general departed, another officer walked the line and took back the medals. After Nam James next assignment took him to Fort Ord in Monterey, California. He became the Officer-in-Charge of the 6th Army Area Drill Sergeant School. It was a great assignment. BUT James was thinking about leaving the Army but he "felt guilty about forsaking my duty, abandoning my obligation to country at a time of war." Unable to find a job that suited him he applied for and was accepted as a member of the Central Intelligence Agency. By September 1971 James was headed back to Southeast Asia "as a case officer in the Lao program, the CIA's largest covert operation." James was involved with several operations before heading stateside in 1973. He spoke openly about them. By January 1975 James was the only American left in Vi Thanh province. At that point he secured himself a "bodyguard." James wrote of the fall of Ban Me Thout, Hue, Da Nang, and Saigon. He took part in the evacuation of the Vietnamese who worked as agents for the CIA. He spoke of the problems encountered onboard the USS Vancouver and the transfer to the USNS Pioneer Contender. James Parker Jr. wrote an incredible account of his military and civilian service to our country and the people of South Vietnam. It is a book well worth reading. I'm glad I had the opportunity to meet the author in person in 1998. AND I'm glad I took the time to read his book. You will be also.

Colonel Wes Fox has done it all and his book chronicles more than four decades of exceptional service to his country and Corps. From Private to Colonel, from combat rifleman to combat leader, teacher and commander, his career was marked by extraordinary commitment and dedication. Throughout, the love of his family and a brief glimpse into their sacrifices provide our Nation a view into the Marine family. At the end of every chapter are lessons learned...lessons that should be taught to our Marines of today. He is not an armchair officer. Throughout his career he lead from the front, inspiring and training his Marines to be prepared to overcome the demands of combat. "Marine Rifleman" should be added to the Commandant of the Marine Corps Reading List and be a must read for all NCOs, SNCOs, and officers.

Wes Fox's book is the story in hiStory. His style of writing and knowledge gets the reader into the adventure with him, whether it is on the battlefield in Korea or parachuting in Virginia. His descriptions of the battlefield terrain have you knocking the dirt off your trousers and smelling the rot of the jungle.

The book really shows the opportunity for a career in the Marine Corps. While every marine is a rifleman by training, there is the opportunity to experience so much more. Some miltary retirees said they did the same thing for 20 years. Col Fox had 43 years of experiences. You follow his career from boot to Colonel of Marines. Each new rank has its own chapter. I was involved in his Staff Sergeant chapter. Wes Fox was my Drill Instructor. The lessons I learned from him have served me well for 46 years. Each chapter has a summary about Lessons Learned. Many of them can be applied to civilian life as well as the military.

Having been a recruit at the time Wes Fox was a Drill Instructor at MCRD San Diego I can tell you he was a "Hero" to many of us who were either in his platoon or in an adjacent platoon as I was. Sgt Fox was a Poster Board Marine. It is amazing to me all the things he did during his 43 years in the Corp. "No Fear" would describe this Marine. I especially appreciate the Lessons Learned at the end of each chapter. This book should be read by young people to help them appreciate our dedicated military and what life can be like when you make it a career. Semper Fi Colonel Fox.

I was not in Vietnam, I wasn't even in the service, but the recent movie WE WERE SOLDIERS ONCE resparked my interest again in a war so few of us really understood. I didn't burn my draft card, protest, or march. I have read 20 books in the past 3 months about Vietnam, 1 was 9 lbs., 3 were the country as in the present. Richie put me right next to him on every page and in every situation. Where is that dog? The good and bad side of not taking gun to a chopper crash site. The Recondo school, I felt the cool breeze coming out of that rock cave as Burns looked inside. This book is writen as a young man would write, not like a middle aged mature man who had lived a good life after returning to the world. I am not sure how Burns does that, but it makes for great reading. I am truly sorry to hear that cancer has cut Richard R. Burns life short. I will make a monetary donation in his memory. Cancer has claimed many of my family members. The History Channel ran a special on Recon Teams and there sat Richie Burns talking about his weeks at Recondo.

This book never drags, and kept my interest throughout. Different from a Special Forces story, Burns seemed to be on the receiving end of enemy fire most of the time while he guided helicopters for landings. He knew some of the other well known authors on LRRP's and special forces in Vietnam. He was lucky to not be hurt while being blown over by mortars or lightning, and also have a dud mortar round land a foot away. Very upbeat and refreshing.

