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The Battle of An Loc (Twentieth-Century Battles)

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The 1972 Easter offensive was the last major battle of the Viet Nam conflict to involve U.S. Forces, but is not well known. The sixty day seige of the town of An Loc by three North Vietnamese Army divisions was the lynch pin of that battle.

Retired Lt. Col. James Willbanks has given us a rare look at the inside of this complex battle by one who was there. That being said, this is not an "I was there" first person account. It is a comprehensive look at the battle that draws upon all sides involved in the sixty day siege, described by journalist Phillip Clarke as "the battle that saved Saigon".

Any student of military history will enjoy this book. It is factual, balanced and well written and researched. I recommend it whole heartedly

This is an excellent account of one of the major battles of the Vietnam War. Anyone interested in that war--or in battles, strategy, and military leadership--will find this book well worth reading.

Because the North Vietnamese Army's Easter Offensive was launched in the spring of 1972, after almost all of the US forces had gone home, it never received the attention that was given to the battles fought by U.S. units at the height of the war. As might be expected, most of the media coverage during the war and most of the factual and fictional accounts written after the war were about U.S. units and the men in them. Yet the U.S. advisors to the Army of (South) Vietnam were "the glue that held it all together" during the Easter Offensive. Only a few of the remaining US units were involved in this battle. The main ones were the U.S. Army's helicopter units and the U. S. Air Force's B-52s, fighter-bombers, C-130 gunships, and C-130 cargo aircraft. Without them, the battle would have been lost.

The story of what a handful of American advisors and the brave American pilots and air crews did at An Loc is as important--and moving--as any military action ever described. The author, who participated in this battle, has included extensive chapter endnotes, a useful bibliography, and appendices. There is a vast literature on the Vietnam War but almost all of it--and virtually all of the personal accounts--are about or by the men who served in U.S. units. It is good to read an advisor's story.

This is a gripping story of endurance, dedication to duty, and valor.

As one who was "there", I recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand what was at stake in the Spring Offensive in III Corps and how close a fight that it really was. Even most of us who were in it had no real idea of what was going on. After 33 years, it's time that someone provided a complete, unvarnished accounting of what happened. I have access to some of the same documents as the author and was involved in one the events that he describes. He has remained faithfull to the truth, even though it may have had to be pieced together from fragmentary and disparate accounts. Thankfully the author has stuck to verifiable events and resisted the temptation to highlight the horror of battle. However, even his "toned down" accounts are troubling to read. Many participants are named, and like me, some may find it disconcerting to see your experience in print open to family, friends and others.

I participated as a C-130E co-pilot (374 Tactical Airlift Wing) during the Battle of An Loc. I greatly appreciate this book, helping me to understand what else was happening on the ground and in the air throughout the battle. As a participant, I vouch for the excellent accuracy and honesty of the book. The book starts out a bit slow, describing the organizational structure of the Army of the Republic Vietnam and its deployment. On page 37 it goes to high intensity with the Battle of Loc Ninh, a neighbor of An Loc. Willbanks gives you great empathy for those on the ground at Loc Ninh and An Loc, who were in a desperate struggle for their lives. It was hard to put the book down, once I got to the Battle of An Loc. The book slows down again in the last two chapters and epilogue.
I am sorry that seventeen C-130E crewmembers died in the battle. I am sorry that some of our airdrops missed the drop zone and fell into enemy hands. But the airdrops that were recovered by the ARVN were an essential part of the battle.

"The Battle of An Loc" by James Wilbanks. A must have book for anyone with an interest in Viet-Nam. This is a very good read. The author, James Wilbanks, was present and wounded at An Loc. This is not only his account, but gives insights from the North Vietnamese and US Advisors after action reports plus other communist documents. The role of the unending US air support, the bravery of the US air crews, and the orchestration by the Forward Air Controllers to the battle's victory for the ARVN and US Advisors is covered in warranted great detail. The inability of the NVA to have armor and infantry work together in more conventional warfare is clearly brought to light and documented. Wilbanks gives insights into Richard Nixon's Vietnamization's perceived success by the politicians and its ultimate failures. This is a must have read and must have addition to the library for anyone with interest in the war in Viet-Nam.

An Loc was a pivotal battle in the defense of South Vietnam. This is an excellent and detailed historical account of the battle from the standpoint of the American/South Vietnamese forces and the North Vietnamese forces who were there, garnered from their personal accounts. It makes for fascinating reading for those who are interested in the history of the Vietnam War. I became interested in this facet of Vietnam as a veteran who flew throughout that country from 1966 to early 1970. One of my best friends, James Beaubien III, was a Forward Air Controller (FAC) who actively participated in the battle and won a Silver Star for his heroic efforts. I highly recommend this book for those interested in this area of our nation's history.

In September 1971, the Army closed down the Army-Lockheed YO-3A silent aircraft night recon program and shipped it home. To bad the YO-3A planes were not involved in the An Loc battle that occured 7 months later. Many lives could have been saved with this Stealth Forward Air Control Plane. The YO-3A operated at 1,000 feet at night, flew slow, was silent had advanced night vision equipment, infrared illuminator and laser target designator and impervious to heat seeking weapons. In 14 months of operation in Vietnam, non of the 9 YO-3As were ever shot down or took a round. But the YOs sure could see what was going on in the night when the VC the NVA were moving stuff. Check out the website www.yo-3a.com

I was a YO-3A crew chief and sure would like to make contact with the author of this book.

Also see Kit Lavell's book Black Ponies that has a section on how the YO-3A located the largest Russian Trawler in South Vietnam and was instrumental in directing fire and sinking the boat.

Excellent book!!!


Anyone who has some basic military experience but never served abroad, and only seen movies about war or heard tidbits, would
appreciate what is in this book. The book reveals the strategy of battles, the 'mechanics' of battle (orders issued to battalions, and their officers' reactions to situations, etc) It's the real thing! And even better than the movie Platoon!

Excellent detail of one of the most important battles during the latter stages of the Vietnam War. Focus is obviously on the ground troups. I was somewhat disappointed with the lack of detail with regards to the "gun ships" of the Navy.