Customer Reviews

Blue's Bastards: A True Story of Valor Under Fire

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I thought the writing for this book was above average and the story was very readable. I guess I am going to have to read Son Thang, An American War Crime by Solis to get the other side. Herrod portrays his story of serving under Oliver North during the Vietnam War. His portrayal of Lt. North resulted in me gaing a new respect for someone I don't like politically. As another reviewer has already stated, Herrod's account may be self serving.

What did happen at Son Thang. Herrod says that people shot at him and his four companions on the hunter-killer team. One bullet grazed the neck of his buddy, and shot away the rifle stock on his M-16. They were then chased but to the fire base. North provided compelling testimony of Herrod's character. His defense resulted in his acquittal. At the end, there were 16-17 dead civilians, some of whom may have been Viet Cong.

The story is very readable. This tells one side of the story. The book on Son Thang tells the other side. Marines were placed in the difficult position here. At this point, I am not sure what is true and what is not.

This is a book about the subject of Son Thang 4 by a combatant that was actually there. I have read the other two books about this incident; Gary Solis' book as well as Denny Garrison's. I enjoy this book the most because it is written by the man who was actually there.

The story is a history of Randy Herrod's time in Vietnam. The story begins with him serving under Lt.Oliver North, yes that North, and being recommended for the Silver Star for courage under fire (which he later receives). It ends with his trial for a war crime (sixteen counts of premeditated murder) and acquittal of the same.

MR. Herrod gives the impressions he received of the military without pulling any punches. The book is raw but well written and a easy read. (I read it cover to cover in a day). It is the accurate depiction of what happened to MR. Herrod in Vietnam.

For an equal read, read the book by Gary Solis which explains the Prosecutions version of the case. I believe this (Solis')is a one sided view of the incident. Leaving out key pieces of evidence or placing the evidence in a different area. I do not question Mr. Solis' military prowess, writing ability, or legal mind; but it is difficult to piece together what happened at the trial of these marines without actually being at the trial. Trnascripts do not do jury trials justice. However, it is my understanding that there were no transcripts produced of the Herrod trial.

I believe that Denny Garrison's book is also good because Denny was there in the Courtroom for all of the trials and refers to his trial noted taken from the actual case in preparation of the book. The key to the Garrison book is the fact that there was evidence of an M-60 machine gun nest used by the VC to fire onto the village at US troops. The only defendant that had the benefit of this testimony was Herrod; although the nest was discovered shortly after the Son Thang incident, and the gun was turned over to military intelligence-who misplaced the weapon. This is key to the defense because the ear witnesses to the incident remember the distinct sound of an M-60 being fired although Herrod's Killer squad did not have a 60.

Overall this is a great read. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Herrod before I read the book and then talked with him after reading it. Mr. Herrod is the one who recommended the other two books to me. I have read all accounts and believe that the report of this crime is the tragedy. Wars are drastic things that call for drastic measures. Life or death decisions are made on instinct. Perhaps in the future of warfare ID badges and enemy cards will be issued to better identify who is a combatant and who is not. Interesting however, that the village in Question was SON THANG 4. According to research into the area the Vietnamese government numbered there villages 1-4. 1 was all friendly. 2 was mostly friendly with a few enemies. 3 was enemy with a few friendly's and 4 was all enemy. Another piece of evidence kept out of the trial.

Perhaps we will never know exactly what happened at SON THANG 4. As it goes in the justice system our guilty defendants are proven to be innocent by the media and our acquited defendants are proven to be guilty.

Read Son Thang, Am American War Crime, by Gary Solis, to get the whole story on Oliver North's actions in the court martial case of United States vs. Randy Herrod. Herrod was never sentenced to death. He was not even convicted for his role in the killing of 17 Vietnamese women and children. Although the other members of the fire team he lead were all convicted or plead guilty, Herrod was acquitted, based in no small part on the testimony of his former Platoon Commander, Oliver North.

The USMC will not leave a troop behind, but they will throw them "under the bus" when politics comes in to play.

This whole book was not true. The author stated a bunch of falsehoods in this book. I agree with the other 2 ratings up here. If you want a TRUE account of what happened, read the book by Gary Solis.

A blatant example of self-serving prose meant to whitewash the heinous crime that was committed at Son Thang. Based on a faulty premise, that the investigation was sparked by a report from a green lieutenant, Herrod's book reads like the whine of a child caught in mischief. The mischief this time, though, was the murder of non-combatants, all women and children. Herrod managed to get off with an all-star defense team. Maybe he should hit the lecture circuit with OJ