The 1st Cav in Vietnam : Anatomy of a Division

Rating:
Summary: One of best books I have read about 'Nam Division operations
Review: I have a whole new respect for the First Cav and admire anybody who served in Vietnam in combat operations with them. Stanton clearly has done his homework. This one goes on my bookshelf as a keeper. I hope his other books are this good.

Rating:
Summary: One of best books I have read about 'Nam Division operations
Review: Stanton, who has been under an increasing cloud of late, is no rookie when it comes to military history in general or the history of the Vietnam War in particular. He begins by laying out his purpose for writing this work in his preface. He makes it clear that this will not be the ordinary divisional history where the author merely discusses every combat action of the division in the Vietnam War. Rather, Stanton intends this book as, ". . . a critical analysis of the mechanism and composition of the airmobile cavalry division." (ix) In order to accomplish his established goals, he devotes 5 chapters of this 12 chapter book to the conceptual and divisional evolution (Chapters 1-2), a study of the divisional structure (Chapter 10), an evaluation of the division's performance in Vietnam (Chapter 11), and the division's restructuring as an armor division in the early 1970s (Chapter 12). Stanton does not neglect to provide an overview of the division's operations, as the middle chapters (Chapters 3-9) are structured as a chronological examination of the division's operations in Vietnam.

Stanton is a solid writer who manages to both hold the reader's attention and make his points clearly and succinctly. 1st Cav in Vietnam is also well illustrated with both photographs (many of which are from the author's own collection) and, perhaps more importantly, maps. In addition, the author includes two useful appendices at the end of the book. The first appendix includes a list of the units which were assigned and attached to the division during its time in Vietnam. The second appendix details the divisional structure during the formation of the division. The author also includes a short bibliography of both the primary and secondary sources (which are of both a published and an unpublished nature) which were used in the writing of the work.

Rating:
Summary: Well-written, solid history!
Review: Stanton, who has been under an increasing cloud of late, is no rookie when it comes to military history in general or the history of the Vietnam War in particular. He begins by laying out his purpose for writing this work in his preface. He makes it clear that this will not be the ordinary divisional history where the author merely discusses every combat action of the division in the Vietnam War. Rather, Stanton intends this book as, ". . . a critical analysis of the mechanism and composition of the airmobile cavalry division." (ix) In order to accomplish his established goals, he devotes 5 chapters of this 12 chapter book to the conceptual and divisional evolution (Chapters 1-2), a study of the divisional structure (Chapter 10), an evaluation of the division's performance in Vietnam (Chapter 11), and the division's restructuring as an armor division in the early 1970s (Chapter 12). Stanton does not neglect to provide an overview of the division's operations, as the middle chapters (Chapters 3-9) are structured as a chronological examination of the division's operations in Vietnam.

Stanton is a solid writer who manages to both hold the reader's attention and make his points clearly and succinctly. 1st Cav in Vietnam is also well illustrated with both photographs (many of which are from the author's own collection) and, perhaps more importantly, maps. In addition, the author includes two useful appendices at the end of the book. The first appendix includes a list of the units which were assigned and attached to the division during its time in Vietnam. The second appendix details the divisional structure during the formation of the division. The author also includes a short bibliography of both the primary and secondary sources (which are of both a published and an unpublished nature) which were used in the writing of the work.

Rating:
Summary: Who Really Knows?
Review: Taken at face value this is quite possibly the definitive volume on the evolution Army Airmobile doctrine, tactics and operational employment throughout the Vietnam conflict. It is well written, concise, and a pleasure to read. The problem lies in the substantiated charges against the author for misrepresenting his military service. This fundamental lack of integrity calls into question the research and conclusions of all works by Mr. Stanton. If you trust his research it's a great book, if not it might as well be fiction.

Rating:
Summary: Who Really Knows?
Review: Taken at face value this is quite possibly the definitive volume on the evolution Army Airmobile doctrine, tactics and operational employment throughout the Vietnam conflict. It is well written, concise, and a pleasure to read. The problem lies in the substantiated charges against the author for misrepresenting his military service. This fundamental lack of integrity calls into question the research and conclusions of all works by Mr. Stanton. If you trust his research it's a great book, if not it might as well be fiction.