1st Marine Division in Vietnam (Spearhead) [Paperback]

Simon Dunstan (Author)

Book Description

Series: Spearhead | Publication Date: January 23, 2009

Like other volumes in the Spearhead series, this book takes readers to the cutting edge of warfare--for a close look at the make-up, operations, and performance of a military unit operating independently and forcefully at the forefront of battle.

With a focus on aspects of war that most narrative histories omit--logistics and supply lines, communications, battlefield terrain, and command and control--this book offers an unparalleled view of the experience of the 1st Marine Division in Vietnam.

Simon Dunstan provides a brief history of the unit, the theater, and the situation. He moves with the Marines from home base to the battlefield, where readers get a clear picture of the units organization and the order of battle from the beginning of Americas involvement in the Vietnam War to the divisions departure from Vietnam in 1972.

Copiously illustrated with photographs, organizational diagrams, tables, and unit markings (both tactical and individual), the book covers every aspect of this units role in the war, from training and strategic planning to engineering and execution. It is an unusually detailed account of the true nuts and bolts behind the drama of the 1st Marine Division in Vietnam.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The Best Reviews
"...this well-illustrated volume offers a close look at the make up, operations, and performance of a military unit operating independently at the forefront of battle. Simon Dunstan not only gives his reader the history of the unit, the theatre, and the battlefield situation, but he also supplies material often not discussed in books of this nature...A true 'nuts-and-bolts' look at the 1st Marine Division in Vietnam, this is a book those interested in military history will want to add to their libraries."

Book Description

This book gives readers a rare close-up look at the make-up, operations, and performance of the 1st Marine Division in Vietnam.  With a focus on aspects of war that most narrative histories omit--logistics and supply lines, communications, battlefield terrain, and command and control--Simon Dunstan offers an unparalled view of the Marines’ experience.  He provides a brief history of the unit, the theater, and the situation, then moves with the Marines from home base to the battlefield, where readers get a clear picture of the unit’s organization and the order of battle from the beginning of the war to the division’s departure from Vietnam in 1972.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Zenith Press (January 23, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760331596
• ISBN-13: 978-0760331590
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,242,598 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A well-established author, filmmaker and photographer, Simon Dunstan has written more than 50 books on military history, particularly on World War II and Vietnam. He has also written and directed numerous military history documentaries for the History Channel.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History of the 1st MarDiv in Nam!, January 27, 2009

By 

Michael OConnor "Wordsmith" (Wausau, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 1st Marine Division in Vietnam (Spearhead) (Paperback)

Part of Zenith Press' SPEARHEAD series, 1ST MARINE DIVISION IN VIETNAM, written by well-known military historian Simon Dunstan, relates the history of the Marine Corps' oldest, most decorated division in the Vietnam War. If Dunstan's book is representative of the SPEARHEAD series, readers are in for a treat. 1ST MARINE DIVISION IN VIETNAM is an excellent, comprehensive, informative and well-illustrated summary of this distinguished unit in action.

Following a brief summary of the 1st MarDiv's history, Dunstan relates the unit's history in Vietnam, this section accounting for 76 of the book's 128 pages. Units of the Division arrived in South Vietnam in July 1965; the last elements not leaving until May 1971. Operating in I Corps the Division took part in dozens of major operations, being awarded two Presidential Unit Citations. Dunstan devotes the remainder of the book to "Equipment and Uniforms," "Organization," "Personalities" and "Assessment."

I most enjoyed the "In Action" history, which combined command-level and line-doggie viewpoints along with side-bars on topics like tour of duty, 1st MAW CAS, recon units, etc. The "Personalities" section - which described unit 'movers & shakers' and CMH winners - was nicely done. Lastly, the "Assessment" section was especially interesting.

The book features dozens of b&w and color photographs, maps, diagrams and insignia.

Short and sweet: an excellent summary of a legendary unit in combat. Kudos to Simon Dunstan and Zenith Books. Highly recommended.