#AUS ADF Australian Defence Force

[casbooks]

Book 38 of 2024 (★★★★)

Title: M113 in action Authors: Stephen Tunbridge & Robert C. Stern

Series: 2017 of Armor in action ISBN: 9780897470506 Rating: ★★★★ Subject: Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Armor.US Armor, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.Armor, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.ARVN.Armor, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.Australia.Armor, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.US Army.Armor, Books.Military.Series.Squadron Signal

Description: The M113 remains one of the most significant landmarks in the history of Armored Fighting Vehicles. Despite truly impressive production figures, surprisingly little has been published on the M113.

[cupidsbower]

how is the situation in australia?

Hi friend,

It’s terrible, of course, but judging by the newsnowhere near as terrible as most places seem to be. 

Spread

In Australia 1,098 people are currently confirmed infected and seven people have died. We’re just hitting the stage where it’s starting to spread through the general population, although the majority of cases are still those who had overseas contact. (x)

Closing down

Self-isolation and work-from-home is implemented on a voluntary basis for those not infected (mandatory for those who are, or who have just returned from overseas), but will likely become mandatory within two weeks. Social distancing is recommended when people need to go out. Large gatherings are no longer allowed. Schools are still open, but will also likely close when school holidays start in a couple of weeks. Borders are now closed or about to be, both for overseas travellers and internal state boundaries. Some states, like Western Australia, have declared a state of emergency, and/or are considering quarantine zones (ie. hotels, or Rottnest Island in the case of W.A.). Both federal and state governments are putting plans into place so that they can continue to work without meeting in person or if critical members are ill.(x, x, x)

Economy

The federal government has rolled out several economic plans, totalling about AU$189 billion so far, including underwriting banks so they can make cheap loans to small businesses, expanding the current system of unemployment benefits so people can get paid with no waiting periods, one-off payments of various types targeted at particular demographics who are financially affected, along with various other measures like allowing people to access their superannuation funds early. There will be several more plans announced over the coming weeks, and the federal and state governments have basically suspended our formal budgets until at least October. (x, x)

Medical Infrastructure

There’s a concern about having enough protective health equipment, test kits, hospital beds, nurses and other medical professionals, and other medical infrastructure. We’re in fairly good shape, as our health system is robust. We will need additional ICU beds and nurses, and plans are underway to put them in place. If that goes to plan, we shouldn’t have bed shortages if the spread’s curve doesn’t peak too soon. The government has already contacted local industry to make additional health supplies, and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) is lending staff to help with that until new people can be trained. Australian university researchers have been asked to help develop vaccines/treatments and so forth and are making good progress. (x, x, x)

Other infrastructure

Supply chains are good. We’ve experienced panic buying, like everywhere has, but the resulting empty shelves are temporary. Australia produces more food than we eat, so the shortages will be short term only. Closing our borders will actually affect other countries’ food supplies more than ours. Plans are in place to make sure other kinds of essential infrastructure are maintained, such as power, water, rubbish collection and food deliveries, with the police force and defence force ready to be deployed where needed. Transport may be an issue, given how big Australia is, but both federal and state plans consider that as part of essential infrastructure, and again, the ADF will help out if needed. (x)

Feels

Generally, people are worried but still in reasonable spirits, but many aren’t yet taking this situation seriously enough. That’s partly because a lot of misinformation is spreading via social media, but the ABC’s coverage and the documents on the Federal and W.A. state government websites (Google for other state government websites if needed) is clear and useful. If you’re an Aussie, you should get your info from these sources.

I’m not a huge fan of our current government, and have a few criticisms about how they are handling some aspects of the situation, but overall, the plans are reasonable and being implemented in an orderly way.

TLDR - Australia actually has a Corvid-19 plan and it’s orderly and reasonable.

[enter21st]

Inmarsat helps the Australian Defence Force to become a satellite operator

Inmarsat helps the Australian Defence Force to become a satellite operator

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is now using Inmarsat’s satellites for its operations following an AUS$221 million contract. As a virtual satellite operator, the ADF is able to control its service use directly. Inmarsat says it has enabled the ADF to increase efficiency by 300 percent while reducing operating costs by 70 percent. Brigadier Gregory Novak, Commander of the ADF’s Defence…

[coverarticles]

Australian Defence hunts for new contractor to build new recruitment database

Australian Defence hunts for new contractor to build new recruitment database

[ad_1]

Australia’s Department of Defence has started its search for a partner that can help deliver a new recruitment system for the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

Defence said under the contract, which will be worth more than AU$1 billion over 10 years, the successful partner would be responsible for delivering an “adaptable, scalable, modern, competitive, collaborative, and transparent”…

[calvinjean574]

New Post has been published on drones

New Post has been published on http://hotdrones.online/defence-force-pays-au10-6m-to-xtek-for-drone-maintenance/

Defence Force pays AU$10.6m to XTEK for drone maintenance

The Department of Defence has actually awarded Canberra-based business XTEK with the obligation of supplying repairs, upkeep, and support services for the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) Wasp All … drone – BingNews

[casbooks]

Books of 2023

Book 39 of 2023

Title: First In, Last Out: An American Paratrooper in Vietnam With the 101st and Vietnamese Airborne Authors: John Howard ISBN: 9780811766067 Tags: AC-130 Spectre, AUS ADF AA 1st Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR), AUS ADF AA Australian Army, AUS ADF Australian Defence Force, AUS Australia, B-52 Stratofortress, C-130 Hercules, CHE Geneva Conference of 1954 (French Indochina War), Cold War (1946-1991), CUB Cuba, CUB Cuban Missile Crisis, FAC, FRA ADT French Ground Army (Armée de terre), FRA ADT Groupement Mobile 100 (French Indochina War), FRA France, GER Berlin, GER Berlin - Checkpoint Charlie, GER Berlin Wall, GER Germany, GER Munich, KHM Cambodia, KHM Cambodian Incursion (1970) (Vietnam War), KOR Blue House Raid (1968), KOR Camp Greaves, KOR Freedom Bridge, KOR Imjin River, KOR Korea, KOR Korean War (1950-1953), KOR Munsan, KOR President Park Chung Hee, KOR ROK Capital Tiger Division, KOR ROK KATUSA Korean Augmentation to the US Army, KOR ROK Republic of Korea Army, KOR ROKMC Republic Of Korea Marine Corps, KOR UN UNC United Nations Command, KOR US USFK US Forces Korea, LAO FSB 31 (Lam Son 719) (Vietnam War), LAO Lam Son 719 (1971) (Vietnam War), LAO Laos, M113 APC, O-2 Skymaster, PHL Philippines, PHL US USAF Clark Air Force Base, PRK Kim Il Sung, PRK KPA 124th Army Unit, PRK KPA North Korean People's Army, PRK North Korea, SA-2 Guideline SAM, SA-7 Strela SAM, SAM, THA Bangkok, THA Bangkok - Nick's #1 Hungarian Inn, THA RTAFB Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Base, THA Thailand, U-2, UN United Nations, US Ambassador Maxwell Taylor, US Martin Luther King Jr (Civil Rights Leader), US MOH Medal of Honor, US MSTS Military Sea Transportation Service, US MSTS USNS General Leroy Eltinge (T-AP-154), US OH Kent State University, US OH Kent State University Shootings (1970) (Vietnam War), US OH Ohio, US President John F. Kennedy, US President John F. Kennedy Assassination - Dallas TX (1963), US President Lyndon B. Johnson, US President Richard M. Nixon, US Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, US USA 101st Airborne Division - 1st Brigade, US USA 101st Airborne Division - 3rd Brigade, US USA 101st Airborne Division - Screaming Eagles, US USA 173rd Airborne Brigade - Sky Soldiers, US USA 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team, US USA 1st Cavalry Division, US USA 1st ID - 3rd Brigade, US USA 1st ID - Big Red One, US USA 23rd Infantry Regiment, US USA 23rd Infantry Regiment - 3/23, US USA 2nd ID, US USA 2nd Infantry Regiment, US USA 2nd Infantry Regiment - 2/2, US USA 327th Infantry Regiment, US USA 327th Infantry Regiment - 1/327, US USA 327th Infantry Regiment - 1/327 - A (ABU) Co, US USA 327th Infantry Regiment - 1/327 - B Co, US USA 327th Infantry Regiment - 1/327 - Tiger Force Recon, US USA 38th Infantry Regiment, US USA 38th Infantry Regiment - 2/38, US USA 502nd Aviation Bn, US USA 502nd Aviation Bn - A Co, US USA 502nd Infantry Regiment, US USA 502nd Infantry Regiment - 2/502, US USA 502nd Infantry Regiment - 2/502 - C Co, US USA 503rd Infantry Regiment, US USA 503rd Infantry Regiment - 1/503, US USA 503rd Infantry Regiment - 2/503, US USA 70th Engineer Bn, US USA 7th ID, US USA 8th Army, US USA 937th Engineer Group, US USA 9th Cavalry Regiment, US USA 9th Cavalry Regiment - 1/9 - F Troop, US USA 9th Cavalry Regiment - 1/9 - Headhunters, US USA Col David Hackworth, US USA Col Jack Jacobs (MOH), US USA Fort Benning GA, US USA Fort Benning GA - Airborne School, US USA Fort Benning GA - IOAC Infantry Officers Advanced Course, US USA Fort Benning GA - NCOCC NCO Candidate Course, US USA Fort Benning GA - Ranger School, US USA Fort Benning GA - US Army Infantry School, US USA Fort Campbell KY, US USA Fort Ord CA, US USA Fort Ord CA - USATC US Army Training Center, US USA General Barry McCaffrey, US USA General Charles H Bonesteel III, US USA General Creighton Abrams, US USA General Fred C. Weyand, US USA General Frederick Koresen, US USA General James A. Hollingsworth, US USA General John Guthrie, US USA General John Heintges, US USA General John McGiffert, US USA General John R. McGiffert, US USA General Normal Schwarzkopf, US USA General Ray Lynch, US USA General Thomas Kennan, US USA General Willard Pearson, US USA General William Coleman, US USA General William Enemark, US USA General William Westmoreland, US USA LRRP Team (Vietnam War), US USA United States Army, US USA USSF Green Berets, US USA USSF Special Forces, US USA USSF Team ODA-221, US USA USSF Team ODA-222, US USA Walter Reed Hospital, US USAF 21st TASS - Rash FAC, US USAF 21st TASS - Sundog FAC, US USAF United States Air Force, US USMC 3rd Marines - 3/3, US USMC United States Marine Corps, US USN NPS Naval Postgraduate School CA, US USN United States Navy, US USN USS Newport News (CA-148), US USN USS Pueblo (AGER 2), USMA West Point, USMA West Point - Camp Buckner, USSR, USSR 1st Secretary Nikita Khrushchev, USSR General Secretary of the Communist Party Leonid Brezhnev, VNM 1968 Tet Offensive (1968) (Vietnam War), VNM 1972 Easter Offensive / Nguyen Hue (1972) (Vietnam War), VNM An Khe, VNM An Loc, VNM An Ninh, VNM Assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem (1963) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of An Loc (1972) (1972 Easter Offensive) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of Camp Holloway (1965) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of Dak To (1967) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of Dien Bien Phu (1954) (French Indochina War), VNM Battle of Hue City (1968) (Tet Offensive) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of Ia Drang Valley (1965) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of Saigon (1968) (Tet Offensive) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of Tan Son Nhut (1968) (Tet Offensive) (Vietnam War), VNM Bien Hoa, VNM Binh Dinh Province, VNM Binh Long Province, VNM Buddhist Crisis (1963) (Vietnam War), VNM Cam Ranh Bay, VNM Camp Carroll (Vietnam War), VNM Camp Evans (Vietnam War), VNM Camp Holloway (Vietnam War), VNM Central Highlands, VNM Cham People, VNM Cholon, VNM Cholon - Binh Xuyen (Cholon Mafia), VNM Chon Thanh District, VNM Chu Lai, VNM Cua Viet River, VNM Cung Son Special Forces Camp (Vietnam War), VNM Da Nang, VNM Dak To, VNM Di An, VNM DMZ Demilitarized Zone - 17th Parallel (Vietnam War), VNM Dong Ba Thin, VNM Dong Ba Thin Special Forces Camp (Vietnam War), VNM Dong Tre, VNM Dong Tre Special Forces Camp (Vietnam War), VNM DRV Ho Chi Minh, VNM DRV NVA 320B Division, VNM DRV NVA 7th Division, VNM DRV NVA 95th Regiment, VNM DRV NVA 95th Regiment - 5th Bn, VNM DRV NVA Communist B2 Front, VNM DRV NVA General Tran Van Tra, VNM DRV NVA General Vo Nguyen Giap, VNM DRV NVA North Vietnamese Army, VNM DRV Party Secretary Le Duan, VNM DRV Politburo Central Military Committee, VNM DRV VC 5th Division, VNM DRV VC 9th Division, VNM DRV VC Viet Cong, VNM DRV VM Viet Minh, VNM Emperor Minh Manh, VNM FRA 1st Vietnamese Paratroop Bn (French Indochina War), VNM FRA French Expeditionary Corps (French Indochina War), VNM French Indochina War (1946-1954), VNM FSB Mai Loc (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Sarge (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Than Khai (Vietnam War), VNM Gulf of Tonkin Incident (1964) (Vietnam War), VNM Heiu Xuong District, VNM Highway 1, VNM Highway 13 - Thunder Road, VNM Highway 19, VNM Highway 9, VNM Hill 169, VNM Hill 65, VNM Hill 875, VNM Hue, VNM Hue - Le Huan St, VNM Hue - The Citadel, VNM I Corps (Vietnam War), VNM Ia Drang Valley, VNM II Corps (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps (Vietnam War), VNM IV Corps (Vietnam War), VNM Kontum, VNM Kontum Province, VNM Lai Khe, VNM Loc Ninh, VNM LZ Albany (Vietnam War), VNM LZ Sally (Vietnam War), VNM LZ X-Ray (Vietnam War), VNM Mekong Delta, VNM Montagnard, VNM My Canh, VNM My Chanh River, VNM My Lai, VNM My Lai Massacre (1968) (Vietnam War), VNM My Phu, VNM Nha Trang, VNM Nhon Co, VNM Ninh Thuan Province, VNM Operation Arc Light (1965-1973) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Checkerboard (1965) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Dong Tien (1970) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Flaming Dart (1965) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Hump (1965) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Lam Son 72 (1972) (1972 Easter Offensive) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Linebacker I (1972) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Linebacker II (1972) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation MacArthur (1967-1969) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Sayonara (1965) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Silver Bayonet I (1965) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Van Buren (1965) (Vietnam War), VNM Phan Rang, VNM Phan Thiet, VNM Phu Bai, VNM Phu Sen, VNM Phu Yen Province, VNM Phung Ha, VNM Pleiku, VNM Quang Tri, VNM Quang Tri - Citadel, VNM Quang Tri Province, VNM Qui Nhon, VNM RVN ARVN 11th Airborne Bn, VNM RVN ARVN 15th Regiment, VNM RVN ARVN 18th ID, VNM RVN ARVN 1st ID, VNM RVN ARVN 20th Tank Regiment, VNM RVN ARVN 21st ID, VNM RVN ARVN 31st Regiment, VNM RVN ARVN 3rd ID, VNM RVN ARVN 56th Regiment, VNM RVN ARVN 5th Airborne Bn, VNM RVN ARVN 5th ID, VNM RVN ARVN 6th Airborne Bn, VNM RVN ARVN 8th Airborne Bn, VNM RVN ARVN 9th Airborne Bn, VNM RVN ARVN 9th ID, VNM RVN ARVN Airborne Division - Su-Doan Nhay Du, VNM RVN ARVN Army of the Republic of Vietnam, VNM RVN ARVN CIDG Civilian Irregular Defense Group, VNM RVN ARVN General Cao Van Vien, VNM RVN ARVN General Du Quoc Dong, VNM RVN ARVN General Hoang Xuan Lam, VNM RVN ARVN General Le Van Hung, VNM RVN ARVN General Ngo Quang Truong, VNM RVN ARVN General Nguyen Van Minh, VNM RVN ARVN General Vu Van Giai, VNM RVN Madame Nhu (Tran Le Xuan), VNM RVN Marines, VNM RVN Ngo Dinh Diem, VNM RVN Ngo Dinh Nhu, VNM RVN Nguyen Van Thieu, VNM RVN SVNAF Da Nang Airbase, VNM RVN SVNAF South Vietnamese Air Force, VNM Saigon, VNM Saigon - Missouri BOQ (Vietnam War), VNM Saigon - Pham Van Hai St, VNM Saigon - US Embassy (Vietnam War), VNM Srok Ton Cui, VNM Tan Khai, VNM Tan Son Nhut Air Base, VNM Tan Son Nhut Air Base - Camp Alpha (Vietnam War), VNM Thach Han River, VNM Thanh Binh, VNM Thanh Hoi, VNM Tuy Hoa, VNM US MAAG Military Assistance Advisory Group Vietnam (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV AAG Army Advisory Group (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV ADAT Advisory Team 162 (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV ADAT Airborne Division Assistance Team (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV Advisory Teams (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV BCAT Battalion Combat Assistance Teams (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV DCAT Division Combat Asisstant Team (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV FRAC First Regional Assistance Command (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV Military Assistance Command Vietnam (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV TRAC Third Regional Assistance Command (Vietnam War), VNM US Project 100000 (Vietnam War), VNM US USA 3rd Field Hospital - Saigon (Vietnam War), VNM US USA 85th Evacuation Hospital - Phu Bai (Vietnam War), VNM US USA 8th Field Hospital - Nha Trang (Vietnam War), VNM USA TF Hackworth (Vietnam War), VNM Vietnam, VNM Vietnam War (1955-1975), VNM Vung Tau, VNM War Zone D (Vietnam War), VNM Windy Hill Rating: ★★★★ (4 Stars) Subject: Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.ARVN.Airborne Division, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.Specops.LRRPs, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.US Army.Advisor, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.US Army.Infantry

