Customer Reviews

The Magnificent Bastards: The Joint Army-Marine Defense of Dong Ha, 1968

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

KEITH WILLIAM NOLAN HAS WRITTEN A FAST PACED ACCOUNT OF ONE OF THE BLOODIEST BATTLES OF THE VIET NAM WAR. FOR THOSE OF US WHO WERE THERE THE DATE APRIL 30,1968 IS BURNED INTO OUR MEMORY FOREVER. MR. NOLAN HAS DONE HIS RESEARCH AND HAS TOLD OUR STORY HONESTLY. HE TELLS THE STORY BY INTERMINGLING FIRST PERSON ACCOUNTS INTO A COMPLETE STORY OF THE BATTLE. THE GOOD AND THE BAD ARE PRESENTED. THE HEROISM AND THE FAILURES ARE ALL THERE FOR THE READER TO SEE. THIS BOOK TELLS THE STORY OF MARINES FIGHTING ON THE DMZ DURING THE SPRING AND SUMMER OF 1968. IF YOU WERE THERE;THIS IS YOUR STORY. IF YOU WERE NOT;THIS IS HOW IT REALLY WAS. THIS BOOK IS A GOOD READ AND A GREAT TRUE STORY TOLD BY A MASTERFUL STORYTELLER.

This book is perhaps the best Vietnam book--fiction or non-fiction--written to date! It's hard to imagine how Keith can distill all the factual information from daily reports and interviews into such a compelling book. I know it's a historical account of a major battle but it is so powerfully witten it has all the "glamour" of a novel. For me, all the Vietnam novels pale in comparison to this non-fiction work, Fields of Fire, Sand in the Wind, Rumor of War, The 13th Valley, etc--Keith is a magician with words, a true poet, and with the pure power of his prose in desribing men in a major battle, he manages to "flesh out" characters so they take on that unforgettable quality found in great novels. His book has everything, moments of terror and tragedy followed by moments of rib-busting humor. I hope Keith continues with his writing because he is THE premier chronicler, without exception, of Vietnam War battles. Any veteran would be proud to tell Keith their story.

Mr.Jc.Retired.U.S.M.C.This my unit that Served in VietNam...

Echo.Co.0331=Machine-Gunner..My unit.2BN.4th Marines....

To all Falen-marines who died for freedom.Cpl.Joe Paul...

and Lz Russell Survivors.Feb.25th.1969..Want to connect with

any marines from Echo.Co.2/4...My es....Awoonjc@aol.com

You cannot but praise this author for his honesty. The book tells the story of a joint USMC and US Army battle in the DMZ with brutal truth. The story is told, warts and all, and it made this book what it is.

I must say however that at times I felt the story got a bit disjointed and could have used more and better maps to assist the narrative but overall the author presents a decent and well researched account of this terrible battle.

If you like down to earth and in your face combat accounts then you should enjoy this book.

This is one of the better military history books I've read and, quite possibly, the fastest moving with the most non-stop action. With that comment put aside, I'll now state that I was saddened at the terrible casualties the Marines endured, especially in light of the author's intimation that they were poorly equipped and supported, and even more troubling, committed to action by higher level commanders who had a "get up and charge the emplaced machineguns" attitude. I know this book cannot fairly represent higher level Marine leadership during Vietnam, but I thought the Marines were better used than it appears that they were in this battle. While outstanding, this book is also sad and sobering.

I read this book to learn about the legacy of my former Marine unit, 2/4. I did not anticipate a moving military history on par with the best: The Reason Why, Infantry Attacks, Black Hawk Down, and the Campaigns of Napoleon.

Professor Nolan vividly relates the extreme heroism and sacrifice of the soldiers and Marines in and near Dong Ha, in no small part due to the wealth of oral history collected by the Corps in the aftermath of the battles. I was most impressed by Nolan's ability to convey the tactical and operational nuts and bolts, without sacrificing the tone of immediacy and personal desperation the participants must have felt.

I've always been proud to have briefly been a member of 2/4. Nolan's book taught me what made the Bastards truly Magnificent.

Mr. Nolan is able to take us all back to Vietnam, just south of the DMZ many years ago. This is an accurate account of the battle for Nhi Ha, I know because I was there. Thank you, Mr Nolan

Had an uncle in Golf Company. This book detailed the horrific battle at Dai Do (and others).

Nothing more that I can say...Nolan brings you to the grunts level...effectively creates the fog of war without confusing the reader...just excellent.

Nolan has the gift of writing pictures. His ability, not just to put into words, but to do so with such fluidity, style, and accuracy put me back there as if I had never left. I read this and Operation Buffalo each twice and found in them the perfect tools I needed to finally speak of the war to my family.