The Combat Performance of Our Soldiers — The Best of Their Generation! . . .

• THE FAITHFUL SERVICE OF OUR YOUNG SOLDIERS. The story of how well they faithfully fought in hard combat, under tough battlefield conditions despite growing opposition to the war was often not told by the news media, public officials, nor the many anti-war films and books of that era. That failure left the American people with a lop-sided, unfavorable view of American soldiers in combat. The truth is like WWII soldiers, they were the best of their generation!

• WHY I WROTE “COURAGE UNDER FIRE.” One of my major reasons for writing was to set the record straight and honor all Vietnam combat veterans who served their country when many were not recognized for their service or sacrifice. The story I tell is characteristic of all young soldiers who fought in many different units, locations, and years.  My focus, however, is on the 101st Airborne’s 1st Brigade’s hidden battle at Tam Ky from 15 May to 10 June 1969 with whom I served as an infantry platoon leader until wounded on 2 June. I have received much feedback from veterans that the combat accounts described are a common experience. [Please see the book reviews.]

• TWO BATTLES – 100 MILES APART.  Our fight at Tam Ky was fought on the heels of the 3rd Brigade’s “Battle of Hamburger Hill” in the north end of the A Shau Valley from 10 to 21 May 1969. US casualties were 78 killed and 536 wounded.  That brutal battle was heavily covered by the media and is one of the most well-known battles of the Vietnam War.  The tough fighting near Tam Ky, one hundred miles to the south by the 1st Brigade had 126 killed and 494 wounded. It is practically unknown because it was deliberately kept from the media and never reported to the American public. Operation Lamar Plain, as it was officially known, was classified SECRET and never disclosed during the Vietnam War. Later, over a decade after the war, the battle records were routinely declassified and quietly put in the National Archives where the battle was almost forgotten - - except by those who fought it! Appendix 1 of my book explains in detail the political and military considerations for not disclosing the battle. Though important to understanding the war, it is the backdrop of the combat action. The spotlight is on the young soldiers and those who led them.ÿ

My Book’s Unique Perspective — The Close Infantry Fight . . .

• MY VIEWPOINT AS AUTHOR. I fought in Vietnam as a young, twenty-three-year-old, lieutenant infantry platoon leader for just short of five months.  My book’s narrative often recounts my thoughts and actions at that time in my life. However, as author, I am now a crusty, seventy-plus-year-old, retired infantry lieutenant colonel with extensive military experience allowing a broad and deeper perspective in understanding and writing about infantry combat, tactics, and leadership.

• A COMBAT TEAM IN BATTLE. As a young Lieutenant, Captain, and Major, my repeat assignments with other infantry units taught me the value of employing all the Army’s combat, combat support, and combat service support assets. Multiple assignments with Infantry units and the US Army Infantry School’s Doctrine, Training, Tactics, and Leadership Departments enriched my experience. [See the link on the author’s page for details.]

• MY BOOK’S FOCUS. The close infantry fight and the situations and leadership challenges of combat for young infantrymen and their leaders is my book’s focus. But medics, artillerymen, engineers, aviators, intelligence, supply, and others who support the infantry are all included and greatly appreciated.ÿ

A Major Objective — Providing Lessons Learned in Combat! . . .

• A PRIMER ON COMBAT LESSONS LEARNED. As I began to write, another of my major objectives was to ensure the book is full of combat lessons learned for young soldiers and their leaders — especially for those who have never been in combat. However, the book is appropriate for the recommended reading list of a wide audience. This includes those in military schools, ROTC programs, and entry-level training for young enlisted and officers at various service schools and those who are active, reserve, and national guard soldiers. For more experienced NCOs and officers, the book has a number of combat situations which useful for tabletop discussions. The book is also of special interest to Vietnam veterans. They will find themselves right in the thick of the action as they read the compelling accounts of combat action. [Please see the reviews which indicate this aim was achieved.]

• A FINAL CATEGORY OF READERS. One last group of potential readers is truly special. I wrote the book to be age appropriate for young grandsons, granddaughters, nephews, nieces, and other family members of Vietnam veterans. There is no profanity in the book or grisly depictions of combat wounds. The latter is especially important because the book is intended for those family members who had loved ones killed or wounded in battle. Those who died or were wounded are identified by name, how they became casualties, and where the combat action occurred. I specifically intended these soldiers not be listed merely as nameless statistics. In every case, those killed or wounded were someone’s son, brother, father, husband, or friend. Such consideration has personally brought the sacrifice and tragedy of what was an increasingly unpopular war home to many.ÿ

1969 Is a Turning Point — In an Increasingly Unpopular War! . . .

• SIZE OF THE MILITARY EFFORT. The number of US military in Vietnam in late 1968 hit an all-time high of 549,000. In 2023, the entire US Army’s active-duty end strength is almost 100,000 smaller. US casualties in 1968 were the highest yet in the war at 16,899 killed and 87,388 wounded. Casualty rates in early 1969 were beginning to surpass the 1968 numbers. Total war dead was then over 31,000 with more than 200,000 wounded. The American public was tiring of the seemingly endless war and its heavy casualties. [Unfortunately, the war will continue until 1973 reaching a total of 58,220 US casualties with over 150,000 wounded and some 1,600 missing.]

• AN ELECTION TO END THE WAR. President Richard Nixon was elected in November 1968 to bring the war to an end. His predecessor, Lyndon Johnson had inherited the war from President John Kennedy, who was assassinated on November 22, 1963. Johnson mismanaged the war in the eyes of many and decided in April 1968 not to run for re-election. His Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara, recognized as the principal architect of the war from 1961 until 1968, resigned on November 28, 1968, just after Nixon’s overwhelming election. This was the situation as young, junior enlisted soldiers and the lieutenants and captains who led them fought on the battlefields of Vietnam in late 1968 and early 1969.ÿ

Why the Battle at Tam Ky Was Hidden — A Change in US War Policy! . . .

Discovering why the Battle at Tam Ky was undisclosed was part of my in-depth research of US war records. The account is fully explained in Appendix 1 of my book. Here is the brief explanation. On 14 May 1969, newly elected President Nixon made his first, long-awaited announcement of his administration’s new war policy: “the US would no longer seek a purely military victory in Vietnam.” Just after that announcement the American public learned of the 101st Airborne’s brutal fight on Hamburger Hill. That battle’s high US casualties created an immediate firestorm of political controversy in Washington DC over Nixon’s conduct of war! If that was not bad enough, the 101st was already engaged in a second major battle at Tam Ky also with unexpectedly high casualties. The US Military Assistance Command - Vietnam never allowed US media to learn of the second battle. Its high US casualties were not immediately released. Together the two battles had over 1100 casualties. Had the casualties of the Tam Ky battle been reported, Nixon’s new strategy for ending the war would have been completely contradicted by the high casualties of the two battles. This material was put in an appendix because it is the backdrop of the story about our young soldiers who fought so valiantly. Those wanting to better understand US war policy may find the appendix quite interesting.