American Warrior: A Combat Memoir of Vietnam - Hardcover

Bahnsen Jr., John C. "Doc"

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0806528060 ISBN 13: 9780806528069

Publisher: Citadel, 2007

Synopsis

Brigadier General John C. "Doc" Bahnsen, Jr.

One of America's most decorated soldiers in the Vietnam War. The ultimate warrior who engaged the enemy from nearly every type of aircraft and armored vehicle in the Army's inventory. An expert strategist who developed military tactics later adopted as doctrine. A revered leader ready to plunge into the thick of battle with his bare hands...

From Fort Knox to the front lines, accounts of Doc's brilliance in time of war became the stuff of legend--stories that are told with reverence to this day, inspiring raw recruits as well as America's future leaders. Now, drawing on his own recollections, as well as those of the men who fought beside him, Doc Bahnsen gives a full, uncensored account of his astonishing war record--and an unforgettable ground-level view of the day-to-day realities of serving one's country.

"Spellbinding.  .  .a must-read."--Thomas E. White, Jr.,18th Secretary of the Army

"Uncensored, raw, and striking.  .  .I recommend it highly."--General Barry R. McCaffrey

"Packed with heaps of heroism, courage, sacrifice, controvery--and a dash of humor."--Major General James L. Dozier

"This book explodes like a hand grenade. Be ready for a hell of a read!"--Lieutenant General Hank Emerson

**Main Selection of the Military Book Club**

About this title

From the Publisher

A Main Selection of the Military Book Club

"Worthy of a prominent place among the best books on the Vietnam War." - General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, USA (Ret), former Commander in Chief, U.S. Central Command, and Commander General, Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm

"Absolutely spellbinding. This better-than-fiction four-star epic is a must read on the Vietnam War." -- The Honorable Thomas E. White, Jr., 18th Secretary of the Army (2001 - 2003)

"Doc Bahnsen is a living Army legend; Wess Roberts is about to be. Vietnam as it was by one of our real warriors."--Major General Leo J. Baxter, US Army (Ret) former Chief of Field Artillery and Commander, Ft. Sill (OK)

"A compelling roller-coaster ride read packed with heaps of heroism, courage, sacrifice, controversy--and a dash of humor--that defined Doc Bahnsen as the warrior I knew him to be."--Major General James L. Dozier, US Army (Ret), former S-3, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

"Written with rare candor, American Warrior is the no-holds-barred story of the most skillful combat leader and relentless fighter I knew in Vietnam."--Lieutenant General Thomas M. Montgomery, U.S. Army (Ret), former Commander, U.S. Forces and Deputy U.N. Force commander, Somalia

"A most remarkable and true story of one of the greatest warriors of his generation."--General Robert M. Shoemaker, US Army (Ret), former Commander, US Army Forces Command

"A fast-paced story of one of the most intrepid warriors in the history of American arms. This book ensures that `Doc' Bahnsen's astounding record of sustained battlefield heroics in Vietnam will not be lost to history."--Lieutenant General Dave R. Palmer, US Army (Ret), former Superintendent, United States Military Academy, and bestselling author of Summons of the Trumpet

"Long gone is the flamboyant, charismatic leadership of yesteryear's George Pickett, U.S. Grant, "Billy' Mitchell, Douglas MacArthur, George Patton . . . and Doc Bahnsen--who'd never make major let alone brigadier general under the publicly and politically-correct spotlight that shines on senior leaders today. But I remain convinced that every nation's army needs "warriors" like Doc to win its wars. His story is a phenomenal and fascinating read."--Lieutenant General Robert S. Coffey, USA (Ret), former commanding general, 2nd Armored Division, and deputy commanding general, US Army Europe

"Vietnam was a unique type of combat that combat that required leaders to get personally involved. Some did it well, some not, and a very few like Doc--one of the Army's greatest fighters in any war--had the feel, the smarts, and the guts to do it superbly."--General John W. Foss, USA (Ret), former commanding general 82nd Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps, and U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command

