Foxtrot Ridge: A Battle Remembered

Rating:
Summary: Want to know why there will always be a US Marine Corps?
Review: For my background and perspective in writing this review, see my review of "Eye of the Tiger".

This is a first-rate book by a member of the Marine infantry company that lived the events described in it. Its heroic commanding officer, Captain Jim Jones, went on to become Commandant of the Corps and (is still?) senior Nato general.

Observing first-hand another, more famous Marine battle from an offshore ship in another war a quarter century earlier, Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal said "The raising of that flag on Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next five hundred years." But the American public has a short memory and a tendency to want to quickly relinquish to the dusty attic, memories of the sacrifices made by the relatively few who serve in the crucible of combat.

Fortunately and sadly, as America's fire brigade since 1775, the Marine Corps is confronted with relatively frequent opportunities and demands to prove that what happened from 1942-45 was not a one-off product of a uniquely motivated and endowed "greatest generation" fighting a "good and just war", but rather, is what the "Marine Corps brand" is about, what those who volunteer and are gutsy enough to get through boot-camp, sign up to become a part of: to seek out and destroy the enemy.

This book will give you a feel for what makes the Marine Corps so special, the truly great, uniquely democratic American institution that it is. Its author will take you there: when the chips are down, uncommon valor becomes a common virtue. The expression "Semper fi, do or die", is played out in the living hell of mortal combat here. That thematic, recurrent in many large and nameless small-scale battles like this one in Vietnam for six years and often since up to and including in Iraq today, is described on an hour-by-hour basis in this survivor's tale.

The author is meticulous in detailing what happened, which gives his narrative a feel of immediacy that makes it a great read. It's a war-story in the best sense of that term, and he's done a great service in recording for posterity what happened in a highly readable account of the unfolding battle - - paying an honor especially to the men who served there with him and managed by their sheer fortitude and love for one another to survive under terrible conditions in the face of long odds, and to the families and memories of those who didn't, in giving their all. "In pro patria mori..."

This story will drive home the fact that the American people owe a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid to the sacrifices made by its sons, brothers and husbands. God Bless the Marine Corps and every man and woman who ever served in it. Here you see them doing what Marines exist to do, standing toe-to-toe in a slug-fest against an equally tough, wily, brave and determined enemy, paying the high-price of freedom, and prevailing.

Semper fi.



Rating:
Summary: Graphic in its detail
Review: Foxtrot Ridge: A Battle Remembered by Mark W. Woodruff (Senior Navy Psychologist at Fleet Base West in Western Australia) is the true and accurate story of a battalion of men who fought in the Vietnam War, and recalls in vivid detail a May, 1968 battle that was neither special nor unique; only one of many in a long and terrible conflict. Graphic in its detail, offering testimony from individuals who were there and faced death itself, not just on that day but on many days, one after the other, Foxtrot Ridge is a moving account and a candid look at the face of war itself and a highly prized addition to the growing library of Vietnam War histories, and combatant memoirs.

Rating:
Summary: memory loss
Review: I also served in F/2/3/3 during this battle. The book is accurate with the exception of the sniper comments, the comment about Larry Arthur coming alive again to fight off an emeny soldier and a comment about hand to hand combat on the crows nest or observation point. I am sorry that an individual, portraying himself as a sniper, took this self-serving view of his actions, which without this embelishment, were sufficiently heroic. This book is well written, deserves to be read by all vietnam veterans and will be a lasting historical account of 100 Marines and Navy Corpsman and 24 hours of terror.

Rating:
Summary: Inaccurate Statements
Review: I just finnished reading this book and was deeply moved. Told in the words of the surviving veterans of this famous battle, Foxtrot Ridge will be remembered as one of the great battle histories to emerge from that war.

The author has seemlessly integrated naratives from over twenty people interviewed to create a fast-paced, highly readable story that can be appreciated as much by those who love a good action adventure as military historians and veterans. At times hilarious in their candour, the veterans recount their experiences with an honesty and level of rapport that could not have been acheived had the author not been a survivor of Foxtrot Ridge himself.

Recommended reading for anyone with an interest in the Vietnam War and anyone who thought Mel Gibson's movie was the last word on the matter. Tightly written, the book maintains a 250 page adreniline rush. You won't find better!

