Favorite Vietnam themed books

[cavalierlwt Profile]

Well, we did movies, so here's to the books.


Nam, by Mark Baker
Awesome book, he interviewed veterans who in turn just told short stories about things they saw, things they did. Not a coherent story, but just interesting experiences from dozens of different people. Pretty graphic in parts, pretty funny in other parts.

Chickenhawk, by Robert Mason (no, not the GWB/Cheney BIO)
If you are interested in helicopters, this is the book for you. Mason flew huey transports in Vietnam and his detailed descriptions about flying a huey are incredibly comprehensive yet still exciting and readable. Really interesting how these pilots, who risked life and limb to get guys in and out of LZs, had to create flying styles and tactics on the job as helicopters in combat were a relatively new concept.

[5_Strings]

A Rumor of War by Philip Caputo
An excellent memoir of a junior officer's frontline experiences in the Vietnam war. A classic.

The Tunnels of Cu Chi by Tom Mangold and John Penycate
Describes the amazing tunnel system designed by the NVA/VC forces. These were more than mere tunnels, but underground bases where some units would go for weeks without seeing daylight. Stories from both sides flesh out the experience nicely.

[Jeffro Profile YIM]

I don't read, I just look at the pictures



I would have to say chickenhawk...


Detailed yet simplistic

[yaDad Profile WebsiteICQYIM]

Marine Sniper...accounts of GSGT Hathcock.
very good.

confirmet kill w/ .50 cal at over 1500 mtrs.

[cavalierlwt Profile]

I would love to read a book that is totally from the Viet Cong point of view. Not a propaganda piece, but perhaps some defectors memoirs or something. I would love to know which weapons or tactics they were afraid of and which one they felt like they could totally overcome (remember the firepower advantage we had over these people).
How much insider info did they get before bombings or raids, how much cooperation were they receiving from the local populace etc.

[Murgatroyd]

Originally posted by cavalierlwt
I would love to read a book that is totally from the Viet Cong point of view. Not a propaganda piece, but perhaps some defectors memoirs or something. I would love to know which weapons or tactics they were afraid of and which one they felt like they could totally overcome (remember the firepower advantage we had over these people).
How much insider info did they get before bombings or raids, how much cooperation were they receiving from the local populace etc.

Definitely pick up "The Sorrow of War" by Bao Ninh, it's about a NVA regular's experience throughout and after the war. Very good book. Touches on those points you are interested in.

[Sir Loin Profile]

Originally posted by Jeffro
I don't read, I just look at the pictures



I would have to say chickenhawk...


Detailed yet simplistic

Jeffro.. you amaze me. The only time i look at the pictures is when i reading hustler magazine.

ps..what the hell is chickenhawk:confused:

[Colonel Ingus Profile]

Medal Of Honor Winners: Vietnam.

Yadad's book on Gunny Hathcock. Second best sniper kill ratio in Vietnam, Best in the Corp, and some really frigging amazing tales that happen to be true. Long Tranh was real and he did some amazing shit. He did that 1500 metre .50 cal on to a VC delivery agent riding a bicycle! A moving target! ANd I am not going to tell you about his sniper duel with the "cobra" I believe his name was. Gonna have to read that one yourself.

And there are a few books on spec-ops like LRRPS and a few others that show how damn good our special forces were at the time. Some of them talk about the things like how they were required to report to the ARVN joint ops people where they would be lagered for the night in the field which would promplty get reported to the VC and our forces would get ambushed.

Chickenhawk was good reading. It was his call sign I believe.

[Jeffro Profile YIM]

Originally posted by Sir Loin
Jeffro.. you amaze me. The only time i look at the pictures is when i reading hustler magazine.

ps..what the hell is chickenhawk:confused:

1.) I was being sarcastic about the pictures comment

2.) For info on "chickenhawk"


Goto http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0140072187/qid=1080937454/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/102-1320072-8813705?v=glance&s=books&n=507846