"Bahnsen is bigger than life! More decisive and fearless than Patton! A better leader than Bradley! Doc Bahnsen makes 'The Great Santini' look like a Sunday school teacher." --Colonel Joe Sutton, US Army (Ret), former Commander 12th Cavalry Regiment

"I'm one of the guys that got him promoted to general because we thought we might have to go to war. If I had to go to war tomorrow I would want Doc Bahnsen with me. There are very few guys I would fight so hard for off the battlefield and even fewer that I would trust with my life in combat." - General Bill Livsey, U.S. Army (Ret), former Commander in Chief Combined Forces Korea; Commander in Chief U.N. Command Korea; Commander U.S. Forces Korea; and Commander 8th U.S. Army

"A great war story about brave and bold warriors and totally outstanding leaders. It also is the legacy of experience that has been translated into lessons learned for subsequent generations of warfighters."--Colonel J.W. Thurman, US Army (Ret), former Commander, 3rd Squadron, 12th Cavalry Regiment

"When I was a platoon leader for Doc Bahnsen, it was the only time in 34 years in the U.S.Army that I knew exactly what I was expected to do every day - go out, find the enemy and kill him." --Major General William L. Nash, U.S.Army (Ret), former Commander, 1st Armored Division

"A fascinating and riveting story of an intrepid soldier. Doc Bahnsen was a brave and audacious leader on the battlefield yet a brilliant and insightful master of the Art of War. A soldier for all seasons--an exemplar for future leaders and a treasure to our Army."--Major General Leroy N. Suddath, Jr. , US Army (Ret), former Commander, U.S. Army Special Operations Forces

"Doc Bahnsen was absolutely aggressive, bold, courageous and fearless in combat where his leadership skills and mastery of the art of war melded seamlessly and brought into being one of America's greatest warriors ever. His story is a marvelous read of heroism, camaraderie, sacrifice and duty that turns the popular notion of what fighting in Vietnam was like on its head." --Lieutenant General Tom Griffin, US Army (Ret), former Commanding General, 3rd Armored Division

"This is a story about the very heart and soul of an army: dedicated, courageous, competent, and candid leadership where the rubber meets the road. If you are interested in how a true warrior plies his trade, read this one . . . a powerful, unique slice of military history. You couldn't write this as fiction: nobody would believe it!"--Lieutenant General Walter F. Ulmer, Jr., US Army (Ret), former Commanding General, III Corps; and former CEO, Center for Creative Leadership

"From the time he joined my tank company as a platoon leader, I saw Doc as an officer destined to lead soldiers in combat. American Warrior is a vivid portrayal of how that destiny was fulfilled fully and with memorable flair."--Lieutenant General David K. Doyle, U.S. Army (Ret), former Commander, 3rd Armored Cavalry; and Deputy Commander, III Corps

"This book explodes like a hand grenade and is one of the most riveting accounts of our Vietnam War experience. Doc has described grunt level combat as few others have been able to do. He is the genuine article, a soldier's soldier and a grand master of combat. Strap on your seat belt and be ready for a hell of a read!"--Lieutenant General Hank Emerson, U. S. Army (Ret), former Commanding General XVIII Airborne Corps; and John F. Kennedy Center for Military Assistance

"American Warrior is the real deal. General Doc Bahnsen is a closet intellectual with stainless steel nuts; a character, a legend, and one of the most authentic tactical leaders our Army has ever produced. This is a no-holds-barred story of the ultimate warrior. It is powerful in its candor, energy, and love for American soldiers."--Colonel Robert C. Stack, U.S. Army (Ret), former Commander, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division

"American Warrior is the uncensored, raw and striking story of Doc Bahnsen whose colorful persona, charismatic leadership, and orchestration of combined arms actions in Vietnam is truly legendary. This book speaks to Vietnam the way it was. I recommend it highly."--General Barry R. McCaffrey, U.S. Army (Ret), former Commanding General, 24th Infantry (Mech); and Commander in Chief, U.S. Southern Command

