The Magnificent Bastards

This book is perhaps the best Vietnam book--fiction or non-fiction--written to date! It's hard to imagine how Keith can distill all the factual information from daily reports and interviews into such a compelling book. I know it's a historical account of a major battle but it is so powerfully witten it has all the "glamour" of a novel. For me, all the Vietnam novels pale in comparison to this non-fiction work, Fields of Fire, Sand in the Wind, Rumor of War, The 13th Valley, etc--Keith is a magician with words, a true poet, and with the pure power of his prose in desribing men in a major battle, he manages to "flesh out" characters so they take on that unforgettable quality found in great novels. His book has everything, moments of terror and tragedy followed by moments of rib-busting humor. I hope Keith continues with his writing because he is THE premier chronicler, without exception, of Vietnam War battles. Any veteran would be proud to tell Keith their story.

Mr.Jc.Retired.U.S.M.C.This my unit that Served in VietNam... Echo.Co.0331=Machine-Gunner..My unit.2BN.4th Marines.... To all Falen-marines who died for freedom.Cpl.Joe Paul... and Lz Russell Survivors.Feb.25th.1969..Want to connect with any marines from Echo.Co.2/4...My [email protected]

Nolan has the gift of writing pictures. His ability, not just to put into words, but to do so with such fluidity, style, and accuracy put me back there as if I had never left. I read this and Operation Buffalo each twice and found in them the perfect tools I needed to finally speak of the war to my family.

KEITH WILLIAM NOLAN HAS WRITTEN A FAST PACED ACCOUNT OF ONE OF THE BLOODIEST BATTLES OF THE VIET NAM WAR. FOR THOSE OF US WHO WERE THERE THE DATE APRIL 30,1968 IS BURNED INTO OUR MEMORY FOREVER. MR. NOLAN HAS DONE HIS RESEARCH AND HAS TOLD OUR STORY HONESTLY. HE TELLS THE STORY BY INTERMINGLING FIRST PERSON ACCOUNTS INTO A COMPLETE STORY OF THE BATTLE. THE GOOD AND THE BAD ARE PRESENTED. THE HEROISM AND THE FAILURES ARE ALL THERE FOR THE READER TO SEE. THIS BOOK TELLS THE STORY OF MARINES FIGHTING ON THE DMZ DURING THE SPRING AND SUMMER OF 1968. IF YOU WERE THERE;THIS IS YOUR STORY. IF YOU WERE NOT;THIS IS HOW IT REALLY WAS. THIS BOOK IS A GOOD READ AND A GREAT TRUE STORY TOLD BY A MASTERFUL STORYTELLER.

This is one of the better military history books I've read and, quite possibly, the fastest moving with the most non-stop action. With that comment put aside, I'll now state that I was saddened at the terrible casualties the Marines endured, especially in light of the author's intimation that they were poorly equipped and supported, and even more troubling, committed to action by higher level commanders who had a "get up and charge the emplaced machineguns" attitude. I know this book cannot fairly represent higher level Marine leadership during Vietnam, but I thought the Marines were better used than it appears that they were in this battle. While outstanding, this book is also sad and sobering.