Thunder in the Night: A Sailor's Perspective on Vietnam

To understand Ray Kopp's book "Thunder in the Night", a brief overview of events in S.E. Asia must be mentioned. After the 1968 infamous "Tet Offensive", American involvement was doomed. To quickly recap what happened,onJanuary 21, 1968, a shattering barrage of shells, mortars and rockets slam into the Marine base at Khe Sanh. Eighteen Marines were killed instantly, 40 were wounded. The initial attack continued for two days. this was only a prelude, as on January 30 - 31, 1968, which was the Vietnamese "New Year" known as the Tet holiday, Vietcong units fanned out all over supposedly safe and secure South Vietnam. In more than 100 cities and towns, shock attacks by Vietcong sappers and suicide bent commandos were followed by wave after wave of supporting troops. When the battles for the cities of South Vietnam ended, 37,000 Vietcong troops had been killed. Many more had been wounded or captured, and the fighting had created more than a half million civilian refugees. Casualties included most of the Vietcong's best fighters, political officers and secret organizers. Incongruously, for North Vietnam, Tet was nothing less than a catastrophe. But for the Americans, who lost 2,500 men, it was a serious blow to public support. Walter Cronkite pronounced on national television that the Tet offensive was a "defeat" for America and his announcement was widely credited as a turning point in American support for the war. In a famous half-hour news special, he declared that in the aftermath of Tet "it seems now more certain than ever that the bloody experience of Vietnam is to end in a stalemate." Lyndon Johnson was reported to be dismayed at the prospect of losing Cronkite's support for the war. And indeed, public support for the war dropped 25% following Cronkite's declaration and media coverage of the offensive in general. A Patch of Ground: Khe Sanh Remembered In 1969, President Richard M. Nixon took office as the new U.S. President, replacing L.B.J. . He promised to achieve in Vietnam "Peace With Honor." The plan was to negotiate a settlement with the North Vietnamese, enabling the half million U.S. troops to be withdrawn while simultaneously keeping the corrupt and incompetent South Vietnamese government in power. Nixon's plans looked admirable, but the war rolled on. He authorized "Operation Menu", which was a bombing campaign of North Vietnamese and Vietcong bases within Cambodia, despite supposed government restrictions over ignored "Rules of Engagement" Over the following four years, U.S. forces dropped more than a half million tons of bombs on Cambodia alone. Only 2 months after Nixon's election, a major North Vietnamese offensive took place all over South Vietnam, mimicking to a lesser extent the 1968 "Tet Offensive," killing 1,140 Americans. At the same time, South Vietnamese towns and cities were also hit. The heaviest fighting was around Saigon, but fights raged all over South Vietnam. Eventually, American artillery and air power ove

Author Raymond Kopp shares the story of his combat experiences as a crew member of the USS Newport News during the Vietnam War. In his wonderfully written and sensitive book "Thunder in the Night - A Sailor's Perspective on Vietnam" he tells us about the little known Naval operations in 1972 when the over-all war was supposed to be winding down. I had to laugh at the truth of what Kopp points out in the Preface of the book about how most veterans and the public seem to discount the combat experiences of those who served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. Most non-Naval Vietnam veterans have assumed that sitting off the coast with clean sheets, hot showers and no VC sneaking up on you, meant that the duty was carefree and safe. It was never really thought of as being "combat duty"; how wrong most of us were about that. Reading his story about his ship's war operations off the coast of North Vietnam, it also becomes evident that these battles took a toll on sailors both emotionally and physically as well. Raymond writes in the third person and tells his story as if it were a novel. It makes for very entertaining reading as the author uses a full pallet of colorful expressions and wording to paint his story. His emotions are not hidden nor are his many flaws and fears; he gives the reader a full uncensored vision of what is going on within him. This book is a very honest attempt by the author to examine his life at time of the war and why he is who he is today. Although he does not expound away at it, this story is all about redemption and reflection as a way to find self-healing within. Although Raymond was not physically injured that night when an explosion killed a couple of dozen of his shipmates and wounded many more--that night still haunts the soul of this man! He survived physically but he is still dealing with the emotional and spiritual wounds from the experience. I have read many books from Navy veterans but most have been about SEALS and the "Brown Water Navy" operations or about fighter pilots--this is the first book out there that gives an insider view on what life was like for the sailors who were on heavy cruisers. It is an eye-opener and a real education for veterans like me. This book is about history and people and about dying for your country but it is also about fear and courage and guilt and friendship. Years from now people will realize that this book is an important link to a piece of our history. 2005 Distinguished Honor Award!

The following will serve as my review. It is taken from my written communication with the author, Raymond S. Kopp: "As Second Division Officer so many years ago (1967), one of my responsibilities aboard Thunder included the 8" guns and ammo as well as the men who manned the turrets and magazines. Your description in Chapter 20, "Chaos and Calm" and in Chapter 21, "The Dead and the Demoralized" which describes in detail your personal memories of the explosion in Turret No. 2 which killed 20 shipmates shook me to the bone. Although I had left NN 4 years prior to the accident, I knew only in brief terms what had transpired. Your well written account gave me, for the first time in all these years, the opportunity to read in detail about what actually happened. What a horrible experience you lived through but were able to write about! As a result of that accident, the names of the NN dead are now engraved on the Vietnam memorial wall (dedicated to USN and USCG killed) which was recently completed and is located next to COMNAVSURFPAC HQs, U.S. Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, CA. Due to my present San Diego navy ship repair related work, I have visited the memorial on several occasions and have read the names of the Newport News souls who died aboard our ship on that fateful day in 1972. I have recommended your book to both ex-navy and civilian friends as well as to members of my family. I realize your writing the book was mentally tough and I can personally ID with the nightmares you experienced after leaving Newport News and the navy. You have written a fine book which, I believe, will be remembered as an important historical account of the naval battles in which the Newport News was engaged. I state with sincerity.......well done!"

As a shipmate of the Author I found Ray Kopp's book Thunder in the Night, A Sailor's Perspective on Vietnam to be absolutley riviting. It brought back vivid memories of my Vietnam experiences. Kudos to Ray for telling our story. He writes with an obvious passion for the subject and his accounts of his personal emotions and experiences are heart warming and brutally honest. This book is a must read for all sailors that are members of the Tonkin Golf Yacht Club!

Until I read this book, I had no idea that Vietnam era sailors participated in this type up up close action with the enemy. Great book, well written, entertaining and informative. I would recomend this book to anyone who wants to know more about naval operations in Vietnam and the emotions of the sailors who experienced these battles.