Description: Fresh out of West Point, John Howard arrived for his first tour in Vietnam in 1965, the first full year of escalation when U.S. troop levels increased to 184,000 from 23,000 the year before. When he returned for a second tour in 1972, troop strength stood at 24,000 and would dwindle to a mere 50 the following year. He thus participated in the very early and very late stages of American military involvement in the Vietnam War. His two tours—one as a platoon commander and member of an elite counterguerrilla force, the second as a senior advisor to the South Vietnamese—provide a fascinating lens through which to view not only one soldier’s experience in Vietnam, but also the country’s. **

Review:   Let me first say that I did enjoy this book - to a degree. That's why it gets 4 stars. But it's important to know that this is not a great book, which with the authors experiences, it really could have been. One of the biggest deficiencies is that he spends more time telling than showing. Good books of this genre give you a first hand view of what happened and what someone experienced. This book is very light on that, especially during his 1965 tour. It gets better with his Korean and Advisor experiences later on, but only just. Instead you get a lot of history of Vietnam, a lot of history of what happened, who went where, what they did. It's all very strategic and 1000 foot level when what this book is supposed to be is very in the weeds at the 1 foot personal experience level. This is a man who participated in a lot of intense operations, worked with incredible people like Foley and Hackworth, and was both a part of ABU and Tiger Recon with the 101st. But you never really get a feel for what it was like to be a member of either. You never get to experience a recon mission, though he was a part of many. You just know that x unit moved to y place, and then this is what happened / this was the outcome. 

You get a good overview of the battles, the war, and even a few of the people, but very little else from his time with the 101st. 

His time in Korea is a bit better and gives you a good understanding of what happened and some incidents and the people. Also his time as an Advisor is also more personal as well. So maybe it's just a memory thing and things from 72 are easily recalled vs 65. 

One thing you'll notice is a lot of ring knocking and naming of generals... so many generals. So just... be prepared for that.  

Overall though, a decent book... he needs to work on the tell vs show more than anything. Up next, going to read Foley's Special Men. I always loved Foley's fictional writing, so I have high hopes for his book about his time with Tiger Recon and other units. I have a feeling it's going to be a good compliment to this book. 

[casbooks]

Books of 2023

Book 47 of 2023

Title: Three Tastes of Nuoc Mam Authors: Douglas Branson ISBN: 9786613914316 Tags: AUS ADF AA Australian Army, AUS ADF Australian Defence Force, AUS Australia, HKG Hong Kong, HKG Hong Kong - Peninsula Hotel, KOR Korea, KOR ROK 9th White Horse Division, KOR ROK Republic of Korea Army, P-3 Orion, US Bob Hope (Entertainer), US USA United States Army, US USA USSF Green Berets, US USA USSF Special Forces, US USCG United States Coast Guard, US USCG USCGC Point Comfort (WPB-82317), US USN United States Navy, US USN USS Currituck Sound (AV-7), US USN USS Vesuvius (AE-15), US USO United Service Organizations, USN Admiral Elmo Russell "Bud" Zumwalt Jr, USN PCF Patrol Craft Fast Swift Boat, VNM ADF AA 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) (Vietnam War), VNM ADF AA AATF Australian Army Training Team (Vietnam War), VNM Ba Dong, VNM Binh Thuan Province, VNM Cam Ranh Bay, VNM Co Chien River, VNM Con Na Beach, VNM Cu Lao Cau, VNM DRV NVA North Vietnamese Army, VNM DRV VC Viet Cong, VNM Highway 1, VNM Hon Cu Loa (Monkey Island), VNM Hon Mat, VNM Hon Mieu (South Island), VNM Hon Tam, VNM Hon Tre (Bamboo Island), VNM III Corps (Vietnam War), VNM Mekong Delta, VNM Nha Trang, VNM Nui Dat, VNM Operation Market Time (1965-1975) (Vietnam War), VNM Phan Rang Air Base, VNM Phan Thiet, VNM Point Ke Ga, VNM Point Mui Dinh, VNM RVN ARVN Army of the Republic of Vietnam, VNM RVN ARVN Vietnamese Rangers - Biet Dong Quan, VNM RVN Ngo Dinh Diem, VNM RVN Nguyen Van Thieu, VNM RVN RVNP Can Sat National Police, VNM RVN VNN LLHT Luc Luong Hai Thuyen Navy Coastal Force / Junk Force(Vietnam War), VNM RVN VNN Republic of Vietnam Navy, VNM Tan Son Nhut Air Base, VNM Truong Son Mountains, VNM US MACV Advisory Teams (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV Military Assistance Command Vietnam (Vietnam War), VNM USN Coastal Patrol Center III Corps - Halo Shampoo, VNM USN Coastal Surveillance Center III Corps - Nha Trang, VNM USN TF 117 MRF Mobile Riverine Force (Vietnam War), VNM Vietnam, VNM Vietnam War (1955-1975), VNM VNN Yabudda Junks, VNM Vung Tau Rating: ★★(2 Stars) Subject: Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.Naval.VNN Year Read: 47 of 2023 Price: 13.29

Description: During the War, Vietnam's coast had to be protected against Viet Cong ambushes and smuggling. The U.S. forces had destroyers, cruisers and gargantuan aircraft carriers, none suited for inshore patrol. This is the story of the Brown Water Navy, the garage-band flotilla assembled to do the job.Douglas Branson has been to Vietnam several times, including trips in 1966, 1995 and 2011. The first time, he was a 22-year-old, Brown Water Navy lieutenant JG. Subsequent visits were as a consultant/tourist. Here, Branson recounts three of his Vietnam adventures with humor, detail and insight into the economic, political and gastronomic forces at work.

