All Vietnam Vets who have been through the VBA Denial ...
589018
All Vietnam Vets who have been through the VBA Denial mill (you know what I am talking about) can benefit from the information here.
262366
I have been researching the homecoming stories of Vietnam veterans for the past three years or so for a Masters thesis, and Mr. Lembcke contacted me concerning my "possibly fictional" memories from veterans. I have to say that I don't believe all of these soldiers lied about what was done to them at the airports. There are pictures of soldiers being hit with tomatoes and eggs, which are large enough to photograph well, but Lembcke seems to base his claim on the fact that there are no pictures of anyone spit on. How well does spit photograph anyway? And how quick would you have to be to capture it? I know security guards who worked in airports who witnessed it, I know a few protestors who claim to have done it, and I have talked to hundreds of soldiers who claimed it happened to them, either at the airport or out in public.

Mass hysteria? I don't believe ir. And interestingly enough, Lembcke does not include in his book what branch of service he was in, or the dates, or his MOS. I have yet to read something, even emails, from Vietnam veterans who do not include that basic info on all their correspondence and writings.

What is he hiding? Save your money. Read the books written by the real Vietnam veteans who can tell you what happened to them, unanalyzed by a "sociologist professor" who claims to have been there. Another point strongly made by over 140 veterans I spoke to about this book: A true Vietnam veteran does not disparage the stories of his fellow veterans and call them liars. Lembcke's work does not ring true. I have names of veterans this happened to, not, as he suggested, just veterans who know someone. They know where they were when it happened, and how it happened. They know how they felt when it happened. Lembcke's work takes away what little dignity is left to the true Vietnam Veterans. Don't give him the satisfaction of knowing another person bought his lies.
1782879
Thank you for your service Staff Sargent Ayers.  Your army adventure and experiences were well told.  Thank you for that too.  I too served in the army, '67-'69 at Arlington Cemetery, over saw the burial of many fine young men who paid the ultimate price in Vietnam Nam. A terrible time with many memories for all of us who served.
4535908
This is actually fairly devoid of politically correct misinformation;  somewhat unique since most of the story of Vietnam until recently is riven by liberal lies.  Finally some are telling the true story.  Yes, we Vietnam vets are truly the greatest generation.  Read To Cratisto by Lt. Roger Wilco.
667559
My husband was a Sniper in Vietnam in 1971 and we had been married a year and 7 months when he went to Vietnam. By the way, he was drafted. I personally learned a great deal about how there missions went and what was going through their minds that I never thought of. I know the struggles first hand for the Soldier and the wives. It's very simple, unless you've been there, make no comments. Our Vets have nothing to prove to anyone. They have already proved the kind of men they are. I loved the book and I was grateful to catch a glimpse of a Snipers Journey. I can only imagine how hard it was for Mr. Mitchell to tell what he did tell, much less the things he will never tell, as I know this is true for my husband also. The PTSD is real and the horrendous nightmares never go away, even after 42 years. I know the truth. Welcome Home, Mr. Mitchell. Great Book for those of us that GET IT!!!
2047453
When I started reading this book I started feeling some bad vibes from Vietnam starting to resurface again. Needless to say, I quit reading the book because this book is written at the height of the Vietnam War (1972  1973). And, I was there.

Otherwise, from the little I read the book seems to be an excellent book for any military personnel who served in Vietnam during those final years. This book is written by a Marine Officer who was a part of ANGLICO*. Therefore, the book is mainly written from his viewpoint. I caution recommending this book to anyone who is or has suffered from PTSD, as I did. I thought after all these years it would not affect me and I would be able to read the book. Wrong!

As stated, the book is written by a Marine Officer who was stationed inland calling in NGFS (Naval Gun Fire Support) from the ships stationed in the Gulf of Tonkin and, especially, Yankee Station when needed.

Anyway, I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in reading about the Vietnam era, naval personnel stationed in the Gulf of Tonkin who would like to get the a viewpoint from ANGLICOs view or military history buffs. This would also be a recommended read for a new young recruit who is or thinking about joining the service so they can get a perspective of what is was like in those final years of the Vietnam War. I just hope they will not have to experience first hand another Vietnam, Korea or WW.

* Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Companies (ANGLICO): Responsible for calling in Air Strikes for ground (Bat 21) and NGFS stationed at Yankee Station when air strikes aren't feasible.

Vietnam Vet
4911843
post: Jan 3, 2010 7:29 AM PST
 N. Girod says:
When I read this book, I found it to be honest and just. I was never taught the Vietnamese side of their history, just the American and where 'we can do no wrong'. Yet war is war, no matter who is fighting it. Living right now with the Iraqian war still strong, I can only imagine the horrors of the Iraqian people that are not disclosed to us Americans. The author took no sides but just told her point of view of her life during the long two wars that destroyed her country. No favortism was cited with the Revolutionist beyond it being apparent they fought for their freedom against the French and the Americans.

The beauty of her country was so well written that I now would love to visit this country. Her description of their cuisine or her childhood landscape only wets my appetite to see Viet Nam for myself. According to the author, it was plentiful for all to live off of its riches, a life of simplicity mixed with traditions, that is, until the Indochina War followed by the American invasion disrupted its delicate balance.

What an incredible life to have lived with the constraints of war. I cannot imagine how I would personally survive a similar circumstances. The inner strength and uncontrolable sense of survival to live just leaves me speechless. I have heard from my paternal grandmother her stories of WWI and WWII she, too, had experienced but none of them match to the intensity of this one. After reading this book I no longer sweat over the little stuff and how fortunate I am to have a life surrounded by love and peace.

