Customer Reviews

Night of the Silver Stars: The Battle of Lang Vei (Special Warfare)

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

 

 

"Night of the Silver Stars: The Battle of Lang Vei," by William R. Phillips, is a gripping nonfiction tale of the Vietnam War. The "about the author" section inside the book's back cover notes that Phillips served in the U.S. Marine Corps and is himself a Vietnam veteran. Phillips' sources for this book include interviews with a number of the participants in the battle. Retired general William C. Westmoreland contributed the book's foreword. The book's poetic title is an allusion to one of the United States military's highest decorations for valor in combat.

Lang Vei was a Green Beret outpost that was the object of a major attack in 1968. Phillips strikes a very effective balance of technical details and human elements as he tells the story. The book is full of intense combat scenes. The straightforward, fact-driven style is well matched to the subject matter. Intriguingly, Phillips notes where there are disagreements or ambiguities among his sources, thus reminding us of the difficulty in capturing history on the printed page.

The book is full of revealing details about weapons, vehicles, and tactics. Phillips looks carefully at the complex interlocking aspects of 20th century warfare, including human intelligence, air support, illumination, communications, first aid, and leadership. He vividly captures the "Murphy's Law" aspect of combat, whereby weapons malfunction and other things go unexpectedly wrong. Particularly fascinating is the human complexity of the battlespace in this account; the story involves not only U.S. military from different branches, but also Laotian and ethnic Vietnamese forces, as well as different tribal peoples of Vietnam.

Phillips weaves the personal stories of a number of the battle participants into the overall story. He also goes into detail about the long odyssey faced by the mother of a soldier who was declared MIA in the battle. The text is further enhanced by several pages of photographs and other illustrations, as well as by a bibliography and index. Written with intelligence and compassion, "Night of the Silver Stars" is a fitting tribute to the remarkable heroism shown by the warriors of Lang Vei.

This book fortells of the horrors to come of the Marines at Khe Sanh and the courage of the Green Beret detachment stationed Lang Vei to defend their small outpost against overwhelming odds against the first armored assult against Americans in the war. My outlook on not just the guys in spec ops but for all the grunts in the field is that they didnt fight for honor or country they fought for friendship and survival and that is one thing that truly speaks itself in this book. This is one of the best written books on small unit action of the war and will be in my collection forever!!!!

This book brings out a new depth to the "Team" concept; of how each man was more concerned with his team mates than he was for his own life. The author brings out not only the heroism of the individuals, but the fear that did not diminish their heroism. The author also sets up the backdrop of military "in house" rivalry that almost cost the lives of everyone involved.

He brings out the background that led up to that fateful day.

If body count is of interest, read how 24 Americans fought off an attack by a dozen tanks and hundreds of North Vietnamese Veterans, and left 600 of their enemy dead.

I really enjoyed this book, the author did a great job, even though the writing was a catharsis for his cousin Dan Phillips who ended up MIA. The research was thorough and the author took great care to account for any ambiguities that different re-collectors might have. The book started slow for me and ended slow, and this was probably in the interest of thoroughness and objectivity. But why I gave it only 4 stars. Shame on the Marines for not believing there was Armour in the wire and acting faster. There were so many things that went wrong any of which if different could have led to a different outcome. One thing that was right was Sgt Ashley's heroism and dedication to his brothers in the camp. If the Marines at Khe Sahn, and the brass in Saigaon or Da Nang had had such dedication to these fine men, the ending would not have been so tragic. I have read Dan L. Plaster's books on SOG and this is right up there. I would have liked more in depth info on the Hre, Laotians, and NVA participants though coverage was adequate.

Sp5/SFC Daniel Phillips (Danny) was a year behind me at Milton Hershey School. We were on the wrestling team together. Later, we were at Millersville State College where he became a college drop out.

I want to thank the author for tracking down the events surrounding my friend's last days.

Danny called me by my high school nickname - Maverick

signed: Maverick: MHS, Class of '61

I didn't care for this book. Although I have read many account of the Vietnam War, this one just didn't hold my interest. I was barley able to finish it. My opinion is certainly no reflection on the bravery and sacrifice of the men involved. I am talking literally style only. To the pure war enthusiast this book has genuine merit. It tells the story of brave men in combat and honors their memory with respect. We owe them a lot.

A good account of the destruction of a base that should have been evacuated months before, it offered absolutly no tactical advantage. With the Marines holding the key hills with undermanned companies, it would have been impossible to reinforce the outpost without weakening another outpost, perhaps that was the hope of the North Viets. Gen. Westmorland, "the king of blunders", should have pulled the SF team out months before as well as the Marines holding the Khe Sanh and the surrounding hills. Or perhaps reinforced with units of the Air Cav that arrived at LZ Stud soon after the outpost was destroyed. The book is well writtten.

A good account of the destruction of a base that should have been evacuated months before, it offered absolutly no tactical advantage. With the Marines holding the key hills with undermanned companies, it would have been impossible to reinforce the outpost without weakening another outpost, perhaps that was the hope of the North Viets. Gen. Westmorland, "the king of blunders", should have pulled the SF team out months before as well as the Marines holding the Khe Sanh and the surrounding hills. (To think that the Marines abandoned the SF team to their fate is absurd and is just another facet of the on going jealousy that is rampant between the services as well as in the US Army, ie the Airborne vrs the Cav) Or perhaps reinforced with units of the Air Cav that arrived at LZ Stud soon after the outpost was destroyed. The book is well writtten.

Contrary to other readers I found the author erred by concentrating on one of the participants at Lang Vei, namely, Lt. Longgrear, who had come so lately to the camp and knew nothing of the background or of the Green Berets involved in the history of the camp.

Parts of the author's descriptions of certain events contrast sharply with those of the Team Sargeant, William T. Craig, who was not trapped in the Command Bunker but was on the run outside the Bunker, along with several other Green Berets.

The author digresses repeatedly without making the effort to complete the subject matter thoroughly.

The book gives the reader only part of the story, however, as so many years have passed, it is no doubt impossible to ascertain what and why this particular event is still such a mystery.

The author did the research and told the truth, how refreshing to have the truth wihout the "spin" of the establishment. The valor is documented and the warts are acknowledged. Those who served and paid the price with their life deserved to have it told. It brought tears to my eys and heart when I read the names of the warriors who I kniw and respected so much. From one old soliderto the author "Thank You".