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Noble Warrior: The Life and Times of Maj. Gen. James E. Livingston, USMC (Ret.), Medal of Honor

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So few Medals of Honor; yet so many are awarded for those quick and usually fatal decisions made in combat; so many citations are of those young Marines who threw themselves on a hand grenade or charged a pillbox. With some 70% of Medals of Honor awarded posthumously, it is rare to have the opportunity to learn about the action from the Marine himself.

"Noble Warrior; The story of MajGen James E. Livingston, USMC (ret), Medal of Honor" provides a unique window into the world of a Medal of Honor awardee who is both a survivor and an officer. An autobiography written with experienced military authors Colin Heaton and Ann-Marie Lewis, MajGen James Livingston's book gives the reader a look at the man behind the medal. From enlisting in the Marine Corps to fighting in Vietnam to his post-combat career, Noble Warrior is a well-written book that begins to shed light on the life of a most interesting Marine.

Not quite a depression baby; Livingston was born just months prior to the start of WW2 in rural Georgia. With his family economically better off than most, he relates how his parents were unique in ignoring the segregationist practices so prevalent at that time, and how those beliefs carried over to his Marine Corps years. "I always believed," he wrote, "in what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said...that a man `should be judged by the content of his character and not by the color of his skin.' This was never truer than on the field of battle, and it is one of the great hallmarks of our beloved Marine Corps"

This was a unique code of ethics for a Georgia boy during those turbulent times, and equally unique was his father's pushing him off the farm in order to obtain a college degree. Perhaps not so surprising was his joining the Marine Corps, in his eyes `the most aggressive outfit,' Soon Livingston received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant, sent to Camp Pendleton, and deployed on a southeast Asian float. After a second cruise, Livingston threatened to resign if he was not given command, so he was shipped to Vietnam as commanding officer of Echo Company, 2nd Bn, 4th Marines. The die was cast.

Just weeks earlier, Echo had suffered 60% casualties and Livingston made certain that any casualties suffered in the future would not be due to slipshod training. A hard-charger even by Marine standards, Livingston explains his rationale for the never-ending and sometimes ruthless training programs for which he was known "I led by example," he wrote, "and was always shaved, had my gear in order, and was always in the front of a fight or PT run. You have to lead from the front...anyone can shout orders from the rear, but I would not want to follow such "leaders" into harm's way either." Sound policy as he led his Marines during the firefights so prevalent in pre-Tet Offensive's Quang Tri Province.

Most actions resulting in a Medal of Honor are short in duration; Noble Warrior recounts how Livingston earned his during the pitched battle at Dai Do. Written in an understated style that belies the intensity of the fight, Livingston narrates how an understrength battalion landing team found itself locked in a three-day battle against 7,000 experienced North Vietnamese regulars.

With Golf 2/4 finding unexpectedly heavy resistance when assaulting Dai Do, Livingston's Echo Co was ordered to assist. After their first two attacks stalled, he personally led the reserves in a charge that broke the enemy lines. Although wounded twice, Livingston directed his Marines in killing the remaining NVA fighting from their bunkers. Only 35 of more than 100 Marines remained combat-effective.

Yet the fight was far from finished. Hearing that Hotel 2/4 was pinned down by numerically superior NVA forces, Livingston moved the remainder of Echo to Hotel's position where he led the merged companies in yet another charge. After an hour of hand-to-hand fighting, the Marines owned the field...for the moment.

Later in the day, the reinforced NVA attacked in force, so Livingston ordered supporting fire and smoke in order to bring the Marines out in a phased withdrawl. Wounded for the third time, he was firing at the NVA when two Marines dragged him out.

Recovering from his wounds, Livingston returned to Vietnam, and under the command of Col Al Gray (later Gen, CMC), was involved in the desperate evacuation of Americans and Vietnamese as Saigon fell in 1975.

Retiring from the Marine Corps in 1995, Noble Warrior further describes how Livingston went on to a successful public service career. Written in a blunt and unyielding style that co-authors Heaton and Lewis wisely left unchanged, "Noble Warrior; The story of MajGen James E. Livingston, USMC (ret), Medal of Honor" is well worth reading.

There is a very select group of men (and 2 women) who have earned America's highest medal for bravery. There are even fewer who are alive to tell their story - most eschew the limelight. "Noble Warrior: the Story of Maj Gen James Livingston" is the story of how then-Captain Livingston earned the Medal of Honor.