Rating:
Summary: I was also there
Review: I read the book with personal interest. I was a member of 2nd plt fox co 2/3 on 28 May 1968. I was on the crows nest or the OP as some of us called it. The description of the general battle is accurate. Keep in mind that memories are not as fresh as they were 30 some years ago. Each in our own way contributed to the effort and attempted to keep our participation accurate. It is a excellent effort to record our time in vietnam and one of the many battles. Mark tells the truth as relayed to him from the survivors memories.

Rating:
Summary: was there and wonder?
Review: I'm Starting to wonder if there were two battles on 28 may by outfits known as "fox 2/3" ? I was at the time Sgt.Rick Fhrye; the plt. com. of third herd. I remember a few names; Joe Quinn,a kid named Kinkade and few more now and then. But I can recall the events of that 12 hrs like it was last night. If you were ther and remember me....I'd like to hear from you; [e-mail] `

Rating:
Summary: was there and wonder?
Review: I'm Starting to wonder if there were two battles on 28 may by outfits known as "fox 2/3" ? I was at the time Sgt.Rick Fhrye; the plt. com. of third herd. I remember a few names; Joe Quinn,a kid named Kinkade and few more now and then. But I can recall the events of that 12 hrs like it was last night. If you were ther and remember me....I'd like to hear from you; [e-mail] `

Rating:
Summary: Innacuracies and falsehood
Review: Relative to 3 previous reviews focusing on Kevin "Canadian' Howell's statement on Pg. 29 I can only say the following; Whether or not he was a sniper with 3rd. Force is irrelevant to the content of this account of a fierce battle. I cannot or will not speculate as to why Canadian made this statement.
I fought in the hole (such as it was) next to the author.
Anyone who doubts either the veracity or factual narrative from those of us who were there is sorely mistaken. This book is an account of what happened THAT NIGHT and that night only!!
Mark's first book UNHERALDED VICTORY took years to write and was meticulously researched. The Foreword was written by the 32nd CMC
Ge. Jim Jones, our CO on the Ridge. Gen Jones, now Supreme Allied Commander, Europe(NATO) was also interviewed for "FOXTROT
RIDGE" and a final manuscript, before going to press was submitted for his approval.
The passage of time and the ferocity of this battle can dull memory, but I can assure everyone, and those of us who were there
will tell you that this is a great book.

Mark Woodruff has composed a work that chronicles as accurately as humanly as possible a night that changed lives forever. 13 U.S.Marines are still dead. 44 of us still have a Purple Heart, and the families of over 230 North Vietnamese soldiers will never see their loved ones.
Great job, 'Ruff' and Semper Fi
Kevin

Rating:
Summary: memory loss
Review: Relative to 3 previous reviews focusing on Kevin "Canadian' Howell's statement on Pg. 29 I can only say the following; Whether or not he was a sniper with 3rd. Force is irrelevant to the content of this account of a fierce battle. I cannot or will not speculate as to why Canadian made this statement.
I fought in the hole (such as it was) next to the author.
Anyone who doubts either the veracity or factual narrative from those of us who were there is sorely mistaken. This book is an account of what happened THAT NIGHT and that night only!!
Mark's first book UNHERALDED VICTORY took years to write and was meticulously researched. The Foreword was written by the 32nd CMC
Ge. Jim Jones, our CO on the Ridge. Gen Jones, now Supreme Allied Commander, Europe(NATO) was also interviewed for "FOXTROT
RIDGE" and a final manuscript, before going to press was submitted for his approval.
The passage of time and the ferocity of this battle can dull memory, but I can assure everyone, and those of us who were there
will tell you that this is a great book.

Mark Woodruff has composed a work that chronicles as accurately as humanly as possible a night that changed lives forever. 13 U.S.Marines are still dead. 44 of us still have a Purple Heart, and the families of over 230 North Vietnamese soldiers will never see their loved ones.
Great job, 'Ruff' and Semper Fi
Kevin

Rating:
Summary: FoxTrot Ridge
Review: This book brought back alot of memories, good and bad. There were several incidents that I had forgotten but after reading the book it jogged my memory.
I think Mark Woodruff did an excellent job in putting this book together. Each word that I had said to Mark was put into print.
In the thirteen months that I was in Vietnam it will always be this one day that I remember.
Thanks, Mark for your dedication and esprit de corps.