"A personal and important account of Doc Bahnsen's striking leadership and service in the Vietnam War, American Warrior, expletives and all, gives us the ability to flesh out the story of our nation's longest war. It also helps bring out the human dimension of that war and enables us to better understand a most confusing struggle."--Colonel James Scott Wheeler, Ph.D., U.S. Army (Ret), former White House Fellow; and, Professor of History, U.S. Military Academy

"Fight fiercely" has certainly been the mantra of Doc Bahnsen since he was a cadet at West Point and, perhaps, long before that. Coming in second was never his idea of success. However, to experience being runner-up on occasion, such as for the Corps intramural championship his first class year, may have helped forge the steel that made him a superb combat leader. When challenged by a formidable opponent, such as Doc and his Company C-1, victories on the fields of friendly strife are still cherished 50 years later." --General John Shaud, US Air Force (Ret), former athletic representative, Company I-2; and Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe

"The true story of one of our Army's greatest combat soldiers and a must-read for anyone who loves our country and its warriors. A lucid, candid, and powerful story told with passion and wonderful insight."--Major General Jim Ellis, US Army (Ret), former Commanding General, US Army Engineer School and Center

"Doc Bahnsen was a matchless combat leader with compelling charisma, and a master at orchestrating combined arms with intuitive sense for the fight. His story is the best description of superb leadership in small unit combat that I have read - ever. If American Warrior were a novel, it would be dismissed as unbelievable."--Lieutenant General Frederic J. "Rick" Brown, U.S. Army (Ret), former Chief of Armor and Cavalry

"Quite simply, American Warrior is a story of the quintessential warrior reincarnated in modern times - very nearly too elemental for our day. One would like to freeze dry Doc Bahnsen in peacetime and add water in times of war."--Colonel Douglas H. Starr, U.S. Army (Ret), former Commander, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment

"American Warrior is a most remarkable story of a combat leader who really understood enlisted men and noncommissioned officers. He treated us like family, recognized our limitations, but brought out our full potential in a way that forged ordinary soldiers into fierce fighters that never faltered in battle. We were very fortunate to have Doc Bahnsen as our commander." -Command Sergeant Major A.C. Cotton, U.S. Army (Ret), former First Sergeant, Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

"Doc Bahnsen is the subordinate every commander wants in battle: a technically adept and intuitive tactician, a dauntless leader, a redoubtable professional soldier. Would that the Army could produce more like him."- General Paul Gorman, U. S. Army (Ret), former Commander in Chief, U. S. Southern Command

From Publishers Weekly

Retired army brigadier general Bahnsen (West Point class of 1956) presents his war memoir with the help of old military writing pro Roberts (Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun, etc.) in an oddly shaped narrative. It consists primarily of Bahnsen's vivid, first-person recollections of his two action-packed Vietnam tours of duty, in 1966–1967 and 1968–1969, with the 118th Assault Helicopter Company, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment and the 1st Armored Squadron. Interspersed with Bahnsen's remembrances are detailed oral history–like interviews with the general's former military colleagues, along with occasional italicized passages, presumably from Roberts, since several refer to Bahnsen in the third person. Bold subheads mark transitions between Bahnsen's offerings and the others, such as "Then Major Jim Dozier talks about pacification and Vietnamization." The stories, which rely significantly on reconstructed quotes, paint Bahnsen as a "tough, bullheaded" warrior, as one of his former sergeants puts it. Bahnsen, who Roberts says fought in Vietnam with "nonstop heroism," remains a true believer in the mission in that controversial war. "My only regrets," he says, "are the men killed and wounded and the fact that we did not kill more of the communist bastards!" 16 pages of color photos. (Mar.)
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Edition details

• Publisher: Citadel
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0806528060
• ISBN 13: 9780806528069
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 448