In 1968, the North Vietnamese Army kicked off the Tet Offensive. The North Vietnamese (NVA) 320 Infantry Division attacked east towards the South China Sea in the hopes of securing a victory against the US Marines. Even with a loss, the video images of a North Vietnamese flag temporarily flying over the largest American base in Vietnam could burn lasting images in the hearts and minds of Americans everywhere. By eroding the support back home, the North Vietnamese could expedite the departure of the American combat forces and hasten the spread of communism in Vietnam. It was an excellent strategy, but it failed to account for the tenacity of the US Marines who had plans of their own.

In April 1968, elements of the 2nd Battalion of the 4th Marine Regiment, or 2/4, executed a battalion attack, they contacted NVA forces. What transpired over the next few days would decimate the NVA 320 Infantry Division to the point where they would be unable to be used in combat for 5 years. It also cost the lives of many Marines. As you read the narrative, there were many acts of individual bravery - but the reader will learn about the two men who earned the Medal of Honor during the Battle of Dai Do.

Maj Gen Livingston finishes the book with personnel reflections on his service after the 1968 battle. He was one of the last Marines out in Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon in 1975 and offers his unique perspectives. Recently, Livingston also advised on the recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. He doesn't withhold any punches where the responsibility lay for that debacle.

Maj Gen Livingston continued to serve America long after his recognition. I highly recommend this outstanding book.

NOBLE WARRIOR: THE STORY OF MAJ. GEN. JAMES E. LIVINGSTON, USMC (RET.), MEDAL OF HONOR documents the life and career of a major general who has seen historic battles and who analyses these events at the highest military level. Personal stories of battlefront experiences and his Medal of Honor actions makes fro a powerful survey of a World War II vet who also helped plan and execute the evacuation of Saigon. Military collections will find this inspiring, vivid reading!

Noble Warrior: The Life and Times of Maj. Gen. James E. Livingston, USMC (Ret.), Medal of Honor by James E. Livingston, Colin D. Heaton, and Anne-Marie Lewis is more than the story of Maj. Gen. James Livingston and how he earned the Medal of Honor. It is an excellent book on leadership that uses his story to convey the lessons.

We learn how he went from North Georgia College and Auburn University to joining the United States Marine Corps, getting his commission and his journey to fighting in Vietnam to his post-combat career. The book is excellent. It is well written and well documented. It helps us understand the life of a Marine and his leadership.

Livingston makes clear his motivation for the unlimited and occasionally ruthless training programs for which he was known. He had his Marines doing physical training in the combat zone. He maintained discipline - personal hygiene (including shaving), weapons maintenance, and personal equipment. He was a leader by example. I have no doubt his leadership saved many lives. His men were physically fit, their equipment well maintained and in good repair, and he had earned their follow-up by providing leadership.

Livingston recounts how their under strength battalion landing team found itself in a three-day life and death battle against 7,000 experienced North Vietnamese regulars.

I found myself wondering how bad it really was as I turned the pages of the account. The narrative was captivating. He clearly painted the picture where you felt like you were there with them. I was amazed when the men left the steaks and soft drinks behind to dash to the aid of the fellow Marines. It told me a lot about how he had trained and prepared his men to be Marines. How they put the good of the mission and the unit above individual needs.

Lance Cpl. Valdez's account of Captain Livingstone never taking a step back or flinching got my attention. It reminded me of how our actions speak louder than our words. His men saw him lead out front.

His having them fix bayonets and then a movement where he used "the tested and tried edict of penetrating and then widening the hole. We had practiced these types of small-unit maneuvers and were good at it." Again I see the leadership. This is more than just doing your job.

These are the things you have to do to be ready. These are the types of preparation than save lives and win battles. When you do what you should do you are viewed as hard. From reading the book I am convinced that only because he had paid the price in preparation, maintained the discipline having them stay fit, sharp, and their weapons maintained allowed them to overcome such a huge force.

Livingston returned to Vietnam and was involved in the frantic mass departure of Americans and Vietnamese as Saigon fell in 1975. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1995. He went on to a successful public service career where he advised on the recovery from the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. He does not hold back where he thinks the responsibility lay for that catastrophe.

The book is excellent. It would be a good addition to any military history or Vietnam War library. I see the book also as a good case study on how to do it right in the midst of a very bad situation - an outstanding resource for junior officers of all branches. The emphasis on physical training, weapons maintenance, and the basics of being a good Marine (or soldier) should inspire all junior leaders to do their job as it should be done. The use of the sidebar and the stories was excellent. It was like an in-depth look at the main event I was reading.

Major General Livingston for your service and leadership to the United States, thank you. To Colin D. Heaton and Anne-Marie Lewis for allowing the story to be told where you get a since for the personality and grit of Major General Livingstone, thank you. To all three authors - well done.

