Instead of a history of the LRRPS, LRPs and Rangers, this book is a collection of a single tale from each unit, but not all tales or all units. While each story is intense and well-written, we are left begging for more. In fact, I felt a bit let down. It was as though I were at a meeting of every living LRRP, LRP and Ranger, but could only have one story from one member of each unit. The result is a great collection of short stories, but not an authoritative history of the subject matter. A good read if you want a taste of the business, but should be retitled "The Best of ...." or something along that line.

I have read all of Gary Linderers books and almost all the books still in publish on the 101st Airborne divisons LRRP, LRP, and Ranger units in Vietnam. Everyone I have read by Gary Linderer has been amazing and I have not been able to put them down. This one is no different. I recommend any and all of his books plus books like Recondo by Larry Chambers and the entire Six Silent Men Series.

I READ ALL THE BOOKS BY GARY LINDERER I CAN FIND. HE TELLS THE STORIES THAT NEED TO BE TOLD AND TAKES YOU RIGHT THERE WITH HIM AND ALL HIS BROTHERS. THIS BOOK AND ITS SEQUEL ARE MUST READING FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN THIS ERA OF OUR HISTORY.GARY TAKES YOU TO THE JUNGLE AND LEAVES YOU WITH YOUR HEART IN YOUR THROAT. I'M REREADING BOTH FOR THE THIRD TIME.

I read this unforgettable book several years ago and recommended it to one of the reviewers in your home page! I remember the unusually captivating style that transports you right there in the seething rainforest with Eric, Bok and Weng. His descriptions of the language and culture are accurate and helped me see the linguistic and cultural connections between Borneo and a certain Filipino tribal group (Pampangos) I never realized before. Truly an adventurous experience that I have rarely enjoyed with other books. Eric Hansen is one of very few present day writers that I enjoy. A must read for those who enjoy a break from this concrete jungle and sometimes mean-spirited world we call civilization. That jungle will seem more civilized than some places you've been to in times past.

Panjamon is an older story of a similar journey told by an incredible storyteller,Jean Yves Domalain.

Eric Hansen has gone where few have traveled, and few have wanted to travel. His epic adventure is more than a guide to the region: it is a rare glimpse into an unimagined world. Despite National Geographic type articles, one would never have dreamed of this world of extraordinary people, going about what they consider ordinary lives. He did not just breeze into their country with an expedition mindset, guides and porters, al la the ordinary expedition management styles; rather he moved slowly and quietly, at a pace set by the people of the villages through which he passed. I felt priveleged to have been able to glimpse (albeit secondhandedly), his trip, and the lives of the very courageous people who not only live in Borneo; but have made a wonderful life for themselves, people who have a vast knowledge of the resources of their forests and the wildlife in them. From a modern worldview, these people may seem primitive; but he reveals them to be quite sophisticated within their world, and to have the character traits which lead to a good life in their world. It is one of the most appealing adventure stories I have ever read, written in a simple straightforward style, full of humor, pathos and intelligence. Excellent reading!

I was born in the Philippines one year after Marcos took office and lived under his Presidency through my teenage years. As a student of history, I've gone through several of the books which have been published on Marcos and this book is by far the best of the lot. Mr. Hamilton-Paterson clearly shows an understanding of the Filipino psyche in a way that could only have been gained from years of living with the people.

A marvelous book about my homeland, the Philippines ; some of the villagers depicted in the anecdotes almost seem like people I actually know. Patterson is SPOT-ON about the Filipino personality, believe me. I wish I could meet the author of this book and shake his hand.

Wonderful authorship, I suppose thats because he's British and therefore a reliable third party with unbiased insight. It never occured to me that my father was born on the right side of the Agno. I always wondered how he got a sinecure in the armed forces, which he was very well found on. Some of the Hamilton-Paterson's conclusions are quite emasculating to many Filipinos especialy to elites, which is nonetheless true as I can tell and am Filipino living in the West. He is very astute in coining crony monopolism instead of crony capitalism. The part about economics are the parts that draw me to the book as it is my avocation. Just by reading that chapter just smacks you of market failure. And this book is recomended also to people who has some erudition in economics and want to learn some developmental economics pertaining to the Philippines.

This and Aftermath SHOULD be required reading for AP High School history courses or at least college level. You will understand and "appreciate" the Vietnam war experience of the combat soldier during this harrowing time both at home and away. As stated previously, the book(s) are very well composed and easy to read!

