Operation Buffalo

In the summer of 1967 the USMC found itself engaged in a battle that caught them by suprise and cost them over 180 soldiers KIA and many more WIA. Vietnam was a war where many restriction were placed on American fighting forces, those restrictions were even stricter in the strange terrain of the DMZ. Like other books by Mr. Nolan (Into Laos and Into Cambodia come to mind) there is rich detail and information woven into a story by a chronological telling of event leading up to and through the battle. While there is a very good and informative sitrep of American (particularly USMC) involvement in Vietnam the strength of this book is it's "put you in the foxhole" eyes view of the fight. I had never read an account of where almost an entire American Company was overrun by large NVA forces, it is not pretty. I have read that ear collecting was something that happened in the war to dead enemy soldiers, the NVA put their own sick twist on this sort of war atrocity by collecting USMC tattoos from fallen grunts. There are graphic descriptions of the early M-16 problems which ended up causing the USA and USMC many casualties. This book contains some things that really suprised me, NVA soldiers equiped with flame-throwers looking for suvivors of the initial ambush, NVA artillery support which was accurate and protected from US airpower hitting American forces with a sustained barrage, NVA use of USMC gear such as flak vests and radios, American tanks being blown away like toys. There are many sad twists, if you are looking for a John Wayne type combat read stick to a novel, this one hurts the heart. I can't say enough about this book, if you are a student of the fighting in Southeast Asia get this book, Mr. Nolan really puts things together in this clear and painfully vivid book.

my cousin was killed on this operation so i approached this book with some difficulty,however the author has handled that sorry day an operation without any sensationalism,just treated it with the respect the fallen deserved,this book flows well and covers everything remarkably well .i believe that this book is one of the best (first/second)persons accounts of any battle in any war ever,a must buy book

Operation Buffalo should be made into a Movie as it the best written book I have ever read about what the Marines and Corpsmen of Northern I Corps endured in Viet Nam. Time and again the men of the First Battalion Ninth Marines found themselves fighting against numerically superiour forces with very little support available at critical moments. Mention is made in the book that the First Battalion Ninth Marines was marked by the North Vietnames Army for destruction. I can't say for sure that this was true, but "The Walking Dead" nick-name was was paid for in blood. Keith N. Price Former HM3 Disability Retired Bravo Company, First Battalion Ninth Marines

As a participant in Operation Buffalo (C.O.K/3/9) I was absolutely stunned by the accuracy, detail and vivid account of this unneccesary battle. Keith Nolan has an absolute gift for weaving all the participants into the fabric of this story. I personally discovered so much more about my friends and 'kids' who shared those moments in our own personal hell. A must read for all interested in what war is truly about - both warriors and pacifists.

First heard about the prime day of the book from a fellow MARINE who had been there and described it as similar to a firefight we had both been in, except there was no rear. I knew many men who died during the operation, and know many who survived. To a one they say it is accurate, and are proud to have their story told. My first thought was that NOLAN had been there. Oddly enough there is a quote on the liner notes from an upcoming 3 star Gen Libutti. He doubts the statement from McNamara" that all is quiet on the DMZ" Operation Buffalo is a book that men pass from one friend to another.