Moon Dash Warrior: Che Story of an American Indian in Vietnam, a Marine from the Land of the Lumbee

Powerful book detailing combat from his first day in country in 1966 with the Marines north of Phu Bai through 1968 with 1st Recon Bn. This is a definite "must have/must read" for anyone considering military service. I have read most every book on the Vietnam war and this book, by far, is the best read on how to survive walking point and leading men in combat. The Corps needs to make this "must reading" in their officers' The Basic School. Cummings had the perfect mindset to kill the enemy at 6 miles down to 6 inches. He also was a highly disciplined Marine who knew how to act professionally around our Vietnamese allies and the villagers. With NCO's like Cummings in charge during IraqI/Afghan/IraqII, there would not have been an Abu Graib. Truly, Sgt Delano Cummings, grunt pointman and Recon Team leader is the Pride of the Marines.

This is an excellant factual history of the events in Vietnam from the grunts point of view. As an USMC veteran of the exact time period and present on several of the operations described in this book, I can attest to the authenticity of the material presented. Written is a very readable manner that was both interesting and entertaining. It would be interesting to meet the author to "shoot the bull" at the slop shute or the scuttlebutt. Semper Fi to Delano.

I have read several books on Vietnam and some of those have been of personal accounts but, this one is a very moving and interesting read. I recently met the author in Washington DC while visiting the Vietnam Memorial Wall and purchased a signed copy of this book. In signing it he thanked me for my serving my country; it should be me thanking him for serving. After reading this book I feel honored to have met this Marine and fellow Native American.

I had the opportunity to meet Delano Cummings at the Lincoln Monument in Washington, D.C. on July 4, 2000. He was selling this book next to the booths selling bracelets for MIA soldiers and POW's. He is an incredible man. His presence is inspiring. His book is even more inspiring. This is a moving account of war and warfare. Cummings takes the reader into his experience and makes the reader understand the emotions that came with his experiences during the Vietnam War. This is one of the most moving books I have ever read.

Mr. Cummings takes you on his journey through the rice paddies of Vietnam. You smile at the antics of his fellow Marine "New Yorker". You are shocked by the ingenuity of the Viet Cong when it came to setting booby traps. You cry the tears, that Mr. Cummings could not, for the deaths of his fellow Marines and you cry harder for the men who came home to the taunts and jeers of their fellow countryman for doing their job.