This was the first book on the Vietnam War that I ever read. Since then, I've read ever other book that has come across my path. Mr. Downs' book was a landmark in Vietnam War literature simply because he downright tells it like it was for him. Having sustained extreme wounds, he managed to survive and write this book aswell as one called "Aftermath", which I strongly recommend aswell.

I read this book quite some time ago, not long after I had the pleasure of meeting the author at a school function on the Vietnam War. I have been fascinated by the Vietnam War ever since meeting the author (who happened to grow up in my hometown). I found the book eye-opening and easy to read, especially for those of us who do not have a military background. I felt his platoon's pain, as well as their excitement. All in all, what this man, and thousands like him went through is something that each American should appreciate.

This book should be required reading for all field grade colonels on up. In meticulous detail it details the failing of military strategy in Vietnam because clear goals were not identified and political support obtained for same. It correctly identifies the limitations of military power, which cannot "win hearts and minds" but only bury them. The best tribute to this book is that every Americal military leader fighting a war after this book was published has followed the the letter and tenor of the recommendations set forth in the book. Summers should have recieved numerous decorations for the contributions to military strategy this book contains. Instead he was shunned by the military establishment who nevertheless reads and follows his book, because he had the ordacity in his book to name names and criticize those in power who failed to follow even the most basic military tenets in conducting the Vietnam War. However, long after those leaders are long forgotten, this book will still be required reading for American Military Leaders who do not wish to repeat the mistakes made in the Vietnam War.

Summers recounts an exchange between himself and a former NVA officer some years after the war. It went something like this Summers: "You never defeated us in the field." NVA Officer: "That is true. It is also irrelevant."

I recently saw this bumper sticker on a Vietnam veteran's car: "I don't know what happened. When I left we were winning." To find out what happened, read this book. Summers gives an insightful critique of the strategic failure using the Nine Principles of War and the doctrine of Clausewitz.

I read this book a few years before the Gulf War, and as I watched that war unfold, I kept "On Strategy's" teachings in mind. It seemed to me at the time that those charged with the conduct of the Gulf War effort were applying "On Strategy's" doctrine chapter and verse. Read the book and review the Gulf War effort, and see if you don't agree.

One of the enduring ironies of military history--and the history of military thought--is that the most profound analysis, clearest insights, and most enduring illumination of the principles and practice of warfare has been accomplished by military professionals of relatively modest rank.

To the distinguished list of Colonel Clausewitz, Captain Mahan, and Captain Hart, add Colonel Harry Summers.

ON STRATEGY is certainly the most important book on military theory to appear since WWII and is perhaps the most important work of this century. Potential purchasers need have no fear that this book will be out-of-print for the foreseeable future; the presses will keep running because ON STRATEGY will be required reading in every military academy in the world for many decades.

ON STRATEGY is "about" the Vietnam War in much the same way that Clausewitz is "about" the Napoloenic Wars or that Mahan is "about" 18th-century naval struggles between France and England. That is, Summers uses the Vietnam War as a vehicle for analysis and illustration of principles of war that apply universally.

Aside from the clarity of his thought, Summers' most remarkable achievement is his writing style: For all of its subtlety, this book is accessible and valuable for readers who may have little background in military affairs.

At the end of WW II, the United States created special five-star ranks to honor it most senior commanders for their contributions to victory.

A book review is a poor substitute for a richly-deserved star to reward extraordinary service to the nation. But for his brilliant analysis and articulate writing, pin Five Stars on Harry Summars' collar.

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The reviewer is a former military intelligence analyst.

This book is what I'd call repetetive and boring. It's not the type of book I'd read if I had no other choice. It was recommended to me and every time I turned the page, I hoped it would get better. But it was basically the same story almost every time. The same idea that racism is hard. We know that. This book states that more times than is necesary. So unless you are terribly interested in Vietnam or black history, I suggest you read something else.

This book is without a doubt a sobering reminder of the duality that each African American service member faced during that time period. How can you raise the American flag in support of freedom in Vietnam and not have full rights of an American citizen in Birmingham? These self sacrificing heroes accompished just that.

If you really want the full story of the men and wormen who served in the Vietnam war, Wallace Terry's book is must be read. "Read it, share it, discuss it with other vetrans, and put it on your library shelf." This fact filled story of black soliders in Vietnam is gripping.

We purchased this book to plan our honeymoon mainly because of the 5 star reviews we read on this site. While the author does provide a lot of information on the different islands in the South Pacific, and some great food recommendations, nothing about this book sets it apart from the other guide books we brought along to Tahiti. In short, compared to other tour books we've fallen in love with, this book is average.

