Customer Reviews

Hard to Forget : An American with the Mobile Guerrilla Force in Vietnam

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I read this book cover to cover in one evening. I simply could not put the book down. In retrospect, I suppose my main interest when I bought the book was to see if there were any references to some of the places I was at during the Vietnam war having been stationed very near his area of operations.

Indeed, the author did not let me down. I was taken back in this paperback "time machine" to a different world where I once belonged. The author did an excellent job of telling his story. He told us where he came from, his training, and his experiences both during and after his tour of duty. I usually feel a sense of loss when I read any book about Vietnam. This book was different! I actually felt pretty good about my time spent in Tay Ninh Province. The final chapters served as a reminder to never feel badly about being involved in that conflict so many years ago.

The only thing in this book that detracted me was the author's few careless remarks thrown in about the Kennedy administration. The remarks were not needed and were misleading.

If you want to read about one man's journey into the jaws of death and back, read this book. Don't let the political views of the author stop you. This man was a true warrior and he is a man that tells his story in a gut-honest method that will leave you thinking for a long time.

HARD TO FORGET

AN AMERICAN WITH THE MOBILE GUERRILLA FORCE IN VIETNAM

STEVEN M. YEDINAK __________________________________________________

Review by David H. Hackworth, Author of Vietnam Primer, About Face and Hazardous Duty __________________________________________________

Explodes like a grenade. Couldn't put it down. When I finished, I was disappointed only because I wanted more. Yedinak has written a gripping account of SECRET green beret missions he and 13 other Americans, and their Cambodian brothers, conducted in the heart of War Zone D in 1966. He reveals in go-to-hell passion how MGF avoided annihilation by Viet Cong guerrillas and NVA units on their tail. Small, quiet, elusive, on foot and light to fight, this heroic group of volunteers fought the war sans the heavy sounds and pounds of conventional forces. MGF blew the b-Jesus out of the Cong, and destroyed their camps, while zeroing out two intelligence missions of National interest. Black Box was a United States response to recover the SECRET System 13A device from a U-2 spy plane after it exploded over the jungled mountains of Nui Ba Ra. When MGF fought its way through VC units to find the device, President Johnson was immediately notified. Had the Black Box fallen into NVA hands, the entire U.S. strategic reconnaissance effort may have been compromised. On Blackjack-31, the first successful mobile guerrilla force mission in Vietnam, the small, outgunned, always on the move, and operating mostly at night MGF survived 52 separate engagements while registering 51 enemy KIA and 17 base camps destroyed. Going well beyond green beret tactics, Yedinak deals frankly with the enigma of war, sharing his difficulty in coming home, and his terrifying transformation from destroyer to husband, father, friend and peacetime soldier. The nightmares he suffered for over twenty years cut through me like a rusty jungle blade. Parents, wives, children, and friends of vets, as well as those who did not serve, will better understand Vietnam. The author suggests we begin to listen to each other's stories in the hope that we can put Vietnam behind, and repair the damage we have suffered personally, and as a nation. Great book about real fighting men, written by a real fighting man. Everything a Vietnam war memoir could possibly be -- high adventure, scary as hell, and behind-the-enemy-lines true. Steve fought with me in the 44th Special Tactical Zone in 1971. He is a real stud who took no prisoners.

A great eye opener about special forces in Vietnam. And a very close and personal look at the type of person it takes to be in special forces. Not being a man or military, I probably read this book from a totally different perspective than the author intended. He's a tough man, a survivor, with a caring side for his family. All I know is, I couldn't put it down. Read it! You'll like it!

I have read ,HARD TO FORGET, The book captures the smell of damp vegetation rotten in the jungle, the sweat burning your eyes, the rucksack straps digging into your shoulders and that ever-lasting ache, on your hips, from the the burden of the pistol belt. The apprehension and fear, of a too quiet jungle, resurface in your mind. Your heart beating so loud, you think, everyone hears it. The hunter waiting to become the hunted. To the men who fought in Vietnam, "HARD TO FORGET". will bring the memories, flooding back. The good memories along with the bad.The book also deals with the effects of the war on the men who fought it. The book shows the beauty of America along with her warts. One point the author makes is, Soldiers do not fight wars by mistake. Soldiers fight wars because of mistake by politicians. In the end only soldiers and their families pay the piper. "HARD TO FORGET"

Steven Yedinak relives one of his most horrific ordeals in his life in this book of tragedy and death. His book gives a real life portrait to Vietnam where other bokks lack.

Yedinaks book is unique in that it gave me a totally new perspective on the gallantry and fighting skill of the Cambodian soldiers he fought beside. The Bodes sound like they were truly great warriors, unlike our opinion of most of the ARVN units we were involved with in the 4/39 th Infantry Battalion. I was also very impressed with the MGF concept, one that would have probably led to victory if it had been carried out on a larger scale. In closing, I tip my hat to Steve Yadineks' courage and honesty in telling it like it was concerning the deep and everlasting emotional effect experienced by all of us who served in Vietnam. Following the publishing of my book I heard from hundreds of Vietnam vets. They all shared some similarites but Vietnam was largely different to each of them, from the desk clerk, to the track driver , to the MP escorting convoys through the mountain passes of the central highlands. Each returned home with his(her) own experiences, never to be forgotten. And don't forget the brave and faithful nurses in all those Surgical and Evac Hospitals all over Vietnam. They were heroes in a very special way. Steve, thanks for a great read. It will help anyone associated with veterans from this ugly war to read and perhaps better understand where we are coming from. Like the title says, it truly is hard to forget when you've been to hell and back!

Being female and never having been in the military, this is truly a book I could read and enjoy. I have ever been able to keep up with other military books (I enjoy reading about Vietnam) because I could not keep up with all the "G.I. Jargon". I stayed interested in this book until the last page. I hated to put it down! It made me laugh, cry and feel every emotion in between. My heart, prayers and many thanks, go out to all Vietnam Vets. Thanks to all of you. I hope Steve writes another book.

I could not stop to read this book! Authentic and real. No stories from high rang officers working only in a office

When I picked up this book for the first time I did not put the book down until I had finished the book. Steve and I met for the 1st time in 1966, I was an O&I spec4 working in S-2 in Bien Hoa and had known Col Bo Gritz he was Steve,s CO at the time and it was my job to provide MAPS and AO,s to A-301 and A-302 when they were at Bien Hoa. Years later at my 2nd reunion I met up with Steve at our Ft Bragg reunion and was proud to have known and served in SF with him. The book put me back 34 years and I remember the Black box incident and the unit being recognized for a job well done by Gen Westmoreland. Thanks for letting me know you Steve and May God Bless and watch over you and yours. Sincerely yours your brother John J Coppinger

Good news first; family, friends, and non-military should really like this book. Others like myself who are retired military, served in Vietnam (Pilot 192nd AHC 68-69), and have written a book about this war might question this author's intent. After "Kill Me If You Can, You SOB" came out, I started reading every book about the Vietnam War I could get my hands on. So far about half of them have screamed out, "I want to be in the movies." This is one of those books.