The way the author writes the story is the way he lived... Richie Burns, in his book, we were all young soldiers doing our jobs and he meant all of us that served with honor and dignity in that Vietnam War. PATHFINDERS is about setting the example. Leading soldiers in combat by courage not by rank and a deep faith in the man next to you on the "team." This book is remarkable and Richie downplays what he truly did do for all of his years on this earth. God Bless you, Richie. I know this book will do well. You wrote it with passion, honesty and integrity just as you lived your life.

Phillip Woodall vividly relates the essence of patriotism, dedication, bravery, sacrifice, sorrow and profound frustration experienced and embodied by the combat soldier of America's longest and most unpopular war. In symbolic, poetic verse, slimy leeches of jungle and paddy, ever so slowly, drained the life blood from America's warriors. So too, did the political unrest and protests on our streets empty the reservoir of America's will to persevere! This book tells it like it was! The fate of South Vietnam was NOT determined on the battlefield! This anthology is an emotionally intense recital of the endless agonies of fighting an unconsecrated war! Time does not heal all wounds! Woodall accurately and clearly establishes the fact that as surely as those who fell of the fields of battle need to be remembered...those who survived Vietnam need to be understood!

Here are the moving words of a young soldier as he wrote them straight from the battlefield. At times these words brought out so much hurt, so much passion that they were hard to read. Yet I kept picking up the book at random to read another story. In the poem "A Hundred Paddy Warriors" the author shows a few tongue-in-cheek good things about being a soldier. There is grief and pain in this book, and there is healing. Thank you, Mr. Woodall.

Although I don't usually read poetry, I was surprised when I opened this book and found it difficult to close. I have read a number of war stories, many of which were about Vietnam, the people who were there and their accounts of specific events that took place. Some of them tell very emotional stories of loss, sacrifice and friendship. But not until now have I read words that truly reveal the emotions that had merely been described in the past. Instead of showing events through the eyes of a soldier, Phil Woodall's verse allows the reader to feel a moment in time with the emotions of a human being trying very hard to comprehend what is happening to him and the people around him. As such, it is much less a book of poems about wars fought by soldiers on far away battlefields, and more about the battle that rages within the souls of those who fought them, and are still fighting them long after.

The LRRPS did. Time and time again the long-range-reconnaissance-patrols went out to "see" and not be "seen", and sadly, some individuals wouldn't return home.

This is fantastic series of books covering the history and evolution of the LRRPS/LRPS/RANGERS during the Vietnam War.

Rey Martinez, Kenn Miller, and Gary Linderer interviewed a great number of the surviving members of the LRRPS/Rangers to bring their history alive. While some members were able to tap into their memories, others wouldn't touch the pain from long ago. The authors did a terrific job bringing the histories together for a strong narrative.

If anything, I found myself wanting to know more! What were they thinking? What were you feeling? I'm sure much ended up on the "editing room floor".

The "SIX SILENT MEN" books are a very honest account if the units actions. They're packed with adventure and daring. While reading their books, I was filled with tension and dread, other times I had to laugh aloud, and a few times I became misty-eyed. You feel for the teams as they "will" themselves to become invisible while on patrol.

Don't be mis-lead by a negative review. The reviewer misquoted the book. This I know since I pulled my copy off the shelf and checked the text. The reviewer claims the authors are liars --- NOT SO. A great number of books on the Vietnam War are written very honestly, and the publishers do "Fact Checking" before publishing these books. Read the review by Harold Nealy, who was a LRRP! His testimonial supports this fine series. If these books were embellished tales, then Vietnam Vets who served in the LRRPS/Rangers wouldn't hesitate to post a review here and let the truths be known. As you see this isn't the case.

I have never met a veteran who has panned these books. Never.

If you enjoyed this series, I would also recommend Jim Morris' WAR STORY, John Plasters' SOG, James Rowe's FIVE YEARS TO FREEDOM, Larry Chambers RECONDO, and Leigh Wade's TAN PHU.

I had the honor of meeting Kenn Miller, Jim Morris, and John Plaster (and other Vietnam Vets) two years ago. They freely answered my questions. I was going to 'buy a round' when one of them said, "Put your money away kid." I was 33, and that gathering was enjoyed by all.

Read the books. You won't be disappointed! God Bless and Attack life!

This work is all that is to be expected from a sequel to the first "Six Silent Men". I was not let down, as I so often am, with some of the small unit contact books. This work was all that I expected. The action was close to non stop. The depictions of contact were thrilling and heart stopping. I was with and rooting for the teams all the way. This book, as was its precursor,is top notch. After having read circa 110 books about this subject, you may take my word for this book's being an interesting read.