This is one of three books we used on our trip in November of 1998. The best part of this book is the detailed reviews of all of the eating establishments. There are a ton of restaurant reviews, and they are very detailed. We found the recommendations to be pretty accurate. The do it yourself tours and adventures are not as detailed in this book as in the Lonely Planet book. We also found some useful stuff in the moon book that was in neither of these. If you're more of an adventurous type, I would recommend getting the Lonely Planet book as well. The combination of two or three of these books would make the perfect guide. You can read all about our trip and how we used these two books in my travel report on DiveAtlas.com. I Moon and Lonely Planet books came out with new editions after we returned.

Jan Prince's Tahiti & French Polynesia Guide was a great resource to have with us on our trip to French Polynesia. The restaurant and tour references were the most up to date and accurate of the three guidebooks that we took along. We used this book 90% of the time. It was very evident that the book was written by someone that lived in the area. We followed some of the hints on places to see and things to do that were not mentioned in the other guidebooks that we brought along, and could only be known by someone intimate with the area.

This is a very complete and well-done introduction to the Thai language. (Says someone who has been working at this, off and on, for more than ten years.)

Here are a few tips if you want to learn this language. Get a book called "How to Learn Any Language," by Barry J. Farber. It's a quick and enjoyable read. Then simply follow his advice with regards to Thai. If you follow his advice, you will quickly realize that you need a lot of language-learning materials right away. (I would postpone the newspaper exercise until you have learned the Thai script, of course!)

Second -- and this really threw me when I discovered it. The "notoriously difficult" consonant "poo plaa" is simply the French "p." (!!) Just as "too tao" is the French "t." If you know French, take advantage of this! These are NOT hard sounds to make.

chook dii na khrap!

I'm studying this book now. This book and the tape set are valuable tools for anyone trying to learn Thai. The book is well organized, and the tapes teach you the tonal pronounciation. I don't believe anyone can learn Thai by reading any book as the tonal nature of the language requires you to listen to the spoken words. Happy learning and happy trvaling to the Land of Smiles.

My husband and I tried several Thai language courses, but found each one of them lacking in the "flow" of learning. This course offers instruction in speaking, grammar, and writing. Each lesson gives you the right amount of information to keep you challenged, but not overwhelmed. The word choices in the vocabulary and sentence exercises allow you to quickly expand your speaking ability. -- It is evident that the writer has extensive experience in teaching Thai to foreigners. -- For true beginners to Thai, the accompanying tapes are also useful. These can be ordered using the form in the back of the book.

As a writer for the Atlantic Monthly, Vogue, New York Times Sunday Magazine, and the Village Voice Francis Fitzgerald visited Vietnam in 1966, a critical year in the U.S. involvment in Vietnam. From this visit, Ms. Fitzgerald developed an interest in Vietnam that culminated in what is generally considered to be one of the preeminent texts on the U.S. involvment in Vietnam. The text, Fire In The Lake, provides astute historical, cultural, and political analysis of the war for those who wish to understand how the United States lost the 'hearts and minds' of the Vietnamize people, and thus ultimately the war. Fire In The Lake, along with Dispatches (by M.Kerr), A Rumor of War (P.Caputo), Going After Cacciato (by T.O'Brien), A Bright Shining Lie (by N.Sheenan), and The Sorrow Of War (by B.Ninh) form the essential elements of any library on the Vietnam war. I should add, Fire In The Lake won the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the Bancroft Prize for History. Please do not be dissuaded from reading this important work by other reviews posted here.

Twenty-eight years after publication, and 25 after the war's end, Fire in the Lake remains one of the very best books on the Viet Nam war. Sadly, Americans are woefully ignorant of the rest of the world. We have little real knowledge of our own history; but for the rest of the world's history and culture, we have neither knowledge nor regarad. We do not even do the Vietnamese people the courtesy of respecting the name of their country--Viet Nam, not Vietnam; Sai Gon, not Saigon. FitzGerald helps to correct some of this ignorance and arrogance. She begins examining the U.S. in Viet Nam from the perspective of Vietnamese history and culture; and in the process, demonstrating the tenacity and courage of the Vietnamese people, as well as their determination to rid themselves of any foreign invaders, even if, as with the Chinese, it takes 1,000 years. Another great strength of FitzGerald's book is, with her attention to Viet Nam's history and culture and their 20th century struggle against the French, she demonstrates, in an almost matter of fact way, a fundamental tenent of U.S. foreign policy which has been repeated numerous times in the post World War II era. That central tenent is to support thugs over patriots, to elevate to power those who will sell out their people for 30 pieces of silver rather than work with those committed to the well being of their people. Ho Chi Minh was our ally during WWII; his hero was Thomas Jefferson, not Karl Marx or Stalin. He was very pro-American; yet he was a nationalist and a patriot first, which meant, from the perspective of the U.S., he was not only unreliable, but someone who had to be destroyed. And though FitzGerald does not carry her analysis beyond Viet Nam, an informed or a curious reader quickly can draw the parallels between U.S. policy in Viet Nam and U.S. policy in Africa, the Middle East, the Pacific rim (Indonesia specifically), South America, the Caribbean, and most obviously of all, Central America. Thus FitzGerald gives us not only the means of understanding the war in Viet Nam, and why we were doomed to lose, but also a point of departure for understanding the travesty of U.S. foreign policy for the last 100 years. Simply stated, the United States is an (economic) empire which cares nothing about democracy, self determination in other countries, which sees other people's patriotism and love of country as a threat to U.S. imperial interests. We can learn a lot from what FitzGerald has to say, about the Vietnames, and especially about ourselves.