Review: I'll be honest, I didn't finish this book. I read the vietnam war part, and skipped the rest because even the war part was difficult to get through. This wasn't quite a 1 star book but it definitely came close. For anyone who has read anything about Operation Market Time, the Swift boats, or even coastal advisors - this book sets off red flags and alarm bells. The author has some very strong opinions about everyone and everything and often ... well ... let's just say that he vacillates wildly from complete bullshit to just plain stupid. Avoid this book and read Bob Andretta's Brown Water Runs Red for a better book on the Junk Force.

[casbooks]

Books of 2023

Book 36 of 2023

Title: Alone in the Valley: A Soldier's Journey in the Vietnam War Authors: George R. Lanigan ISBN: 9781518825378 Tags: AUS ADF AA Australian Army, AUS ADF AA SAS Special Air Service (ASAS), AUS ADF Australian Defence Force, AUS Australia, B-52 Stratofortress, Bolivia, Buddhism (Religion), C-119 Flying Box Car, C-123 Provider, Catholic, Che Guevara, Cold War (1946-1991), HUN Hungarian Revolution of 1956, HUN Hungary, KHM Cambodia, KHM Cambodian Army (Vietnam War), KHM Cambodian Civil War (1967-1975), KHM Dr Son Ngoc Thanh, KHM FANK Khmer Army / Forces Armees Nationals Khmeres (1970-1975) (Cambodian Civil War), KHM General Lon Nol, KHM Khmer Rouge, KHM Khmer Serei (Cambodia Civil War), KHM Prince Norodom Sihanouk, M-113 APC, Medevac helicopter, Nungs, OV-10 Bronco, PAN Chagres River, PAN Colon, PAN Panama, PAN USA Fort Sherman, PAN USA Fort Sherman - Jungle Operations Training Center, PAN USAF Howard Air Force Base, POW, Rangers, SpecOps, Tamara Bunker Bider (East German Guerilla/KGB), U-10 Helio Courier, US AK Alaska, US AK ALCAN highway, US AK Delta Junction, US AK Gulkana Glacier, US CIA Central Intelligence Agency, US George Peppard (Actor), US Lodge Act, US Martha Raye (Actress), US Medal Of Honor, US OH Kent State University, US OH Kent State University Shootings (1970) (Vietnam War), US OH Ohio, US President Richard M. Nixon, US Raymond Burr (Actor), US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, US USA 117th Assault Helicopter Company, US USA 117th Assault Helicopter Company - 2 Plt - Pink Panthers, US USA 75th Rangers, US USA 75th Rangers - P Co, US USA 75th Rangers - P Co - RT 1-6, US USA ANG Army National Guard, US USA Camp Mackall NC, US USA Col Lamar Welch, US USA Fort Benning GA, US USA Fort Bragg NC, US USA Fort Bragg NC - JFK Special Warfare Center / School, US USA Fort Bragg NC - Smoke Bomb Hill, US USA Fort Gordon GA, US USA Fort Gordon GA - Camp Crocket, US USA Fort Gordon GA - Range Road, US USA Fort Greely AK, US USA Fort Jackson SC, US USA Fort Lewis WA, US USA Fort Mitchell AL, US USA Fort Mitchell AL - Fryar Drop Zone, US USA Fort Wainwright AK, US USA Francis Marion (Swamp Fox), US USA General John L Throckmorton, US USA Major James N. Rowe, US USA NWTC Northern Warfare Training Center AK, US USA Sgt David Dolby (MOH), US USA SP4 Roy Burke (Ranger), US USA United States Army, US USA USSF 5th SFG, US USA USSF 6th SFG, US USA USSF 6th SFG - A Co, US USA USSF 7th SFG, US USA USSF Green Berets, US USA USSF Special Forces, US USA USSF Team ODA-442, US USA USSF Team ODB-36, US USA USSF Team ODB-43, US USAF Pope Air Force Base - NC, US USAF United States Air Force, US USN ASPB Assault Support Patrol Boat, US USN United States Navy, US USO United Service Organizations, VNM ADF AA 1st Australian Field Hospital - Vung Tau (Vietnam War), VNM ADF AA 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) (Vietnam War), VNM ADF AA AATF Australian Army Training Team (Vietnam War), VNM Assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem (1963) (Vietnam War), VNM Ba Ria, VNM Bien Hoa, VNM Buddhist Crisis (1963) (Vietnam War), VNM Cam Ranh Bay, VNM Chi Lang, VNM CIA Air America (1950-1976) (Vietnam War), VNM DRV NVA North Vietnamese Army, VNM DRV VC Viet Cong, VNM Hill 282, VNM Hmong Meo Tribesmen, VNM Ho Chi Minh Trail (Vietnam War), VNM I Corps (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps (Vietnam War), VNM IV Corps (Vietnam War), VNM Long Hai, VNM Long Hai Special Forces Camp (Vietnam War), VNM Minh Dam Secret Zone, VNM My Lai Massacre (1968), VNM Nha Trang Air Base, VNM Nui Dat, VNM Operation Arc Light (1965-1973) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Ivory Coast - Son Tay Raid (1970) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Ranch Hand (1962-1971) (Vietnam War), VNM Parrots Beak, VNM Phuoc Hai, VNM Phuoc Tuy Province, VNM Quang Tri Province, VNM RVN ARVN Army of the Republic of Vietnam, VNM RVN ARVN CIDG Civilian Irregular Defense Group, VNM RVN ARVN LLDB Luc Luong Dac Biet Special Forces, VNM RVN ARVN RF/PF Regional Forces/Popular Forces (Vietnam War), VNM RVN ARVN Vietnamese Rangers - Biet Dong Quan, VNM RVN Ngo Dinh Diem, VNM RVN RVNP Can Sat National Police, VNM Tan Son Nhut Air Base, VNM Tay Ninh Province, VNM Tay Ninh West Air Base, VNM UITG Chi Lang Training Center (Vietnam War), VNM UITG Long Hai Training Center (Vietnam War), VNM US Agent Orange (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV Advisory Teams (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV IV Corps Advisory Team (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV Military Assistance Command Vietnam (Vietnam War), VNM US USA USSF 3rd Mobile Strike Force (Vietnam War), VNM US USSF Mobile Strike Force (MIKE) (Vietnam War), VNM USA USARV UITG Individual Training Group (Vietnam War), VNM USA USARV United States Army Vietnam (Vietnam War), VNM USN MRF Mobile Riverine Force (Vietnam War), VNM USN NATSB Ben Keo, VNM USN NATSB Go Dau Hau, VNM USN NATSB Naval Advanced Support Base, VNM USN TF 117 MRF Mobile Riverine Force (Vietnam War), VNM Vam Co Dong River, VNM Vietnam, VNM Vietnam War (1955-1975), VNM Vung Tau, VNM Xuyen Moc Rating: ★★★★ (4 Stars) Subject: Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.ARVN, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.Australia, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.Cambodian Civil War, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.Specops.Green Berets, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.US Army.Advisor

Description: In 1968, George Lanigan leaves the University of Maryland and sets off on the journey of his life. He volunteers to serve his country in the Vietnam War and enlists in the army where he becomes an elite Special Forces advisor in a top-secret program. The United States is clandestinely training the Cambodian Army, Forces Armees Nationales Khmeres, and Lanigan is at the heart of the mission. In this personal memoir, LTC George R. Lanigan, USA (Retired), adapts his forty-year-old letters and correspondence to his parents into an emotionally compelling and suspenseful narrative that relates his daily life of survival and political tension. It's an inside, firsthand look at a rare, and previously classified, Vietnam War experience. But its scope reaches beyond the war itself and illuminates the realities soldiers face returning home, building a life, and even visiting war zones four decades later. Its openness and honesty will resonate with war veterans, their friends and family members, those suffering post-traumatic stress disorder, and people of all ages who are interested in American history. Readers will learn about war life, a volatile political environment, and how personal experiences weave together to create the person one eventually becomes.

[casbooks]

Books of 2023

Book 35 of 2023

Title: The Frost Weeds: Vietnam: 1964-1965 Authors: James Oliveri ISBN: 9781555717612 Tags: A-1 Skyraiders AUS ADF Australian Defence Force AUS Australia B-57 Canberra Buddhism (Religion) C-123 Provider C-7 Caribou CH-34 Choctaw FRA France LAO Laos LAO Laotian Civil War (1959-1975) LAO Pathet Lao LAO Prime Minister Souvanna Phouma LAO Prince Souvanna Phouma LAO RLA 33rd Laotian Elephant Bn LAO RLA Royal Laotian Army LAO RLAF Royal Lao Air Force Nungs O-1 Bird Dog SpecOps U-1 Otter US Ambassador Maxwell Taylor US CIA Central Intelligence Agency US Medal Of Honor US President Lyndon B. Johnson US Raymond Burr (Actor) US USA 1st Cavalry Division US USA 86th Engineer Bn US USA Col Roger Donlon (MOH) US USA Fort Dix NJ US USA Fort Dix NJ - Intermediate Speed Radio Operators Course (ISROC) US USA General Paul D. Harkins US USA General William Westmoreland US USA United States Army US USA USSF 5th SFG US USA USSF 7th SFG US USA USSF Green Berets US USA USSF Special Forces US USA USSF Team A-113 US USA USSF Team A-323 US USA USSF Team A-726 US USMC 9th MEB US USMC United States Marine Corps US USN 7th Fleet US USN United States Navy US USN USS Maddox (DD-731) US USN USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) US USN USS Turner Joy (DD-951) US USO United Service Organizations VNM 1968 Tet Offensive (1968) (Vietnam War) VNM A Louie Airstrip VNM A Shau Special Forces Camp (Vietnam War) VNM A Shau Valley VNM AUS ADF Australian Army Training Team (Vietnam War) VNM Battle of Hue City (1968) (Tet Offensive) (Vietnam War) VNM Battle of Nam Dong CIDG Camp (1964) (Vietnam War) VNM Cam Lo VNM Central Highlands VNM Cholon VNM Con Thien VNM Cua Viet VNM Da Lat VNM Da Nang VNM Da Nang - Red Beach Base Area (Vietnam War) VNM Da Nang Air Base VNM DMZ Demilitarized Zone - 17th Parallel (Vietnam War) VNM Dong Ap Bia VNM Dong Ha VNM Dong Hoi VNM Dong Nai River VNM DRV NVA Col Bui Tin (Engineer) VNM DRV NVA Col Dong Si Nguyen (Minister of Construction) VNM DRV NVA North Vietnamese Army VNM DRV VC Viet Cong VNM FRA Felix Poilane (Plantation Owner) VNM Gio Linh VNM Gulf of Tonkin Incident (1964) (Vietnam War) VNM Highway 1 VNM Highway 14 VNM Highway 548 VNM Highway 9 VNM Ho Chi Minh Trail (Vietnam War) VNM Hue VNM Hue - Business District VNM Hue - Capitol Building VNM Hue - Cercle Sportif VNM Hue - Duy Tan St VNM Hue - Hue Stadium VNM Hue - Hue University VNM Hue - Joan of Arc Cathedral VNM Hue - Le Loi St VNM Hue - Nguyen Hoang Bridge VNM Hue - Perfume River VNM Hue - Public Health and Hospital Complex VNM Hue - Tay Loc Airfield (Vietnam War) VNM Hue - The Citadel VNM Hue - Tran Cao Van St VNM Hue - Tran Hung Dao St VNM I Corps (Vietnam War) VNM Ia Drang Valley VNM III Corps (Vietnam War) VNM Lang Troi VNM Lang Vei VNM Lang Vei Special Forces Camp (Vietnam War) VNM Montagnard - Bru VNM Montagnards VNM Montagnards - Katu VNM Nam Dong VNM Nam Dong Special Forces Camp (Vietnam War) VNM Nha Trang VNM Operation Flaming Dart (1965) (Vietnam War) VNM Operation Ranch Hand (1962-1971) (Vietnam War) VNM Operation Rolling Thunder (1965-1968) (Vietnam War) VNM Phu Bai VNM Pleiku VNM Quang Tri VNM Quang Tri Province VNM Rao Lao River VNM Rao Quang River VNM Red River VNM RVN ARVN 1st ID VNM RVN ARVN 2nd Regiment VNM RVN ARVN 2nd Regiment - 3/2 VNM RVN ARVN 36th Ranger Bn VNM RVN ARVN 3rd Regiment VNM RVN ARVN 3rd Regiment - 3/3 VNM RVN ARVN Army of the Republic of Vietnam VNM RVN ARVN CIDG Civilian Irregular Defense Group VNM RVN ARVN General Nguyen Chanh Thi VNM RVN ARVN LLDB Luc Luong Dac Biet Special Forces VNM RVN ARVN MP Quan Canh Military Police VNM RVN ARVN Nam Dong CIDG Camp VNM RVN ARVN Vietnamese Rangers - Biet Dong Quan VNM RVN General Duonh Van Minh (Big Minh) VNM RVN Nguyen Cao Ky VNM RVN Nguyen Khanh VNM RVN RVNP Can Sat National Police VNM RVN SVNAF South Vietnamese Air Force VNM RVN Tran Van Huong VNM Saigon VNM Saigon - Brinks Hotel VNM Saigon - Brinks Hotel Bombing (1964) VNM Saigon - Capital Hotel VNM Saigon - Tu Do St (Rue Catinat) VNM Som Bai VNM Ta Bat VNM Ta Bat Airfield VNM Ta Rau VNM Tan Son Nhut Air Base VNM Thua Thien Province VNM Tonkin Gulf VNM US Agent Orange (Vietnam War) VNM US MAAG Advisory Team 3 (Vietnam War) VNM US MAAG Military Assistance Advisory Group Vietnam (Vietnam War) VNM US MACV Advisory Team 3 (Vietnam War) VNM US MACV Advisory Teams (Vietnam War) VNM US MACV Military Assistance Command Vietnam (Vietnam War) VNM US USMC KSCB Khe Sanh Combat Base (Vietnam War) VNM US USSF Mobile Strike Force (MIKE) (Vietnam War) VNM Vietnam VNM Vietnam War (1955-1975) Rating: ★★★★★ (5 Stars) Subject: Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.ARVN, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.Specops.ARVN, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.Specops.Green Berets, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.US Army.Advisor

