Death Valley: The Summer Offensive, I Corps, August 1969

As a young 1st Lt. flying "Huey Cobras" that participated in this historical battle, I commend Mr. Nolan for his accuracy in telling this story. His ability to convey the hardships of day to day combat and the seemingly never ending battles these men of the 196th LIB and USMC had to endure is classic. It is a story that every American should be required to read... Why you ask ? As the kids at home in the "real world" were living the week long Woodstock Experience, half a world away in the steamy jungles of Vietnam, US troops were fighting for their lives in what historians called the most bloody battle of 1969. Personally, I'd like to meet Mr. Nolan and shake his hand and tell him "he got it right" !

I was there and knew many of the players. I was with Fox 2/7 and I'm very happy to be alive to read this account. I'll miss my friends who didn't make it out. Thanks to the author for straightening out a few things for me.

First, this book was published in 1987, not 1984 as one of the other reviewers mentioned. Second, the Marine units (5th and 7th Marine Regiments) in this book were part of the 1st Marine Division not the 3rd Marine Division. Third, this is Nolan's third book, not his first ("Battle for Hue" and "Into Laos, Operation Dewey Canyon II/Lamson 719" were his first two books). I enjoyed this book immensely primarily because I was serving as an 0331 machine gunner with Mike 3/5 during the summer of 1969 and I vividly recall our company actions in Arizona Territory, Que Sons Mountains, Go Noi Island, Liberty Bridge, and Hills 10, 22, 65 . Nolan's description of "The Arizona Territory" in 1969 as the "war's bloodiest arena" is apt as my unit spent many long weeks humping that hideous area and lost many Marines to snipers, booby-traps, incoming, ambushes, and sapper attacks. I appreciate Nolan writing about combat during the Vietnam War that occurred after Tet '68 as many books and media accounts apparently thought the war ceased to exist after 1968. Nolan's motivation to write "about the war as the soldier saw it" and what the "average grunt experienced in Vietnam" is clearly expressed in his writing and I, as one of those summer of '69 "grunts," appreciate his efforts to show us as good Marines and soldiers caught up in a crappy situation who performed as well as any American "grunt" from past wars. I highly recommend this book and all of Nolan's subsequent books about the Vietnam War. Nolan books honor those of us who served as infantrymen in Vietnam at a time when so many others reviled our sacrifices and attempted to dishonor our service through exagerration, hyperbole, and tired cliche.

"a truly great early study of Vietnam" is what I said in my first review; the two stars were for the publisher - as we now have access to the battle area and actual NVA participants. In the spirit of Were Were Soldiers Once.. I'd have wished for more....but I do realize that spending weeks in Vietnam was infeasible.. JMK

Research is accurate and detailed. I was a member of one of the participating units; and it happened as written. Intense and spellbounding book covering a dramatic fight for their lives of Army and Marine Corps units. Marine Corps Vietnam vets will think it should be mandatory reading. Semper Fi