As a Vietnamese reader, this book is a precious one about a dark period of our country's history. Ms. Fitzgerald says for us what we've tried to say that American values differ from Vietnamese values. As one wise man said: The West has democracy and liberty, the East has morality and honor. People who disagree with this book are obviously still under the murky water of ignorance.

I read this book during a recent trip to Southeast asia, Including many of the countries (Laos, Cambodia & Vietnam) that the Author travelled in his 'year on the mekong'. I found it to be an enjoyable read, & applaud the author for seeking out several engaging personalities along his trip. I do not think that Gargan's work is on a par with Norman Lewis' 1950s classic A Dragon Apparent & would have liked a more balanced assessment of the historical & economic situation in some of the southeast asian countries he visited.

Like many people who were involved in the anti-war movement, Gargan seems to glorify his years as an anti-war protester & revels in the fact that he went to prison rather than serve in Vietnam. For those of a younger generation this got somewhat tiring as the book went on. He seemed shocked that modern day Vietnamese, Cambodians & Laotians would look up to the United States and may think that a better life could be had there. I mean, I only spent 3 weeks on the Mekong & did not have to stretch my imagination too far to understand how many locals (living on less than $500/year in countries with much less freedom) could hold that exact viewpoint.

Other than that, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read, & Gargan is a gifted storyteller. I guess I just would have liked it more if Robert Kaplan had made the trip . . . . & I read it right after A Dragon Apparent, which made for a tough comparison.

This is an enjoyable travelogue to read that covers Tibet, Southern China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The author has a different perspective on the countries than an ordinary traveller, and even has his own ideas about travellers.

I enjoyed reading this book as I prepared for my upcoming trip, because it gave me a taste of what I would experience. You can easily read a chapter, all of which stand alone, or read the entire book from cover to cover.

A Really interesting and observant 3,000 mile trip down the Mekong, primarily by boat. From the river's mouth to its end in the Mekong Delta: Tibet, China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Ed Gargan could have played a medical trump card to avoid the draft during Vietnam war, but instead he stood up for his beliefs and refused to register, thus serving time in federal prison. This was an influential experience, and he did refer to it at times, and American war situation in Indo-china, understandably.

Noting the past history and recent events of these places, and then talking with people to get their perception and viewpoints on where things are headed. Very balanced peppering of relevant historical occurrences, recent political situations, and down-to-earth local conversations about life in these places. Indigenous life and the cultural aspects of it in the areas he visited were noted.

The Chinese ethnic Hans are continuing their colonization of Tibet, imprisoning people, destroying temples, and other aspects of Tibetan culture. The secretive government of Laos is still in the moribund foggy myst of Marxist-Leninism, those "foreign white guys." He briefly tapped into the bohemian traveler opium-den culture of Laos on his way through, though as an observer and not a participant. He also interviewed one of the few survivors of Cambodia's Khmer Rouge torture and killing prison, finally ending his journey with a young Vietnamese woman's observant description of contemporary Vietnam and where its people and nation are headed in the future.
Very descriptive and observant piece of work.

There are some interesting facts that are noted by Gargan.
Francis Garnier, the French colonist who traveled the Mekong for two years in 1866. He apparantly didn't learn much, and he got what he deserved in the end. Another tid-bit, is that the character Colonel Kurtz in the movie "Apocalypse Now," is based on an actual person. Also there are more pickup trucks per capita in Thailand than on any other nation on Earth.

This is a great book for people who like travel books, and for those who have an interest in, or who are going to South East Asia.
Another great book I'd recommend that is also about boat travel: "Three years in a 12-foot boat," by Steven Ladd.