Description: During the early years of the Vietnam War, a small group of American soldiers carried the fight to the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army, often under difficult circumstances. Their sacrifices generally went unrecognized and unappreciated by a mostly indifferent nation. But a massive influx of American troops would soon alter the entire nature and perception of the war. THE FROST WEEDS graphically describes the horror, the heroism and even the humor of the Vietnam experience while offering a far different perspective of the war than that epitomized by the larger conflict that followed. It is an astonishing account of a small U.S. military advisory team struggling to deal with a ruthless enemy and an often exasperating ally.

Review: This was an excellent book by an excellent author. He was able to craft a good narrative and understood pacing and flow which is rare for many of these books. The tales he told of the early years of the vietnam war, the 64/65 period, of what it was like at Ta Bat, A Shau, and Khe Sanh, his explorations of Hue, and the battle of Nam Dong were well done and gave you a really good sense of who was there, what happened, and what the experience was like being an Advisor radioman attached to an ARVN unit. 

[casbooks]

Books of 2023

Book 2 of 2023:

Title: Days of Valor Authors: Robert Tonsetic ISBN: 9781935149385 Tags: AUS ADF AA Australian Army, AUS ADF Australian Defence Force, AUS ADF RAN FAA 723 Sqd, AUS ADF RAN FAA Fleet Air Arm, AUS ADF RAN Royal Australian Navy, AUS Australia, US USA 118th Assault Helicopter Company - Thunderbirds, US USA 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, US USA 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment - 2/11, US USA 128th Assault Helicopter Company - Tomahawks, US USA 12th Aviation Group, US USA 12th Infantry Regiment, US USA 12th Infantry Regiment - 4/12 - Warriors, US USA 12th Infantry Regiment - 5/12, US USA 12th Infantry Regiment - 5/12 - A Co, US USA 135th Assault Helicopter Company, US USA 179th Military Intelligence Det, US USA 17th Cavalry Regiment, US USA 17th Cavalry Regiment - 3/17, US USA 17th Cavalry Regiment - 3/17 - A Troop, US USA 17th Cavalry Regiment - 3/17 - A Troop - Silver Spurs, US USA 17th Cavalry Regiment - 3/17 - Aero-Rifle, US USA 17th Cavalry Regiment - 3/17 - Aero-Scouts, US USA 17th Cavalry Regiment - Delta Troop, US USA 187th Assault Helicopter Company, US USA 199th Light Infantry Brigade (Redcatchers), US USA 1st ID, US USA 25th ID, US USA 27th Infantry Regiment - 2/27, US USA 27th Infantry Regiment - Wolfhound Raiders, US USA 28th Infantry Regiment, US USA 28th Infantry Regiment - 2/28 - Black Lions, US USA 35th Artillery Regiment, US USA 35th Artillery Regiment - 2/35, US USA 35th Artillery Regiment - 2/35 - C Batt, US USA 39th Infantry Regiment, US USA 39th Infantry Regiment - 4/39, US USA 39th Infantry Regiment - 4/39 - B Co, US USA 3rd Infantry Regiment - 2/3, US USA 3rd Infantry Regiment - The Old Guard, US USA 3rd Ordnance Bn, US USA 40th Artillery Regiment, US USA 40th Artillery Regiment - 2/40, US USA 40th Artillery Regiment - 2/40 - C Batt, US USA 478th Aviation Co, US USA 47th Mechanized Infantry Regiment, US USA 47th Mechanized Infantry Regiment - 2/47, US USA 47th Mechanized Infantry Regiment - 2/47 - A Co, US USA 47th Mechanized Infantry Regiment - 2/47 - B Co, US USA 47th Mechanized Infantry Regiment - 2/47 - C Co, US USA 49th Scout Dog Platoon, US USA 4th Cavalry Regiment, US USA 4th Cavalry Regiment - 3/4, US USA 503rd Chemical Det, US USA 51st Infantry Regiment, US USA 51st Infantry Regiment - F Co (LRP), US USA 52nd Infantry Regiment, US USA 52nd Infantry Regiment - C Co, US USA 60th Infantry Regiment, US USA 60th Infantry Regiment - 5/60 - B Co, US USA 60th Infantry Regiment - 5/60 - Banditos, US USA 60th Infantry Regiment - 5/60 - C Co, US USA 716th Military Police Bn., US USA 71st Infantry Det (LRRP), US USA 7th Infantry Regiment, US USA 7th Infantry Regiment - 3/7 - A Co, US USA 7th Infantry Regiment - 3/7 - Cottonbalers, US USA 87th Engineer Co, US USA 9th ID, US USA ASA 856th Radio Research Det, US USA ASA Army Security Agency, US USA Combat Trackers - K9, US USA General Frederick Weyand, US USA General John Hay, US USA General Robert C. Forbes, US USA General William Westmoreland, US USA LRRP Team (Vietnam War), US USA MI Army Military Intelligence, US USA United States Army, US USA USSF 5th SFG, US USA USSF Green Berets, US USA USSF Special Forces, US USAF 377th Security Police Sqd, US USAF United States Air Force, VNM 1968 Tet Offensive (1968) (Vietnam War), VNM ADF AA 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) (Vietnam War), VNM ADF RAN EMU Experimental Military Unit (Vietnam War), VNM ADF RANHFV RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam (Vietnam War), VNM Ap Tan Hoi, VNM Ap Tan Thanh, VNM Battle of Long Binh (1968) (Tet Offensive) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of Long Binh Widows Village (1968) (Tet Offensive) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of Saigon (1968) (Tet Offensive) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of Tan Son Nhut (1968) (Tet Offensive) (Vietnam War), VNM Bien Hoa, VNM Binh Canh, VNM Binh Dien Bridge, VNM Binh Duong, VNM Binh Son Rubber Plantation, VNM Binh Tri Dong, VNM Camp Frenzell-Jones - 199th LIB Brigade Main Base (Vietnam War), VNM Cholon, VNM Cholon - Regional Communications Group HQ (Vietnam War), VNM Cong Thanh, VNM Dong Nai River, VNM DRV NVA 246th Bn, VNM DRV NVA 264th Bn, VNM DRV NVA 272nd Bn, VNM DRV NVA 273rd Regiment, VNM DRV NVA 4th Sapper Battalion, VNM DRV NVA 5th Regiment, VNM DRV NVA 7th Division, VNM DRV NVA 88th Regiment, VNM DRV NVA 9th Division, VNM DRV NVA C-100th Sapper Co, VNM DRV NVA General Tran Do, VNM DRV NVA North Vietnamese Army, VNM DRV VC 1st Regiment, VNM DRV VC 1st Regiment - 3/1, VNM DRV VC 271st Regiment, VNM DRV VC 272nd Regiment, VNM DRV VC 273rd Regiment, VNM DRV VC 274th Regiment, VNM DRV VC 274th Regiment - 2/274, VNM DRV VC 274th Regiment - 3/274, VNM DRV VC 275th Regiment, VNM DRV VC 4th Local Force Bn, VNM DRV VC 5th Division, VNM DRV VC 5th Local Force Bn, VNM DRV VC 6th Local Force Bn, VNM DRV VC 7th Bn, VNM DRV VC 8th Bn, VNM DRV VC 9th Division, VNM DRV VC Combined Artillery Group U-1, VNM DRV VC Dong Nai Regiment, VNM DRV VC Dong Nai Regiment - D-800 Bn (K1), VNM DRV VC Dong Nai Regiment - K1, VNM DRV VC Dong Nai Regiment - K3, VNM DRV VC Viet Cong, VNM Duc Tu, VNM FSB Atilla (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Concord (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Farrell (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Hanover (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Horseshoe-Bend (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Hun (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Keene (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Nashua (Vietnam War), VNM FSB New Orleans (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Stephanie (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Tri-Corners (Vietnam War), VNM Gia Dinh Province, VNM Highway 1, VNM Highway 10, VNM Highway 13, VNM Highway 16, VNM Highway 233, VNM Highway 316, VNM Highway 4, VNM Ho Nai, VNM Hoc Mon, VNM III Corps - AO Central Uniontown (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps - AO Columbus (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps - AO Haverford (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps - AO North Uniontown - Rocket Belt (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps - AO North Uniontown (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps - AO South Uniontown (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps - AO Winchester (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps (Vietnam War), VNM IV Corps (Vietnam War), VNM Kiem Tan, VNM Kinh Sanh Canal, VNM Long Binh, VNM Long Binh Post - Plantation - II Field Force HQ (Vietnam War), VNM Long Binh Post (Vietnam War), VNM Mekong Delta, VNM Nha Trang, VNM Nha Trang - 5th SFG Recondo School (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Box Springs (1968) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Fairfax/Rang Dong (1966-1967) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Snoopy (People Sniffer) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Toan Thang (1968) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Uniontown III (1968) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Valley Forge (1968) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Wilderness (1968) (Vietnam War), VNM Phu Lam, VNM Phu Lam Signal Site (Vietnam War), VNM Rach Lam, VNM RVN ARVN 30th Ranger Bn, VNM RVN ARVN 33rd Ranger Bn, VNM RVN ARVN 5th Ranger Group, VNM RVN ARVN Airborne Division - 6th Bn, VNM RVN ARVN Airborne Division - Su-Doan Nhay Du, VNM RVN ARVN Army of the Republic of Vietnam, VNM RVN ARVN Vietnamese Rangers - Biet Dong Quan, VNM RVN RVNP Can Sat National Police, VNM RVN SVNAF South Vietnamese Air Force, VNM RVN USA CRIP Combined Reconnaissance and Intelligence Platoon (Vietnam War), VNM RVN VNN Republic of Vietnam Navy, VNM RVN VNN RPF RAG River Assault Group, VNM RVN VNN RPF River Patrol Force, VNM RVN VNN RVNMD 147th MarBde - 1st Marine Bn - Wild Birds, VNM RVN VNN RVNMD 147th Marine Brigade, VNM RVN VNN RVNMD Republic of Vietnam Marine Division - Su Doan Thuy Quan Luc Chien, VNM Saigon, VNM Saigon - CMD Capital Military District (Vietnam War), VNM Saigon - Phu Tho Racetrack, VNM Song Be, VNM Suoi Dia, VNM Suoy Tay Loi, VNM Tan My Tay, VNM Tan Son Nhut Air Base, VNM Tan Uyen, VNM Thu Duc, VNM Trang Bom, VNM US MACV Military Assistance Command Vietnam (Vietnam War), VNM US USA 24th Evacuation Hospital - Long Binh (Vietnam War), VNM US USA 3rd Field Hospital - Saigon (Vietnam War), VNM US USA 93rd Evacuation Hospital - Long Binh (Vietnam War), VNM US USA II Field Force (1966-1971) (Vietnam War), VNM USA TF Hay (Vietnam War), VNM USA TF Panther (Vietnam War), VNM USA TF Ware (Vietnam War), VNM USA USARV United States Army Vietnam (Vietnam War), VNM Vietnam, VNM Vietnam War (1955-1975), VNM Vung Tao, VNM War Zone D (Vietnam War), VNM Xam Suoi Dia, VNM Xuan Loc Rating: ★★★★ Subject: Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.US Army.Infantry

