Vietnam Book Recommendation

[1895GG]

I’ve been reading books about our troops in Vietnam for several years and have just finished (IMHO) the best of the many I’ve read.  It is a story about Lance Sijan, who was awarded the nation’s highest decoration for valor, the Medal of Honor.  Lt Sijan was a pilot who went down over Laos on November 9, 1967 and spent six weeks evading the North Vietnamese while suffering from extreme injuries incurred when he ejected from his crashing F4C.  He was finally captured and even though he had not eaten hardly anything and with very little water for the last six weeks and with both bones below the knee broken and protruding thru the skin of his left leg, he was able to overpower his NVA guard and escape.  I could go on for several pages, but rather than spoil the story for you, I HIGHLY recommend you read INTO THE MOUTH OF THE CAT by Malcolm McConnell.    If you read the hardback version, may I recommend you do NOT read about the book on the inside flaps of the cover before reading the book.  It tells how the book ends and I hate reading a book and knowing how it will end.

[Kentone]

Thank you for this info, I enjoy reading books such as this.

[mountainview]

Try the books by J.L. Plaster on SOG Recon Teams, very interesting and well written.

[Questor]

Here's another:
The Necessary War

[BeanMan]

Here's another two:

"Five Years To Freedom"  by Nick Rowe, a Green Beret,  who spent five years in captivity at a 'special' camp run by the Viet Cong.  He lived in a bamboo cage and inner strength for five years before escaping.

"Charley Rangers"  2 friends experiences as LRP's.

BeanMan

[K.K]

Marine Sniper is a great book. It is the story of Sgt Carlos Hathcock, who began his career by winning Camp Perry, and had over 90 confirmed kills in the hills of Vietnam.

[Ruskin]

For history "A bright shinning star"  about Paul Vann.

"Soldier" a story by IG inspector.


"About Face" 

Type in "An Loc" and read a story of the last battle we fought in 1972.  It was Army and Air Force supporting the South Vietnamese Army.

[cantankerous]

I don't care much for "and there I wuz" war stories---got my own. I do recommend DERELICTION OF DUTY by H.R. McMaster as the ultimate work on the political side of the war, and ON STRATEGY by Harry G. Summers as the ultimate work on the military side. Be forewarned, McMaster is a scholar, but he "ain't no Tom Clancy."  Summers is a pretty pleasant read.  Another good book is THE SUMMONS OF THE TRUMPET  by Dave R. Palmer.  You can't really consider yourself well read about the Vietnam war without these three.

[guzzijohn]

Several good books mentioned here:
Soldier
Into the Mouth of the Cat - a related book to this is "Doom Pussy".
Charlie Rangers

Others I recommend are:
Once a Warrior King by David Donavan (I thought this is one of the best)
Chicken Hawk
Bat 21
Feet Wet

There are others but I cannot remember them at the moment.
GuzziJohn

[yooperamoungtrolls]

Most recent reads for me,

Hamburger Hill(written by a veteran of the battle)

Guns UP(story of M-60 gunners)

and

A Year in a Life(look into every day life of Viet Nam gurnts, going over, training, patroling and battle, DEROS, all taken from personal interviews with Viet Nam Vets)

[Keith1]

+1 for Bright Shinning Lie, about John Paul Vann
+1 for Chicken Hawk

Off subject but if you want to read an excellent book about WW2 read With the Old Breed.

Regards Keith
Simper Fi