Valor in Vietnam: Chronicles of Honor, Courage and Sacrifice: 1963 - 1977 - Hardcover

Clark, Allen B.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1612000959 ISBN 13: 9781612000954

Publisher: Casemate, 2012

Synopsis

2014 Military Writers Society Bronze Award Winner in the History Category


Every war continues to dwell in the lives it touched, in the lives of those living through that time, and in those absorbed by its historical significance. The Vietnam War lives on famously and infamously dependent on political points of view, but those who have “been there, done that” have a highly personalized window on their time of that history. Valor in Vietnam focuses on nineteen stories of Vietnam, stories of celebrated characters in the veteran community, compelling war narratives, vignettes of battles, and the emotional impact on the combatants. It is replete with leadership lessons as well as valuable insights that are just as applicable today as they were forty years ago.

This is an anecdotal history of America’s war in Vietnam composed of firsthand narratives by Vietnam War veterans presented in chronological order. They are intense, emotional, and highly personal stories. Connecting each of them is a brief historical commentary of that period of the war, the geography of the story, and the contemporary strategy written by Lewis Sorley, West Point class of 1956, and author of A Better War and Westmoreland.

With a foreword by Lt. Gen. Dave R. Palmer, U.S. Army (Ret.), Valor in Vietnam presents a historical overview of the war through the eyes of participants in each branch of service and throughout the entire course of the war. Simply put, their stories serve to reflect the commitment, honor, and dedication with which America’s veterans performed their service.

Allen B. Clark graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1963. Two years later, in 1965, he volunteered for service in Vietnam and was assigned to the Fifth Special Forces Group. He was wounded in an early-morning mortar attack on the Dak To Special Forces camp on June 17, 1967, that necessitated the amputation of both legs below his knees. He lives in Dallas, Texas, and is the author of Wounded Soldier, Healing Warrior, the story of his journey of healing.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Lt. Gen. (ret.) Dave R. Palmer
Introduction
Historical Overview: The War in Brief

Chapter 1 Early Special Forces “A” Teams In South Vietnam
Chapter 2 “How’s It Feel To Be The Man That Started World War III?”
Chapter 3 Vietnamization To Americanization
Chapter 4 Garry Owen (Lzs X-Ray And Albany)
Chapter 5 The Unlonesome End Story
Chapter 6 Take The High Risk, High Reward Route
Chapter 7 The Air War And Incredible Rescues
Chapter 8 Surrounded On Three Sides!
Chapter 9 “Mom, I’m Joining The Marines Again”
Chapter 10 A Ranger’s Ranger
Chapter 11 The Real Horrors Of War
Chapter 12 Mission Of Mercy At Son Tay
Chapter 13 Winning Hearts And Minds
Chapter 14 The Reluctant Warrior
Chapter 15 Coming Home
Chapter 16 Ghosts In The A Shau Valley
Chapter 17 A Will To Survive
Chapter 18 Evacuation Of Saigon, 1975
Chapter 19 Left Behind

Reflections
Author’s Afterword
Acknowledgments
Glossary
Bibliography
Index

About this title

About the Author

Allen B. Clark graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1963. Two years later, in 1965, he volunteered for service in Vietnam and was assigned to the Fifth Special Forces Group. He was wounded in an early-morning mortar attack on the Dak To Special Forces camp on June 17, 1967, that necessitated the amputation of both legs below his knees. He lives in Texas, and is the author of Wounded Soldier, Healing Warrior and Soldiers’ Blood and Bloodied Money.

Review

“...is a moving collection of first-person accounts covering a broad range of experiences in the Vietnam War. Advisors, Special Forces soldiers, members of ground combat units, aviators and medical personnel are all represented in this inspired approach. Each individual narrative is placed into an appropriate context, and the results—while impressionistic—are powerful and compelling. The stories will resonate with Vietnam veterans and help explain their war to those who did not share their service. (BG Harold Nelson, U. S. Army (Retired), Former Chief of Military History and President of the Army Historical Society. General Editor of The Army.)

"Allen Clark has provided a well-informed, compelling compilation of the “up close and personal” side of the Vietnam War in his masterful chronicle of first person stories. Valor in Vietnam: Chronicles of Honor, Courage and Sacrifice is an accurate history of remembered experiences by some of the countless men and women who were instrumental in our nation’s successes in that war. These gripping stories highlight the dedication, commitment and professional expertise of our nation’s combat forces – a must read." (Vice Admiral David B. Robinson, USN (Ret), Navy Cross recipient)

After attending a special event sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Dallas honoring Allen and his most recent book, I headed home to read this most stirring, but often painful account of 22 personal stories that also fit well into a comprehensive history of the Viet Nam Conflict. I was not disappointed.

As stated in the Foreward:
"It verges on being allegorical--portraying and explaining the abstract by means of concrete forms. In this case, the forms are drawn from those who served in Viet Nam."
Dave R. Palmer, Lt. Gen., U.S. Army (ret) (Bob Cooper, Dallas, Texas)

“Enthralling first person accounts of dedication and extraordinary heroism make reading this book a must!...insights and valuable leadership lessons that are just as valid now as they were four decades ago.” (Toy Solder & Model Figure)

"This is a great book for young people to understand what their parents' generation experienced in a tough war against an unrelenting foe. The Veterans today can hold their heads high because of the stories like those told in Valor in Vietnam that chronicle the best attributes of Americans." (Armchair General)

“The author has brought together a very well balanced set of stories and successfully uses these to tell the story of the Vietnam War. For me the best thing is the balance. The majority of the stories are about soldiers in combat but bringing in a few accounts about the work of others not on the frontline directly gives fully rounded picture of the military aspects of the war (the impact on Vietnamese civilians is not told directly but is referred to throughout the text). General students of warfare will also find this book to their liking for the same reasons-the overview of different aspects of men and women at war.” (Wargamer)

“It has taken over 40 years for history to begin to position this war in its proper perspective. As one of the countless Vietnam veterans who returned home to an unwelcome celebration of jeers, catcalls, frowns, being spit at, and called a “baby killer’, this book comforts me; and I believe it will help to bring forth a solidity and resolution of spirit within all who served, of pride and of the purpose for the war service we gave, but for so long have not felt. It will also help those who did not serve in this war to understand it far better. (Andrew J. Corttingham, M.D Col, USA (Ret) Helotes Echo Newspaper)

“...full of wonderful, well told stories that sequentially take us through the war. The stories of men and women of various branches of service and ranks, both officer and enlisted gives a you were there feel.” (Irish Defence Forces Veterans Association)

"wonderful, fresh look at one of the most seminal events in the life of those who experienced the 1960s and 1970s. You experience the Vietnam War from the personal point of view of some of the men and women who were there. You get both a unique boots on the ground and narrative perspective. ...The book is full of wonderful, well told stories that sequentially take us through the war. The stories of men and women of various branches of service and ranks, both officer and enlisted gives a you were there feel...Congratulations to author Allen B. Clark and Casemate Publishing. You have published a special book." (Kepler’s Military History)

"...focuses on nineteen stories of Vietnam, stories of celebrated figures in the veteran community, compelling war narratives, vignettes if battles, and the emotional impact on the combatants. It is replete with leadership lessons and valuable insights that are just as applicable today as they were forty years ago...intense, emotional and highly personal." (Purple Heart Newsletter)

Edition details

• Publisher: Casemate
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1612000959
• ISBN 13: 9781612000954
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288