Reluctant Warrior: A Marine's True Story of Duty and Heroism in Vietnam
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Book Overview
"ONE OF THE BEST VIETNAM WAR STORIES I'VE EVER READ, one damn good, compelling read. It's almost something out of a Clancy novel, yet it's true. The best thing I can say about it is I didn't want it to end." --Col. David Hackworth, New York Times bestselling author of About Face By the spring of 1970, American troops were ordered to pull out of Vietnam. The Marines of 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel "Wild Bill" Drumright, were assigned to cover the withdrawal of 1st Marine Division. The Marines of 1st RECON Bn operated in teams of six or seven men. Heavily armed, the teams fought a multitude of bitter engagements with a numerically superior and increasingly aggressive enemy. Michael C. Hodgins served in Company C, 1st RECON Bn (Rein), as a platoon leader. In powerful, graphic prose, he chronicles his experience as a patrol leader in myriad combat situations--from hasty ambush to emergency extraction to prisoner snatch to combined-arms ambush. . . . "THIS MEMOIR IS GRIPPING." --American Way
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0804111200
ISBN13:9780804111201
Release Date:October 1997
Publisher:Random House Publishing Group
Length:384 Pages
Weight:0.45 lbs.
Dimensions:1.0" x 4.1" x 6.8"
Customer Reviews
4 ratings
The "Real" Vietnam
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
Michael Hodgins captures the real spirit of the place and time. As a former Marine who served with the 1st Recon Bn, I can testify Mr. Hodgins presents a true and vivid picture of life in the bush, on an OP, and in Camp Reasoner. With all the distortions about Vietnam presented in the movies and on TV, as well as the anti-war prejudice of public school history teachers, this book should be required reading in the high school cirriculum. I hope someday someone will write a book that will tell us more about Lt. Skibbe, Lt. Rathmell, and Captain McVey who gave lost their lives protecting their troops.
Reluctant Warrior
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 23 years ago
This book is an outstanding account of recon battalion actions in Vietnam. It is well worth reading. I served with Mike before the war. He was a straight shooter then, and a straight shooter in Vietnam
The Average Joe
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
Only those who experienced 'Nam first hand will ever understand how it was. My husband was a door gunner on a huey in the Marines and paints Vietnam War folk art. He does not talk much about what he did so I have to look for answers in his paintings and read war books.I must say that Reluctant Warrior did all a book could do to transport me to the field and into battle.Great book! We need more like it.
Best day-to-day account of a year in VietNam
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
Small unit leadership at its best. A compelling tale of the physical, mental, and moral challenges faced by a new `butter bar'. Forget the blood and guts. It's about map reading, fire control, long `walks in the sun' , elephant grass, insect bites, fatigue, surmounting the stigma of being the `FNG', and displaying leadership rather than demanding it. An excellent case study for junior officers and NCO's. An overlooked gem by a real pro.
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