This book not is interesting but also an inspiration, I highly recommend it!!!!
1069171
The seller performed perfectly.  The book is a treasure, I recommend the book highly, it covers a part of the war in Vietnam that no one else has ever covered. And I am not even done yet, I am still struggling with the Easter Offensive of 1972. Essentially after we declared victory and went home. Few of us are aware that even after Kissinger's "Vietnamization" we left a lot of "advisors" behind and their story in early 1972 is told here for the first time. The Navy's story is also told well here, few remember that even after we pulled most Army and  Marine Corps out of Vietnam, the Navy and the Air Force rushed back to defend the RVN at a critical time in early 1972, and succeeded.
3368178
I too served in Vietnam, but I was in the Air Force, not the Army.  I met the enemy often because my job was to Iinterrogate prisoners of war.  My experience was much different than Joe Haldeman's, even though we were in Vietnam contemporaneously.  Stationed at Bien Hoa Airbase., we endured 28 rocket attacks, some of which caused extensive damage, but no one on base was killed the year I was there.  Therefore, the horrendous casualty figures in the Forever War just don't ring true.  Casualties in the war were horrendous, both for us and especially for the Vietnamese, but nowhere near the unit percentages Joe depicts.  In the end, the Vietnam war was a futility, as was the Tauran war, but it was much more (and less) than the communications difficulties between two very different civilizations -- it was very much a difference in viewpoint  about human freedoms and goals. Joe didn't really explain much about the viewpoint or goals of either the Taurans or the Clone humans -- that would have been the interesting part had he done so.
2274969
I really enjoyed the book and I admire the author's courage, professionalism and dedication . The action was set in an area of Vietnam that I'm quite familiar with, having served with the 3rd. Marine Division in Northern I Corps from October 1968-October 1969. I saw the war from the ground as a rifle platoon commander for 8 months of that time and as an aerial observer for 4 months. During the latter, I flew backseat for USMC "Seaworthy" FACS in OV-10s and O-1s based out of Quang Tri which is where the author flew most of his missions. My job was to control artillery and naval gunfire in support of the ground units while my pilot controlled tactical air strikes and employed his guns, as well as 2.75 and 5 inch rockets (OV-10 of course as O-1s carried only 2.75 WP marking rockets). I did not fly the SOG mission. I had vaguely heard that such activity was going on but, if it was, it was closely held.  Furthermore, we did not officially cross the Ben Hai river into North Vietnam nor did we often officially cross into Laos - that activity was proscribed by the ROE. However, we extensively worked most of the other areas detailed in the book, including the Tri-Border area (always, of course, complying with the ROE- at least officially). I provide all this background info simply to contrast how dramatically the tactical situation must have changed in the year(s) immediately after the Marines left  in October 1969 (as part of Nixon Vietnamization program). By "changed" I mean "got worse". Captain Yarborough's narrative paints a picture of dramatically increased enemy activity and audacity than what I remember in 1969 I Corps. I certainly never saw or heard of heavy AAA such as 23s or 37s. Had they the temerity to bring something like that into our AOA it would have been quickly exterminated by TACAIR or artillery. I guess what I have written here is merely an anecdotal account affirming what history has recorded: the situation on the ground in South Vietnam rapidly deteriorated in the wake of the American pullout. If any Seaworthy FACS or other 3rd. Mar. Div AOs happen to read this, I encourage you to chime in.
2012957
It was such a heart wrenching read.  My son is a vet and has had his share of troubles.  Your book helped me to understand what he might be going through without having to ever ask.  Thank you for that and may each and every soldier and veteran find piece through your words.
Sincerely,
Tina
3862412
Mr. Discala has written a true account of his journey as a Veteran who served our country overseas in a war zone and his painful struggle to fit back into civilian life. Unaware of how profoundly he was suffering from the after-effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Mr. Discala shares his descent into the depths of depression and despair, hyper-vigilance, anxiety attacks, sleeplessness, hopelessness and helplessness that ultimately culminated in a suicide attempt. Mr. Discala then describes his experiences in a 'VA Psycho Ward' and his life altering events which led him back to self-love and the joy of living. Finally, Mr. Discala offers invaluable advice and contacts for Veterans with PTSD to get the help they need to rebuild their lives.  This book is an absolute MUST read for Veterans suffering from PTSD, their friends and their families.
3523289
Giving this book a star rating was very difficult for me. On the one hand, given my years of experience as an editor, I would probably only give it a 1- or 2-star rating. But, on the other hand, I wanted to give it a 5-star rating for how well it took me back to that point in time when I served with the 22nd Surgical Hospital as its chaplain's assistant in 1968. (The chaplain's assistant she married was my replacement.) It helped me to better understand the additional burdens that she and the other female nurses had to endure.
We were an all-male unit when we first set up the 22nd in Phu Bai; we only had male nurses. I remember when Fort Chastity was built to accommodate the female nurses. Life was never the same at the 22nd after they arrived. But one thing is certain, and that is the fact that their dedication and sacrifice will never be forgotten by those of us who served with them.
Thank you for your service, Bernadette, and may God's hand provide comfort to you just as yours did to so many!
540949
Very good read, but I am real partial to any biographies of the Vietnam War era!!  Very informative of what these guys went through and why so many have had struggles dealing with their experiences.  Thank You to all the Vietnam Vets for your sacrifice and my apologies for it taking so long for this country to recognize their service.  I started reading books about the Vietnam War because I wanted an insight to some of what my husband went through while he was over there serving on the DMZ and it helped to fulfill that desire.
2606907
I am one of the Vietnam veterans referred to on page 217, the ones that didn't agree with anything the VVAW had to say. Someone wrote in their revue " the myth of civilian disrespect to the soldiers during this period of time", I would have to say it felt quite real to me. The only reason I checked this book out of my local library was to confirm a couple of things about John Kerry and the VVAW. All my questions were answered either by the book or by a recent interview with Gerald Nicosia. The first was that the other members of VVAW felt that John Kerry was just using the organization to gain public notoriety to help him with his political career. The second was that he was at the november 1971 meeting. This is when the anti war VVAW considered assassination of pro war Senators. Simply amazing!
235467
As one who remembers Vietnam nam from watching the evening news as a child, I highly recommend this book.
For all those too young to have gone but wishing to understand some of what the returning vets experienced, this is the book.
2030800
Unfortunately, this is a story near and dear to me. My brother is a Vietnam Vet who had to consistently and repeatedly fight for benefits he deserved and was denied after he developed Agent Orange Lymphoma and could no longer work as a plumber as he had for since he was 14 years old. Luckily, his children did not suffer loss of limbs and other birth defects some of his fellow soldiers' children did. It's a wake-up call for our leaders who decide the fate of our enlisted men and women who so valiantly serve.