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Rating:  Summary: A reader Review: Author William Phillips donates a large section of his book trying to explain why the marines failed to do their assigned duty in relieving the pressures dealt the defenders of Lang Vei.He explains their refusals as being based on suicidal odds.Yet after their pilots were ordered to take in volunteers the SF SOG troops went in mass.It's an Army airborne creed that you leave no one behind! Maybe the author should read THE SECRET WARS OF AMERICA'S COMMANDOS IN VIETNAM,SOG by John L.Plaster.His book is a very fine example of this brotherhood found among Army paratroopers!
Rating:  Summary: A reader Review: Contrary to other readers I found the author erred by concentrating on one of the participants at Lang Vei, namely, Lt. Longgrear, who had come so lately to the camp and knew nothing of the background or of the Green Berets involved in the history of the camp. Parts of the author's descriptions of certain events contrast sharply with those of the Team Sargeant, William T. Craig, who was not trapped in the Command Bunker but was on the run outside the Bunker, along with several other Green Berets. The author digresses repeatedly without making the effort to complete the subject matter thoroughly. The book gives the reader only part of the story, however, as so many years have passed, it is no doubt impossible to ascertain what and why this particular event is still such a mystery.
Rating:  Summary: At Last The Truth is told, the participants deserve no less Review: Extemely interesting story about the first use of armor by the NVA in Vietnam against a small Army Special Forces outpost near the marine combat base at Khe Sanh. The author points out how the marines at Khe Sanh, only nine miles away, refused to first believe that armored vehicles were being used to assault the SF outpost and then they refuse to help the few defenders when there is no question that the post will be overrun without reinforcements. However, once he points that out, the author then tries to justify the marine decision to sit idle while fellow combatants are being killed. He says that the marines believed an ambush was waiting for any reinforcements that attempted to help so they are justified in not doing anything to help except provide artillery support. They preferred to sit safely inside their base and leave the funny dressing, unconventional SF guys to their own fate. The author even spends time explaining how tough the marine commander on the ground had it by making the decision not to help his fellow Americans. It was simple wrong not to help those few, brave men at Lang Vei and the marine commander was derelict in his duties. If others acted in such a manner, then American pilots shot down would not feel confident in the fact that all efforts will be done to rescue them even in the face of certain ambush by waiting troops. It is tragic that two PJs were killed while attempting to rescue wounded Rangers and Delta personnel after being ambushed in Mogadishu but coming to the aid of fellow American combatants in the face of almost certain death is what Duty, Honor and Country is all about - atleast for most of us! It is too bad that someone of the caliber of Bull Simons, Col.Hackworth of Col Hal Moore weren't on the ground at Khe Sanh on that day!
Rating:  Summary: Brave men in Combat Review: I didn't care for this book. Although I have read many account of the Vietnam War, this one just didn't hold my interest. I was barley able to finish it. My opinion is certainly no reflection on the bravery and sacrifice of the men involved. I am talking literally style only. To the pure war enthusiast this book has genuine merit. It tells the story of brave men in combat and honors their memory with respect. We owe them a lot.
Rating:  Summary: one of the best Review: This book fortells of the horrors to come of the Marines at Khe Sanh and the courage of the Green Beret detachment stationed Lang Vei to defend their small outpost against overwhelming odds against the first armored assult against Americans in the war. My outlook on not just the guys in spec ops but for all the grunts in the field is that they didnt fight for honor or country they fought for friendship and survival and that is one thing that truly speaks itself in this book. This is one of the best written books on small unit action of the war and will be in my collection forever!!!!
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