Description: On January 30, 1968, the storm broke loose, as Saigon and nearly every provincial capital was overrun by VC and NVA bursting in unexpected strength from their base camps. In this book we learn the most intimate details of combat, as the Communists fight with rockets, mortars, Chinese claymores, mines, machine guns and AK-47s. The battles evolve into an enemy favoring the cloak of night, the jungle—both urban and natural—and subterranean fortifications, against U.S. forces favoring direct confrontational battle supported by air and artillery. When the lines are only 25 yards apart, however, there is little way to distinguish between the firepower or courage of the assailants and the defenders, or even who is who at any given moment, as both sides have the other in direct sight. Days of Valor covers the height of the Vietnam War, from the nervous period just before Tet, through the defeat of that offensive, to the highly underwritten yet equally bloody NVA counteroffensive launched in May 1968. It ends with a brief note about the 199th LIB being deactivated in spring 1970, furling its colors after suffering 753 dead and some 5,000 wounded. The brigade had only been a temporary creation, intended for one purpose, and though its heroism is now a matter of history, it should remain a source of pride for all Americans. SUMMARY: The 199th Light Infantry Brigade was created from three U.S. infantry battalions of long lineage as a fast reaction force to place in Vietnam. As the book begins, in December 1967, the brigade has been at war for a year, and many of its battered 12-month men are returning home. The Communists seem to be in a lull, and the brigade commander requests a transfer to a more active sector, just above Saigon. Through January the battalions sense increasing enemy strength, NVA personnel now mixed with Viet Cong units. But the enemy is lying low, and a truce has even been declared for the Vietnamese New Year, the holiday called Tet. On January 30, 1968, the storm broke loose, as Saigon and nearly every provincial capital was overrun by VC and NVA bursting in unexpected strength from their base camps. In this book we learn the most intimate details of combat, as the Communists fight with rockets, mortars, Chinese claymores, mines, machine guns and AK-47s. The battles evolve into an enemy favoring the cloak of night, the jungle-both urban and natural-and subterranean fortifications, against U.S. forces favoring direct confrontational battle supported by air and artillery. When the lines are only 25 yards apart, however, there is little way to distinguish between the firepower or courage of the assailants and the defenders, or even who is who at any given moment, as both sides have the other in direct sight. Days of Valor covers the height of the Vietnam War, from the nervous period just before Tet, through the defeat of that offensive, to the highly underwritten yet equally bloody NVA counteroffensive launched in May 1968. It ends with a brief note about the 199th LIB being deactivated in spring 1970, furling its colors after suffering 753 dead and some 5,000 wounded. The brigade had only been a temporary creation, intended for one purpose, and though its heroism is now a matter of history, it should remain a source of pride for all Americans

Review: This book fleshes out Tonsetic’s other book about his time with Charlie Co. 4/12, 199th LIB during the Tet Offensive in 1968. Focusing on the 199th as a whole, and the various elements involved, it goes into depth about the pre-Tet battles, the clearing of the Widows Village, Ho Ngai Village, Cholon, and the Phu Tho Racetrack in particular. A great  companion book to those written about the 9th Infantry Division’s 47th and 60th Infantry during the same period like “Two One Pony” and Our Time.

[casbooks]

Books of 2023....

Book 1 of 2023:

Title: Warriors Authors: Robert Tonsetic ISBN: 9780891418443 Tags: AC-47 Spooky, AUS ADF AA Australian Army, AUS ADF Australian Defence Force, AUS Australia, FAC, GBR BA British Army, GBR United Kingdom, Infantry, M113 APC, MYS BA Jungle Warfare School, MYS Malaysia, THA Thailand, THA USSF Special Forces Thailand (Vietnam War), US USA 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, US USA 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment - 2/11, US USA 12th Infantry Regiment, US USA 12th Infantry Regiment - 4/12 - B Co, US USA 12th Infantry Regiment - 4/12 - C Co, US USA 12th Infantry Regiment - 4/12 - D Co, US USA 12th Infantry Regiment - 4/12 - Warriors, US USA 17th Cavalry Regiment, US USA 17th Cavalry Regiment - Delta Troop, US USA 199th Light Infantry Brigade (Redcatchers), US USA 1st ID, US USA 25th ID, US USA 35th Artillery Regiment, US USA 35th Artillery Regiment - 2/35, US USA 35th Artillery Regiment - 2/35 - C Batt, US USA 40th Artillery Regiment, US USA 40th Artillery Regiment - 2/40, US USA 40th Artillery Regiment - 2/40 - C Batt, US USA 47th Mechanized Infantry Regiment, US USA 47th Mechanized Infantry Regiment - 2/47, US USA 49th Scout Dog Platoon, US USA 4th Cavalry Regiment, US USA 4th Cavalry Regiment - 3/4, US USA 7th Infantry Regiment, US USA 7th Infantry Regiment - 3/17 - Cottonbalers, US USA 87th Engineer Co, US USA 90th Replacement Bn, US USA 9th ID, US USA Combat Trackers - K9, US USA Fort Benning GA, US USA Fort Bragg NC, US USA Fort Hood TX, US USA LRRP Team (Vietnam War), US USA United States Army, US USA USSF Green Berets, US USA USSF Special Forces, US USAF 19th TASS, US USAF 19th TASS - Issue FAC, US USAF United States Air Force, VNM 1968 Tet Offensive (1968) (Vietnam War), VNM ADF AA 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of Long Binh Widows Village (1968) (Tet Offensive) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of Saigon (1968) (Tet Offensive) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of Tan Son Nhut (1968) (Tet Offensive) (Vietnam War), VNM Bien Hoa, VNM Bien Hoa Air Base (Vietnam War), VNM Binh Chanh, VNM Binh Tri Dong, VNM Camp Frenzell-Jones - 199th LIB Brigade Main Base (Vietnam War), VNM Cat Lai, VNM Cholon, VNM Cu Chi, VNM Dong Nai Province, VNM Dong Nai River, VNM DRV NVA 246th Bn, VNM DRV NVA 267th Bn, VNM DRV NVA 271st Regiment, VNM DRV NVA 272nd Regiment, VNM DRV NVA North Vietnamese Army, VNM DRV VC 274th Regiment, VNM DRV VC 275th Regiment, VNM DRV VC 5th Division, VNM DRV VC 88th Regiment, VNM DRV VC Dong Nai Regiment, VNM DRV VC Viet Cong, VNM FSB Bolt (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Concord (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Farrell (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Lois (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Nashua (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Stephanie (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Tri-Corners (Vietnam War), VNM Gia Dinh, VNM Go Dau Ha, VNM Highway 1, VNM Highway 22, VNM Highway 22 - Ambush Alley (Vietnam War), VNM Highway 314, VNM Ho Nai, VNM Hoc Mon, VNM III Corps - AO South Uniontown (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps (Vietnam War), VNM Long Binh, VNM Long Binh - Widows Village (Vietnam War), VNM Long Binh Post (Vietnam War), VNM Long Khanh Province, VNM Newport Bridge (Vietnam War), VNM Nha Be, VNM Nui Go Giap, VNM Operation Box Springs (1968) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Fairfax (1966-1967) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Uniontown III (1968) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Valley Forge (1968) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Wilderness (1968) (Vietnam War), VNM RVN ARVN 5th Ranger Group, VNM RVN ARVN Army of the Republic of Vietnam, VNM RVN ARVN RF/PF Regional Forces/Popular Forces (Vietnam War), VNM RVN ARVN Vietnamese Rangers - Biet Dong Quan, VNM Saigon, VNM Saigon - Phu Tho Racetrack, VNM Song Be, VNM Straight Edge Woods, VNM Tan Son Nhut Air Base, VNM Tan Uyen, VNM Tay Ninh, VNM Thu Duc, VNM Thu Duc - Redcatcher Regional Force Training Center (Vietnam War), VNM Trang Bom, VNM US USA 93rd Evacuation Hospital - Long Binh (Vietnam War), VNM US USA II Field Force (1966-1971) (Vietnam War), VNM Van Dong River, VNM Vietnam, VNM Vietnam War (1955-1975), VNM War Zone D (Vietnam War), VNM Xuan Loc Subject: Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.US Army.Infantry

Description: On the ground, in the air, and behind the lines, grunts made life-and-death decisions every day—and endured the worst stress of their young lives. It was the tumultuous year 1968, and Robert Tonsetic was Rifle Company commander of the 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry in Vietnam. He took over a group of grunts demoralized by defeat but determined to get even. Through the legendary Tet and May Offensives, he led, trained, and risked his life with these brave men, and this is the thrilling, brutal, and honest story of his tour of duty. Tonsetic tells of leading a seriously undermanned ready-reaction force into a fierce, three-day battle with a ruthless enemy battalion; conducting surreal night airmobile assaults and treks through fetid, pitch-black jungles; and relieving combat stress by fishing with hand grenades and taking secret joyrides in Hueys. During that fateful year, as unrest erupted at home and politicians groped for a way out of the war, Tonsetic and his men did their job as soldiers and earned the title “Warriors.”