Linderer, Martinez, and Miller are all great authors, and write about their experiences in such a way as you almost feel like you were there. In fact, if you like this style of book, Buy any of the Ivy publishing books related to the Vietnam War. Ivy caters to this style of book and all are well written accounts of what happened. Being ex-military, I found them hard to put down.

As an Army veteran who served three tours in Vietnam and Cambodia, is a student of Southeast Asian history and one who has well over 200 non-fiction books related to Vietnam in his library, I believe that "Where We Were" is surely one of the best reference resources that I own.

For those who served in Vietnam or those with a interest in the history of the U.S. involvement there, "Where We Were" is an indispensable piece for your library. This book is a monumental compilation of firebases, landing zones, airfields and navel vessels with over 10,000 entries. Not only do most of these entries have grid coordinates but the author has taken the effort to triangulate many of their locations with other know sites such as towns, firebases, airfields, etc. This makes looking up specific sites on a map a very simple matter. No other book I own goes to this detail to make it so useful. This book is nothing short of outstanding. Its like having a piece of the National Archives right on your bookshelf.

And if that wasn't enough, there is a fairly comprehensive Internet guide and as well as a recommended reading list. These are real bonuses for those intent on doing further research. The writing of this book was, in this reader's opinion, a true labor of love. It is a must for those who were there and for the serious researcher. My hat goes off to Mr. Kelly for this painstaking piece of history.

As one of the webmasters of the Vietnam Veteran's Home Page... I get a lot of questions about names of places, place locations and relationships, map coordinates and other details that a researcher needs or a memory has forgotten. Mike Kelley's book is a godsend for finding and verifying most all of those details. It will undoubtedly take its place in history as the definitive guide to where US and allied troops really were and when they were there. Bonus features like the extensive glossary, maps, name lists, and copious references make this book indispensable.

Vietnam had no fronts, but it sure had perimeters. Everywhere. Those perimeters defined a whole generation of soldiers. I thought most of that was lost forever. I was wrong.

If you served in Vietnam, chances are that the places where you hung your web-gear on a hook are described in Mike Kelley's amazing work. Some of what he lists includes coordinates of places that were just mud berms, sandbags and fighting positions.

It is obvious that Mike Kelley did more than years of detailed document research. He met hundreds of vets over the years, and enlisted their personal knowledge. The final product is a treasure of information. I can't imagine a Vietnam veteran not wanting a copy. This kind of reference material will be pulled off my personal library shelf every time the subject of Vietnam gets serious. No future article that references Vietnam will be written without a reality check through these pages. The glossary of "minutia" alone is worth the price.

Bill Hunt

Vietnam
1972

War is hell. To this end, author Mark Baker collects a vast series of comments from many of the brave men and women who answered the nation's call to duty. In doing so, Baker captures the terrible bloodshed of the Vietnam war.

The only negative factor of this book is that Baker is not a veteran. He is a journalist who did not serve in Vietnam. Consequently, a few of his snapshots are open to question. They certainly make for good copy but as a two tour USMC Vietnam vet I offer with absolute certainty that some parts of this book do not ring true.

Nevertheless, this is an important book. Baker reaches out to vets and allows them to bare their soul. Some sections of this book are horrible. Others reflect well on the quality of the American fighting man. All in all, any young kid who foolishly thinks war is glorious and that the battlefield is a place of honor should read this book. It will probably save his or her life.

Not for the faint of heart. This is a powerful collection of accounts from Vietnam veterans. They are arranged by the author in a mosaic rather than presented in their entirety, which I believe is the one real flaw to this book. Still, this is a book you will not be able to put down, and will be left shaken after reading.

Burkett's horridly one-sided revisionist book "Stolen Valor" has attempted to discredit this and many other eyewitness accounts of the Vietnam War. In the case of this book, he doesn't offer one shred of evidence other than his own opinion (i.e. "it couldn't have happened that way because that is not how things are done by the book"). As anyone who has ever been in the military can tell you, things are not done by the book, especially in wartime. Burkett's criticisms should not be taken seriously as anything other than his own opinion. Mark Baker's "Nam" rings true; how could any sane person make some of this stuff up? The accounts here are too gritty, too hardcore, and too grisly to be fiction.

At some point in this book, all of the anecdotes become something larger than they were when they were read individually. The real life memories are troubling, humorous, horrific and inspiring, and their combined effect provides a unique and unforgettable insight into the soldiers' experiences in the Vietnam War.