This textbook is the true account of three soldiers who wouldn't stop fighting the enemy and never raised the white flag during a firefight. One soldier, an Army Aviator, was shot down and fell 800 feet in his burning helicopter. Another was an infantry Sergeant stationed at LZ Bert when it was overrun by the North Vietnamese Army. The third was a retired Sergeant from the USAF who was wounded in a motor attack on the American Embassy. All three men had been wounded more than once in firefights and received impact awards for heroism during combat with the enemy. All have been denied the wearing of the Purple Heart by the Chief of the Army Awards Branch. This book contains images of research papers, letters and pictures the author used to verify their stories of the Vietnam War.

American Baby Boomers--of the 1960's--are often portrayed in the media as either in the mud of Woodstock or in the mud of Vietnam. The truth is, just a small percentage--3% total--were in either place. Most Baby Boomers were living normal lives doing normal things. But for those who took an active part in the Cold War--which we won--and which included Vietnam--this book is dedicated to you. Book includes the records of the 13-man STAT TEAMS (later known as Seabee Teams) that served in Vietnam. The Navy Seabees were some of the first to show up for Vietnam's struggle against communism. In 1954, President Ngo Dinh Diem wrote a letter to President Eisenhower asking for military and economic aid. In 1954 and 1955 an estimated one million refugees (mostly persecuted Catholics) moved from the Communist State of North Vietnam to the south (8% of the North's population). The Seabees assisted them during their "Passage to Freedom." In 1956, Seabees were assigned to survey Vietnam's roads. There weren't many. The Seabees travelled by jeep and on foot with pack-mules. The surveyors found that the bombers of World War II, the guerrillas of Viet Minh, and the newly emerging guerrilla groups of the Viet Cong had destroyed most of the bridges and sabotaged what few roads were left. Beginning in 1963, Seabee Teams, with Secret Clearances, arrived in Vietnam to assist the U.S. Army's Special Forces in the CIA funded Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) program, and to help the Vietnamese help themselves. The Seabees constructed Special Forces Camps and outposts, airfields for the SF STOL-class Caribou aircraft, and built connecting roads. These Seabee Teams also helped the Vietnamese to better their living conditions through thousands of projects in rural areas. The Seabee Teams in Vietnam also earned Purple Hearts, Silver Stars, Bronze Stars and many other medals. One Seabee Team member, Marvin Sheilds, earned the Congressional Medal Of Honor while fighting alongside with the Special Forces at Dong Xoi. In 1963, only approximately 10,000 Americans were in Vietnam and very little infrastructure existed. This was before the eventual arrival of 2.1 million--over time--Americans. Given the limited infrastructure--with hardly any ports, roads and airstrips--it would have been near impossible to get the 2.1 million eventual Americans--along with their equipment (Beans, Bullets, And Black Oil)--delivered to South Vietnam and support them. Many Vietnam Vets--including this writer--showed up after 1965. Most of us took it for granted that the air bases we landed in, roads we drove on, helo-pads we mounted out from and the camps we lived in, or passed through, and the water and food and fuel storage were somehow always there--or most likely didn't give it a thought. But long before we arrived, military and civilian engineers were busy preparing the "ground" to make it possible to fight a war; and begin attempts to win the hearts and minds of the South Vietnamese. A recent travel guide to Vietnam mentioned the superior roads and infrastructure in the Southern portion of Vietnam--as opposed to North Vietnam-- due to the American presence there during the Vietnam War. --Kenneth E. Bingham, Seabee volunteer, Feb, 2013