Review: Capt. Tonsetic’s first book about his time in Vietnam covers some key elements of the Tet Offensive, as well as his earlier time as a training advisor in Thailand. It was well written, descriptive, but it also accurately portrays his own weaknesses which he doesn’t gloss over. His stupid fight with his Forward Observer, his frayed mental state at the end that even his own Top and troops noticed, and how he ended up in the mud and concertina wire around the perimeter freaking out about imagined sappers. It’s a good compliment to his follow up book Forsaken Warriors which tells of his time as an advisor to the ARVN Airborne and Rangers after their decimation during Lam Son 719.

[casbooks]

Books of 2023 (★★★★)

Book 75 of 2023 (Last book read of the year!)

Title: Soul Patrol Authors: Ed Emanuel ISBN: 9780891418177

Tags AH-1 Cobra, AUS ADF AA Australian Army, AUS ADF AA Special Air Service (ASAS), AUS ADF Australian Defence Force, B-52 Stratofortress, Boeing 727, CUB Cuban Missile Crisis, KOR Korea, KOR ROK Republic of Korea Army, THA Bangkok, THA Bangkok - Chao Phraya River, THA Bangkok - Floating Marketplace, THA Bangkok - Grand Palace, THA Bangkok - Lumhini Park, THA Bangkok - Siam Hotel, THA Bangkok - Soul Sisters Bar, THA Bangkok - Temple of the Emerald Buddha, THA Bangkok - Wat Phra Kaew, THA Thailand, US CA Watts Riots - Los Angeles (1965), US Martin Luther King Jr (Civil Rights Leader), US OH Kent State University, US OH Kent State University Shootings (1970) (Vietnam War), US PAA Pan American World Airlines, US President John F. Kennedy, US President John F. Kennedy Assassination - Dallas TX (1963), US Senator Robert F. Kennedy, US Senator Robert F. Kennedy Assassination - Los Angeles CA (1968), US USA 101st Airborne Division - Screaming Eagles, US USA 173rd Airborne Brigade - Sky Soldiers, US USA 17th Assault Helicopter Company, US USA 17th Assault Helicopter Company - Kingsmen, US USA 17th Assault Helicopter Company - Lancers, US USA 187th Infantry Regiment, US USA 187th Infantry Regiment - 3/187, US USA 199th Light Infantry Brigade - Redcatchers, US USA 1st ID - Big Red One, US USA 23rd ID - Americal, US USA 334th Armed Helicopter Company, US USA 334th Armed Helicopter Company - Playboys, US USA 506th Infantry Regiment, US USA 51st Infantry Regiment, US USA 51st Infantry Regiment - F Co (LRP), US USA 51st Infantry Regiment - F Co (LRP) - Team 1/3, US USA 51st Infantry Regiment - F Co (LRP) - Team 1/4, US USA 51st Infantry Regiment - F Co (LRP) - Team 2/3, US USA 51st Infantry Regiment - F Co (LRP) - Team 2/4, US USA 51st Infantry Regiment - F Co (LRP) - Team 2/4 - Soul Patrol, US USA 51st Infantry Regiment - F Co (LRP) - Team 2/5, US USA 51st Infantry Regiment - F Co (LRP) - Team 2/6, US USA 74th Reconnaissance Airplane Co (RAC), US USA 74th Reconnaissance Airplane Co (RAC) - Aloft, US USA 75th Rangers, US USA 75th Rangers - H Co, US USA 75th Rangers - O Co, US USA 75th Rangers - P Co, US USA 79th Infantry, US USA 79th Infantry Det - P Co (LRP), US USA 82nd Airborne Division - All American, US USA 90th Replacement Bn, US USA ANG Army National Guard, US USA ANG IN 151st Infantry Regiment, US USA ANG IN 151st Infantry Regiment - D Co (LRP), US USA Fort Bragg NC,

US USA Fort Campbell KY, US USA LRRP Team (Vietnam War), US USA United States Army, US USA USSF 5th SFG, US USA USSF Green Berets, US USA USSF Special Forces, US USA USSF Team ODB-52, US USMC 1st MarDiv, US USMC Force Recon, US USMC United States Marine Corps, US USN Naval Station Treasure Island CA, US USN SEALS, US USN United States Navy, VNM 1968 Tet Offensive (1968) (Vietnam War), VNM 1969 Mini-Tet Offensive (1969) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of Dong Ap Bia (Hamburger Hill) (Operation Apache Snow) (1969) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of Hamburger Hill (Dong Ap Bia) (Operation Apache Snow) (1969) (Vietnam War), VNM Bearcat Base / Long Thanh North Airfield (Vietnam War), VNM Bien Hoa, VNM Cam Ranh Bay, VNM Camp Lindsey-Lattin (Vietnam War), VNM Central Highlands, VNM Cu Chi, VNM Dong Ap Bia (Hill 937), VNM DRV Ho Chi Minh, VNM DRV NVA General Vo Nguyen Giap, VNM DRV NVA North Vietnamese Army, VNM DRV NVA/VC Counterreconnaisssance Bn., VNM DRV VC Viet Cong, VNM Highway 1, VNM Ho Bo Woods, VNM Hon Tre (Bamboo Island), VNM II Corps (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps - AO Ace (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps - AO Catchers Mitt (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps - AO Miller (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps - AO Scout (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps (Vietnam War), VNM Long Binh Post (Vietnam War), VNM Montagnards, VNM My Lai, VNM My Lai Massacre (1968) (Vietnam War), VNM Nha Trang, VNM Nha Trang - 5th SFG Recondo School (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Apache Snow (1969) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Arc Light (1965-1973) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Ranch Hand (1962-1971) (Vietnam War), VNM Phu Bai, VNM RVN ARVN Army of the Republic of Vietnam, VNM RVN ARVN CIDG Civilian Irregular Defense Group, VNM Saigon, VNM Tay Ninh, VNM US Agent Orange (Vietnam War), VNM US Project Delta - Det B-52 (Vietnam War), VNM US USA 6th Convalescent Hospital - Cam Ranh Bay, VNM US USA II Field Force (1966-1971) (Vietnam War), VNM US USA II Field Force V - G-3 (1966-1971) (Vietnam War), VNM US USA II Field Force V (1966-1971) (Vietnam War), VNM US USSF 5th SFOB Special Forces Operation Base - Nha Trang, VNM Vietnam, VNM Vietnam War (1955-1975), VNM Vung Tau, VNM War Zone D

Rating: ★★★★ Subject: Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.Specops.LRRPs, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.SpecOps.US.LRRPs

Description: LRRPs had to be the best.Anything less meant certain death.When Ed Emanuel was handpicked for the first African American special operations LRRP team in Vietnam, he knew his six-man team couldn’t have asked for a tougher proving ground than Cu Chi in the summer of 196868. Home to the largest Viet cong tunnel complex in Vietnam, Cu Chi was the deadly heart of the enemy’s stronghold in Tay Ninh Province. Team 2/6 of Company F, 51st Infantry, was quickly dubbed the Soul Patrol, a gimmicky label that belied the true depth of their courage. Stark and compelling, Emanuel’s account provides an unforgettable look at the horror and the heroism that became the daily fare of LRRPs in Vietnam. Every mission was a tightrope walk between life and death as Emanuel’s team penetrated NVA bases, sidestepped lethal booby traps, or found themselves ambushed and forced to fight their way back to the LZ to survive. Emanuel’s gripping memoir is an enduring testament to the valor of all American LRRPs, who courageously risked their lives so that others might be free.From the Paperback edition.

[casbooks]

Books of 2023

Book 53 of 2023

Title: ANOTHER DAY DOWNRANGE, Two Tours Flying Chinooks in Vietnam Authors: Robert Patterson

Tags: ACH-47 Guns-A-Go-Go Chinook, Actor - John "The Duke" Wayne (Marion Robert Morrison), AH-1 Cobra, AUS ADF AA Australian Army, AUS ADF Australian Defence Force, AUS Australia, B-52 Stratofortress, CH-34 Choctaw, CH-47 Chinook, CH-54 Tarhe, EOD, F-100 Super Sabre, FAC, KHM Cambodia, KOR Korea, LAO Lam Son 719 (1971) (Vietnam War), LAO Laos, M113 APC, Movie - The Green Berets, NZ New Zealand, NZ NZDF NZA New Zealand Army, NZ NZDF Royal New Zealand Defence Force, O-1 Bird Dog, OH-23 Raven, OV-1 Mohawk, Pilatus Porter, US Bob Hope (Entertainer), US CIA Central Intelligence Agency, US MSTS Military Sea Transportation Service, US MSTS USNS Corpus Christi Bay (T-ARVH-1), US President Richard M. Nixon, US USA 147th Assault Support Helicopter Company, US USA 147th Assault Support Helicopter Company - Hillclimbers, US USA 177th Aviation Co, US USA 1st Armored Division, US USA 1st Aviation Brigade, US USA 205th Assault Support Helicopter Company, US USA 205th Assault Support Helicopter Company - Geronimos, US USA 213th Assault Support Helicopter Company, US USA 213th Assault Support Helicopter Company - Blackcats, US USA 271th Assault Support Helicopter Company, US USA 271th Assault Support Helicopter Company - Inkeepers, US USA 4th Infantry Regiment, US USA 4th Infantry Regiment - 2/14, US USA 73rd Surveliance Aircraft Company, US USA 74th Reconnaissance Airplane Co (RAC), US USA 8th Army, US USA 90th Replacement Bn, US USA 9th ID, US USA ACV Air Cushion Vehicles, US USA Fort Benning GA, US USA Fort Benning GA - OCS, US USA Fort Hood TX, US USA Fort Rucker AL, US USA Fort Rucker AL - Hanchey Army Air Field, US USA Fort Stewart GA, US USA Fort Wolters TX (1963-1973), US USA United States Army, US USA USSF Green Berets, US USA USSF Special Forces, US USAF Eglin Air Force Base FL, US USMC 3rd Force Recon Co, US USMC United States Marine Corps, US USMC VMF-124, US USMC VMF-221, US USN HA(L)-3 Seawolves, US USN MSC Military Sealift Command, US USN PACV Patrol Air Cushion Vehicle, US USN United States Navy, US USO United Service Organizations, VNM Can Tho, VNM Cau Mau Peninsula, VNM Chi Lang, VNM CIA Air America (1950-1976) (Vietnam War), VNM Cu Chi, VNM Dong Son, VNM Dong Tam, VNM DRV NVA North Vietnamese Army, VNM DRV VC Viet Cong, VNM FSB Pace (Vietnam War), VNM Highway 22B, VNM Ho Chi Minh Trail (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps (Vietnam War), VNM IV Corps (Vietnam War), VNM Long Binh, VNM Long Binh Post - Plantation - II Field Force HQ (Vietnam War), VNM Long Binh Post (Vietnam War), VNM Mekong Delta, VNM My Phouc Tay Special Forces Camp (Vietnam War), VNM Nui Ba Den (Black Virgin Mountain), VNM Nui Dat, VNM Operation Arc Light (1965-1973) (Vietnam War), VNM Parrots Beak, VNM Phu Loi, VNM Poulo Obi Island, VNM Poulo Obi Island - USN Radar Station (Vietnam War), VNM RVN ARVN Army of the Republic of Vietnam, VNM RVN ARVN RF/PF Regional Forces/Popular Forces (Vietnam War), VNM RVN ARVN Vietnamese Rangers - Biet Dong Quan, VNM RVN General Duong Van Minh (Big Minh), VNM RVN SVNAF South Vietnamese Air Force, VNM Saigon, VNM Saigon - Hotel 3 Helicopter Pad, VNM Saigon - Independence Palace, VNM Tan Binh Forest, VNM Tan Son Nhut Air Base, VNM Tay Ninh, VNM U Minh Forest, VNM US MACV Advisory Teams (Vietnam War), VNM US USA AAE Army Aviation Element (Vietnam War), VNM US USA Phu Loi Air Base (Vietnam War), VNM US USN MRF Mobile Riverine Force (Vietnam War), VNM US USN TF 117 MRF Mobile Riverine Force (Vietnam War), VNM Vietnam, VNM Vietnam War (1955-1975), VNM Vinh Long, VNM Vung Tau, VNM Xuan Loc Rating: ★★★ Subject: Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.Aviation.US Army.Helos.Cargo

Description: This is not a diary like normal diaries, nor is it a history; it is a personal record of the helicopter war in Vietnam as I knew it, Depending upon the branch of service, type of unit, missions flown, and the area of Vietnam where missions were flown, one could surely find different accounts of what the helicopter war in Vietnam was like. Much of what I have read concerning the helicopter war coming of age in Vietnam says little about contribution of the CH-47 Chinook. Having seen it first hand during the war, I know that this aircraft’s contributions were tremendous. If you doubt it, look at what a workhorse the CH-47 was In Iraq and still is in Afghanistan as I write this. The Army learned that craft in Vietnam. At its peak deployment, there were (22) CH47 units and 750 Chinooks being used in Vietnam, both with the U.S. Army and the South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF). About 200 aircraft (27%) were lost in combat or due to operational accidents. I had then, and I still have now, the greatest respect for the aircrews, ground crews, and the support personnel who kept the CH-47 units in the fight.

