Customer Reviews

Only War We Had: A Platoon Leader's Journal of Vietnam

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I missed the Vietnam War by a year or two. I served as an 11B from 72-78. I always wondered what it would have been like to have been there in a rifle company. Plenty of books about SF and LRRPs, but not very many written by a real infantry platoon leader. I never had a tremensous desire to be an elite soldier in an elite unit (if I could have even made it). I only wanted to be a rifle squad leader. This book really made me feel what it would have been like. What I missed. It is a real world book. Not a battle every minute book filled with stories of great exploits. Just a real world grunt in Vietnam book. I highly recommend the companion book Company Commanders Journal.

This is one of the best books I've ever read, when it comes to documenting the day to day events of a soldier in war. Based on the writer's journal as an Infantry platoon leader, and reinforced with letters sent & kept by the authors wife, this book is both poignant and detailed.From simple remembrances of c-rations and malaria pills, to major battles and the loss of friends, Lanning's book remembers them all, and shares them with the reader.

The thing that sets this book apart from others like it is the fact that it is the author's personal journal from his tour as a platoon leader in Vietnam. It lacks the "story-telling" quality that most other personal accounts of the Vietnam War have. Often it is not well-written or completely coherent, but that only serves to help the reader understand the conditions under which the entries were made. The entries are sopplemented by the author's reflections upon preparing them for publication. The events in this book were recorded as they occured - not years later - and that's what makes its special.

This book is on the "Recommended Reading List" of Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 295, Indianapolis, Indiana

Colonel Lanning's book is an absolutely superb record of the day-to-day feel of the misery and discomfort of infantry combat in his areas of operation in RVN in 1969. The descriptions of the heat and the loads that the grunts carried, the descriptions of the leeches attaching to one's genitals, the descriptions of losing good men, the mental toll of working in a high-booby-trap area, inspiring leaders, depressing leaders...I could go on and on. Lanning's description of the wounded company commander, his palate and teeth shot, clenching a field dressing in his mouth, able to communicate only by grunting or drawing diagrams in the dirt with a pistol barrel, blood running down his chest, and weeping for his RTO who saved him, but died by covering an NVA grenade (and awarded the MoH)...and insisting that he be the last wounded soldier pulled out (and awarded the DSC). Here is infantry combat at the lowest and closest. As an infantry officer of 26 years, I wiped my tears on my shirt cuff as I read through that battle. Here you experience the brotherhood, camaraderie, commitment, and sacrifice for each other of infantry at squad and platoon level. I know how difficult it is, in light infantry, to keep a diary on the inside of cardboard C-ration boxes or on soggy notepaper kept in a plastic bag in one's ruck. At night. Under a poncho. You know, in those conditions it's mighty tough to write long journalistic prose. I admire the author's tenacity in keeping his journal. The reader can feel the subtle change in the author's emotions and outlook as the days go by. Overall, Lanning's book is one of the finest, riveting, first-hand accounts of combat at platoon leader level I have ever read. I'm looking forward to his second book that covers the last half of his tour in RVN. Great work, COL Lanning, and may God bless you for your service.

This book was recommended to me by my father, who was a Ranger in Vietnam during the same time period (my father and the author went to Ranger School together). Growing up, my father guided me toward the most realistic books and movies about Vietnam. This book was THE best and most realistic account of Vietnam that I have read to this day, detailing the daily account of a young man at war. Anyone who wants to truly understand the "grunt's" point of view should read this and Mr. Lanning's other books. Excellent!

Lt. Lanning writes about an ambush on July 3rd. I was there that day. Mike Folland jumped on a grenade and saved our CO. He got the medal of honor. I was his squad leader that day. As far as I'm concerned, the book tells the story as I remember it.
Bob Manning

This author put together an interesting book from his own journal keep at the time of the book. And augmented by the letters he sent home to his wife and family.
This book revolves around the portion of the authors tour up to his R&R to Hawaii. He has a second book that covers the second portion of his tour: Vietnam 1969-1970 A Company Commander"s Journal. I have the second book and I'm really looking forward to reading it.
Col Lanning style of starting by quoting his entry from his journal and then commenting on those quotes from the perspective of today, and including what was going on with his family mad this book very compelling,
As VN vet myself I found his experiences familiar, but as time has gone by I find myself more and more interested in hearing other vets experiences.
This is a very well done book about one man's experiences and reflections.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to anyone.

I've had these books for more then 20 years now - taking them with me through flood and fire. The first is the first 6 months of his tour and the 2nd is the second 6 months of his tour in Vietnam in 1968-1969.

M. Lee Lanning was the youngest person ever to lead an entire Company of 200 soldiers even though he was only a First Lieutenant, all at the age of 23.

I find these books truly fascinating - they show the horror, the boredom, the friendships made and the attempts at comedy used to stay sane during wartime. I never thought that a "War Memoir" would ever capture my attention, but this did it. Many (if not most) war books are written by the pencil pushers or REMF's and not someone who actually held a rifle and saw the enemy.

Each page is straight from the diary that his father gave him before he shipped out - then what follows is his memory of that day.

One of my favorite excerpts:

"Our move was delayed when one of the FNG's (F-ing New Guy), who had joined Bravo Co. at Crystal (their main base) a few days before, saw something in a clump of bamboo. Seconds later he approached me carrying a heavy, cone-shaped object that I immediately recognized as a 105mm artillery round. From it's shiny exterior, I deduced it was a "dud" from our fire before assaulting the bunkers.

The FNG, proud of his find, had no clue what he was cradling in his arms. As calmly as possible, I told the man to walk back into the jungle for at least 50 meters, gently place the object on the ground and return to my location. The tone of my voice, and the fact that all the others were scrambling for cover, definitely got the troop's attention.

Without a word, he followed my instructions. I braced for the expected explosion as he turned away and slowly walked towards the jungle..."

If you get this make sure you also get "A Company Commanders Journal" that is the second of this series - it contains his journal entries from the second 6 months of his tour.

This book is a combonation of the author's personal journal, and his reflections on the entries upon compiling them for publication. I have read a lot of "first-hand" accounts of the Vietnam War, but this is probably the best. Unlike many others that are written after the fact and embellished by memory, this one was written as it happened. For that reason, it is not always completely coherent or well-written, but one has to remember the conditions under which it was composed. A must read for small unit leaders.