SERGEANT BACK AGAIN-THE ANTHOLOGY contains the first collection of published critical and clinical writings regarding the earliest characterizations and manifestations of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) based on the central characters and actions dramatized in Charles Coleman's universally-acclaimed portrayal of PTSD in his Vietnam War-era cult classic, Sergeant Back Again. Six highly-respected scholars, historians, and psychiatrists "weigh in" on the social, political, and medical aspects and consequences of the emergence of post-traumatic stress disorder during and after the Vietnam War. "This is clearly the first account of the causes and effects of PTSD on U.S. Servicemen and women, based on the case of Specialist Andrew Collins, a line medic and later a surgical specialist who served in Vietnam in 1970." It is THE "Vietnam War novel that made PTSD Real " (Philip Beidler, Ph.D.) and looks at comparisons of Coleman's dramatic portrayal to those of Hemingway, Heller and Kesey while fast-forwarding to what has happened to-and will likely continue to occur-among veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Skillfully analyzing scenes from the battlefield and then on the closed wards of Chambers Psychiatric Pavilion at Fort Sam Houston and the psychological milieu of both the patients and staff during the 1970s, Veterans' psychiatrist Harold Kudler, M.D., explores the military medical establishment's dilemma in trying to understand veterans returning from Vietnam and attempting to classify and "treat" them for something as yet unknown: PTSD. Now, thirty years after arriving at a definition of PTSD, "Psychiatry is still struggling to see beyond abstractions in order to find the patients it left behind." Now, fast-forward to Iraq, Afghanistan, and the dramatic jump in active duty and veterans' suicides culminating in "the real heart of darkness that defines psychological trauma." "One sees now in Sergeant Back Again] a story we probably recognized but did not know at the time 1980] how to read, at least in its newest, challenging, creative iteration," states Vietnam combat veteran and novelist Philip Beidler, Ph.D. "But its uniqueness is its attempt to speak in a bold literary way about an emergent, newly-identified, peculiarly war-related form of psychological trauma increasingly associated with representations of Vietnam veterans' attempts to deal with war-related experiences and memory. This story is to some degree my story. But mainly it will remain even beyond the book-in its real touch of genius to me-the stories contained in the spurious letters." Here, too, historian and socio-political critic of film and literature of the Vietnam War era, Tony Williams, Ph.D., juxtaposes numerous points of view from social and literary archives of the time and insightfully contrasts Norman Mailer (who "provided his own answers as to Why are we in Vietnam?") with Coleman's rendering of "certain strategies of vision to depict what later became known as PTSD and which makes book truly remarkable in its original context and extremely relevant today." This theme of "vision" in Sergeant Back Again is again echoed by Nathan Beck, screenwriter and film critic of the Vietnam Era: "This is a riveting, detailed vision of one man's struggle to free himself from the grip of PTSD in which the protagonist, US Army medic Andy Collins, comes to discover that field hospitals are combat zones of their own, where the enemy is death, dismemberment, and psychological dislocation in which the men working over the wasted are eventually wasted themselves." John Presley, Ph.D., historian, essayist and authority on the life and works of WWI writer Robert Graves, continues the theme of vision and contrast as he dissects the very fabric of the men who became the "walking wounded" from WWI to the Vietnam War. SERGEANT BACK AGAIN: THE ANTHOLOGY is a watershed work of major significance in understanding the signs, symptoms and treatment f

I published my original "Tales of Ramasun" in February 2012 and moved on to other things like "Mixed Foursome: The Zach Roper Mysteries" about a golf-loving detective and his sexy sidekick, the Thai Princess, but more "Tales" kept drifting into my mind and I just had to write them down. Eventually I found that I had enough to make another book which I have unimaginatively entitled "Tales of Ramasun II." Hey if it's good enough for Hollywood and all those "Rocky" movies it might work on Amazon, anything might work on Amazon...or not. For those of you who read and appreciated my first effort this will be a chance to take another trip back to dear old Ramasun. I got some really positive and encouraging emails from you so I know that there's interest out there. You are a small, select group at present, but at least you are enthusiastic. For non-Ramasun-ians take heart. You can dive right into "Tales II" or read the original "Tales of Ramasun" first. Either way you will return to the Thailand of the 1960s, enter the shadow puppet world of espionage, and visit the spooks and spies of long-gone Ramasun Station and its military unit, the 7th RRFS. The 7th Radio Research Field Station, that is. Our 'research" was electronic eavesdropping on everything that was going on in Southeast Asia in those days, and there was a lot going on. You may have heard of the Vietnam War, that was the main thing that was going on, and the 7th spied on everyone...friend, foe and neutral. Our spying was done from Ramasun Station, a top secret outpost in far Northeast Thailand (better known as Isaan...ee-sahn), and from our sister station, the 8th RRFS at Phu Bai in Vietnam. All the heavy lifting of signal intelligence gathering was done by the military in those days, at listening posts like Ramasun and Phu Bai. Now it is done by the civilian National Security Agency (NSA) and most of the people who do it don't ever have to leave the comfort of their offices at Ft. Meade, Maryland where they look at computer screens that bring them intercepted information from orbiting satellites and drones. It was harder then. No computers, no satellites, you had to be close to what you were listening in on, but it was basically the same job, then and now, and you needed the same mix of folks to do it...Translator/Interpreters, Intelligence Analysts, Traffic Analysts and a host of techies, though the techies of Ramasun were radio techies, not computer nerds. I don't know what they call them now at NSA, but we called them Lingies, Dittyboppers, radioheads and TAs among other things, How do I know this? I was one of them, a Lao Lingy for 27 months during 1969-71, at Ramasun and a few other places on TDY (temporary duty). I was Army, the US Army Security Agency (ASA) to be precise, but there were men from all branches at Ramasun, probably more Air Force (AFSA) than Army, though it was officially an Army Base...there were also civilians, and even a few women, but they did not arrive until after I left. The NSA, better known as The Puzzle Palace, was our 'customer' then. We did the front-line work and shipped the results back to them for analysis. Now they do all the work and ASA and AFSA have been put out of business. Ramasun Station went out of business too, long ago. It existed for ten years from 1966 to 1976 when the Thai government closed it. There's no trace left of it now, not even a brass plaque to mark the spot where it once stood. Only the old spooks and spies of the 7th remain, and they may not be around for much longer. It is time tell their story, my story. They were a wild, oversexed, undisciplined, oddball bunch. In many ways the 7th RRFS was like the M*A*S*H 4077th, brainy smartass troops who thumbed their noses at 'by the book' military authority, but always rose to the occasion when there was real work to be done. Sloppy-looking troublemakers with bad attitudes about everything except the mission, they worked as hard as