Once again, military authors Colin Heaton and Anne-Marie Lewis have delivered with a powerful story of tremendous courage and valor in the face of the enemy.

A Marine Corps Captain on May 2, 1968, James E. Livingston ignored enemy rounds landing near him in the Vietnamese village of Dai Do. He bravely led his men in an assault against enemy positions within the village. Although painfully wounded twice, he refused medical treatment and courageously directed his men in the destruction of enemy bunkers. Wounded a third time he continued to led his men, driving the remaining enemy from their positions, and relieving the pressure on his stranded marine company. For these actions, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

The story of Major General Lames E. Livingston chronicled in this autobiography epitomizes the values of courage and selfless service that have kept America free. The reader gets a rare look at the man behind the medal. From the days of joining the Marine Corps to Vietnam and to his post-combat career, as you read about this extraordinary hero, his courage and his character will awe you. Livingston holds no punches as he reflects on the Vietnam War.

I encourage everyone to read this well written book. Absorb the story and spread the word so that men like Livingston can serve as role models, especially to our young. Noble Warrior is the real thing; this person is a real hero; and his story is amazing. Any parent would do well to get this book into the hands of their teenagers to show them real American values.

Extremely pleased as always with every purchase I have made from Amazon,onky way to go!!

I read a lot of books. Because I choose carefully, I recommend about half of them to other folks. This is the best book I have read in at least a year, probably longer. It's an autobiography, but because the General wisely selected two competent co-authors/researchers to assist, it has a much wider perspective than usual, and is free of the self-aggrandizement too common in memoirs. Marines, Vietnam vets, and military history buffs will be enthralled by the account of Captain Livingston leading his beloved Echo Company of 2/4 (the Magnificent Bastards) in a bayonet charge at the battle of Dai Do, a fight that arguably saved the Dong Ha Combat Base from being overrun, thus giving a great strategic and political victory to the Communists. His was one of two Medals of Honor earned in the battle. Anyone who thinks the fighting in Vietnam was less intense than in other wars, or the troops less courageous, should read this book and be educated out of their error. For anyone interested in the dynamics of leadership, General Livingston could bottle and sell the stuff by the case.

Then-Captain Livingston was a self-admitted "hard ass," insisting on physical training even in the field, and grooming standards and combat training when "resting" in "rear areas." (Marines will understand why I put those things in quotes.) He is the kind of officer the troops grumble about until they have been in and survived combat. Then they respect and love him forever. The many interesting sidebars with comments from his troops, peers and commanding officers, which greatly add to the book, make it clear how respected and beloved General Livingston was and is by his brother Marines.

General Livingston gives full credit to his troops and superiors, a trait of modesty that seems to come with America's highest decoration for valor. They all say they wear it for their comrades, and the General is no different. There is strikingly little of the "I-I-I-I" in this book you hear so often in the speeches of politicians safely in Washington, sending better men and women to war, and taking credit for their victories.

The book has several additional value-added bonuses. General Livingston played a major role in the final evacuation of Saigon, interesting and bitter reading for any vet. He was involved in fighting the Communist insurgency in the Philippines, and probably narrowly escaped assignation. He served as an officer and in a civilian capacity in New Orleans, and has important insights into the tragedy that befell that city during Katrina. Lastly, his comments on the current military and political situation, and concerns for the future, should be read by all serving officers, but more importantly by policy-makers in Washington.

Marines like me, who were fortunate enough not to be assigned to rifle companies in Vietnam, will always wonder if we could have measured up to be one of Jim Livingston's Marines. Perhaps, if he "kicked us in the ass" (his phrase) enough, but we will never know. The phony veterans who keep popping up, and the many who never darkened a recruiting office door to try to serve, they do know, and must, as Shakespeare said, "hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks that fought with" Livingston at Dai Do. Every Marine who reads this book will be proud to have worn the same uniform as General Livingston.

Robert A. Hall
Author: The Coming Collapse of the American Republic
(All royalties go to a charity to help wounded veterans)

The book comes with a lot of flattering testimonials. Too much flattery is always a good sign that the wares are suspect. You get the idea someone is trying to sell you something. And, sure enough, the prologue contains some backing and filling with respect to the Civil Rights struggle of the 50s and 60s. Livingston wasnt one of them racist Georgia rednecks, like all the others. He was another Saint Jimmy Carter. "I dont smoke and I dont chew, and I dont go with girls that do."

Sure he was.

Everyone from South Georgia was a bigot in those days. I was there.

Livingston may be a real tiger in the arena but his tale has some stretchers in it.