Description
Book SynopsisThe year 1968 was arguably the most significant year of the Vietnam war. It was the height of the American involvement, and because officer casualties had been so great after the Tet Offensive of May 1968, all prior officer assignments were cancelled.
First Lieutenant Robin Bartlett, originally on orders to the 101st Airborne Division, suddenly found himself at the “repo-depo” in Bien Hoa reassigned to the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). The unit had more helicopter support than any other unit in Vietnam. The soldiers carried lighter packs, more ammo and water because of the availability of rapid helicopter resupply. Immediate support from artillery, helicopter gunships and ARA (aerial rocket artillery) was only minutes away to support a firefight. Wounded troops could be medevacked even in dense jungle using “jungle penetrators.” It also meant that Bartlett’s platoon could deploy into hot landing zones at a moment’s notice if an enemy force had been spotted. And they did.
It was with extreme anxiety that Bartlett made his way to join his battalion and company—it was the worst of times to be a platoon leader in Vietnam, let alone a grunt serving in a combat unit. Bartlett also had to cope with personal issues of commitment to a war that was rapidly losing support not only back home but among the soldiers he was leading through the jungles of I Corps on “search and destroy" missions. Fifty years later, Bartlett’s vivid combat experiences are brought to light in a fast-moving, well-written, first-person narrative expressing the horror, fear, anguish and sometimes illogical humor of that war.
Trade ReviewRobin Bartlett exhibited courage, performed his jobs well, cared for those who served under him, and developed leadership and organizational skills. * The VVA Veteran *
Vietnam veteran Bartlett debuts with a cathartic account of his 1968 tour of duty...Poignant and personal, this is an intimate account of one man’s war. * Publishers Weekly 21/12/2022 *
Table of ContentsThe Trail Preface Introduction
-
- My First Worst Day in Vietnam – dealing with my first KIA
- Training for War – Airborne and Officer Basic Training
- Ranger School: learning to Lead; preparing to kill
- Back To the 82d – gaining experience at the 82d Airborne Division
- First Days in Country – Assignment to the 1st Cav Division (Airmobile)
- Ambushing Gazelles – creative ambush gone wrong
- The Jungle Penetrator – evacuation in dense jungle
- FNGs in the Field and Base Camp – new replacement story
- Face-to-Face – meeting the enemy
- Pay Officer – paying troops in the field
- Blown Ambush – failed ambush
- Saturation Ambushing – ambush technique in hot, dense jungle
- Recon by Fire – enemy base camp – calling for artillery
- Beyond Artillery Coverage – danger of being out from under artillery cover
- LZ is Green – landing in a suspected hot LZ
- Autorotate – falling from the sky
- Stream Crossing – danger from stream crossing
- Letting It All Hang Out – failure to get the right size pants
- Tracer Rounds – starting a fire with tracers
- Surviving Leg Cramps – becoming dehydrated
- Ambush in the Rain – the challenge of an ambush in the rain
- Escort to Laos – escorting CIA into Laos
- Tear Gas Attack – use of tear gas on enemy
- Night Firefight – how squad leader saved the day
- Hard Luck Simons – soldier drafted illegally
- Walking Point – I did it one time only
- You Fight It We Write It – staff assignment
- The Battle of the Parrot’s Beak – battle interview and report
- Assistant Defense Council – defending soldiers in trial
- Buying Art Supplies – trip to Saigon
- Welcome Home – returning to The World
- Butterfly Coincidences – unusual coincidences
- Attributions – recognition of combat photographers and artists
- A Boots on the Ground Point of View – final summary
Glossary and Abbreviations of Military Terms US and Enemy Weapons Military Awards, Decorations and Assignments Timeline Bibliography Index