USN Mobile Construction Battalion Ten landed in Chu Lai, Vietnam in 1965. Cruise Books are Informal and nonofficial in nature (they sometimes are compared to college yearbooks) These publications offer insights into the daily activities and attitudes from the perspective of a unit's crew. Cruise books are of special note because of the intense interest by veterans, writers, and scholars. Care has been taken to render the best copy possible. However, quality of this book is based on the condition of the original, and current technology available. All proceeds from the sale of this book are donated to non-profit organizations.

Originally published in 1973. Illustrated throughout with maps and photographs.

First published in 2000 by the United States Air Force History History and Museums program, this official history deals with the role of the United States Air Force in advising the South Vietnamese Air Force and waging war in South Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos from 1968 through 1975. Illustrated with maps and photos.

Distant War: Recollections of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, will be the vehicle to the readers' understanding of a war and its aftermath that may seem distant now, but what is important is that it will make readers realize-if they haven't already-that in war, whether in the jungles of Vietnam or the sands of Iraq, in a very real sense, while who wins and who loses is obviously important, what is equally necessary is that good somehow must and shall prevail. Here are 31 stories about those who were there then and what their lives have become now-for the world to know what they suffered, how most survived, and how they overcame adversity. See the Contents listing in the preview for the people included, such as Pat Sajak, Jim Stockdale, Oliver Stone and Nick Ut. 67 photos.

Imagine growing up in a land where your government proudly tricks and imprisons its own citizens ... where city officers rob and confiscate their citizens' houses out of greed-legally ... where the local authorities monitor not only how much food each family can eat, but what they will eat. After four years of living under the brutal Vietnamese Communist government, one brave young girl has had enough. At fifteen, she sets out for the most unforgettable journey of her life, all alone and with only three sets of clothes to her name. Her faith, optimism, and humor give her the strength to fight for her freedom. Generous strangers step up to help her through the many dangers she faces, both from the elements and other people who do not want to see her escape. For one courageous young Vietnamese woman, hers is the adventure of a "new" lifetime.

Imagine growing up in a land where your government proudly tricks and imprisons its own citizens ... where city officers rob and confiscate their citizens' houses out of greed-legally ... where the local authorities monitor not only how much food each family can eat, but what they will eat. After four years of living under the brutal Vietnamese Communist government, one brave young girl has had enough. At fifteen, she sets out for the most unforgettable journey of her life, all alone and with only three sets of clothes to her name. Her faith, optimism, and humor give her the strength to fight for her freedom. Generous strangers step up to help her through the many dangers she faces, both from the elements and other people who do not want to see her escape. For one courageous young Vietnamese woman, hers is the adventure of a "new" lifetime.

Seabee Cruise Book U.S Naval Construction Battalion Ten 1967-1968 Vietnam, Thailand Okinawa. Cruise Books are Informal and nonofficial in nature (they sometimes are compared to college yearbooks) These publications offer insights into the daily activities and attitudes from the perspective of a unit's crew. Cruise books are of special note because of the intense interest by veterans, writers, and scholars. Care has been taken to render the best copy possible. However, quality of this book is based on the condition of the original, and current technology available. All proceeds from the sale of this book are donated to non-profit organizations.

Question: Why were we fighting a war 8,000 miles from our shores in a country that few of our fellow citizens knew existed until years after? What was the nature of this war that makes victory seem such an elusive quarry? How did our army adapt to fight guerrilla warfare so different from the sort of conflict we've been used to?