Review: This was an ok book, kind of a slog to read through. I find that months afterwards though, I still think about some of the things I learned in this book, some of the things said, and those tidbits will stay with me for a very long time. For that reason alone, I do recommend checking out Patterson's story flying Chinooks because it's a story that isn't told by many and the info does give you a better nuanced look at what these pilots did vs the gunships, scouts, and slicks.

[casbooks]

Books of 2023

Book 46 of 2023

Title: Farewell, Ham Tan Arty: An Artilleryman's Journal During the Vietnam War Drawdown Authors: Gerald Herter ISBN: 9798985051223 Tags: AC-119G Shadow, AUS ADF AA Australian Army, AUS ADF Australian Defence Force, CHN China, CHN Hong Kong, FAC, FRA France, FRA Paris, GBR RN Royal Navy, GBR United Kingdom, GER Bad Kreuznach, GER Frankfurt, GER Germany, GER Oberammergau, GER USA Baumholder Base, GER USAF Rhein-Main Air Base, HKG Hong Kong, HKG Hong Kong - China Fleet Club, HKG Hong Kong - Chinese Theater Restaurant, HKG Hong Kong - Gaddi's Restaurant, HKG Hong Kong - Grand Hotel, HKG Hong Kong - Hilton Hotel, HKG Hong Kong - Jimmy's Kitchen Restaurant, HKG Hong Kong - Juno's Revolving Restaurant, HKG Hong Kong - Kowloon, HKG Hong Kong - Mandarin Hotel, HKG Hong Kong - RN Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, HKG Hong Kong - Victoria Peak, KHM Cambodia, KHM Cambodian Civil War (1967-1975), KHM Cambodian Incursion (1970) (Vietnam War), KHM General Lon Nol, KHM King & President Norodom Sihanouk, KHM Phnom Penh, LAO Lam Son 719 (1971) (Vietnam War), LAO Laos, LAO Laotian Civil War (1959-1975), M109 Paladin, O-1 Bird Dog, THA Ayutthaya, THA Bangkok, THA Thailand, US Bob Hope (Entertainer), US CIA Central Intelligence Agency, US MOH Medal of Honor, US State Department, US USA 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment - Blackhorse, US USA 12th Artillery Regiment, US USA 12th Artillery Regiment - 2/12, US USA 12th Artillery Regiment - 2/12 - A Batt, US USA 16th Artillery Regiment, US USA 16th Artillery Regiment - 7/16, US USA 1st Cavalry Division, US USA 1st Cavalry Division - 3rd Brigade, US USA 21st Artillery Regiment, US USA 21st Artillery Regiment - 1/21, US USA 23rd Artiller Group, US USA 25th ID, US USA 2nd Artillery Regiment, US USA 2nd Artillery Regiment - 1/2, US USA 35th Artillery Regiment, US USA 35th Artillery Regiment - 2/35, US USA 42nd Artillery Regiment, US USA 42nd Artillery Regiment - 5/42, US USA 42nd Artillery Regiment - 5/42 - A Batt, US USA 42nd Artillery Regiment - 5/42 - B Batt, US USA 42nd Artillery Regiment - 5/42 - C Batt, US USA 83rd Artillery Regiment, US USA 83rd Artillery Regiment - 5/83, US USA 8th ID, US USA 90th Replacement Bn, US USA 92nd Artillery Regiment, US USA 92nd Artillery Regiment - 1/92, US USA 92nd Artillery Regiment - 1/92 - A Batt, US USA ASA Army Security Agency, US USA Fort Benning GA, US USA Fort Riley KS, US USA Fort Sill OK, US USA Fort Sill OK - OBC Officer Basic Course, US USA LNO Army Liason Officer, US USA LRRP Team (Vietnam War), US USA Lt Brian Thacker (MOH), US USA United States Army, US USA USAEUR United States Army Europe, US USA USAEUR V Corps, US USA USSF 1st SFG, US USA USSF Green Berets, US USA USSF Special Forces, US USN United States Navy, US USN USS Lloyd Thomas (DD-764), US USO United Service Organizations, US WI University of Wisconsin, US WI University of Wisconsin - ROTC, US WI Wisconsin, USAID, VNM ADF AA 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) (Vietnam War), VNM ARVN TF 302nd Bn, VNM ARVN TF Territorial Forces, VNM Assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem (1963) (Vietnam War), VNM Bao Tan, VNM Bearcat Base / Long Thanh North Airfield (Vietnam War), VNM Bien Hoa, VNM Bien Hoa Air Base (Vietnam War), VNM Binh Thuy, VNM CIA Air America (1950-1976) (Vietnam War), VNM Cu Chi, VNM Dak To, VNM Di An, VNM DRV NVA MR7 HQ, VNM DRV NVA North Vietnamese Army, VNM DRV VC Viet Cong, VNM FSB 6 (Hill 1001) (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Apache (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Blackhorse (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Concord (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Deeble (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Dora (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Flower (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Husky (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Intrepid (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Joni / Flower (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Karen (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Mace (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Michelle (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Nancy (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Oldham (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Riviera (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Simmons (Vietnam War), VNM FSB Sylvia (Vietnam War), VNM Ham Tan, VNM Hiep An, VNM Hill 1001, VNM Ho Chi Minh Trail (Vietnam War), VNM III Corps (Vietnam War), VNM Lagi, VNM Lang Vei, VNM Lang Vei Special Forces Camp (Vietnam War), VNM Long Binh Post - Camp Price, VNM Long Binh Post - Plantation - II Field Force HQ (Vietnam War), VNM Long Binh Post (Vietnam War), VNM Long Hai, VNM Long Hai Mountains, VNM Long Khanh Province, VNM My Lai Massacre (1968) (Vietnam War), VNM Nui Be, VNM Nui Chui Chan, VNM Nui Dat, VNM Nui Nhon, VNM Nui Ong, VNM Nui Ta Kou, VNM Operation Snoopy (People Sniffer) (Vietnam War), VNM Paris Peace Accords (1973) (Vietnam War), VNM Phan Thiet, VNM Phu Loi, VNM Phuoc Tho, VNM Phuoc Tuy Province, VNM RVN ARVN 18th ID, VNM RVN ARVN Army of the Republic of Vietnam, VNM RVN ARVN General Do Cao Tri, VNM RVN ARVN RF/PF 177th RF Co (Vietnam War), VNM RVN ARVN RF/PF Regional Forces/Popular Forces (Vietnam War), VNM RVN ARVN Vietnamese Rangers - Biet Dong Quan, VNM RVN Chieu Hoi Program/Force 66 - Luc Luong 66 (Vietnam War), VNM RVN General Duong Van Minh (Big Minh), VNM RVN Ngo Dinh Diem, VNM RVN Ngo Dinh Nhu, VNM RVN Nguyen Van Thieu, VNM Tam Tam, VNM Tan Linh, VNM Tan Ly, VNM Tan Ly - PF Outpost, VNM Tan Son Nhut Air Base, VNM US MACV Advisory Teams (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV CORDS Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support (1967-1975) (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV Military Assistance Command Vietnam (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV TRAC Third Regional Assistance Command (Vietnam War), VNM US USA II Field Force (1966-1971) (Vietnam War), VNM US USA Phu Loi Air Base (Vietnam War), VNM US USMC KSCB Khe Sanh Combat Base (Vietnam War), VNM Vietnam, VNM Vietnam War (1955-1975), VNM Vung Tau, VNM Xuan Loc Rating: ★★★ (3 Stars) Subject: Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.US Army.Advisor, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.US Army.Artillery

Description: Experience firsthand as an artilleryman maneuvers the complexities of the Vietnam war. Today's college senior may face the daunting challenges of mountainous student debt and questionable job prospects, but not the horrific predicament a male student of the 1960's confronted with the military draft and imminent deployment to fight a deadly and thankless war in Vietnam. FAREWELL, HAM TAN ARTY, An Artilleryman's Journal during the Vietnam War Drawdown, follows as a student contemplates the options: flee to Canada, seek special favors to avoid serving, or answer his country's call. Much has been written of battles, heroic actions, and fatal political blunders. But what about the average young person pursuing the daily tasks of life?amidst a campus torn by anti-war protests,?through dehumanizing training in the sweltering heat of a Georgia summer,?playing at war in the former Nazi camps of Germany,?then finally on the ground in Vietnam,hoping to survive while carrying out orders from distant generals, and calming the fears of loved ones back home. An artillery officer's experiences, advancing from fire bases to province headquarters, speak out from a dust-stained journal, next to letters home nuanced to soften depictions of the dangers of the war zone that lay hidden between the lines. Transcend the sensationalism of war to contemplate how relationships were maintained with loved ones so far away, and the importance of those connections for boosting morale and fostering hope for the future. Whether through letters written, "Care" packages received, or a remote MARS radiophone call to a mother on Christmas Eve from deep within the distant combat zone of Vietnam, the feelings expressed melt away the miles, at least for a moment. Join with the soldier as his lifechanging decisions come to life on the pages of his journal.

Review: Meh - It was an ok-ish book but really not worth bothering with. He spends more time talking about care packages and his taxes than anything else.