Ord Elliott was a Marine Rifle Platoon Commander in Vietnam in 1967. Although the Vietnam War has been over for many years, a sense of something lost lingers within Ord. He digs deep to confront the emotions that underlie his experience of combat, and after each battle deals with his emerging understanding of war and of the warriors that marched with him back then and today

Military History of the most famous battle of the Vietnam War 1962-1975. Story of the United States Marine Corps and its heroic South Vietnamese allies, the ARVN, at the Marine Base at KHE SANH in the I Corps Operational Zone Quang Tri Province] before, during and after the TET Offensive of 1967-68 launched by the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army under General Vo Nguyen Giap and Ho Chi Minh. Recounts the sacrifice and heroism of the United States Marine Corps, specifically the 77 day siege of the base and air strip at Khe Sanh, the attack on the US Special Forces Camp at Lang Vei, the initial defence during Operation Scotland I, the air offensive Operation NIAGARA, the ground offensive Operation PEGASUS and the relief of Khe Sanh by the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), 5th and 9th Marine Regiments and the final counter offensive by the 26th Marine Regiment and the heroism of the 9th Marines. A testament to the superlative professionalism and unflinching dedication and sacrifice of the United States Air Force, the United States Marine Corps and United States Army. The story focuses on the roles of Colonel David E. Lownds 26th Marine Regiment Commander], General Rathvon C. Tompkins, Lieutenant General Cushman III MAF] and COMUSMACV Commander General William Westmoreland. The entire Siege of Khe Sanh from 21st January 1968 to 6th April 1968 is dealt with in great detail as well as the progress of the engagement with PAVN forces. The battles around Hills 881 North & South, Hills 861 and 861A, Hills 558 and Hill 64 and the Battle of Lang Vei Special Forces Camp is described exactly as it happened. The Military sequence of events is described in 337,000 words in the book. Also includes the story of Sergeant David C. Dolby recipient of the Medal of Honour for his actions in the Vietnam War and his 2nd Tour of Vietnam in the 1st Battalion, 101st Airborne Division from 1967 to 1968.

Jim McGarrah's The End of An Era is an insightful, heartbreaking and, at times, hilarious account of his struggles as a veteran in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. In his extraordinary wounding, healing blues song, this combat veteran sings for family, for lovers, for friends, and, always, in each line, for the soldiers gone in another era and the ones now dying in our own.

The Vietnam War is one of the defining conflicts of the twentieth century: not only did it divide American society at every level; the conflict also represented a key shift in Asian anti-colonialism and shaped the course of the Cold War. Despite its political and social importance, popular memory of the war is dominated by myths and stereotypes. In this incisive new text, John Dumbrell debunks popular assumptions about the war and reassesses the key political, military and historical controversies associated with one of the most contentious and divisive wars of recent times. Drawing upon an extensive range of newly accessible sources, Rethinking the Vietnam War assesses all aspects of the conflict - ranging across domestic electoral politics in the USA to the divided communist leadership in Hanoi and grassroots antiwar movements around the world. The book charts the full course of the war - from the origins of American involvement, the growing internationalization of the conflict and the swing year of 1968 to bitter twists in Sino-Soviet rivalry and the eventual withdrawal of American forces. Situating the conflict within an international context, John Dumbrell also considers competing interpretations of the war and points the way to the resolution of debates which have divided international opinion for decades.

This book is a collection of 19 short stories put together by 19 Vietnam Veterans with their experiences, and their nightmare upon returning home from war. These stories capture what it was like for many of them before they entered the service; While they were in Vietnam, and what it was like to come home to a hostile social environment. These veterans from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force unlock their inner feelings that have been penned up inside for over forty years. This is your opportunity to understand what what these veterans and families have suffered through since their return. Being in combat is a life changing experience which leaves the veteran searching for his former life, a life that is gone forever. The effect of trying to stay alive, seeing friends torn up by bullets or explsives, and constantly looking over his shoulder leave scars that last forever. From the insights of what these veterans put in their stories, all of us maybe able to help our young vets returnung from war, to seek the help that is now available and for you the reader to recognize that these veterans need to be welcomed home as the heros they are.

Waterborne Warriors examines the unique watercraft operated by the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. This book combines years of painstaking research with many never-before-published photographs provided by veterans, the National Archives, and the United States Army Military History Institute. The book begins with a historical overview of riverine operations providing insight into the unique mobility challenges that faced the U.S. Army in Southeast Asia. Each type of army riverine craft is detailed in its own chapter including landing craft, hovercraft, patrol boats, airboats, and small utility boats. The hovercraft chapter provides an in-depth look at only remaining SK-5 Air-cushion Vehicle on display at Fort Eustis, VA. This book will appeal to any military history enthusiast, scale modeler, or veteran.

There are so many phonied up, role playing accounts of American efforts in South East Asia that a man who was actually there in those war zones and experienced the tragedy of our country trying to hold on to ex French and ex U. S. colonial possesions is sickened by the stench of falsehood. I have written a brief and personal history of the history of those two war ravaged lands and present it without fanfare or xenophobic prejudice for your perusal.