[casbooks]

Books of 2023

Book 43 of 2023

Title: Training the Bodes: Australian Army Advisors Training Cambodian Infantry Battalions - a Postscript to the Vietnam War Authors: Terry Smith ISBN: 9781925520828 Tags: A-37 Dragonfly, AC-119K Stinger, AC-130 Spectre, AUS ADF AA 198 Works Section, AUS ADF AA 6th Royal Australian Regiment - D Co., AUS ADF AA 6th Royal Australian Regiment - D Co. - 8 section, AUS ADF AA 6th Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR), AUS ADF AA 8th Royal Australian Regiment (8RAR), AUS ADF AA Australian Army, AUS ADF AA General Ian Geddes, AUS ADF AA General Ian McNeill, AUS ADF AA RAAMC Royal Australian Army Medical Corps, AUS ADF Australian Defence Force, AUS Australia, AUS Prime Minister Sir William McMahon, FAC, FRA France, KHM Battambang Province, KHM Cambodia, KHM Cambodian Civil War (1967-1975), KHM Cambodian Incursion (1970) (Vietnam War), KHM FANK 116th Bn de Chasseurs (Cambodian Civil War), KHM FANK 164th Bn de Chasseurs (Cambodian Civil War), KHM FANK 194th Bn de Chasseurs - 2 Co. (Cambodian Civil War), KHM FANK 194th Bn de Chasseurs (Cambodian Civil War), KHM FANK 198th Bn de Chasseurs (Cambodian Civil War), KHM FANK 1st Marine Bn, KHM FANK 258th Bn de Chasseurs (Cambodian Civil War), KHM FANK 271st Bn de Chasseurs (Cambodian Civil War), KHM FANK 275th Bn de Chasseurs (Cambodian Civil War), KHM FANK 38th Brigade (Cambodian Civil War), KHM FANK 38th Infantry Brigade (Cambodian Civil War), KHM FANK 427th Bn de Chasseurs (Cambodian Civil War), KHM FANK 4th Bn de Chasseurs (Cambodian Civil War), KHM FANK 53rd Bn de Chasseurs (Cambodian Civil War), KHM FANK General Sak Sutsakhan (Cambodian Civil War), KHM FANK Khmer Army / Forces Armees Nationals Khmeres (1970-1975) (Cambodian Civil War), KHM General Lon Nol, KHM KAF Airfield Defense Bn, KHM KAF/AAK Khmer Air Force / Armee de l'Air Khmere (1971-1975) (Cambodian Civil War), KHM Khmer Rouge, KHM King & President Norodom Sihanouk, KHM Kompong Thum, KHM Lon Nol Line (Cambodian Civil War), KHM Operation Chenla I (1970) (Cambodian Civil War), KHM Operation Chenla II (1971) (Cambodian Civil War), KHM Phnom Penh, KHM Pol Pot / Saloth Sar, KHM Route 6, KHM US MDET Military Equipment Delivery Team (Cambodian Civil War), Medevac helicopter, Nungs, NZ New Zealand, NZ NZDF NZA New Zealand Army, NZ NZDF Royal New Zealand Defence Force, US CIA Central Intelligence Agency, US President Richard M. Nixon, US USA 196th Light Infantry Brigade, US USA 21st Infantry Regiment, US USA 7th Cavalry Regiment, US USA 7th Cavalry Regiment - 1/7, US USA 9th Cavalry Regiment, US USA 9th Cavalry Regiment - 1/9 - F Troop, US USA 9th Cavalry Regiment - 1/9 - Headhunters, US USA General John Cleland, US USA United States Army, US USA USSF 5th SFG, US USA USSF Green Berets, US USA USSF Special Forces, US USA USSF Team ODA-362, US USA USSF Team ODA-431, US USA USSF Team ODA-432, US USA USSF Team ODA-433, US USA USSF Team ODB-36, US USA USSF Team ODB-43, US USA USSF Team ODB-51, US USAF United States Air Force, US USN TF 77, US USN United States navy, VNM 1972 Easter Offensive / Nguyen Hue (1972) (Vietnam War), VNM ADF AA 1st Australian Task Force (1 ATF) (Vietnam War), VNM ADF AAAG Australian Army Advisory Group Vietnam (Vietnam War), VNM ADF AATTV Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (Vietnam War), VNM ADF AATTV MATT Mobile Advisory and Training Team 1 (Vietnam War), VNM ADF AATTV MATT Mobile Advisory and Training Team 2 (Vietnam War), VNM ADF Australian Logistics Support Group (Vietnam War), VNM ADF Australian Task Force (Vietnam War), VNM An Loc, VNM ANZAC 3rd Cav Regiment - 1/3 - B Sqd - 1st Troop (Vietnam War), VNM ANZAC 3rd Cav Regiment - 1/3 - B Sqd (Vietnam War), VNM ANZAC 3rd Cav Regiment - 1/3 (Vietnam War), VNM ANZAC 3rd Cav Regiment (Vietnam War), VNM ANZAC 4th RAR/NZ (Vietnam War), VNM Ap Suoi Nghe, VNM Ba Ria, VNM Battle of Long Tan (1966) (Vietnam War), VNM Battle of the Flags - Dat Do (1972) (Vietnam War), VNM Bien Hoa, VNM Bien Hoa Air Base (Vietnam War), VNM Binh Ba, VNM Binh Ba Rubber Plantation, VNM Binh Long Province, VNM Command and Control North/FOB-1 (Vietnam War), VNM Dat Do, VNM DRV NVA 205th Regional Regiment, VNM DRV NVA 207th Regional Regiment, VNM DRV NVA 33rd Regiment, VNM DRV NVA 33rd Regiment - 2/33, VNM DRV NVA 9th Division, VNM DRV NVA North Vietnamese Army, VNM DRV VC 274th Regiment, VNM DRV VC 274th Regiment - 2/274, VNM DRV VC 274th Regiment - 3/274, VNM DRV VC 74th Artillery Bn, VNM DRV VC C3 Local Force Co, VNM DRV VC C41 Local Force Co, VNM DRV VC C5 Rear Services Group, VNM DRV VC D445 Bn, VNM DRV VC Viet Cong, VNM DRV VM Viet Minh, VNM Duc Thanh District, VNM Fish Hook, VNM FRA French Union (Colonial) Army (French Indochina War), VNM French Indochina War (1946-1954), VNM FSB Nui Nhon (Vietnam War), VNM Hoa Long, VNM III Corps (Vietnam War), VNM Khmer Krom, VNM Lang Phuoc Hai, VNM Long Binh Post (Vietnam War), VNM Long Dien, VNM Long Green, VNM Long Hai, VNM Long Hai - Hotel de la Piscine, VNM Long Tan Rubber Plantation, VNM Ngia Giou, VNM Nui Dat, VNM Nui Dien So, VNM Nui Dinh, VNM Nui Hon Thung, VNM Nui Nhon, VNM Nui Thi, VNM Nui Thi Vai, VNM Nui Toc Tien, VNM Nui Truong Phi, VNM NZDF 2nd NZATTV (Vietnam War), VNM NZDF NZATTV New Zealand Army Training Team Vietnam (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Linebacker I (1972) (Vietnam War), VNM Operation Linebacker II (1972) (Vietnam War), VNM Paris Peace Accords (1973) (Vietnam War), VNM Parrots Beak, VNM Phu My, VNM Phuoc Tinh, VNM Phuoc Tuy Province, VNM Provincial Route 44, VNM Route 15, VNM Route 2, VNM Route 327, VNM Route 328, VNM Route 44, VNM RVN ARVN 18th ID, VNM RVN ARVN 25th ID, VNM RVN ARVN 30th Ranger Bn, VNM RVN ARVN 33rd Ranger Bn, VNM RVN ARVN 38th Ranger Bn, VNM RVN ARVN 3rd Ranger Group, VNM RVN ARVN 46th Regiment, VNM RVN ARVN 46th Regiment - 1/46, VNM RVN ARVN 48th Regiment, VNM RVN ARVN 52nd Regiment, VNM RVN ARVN 52nd Regiment - 2/52, VNM RVN ARVN 5th Ranger Group, VNM RVN ARVN Army of the Republic of Vietnam, VNM RVN ARVN CIDG Civilian Irregular Defense Group, VNM RVN ARVN PSDF People's Self Defense Force, VNM RVN ARVN RF/PF 15th RF Group - 3/15 (Vietnam War), VNM RVN ARVN RF/PF 15th RF Group (Vietnam War), VNM RVN ARVN RF/PF 302nd RF Bn (Vietnam War), VNM RVN ARVN RF/PF 47th RF Group - 3/47 (Vietnam War), VNM RVN ARVN RF/PF 47th RF Group (Vietnam War), VNM RVN ARVN RF/PF Regional Forces/Popular Forces (Vietnam War), VNM RVN ARVN RF/PF Xuyen Moc Reconnaissance Platoon (Vietnam War), VNM RVN ARVN Vietnamese Rangers - Biet Dong Quan, VNM RVN RVNP Can Sat National Police, VNM RVN RVNP CSDB PRU Provincial Reconnaissance Units (Vietnam War), VNM RVN SVNAF South Vietnamese Air Force, VNM RVNP CSDB Can Sat Dac Biet Special Branch Police, VNM Song Ba Dap, VNM Song Dinh, VNM Song Rai Valley, VNM Suoi Chau Pha, VNM UITG Chi Lang Training Center (Vietnam War), VNM UITG Dong Ba Thin Training Center (Vietnam War), VNM UITG Long Hai Training Center - Security and Recon Co (Vietnam War), VNM UITG Long Hai Training Center (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV Advisory Teams (Vietnam War), VNM US MACV Military Assistance Command Vietnam (Vietnam War), VNM US MACVSOG (1964-1972) (Vietnam War), VNM US USA USSF 3rd Mobile Strike Force (Vietnam War), VNM US USSF Mobile Strike Force (MIKE) (Vietnam War), VNM USA USARV UITG Individual Training Group (Vietnam War), VNM USA USARV United States Army Vietnam (Vietnam War), VNM Van Kiep - ADF Jungle Warfare Training Centre (Vietnam War), VNM Vietnam, VNM Vietnam War (1955-1975), VNM Vinh Loi, VNM Vung Tau, VNM Vung Tau - Peter Badcoe Club, VNM Xa Long Hai, VNM Xuyen Moc Rating: ★★★★ (4 Stars) Subject: Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.Australia.Advisors, Books.Military.20th-21st Century.Asia.Vietnam War.Cambodian Civil War

Description: By the end of 1971, the hastily raised, poorly trained, and woefully led Cambodian army had suffered a string of defeats and heavy casualties inflicted by North Vietnamese army and Viet Cong units. With many of its best infantry battalions and much of its armour, transport and equipment destroyed, only three of its 15 brigade groups were militarily effective. In South Vietnam, America and its allies were in the process of withdrawing and handing back to the Vietnamese full responsibility for the conduct of the war. A small group of Australians, which never numbered more than 30 officers, warrant officers and non-commissioned officers of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam, helped train 27 light infantry battalions of the Cambodian army in South Vietnam during 1972. This project was, according to one historical study, `a classic example of using special forces as a force multiplier', and had been `recognised as one of the most successful foreign internal defence missions of the Vietnam War'. The story of these few men is told against the background of the war in South Vietnam, and in particular Phuoc Tuy province, as both sides fought to secure villages and hamlets during 1972, before the Peace Accords being negotiated in Paris to end the war were signed. Training the Bodes is an interesting and valuable book that tells a moving story. The excerpts from letters and reports, and the photographs, are fascinating. It fills a small gap in Australia's military history.

Review: This was a really interesting book about a topic that many are unfamiliar with. After Lon Nols coup in Cambodia, the US Army and it's partners set about to create a modern, functional, Cambodian Army to fight the Khmer Rouge. - They failed. They failed disastrously. This book is about the aussies component to that training group, and is an interesting mix of both academic overview of the who, what, when, and where, along with the authors personal observations and letters home. The juxtaposition of these two elements is what really sets this book apart due to the absolute honesty in those letters and observations. How the academic aspect is a very traditional unit history, glowing with praise, and then you have the letters detailing just the opposite candidly. It's the letters that really help you to understand why the army failed. It talks about the lack of discipline, the graft, the corruption, and the lack of leadership present in the FANK units. You also get a real feel for what it was like for many of the Aussies who had been their previously in combat roles at Nui Dat and at the battle of Long Tan, who were now there again at the very end. While dry and repetitive at times, the book is a worthwhile addition to anyone's collection and it pairs nicely with "Alone in the Valley" by Lanigan about a US Green Beret attached to a FANK training team. Also anyone who served in Iraq or Afghanistan working with training those armies should read this to see how much has NOT changed in decades, and what lessons we still can't seem to learn.