Customer Reviews

Sappers in the Wire: The Life and Death of Firebase Mary Ann (Military History)

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

 

 

This is the true story of the destruction of Fire Support Base Mary Ann by a Viet Cong sapper company which was able to penetrate the outer perimeter wire undetected, because no one was awake in any of the bunkers. It was 1971, and nobody wanted to be the last GI killed in Vietnam. Officers and NCOs became complacent about night time security, otherwise this event shouldn't have been as deadly an attack as it was. Skillfully written, and exceptionally well documented, it is must reading for any career officer and NCO about the need for following seurity SOPs religiously. Keith William Nolan rightly has been credited as a "master of the personal interview," and his book brings out the best and worst in what went wrong the night of 27-28 March 1971. This is a story that you won't soon forget.

This book helped me remember how lucky I am to be here to read it. I was amazed at how much detail he found in his research, best one Ive read on viet nam and what it was really like. Thanks mr. Nolan

The war was winding down but for the men of the 196th LIB home was just a distant dream. As a member of Charlie Company, I can attest to the accuracy and fairness the author treats the grunts of LZ MaryAnn. I only pray that we will never see a war like VN again.

I agree totally with the previous reviewer that this should be required reading in the War Colleges of all the services. I was a MACV infantry advisor who pulled into LZ MaryAnne with two companies of my ARVN battalion the night before the NVA attack. I can remember clearly sitting on top of a bunker, looking at the hills that surrounded the firebase within easy mortar range and thinking that this was probably the stupidest place I'd ever seen to put a firebase. Added to that was the obviously slack discipline of the line grunts and the seeming lack of interest of their officers and I have to admit I was glad to get out of there the next morning. When the NVA assault broke out that evening, we were over 12 klicks away and all I could do was listen to it on the radio and shake my head at the waste of lives that I knew was taking place. Eleven years later when I met some of the survivors at a reunion that accompanied the dedication of the Vietnam Veteran Memorial, I was only slightly surprised to find that they agreed with my opinions on the battle.

i was with the 3rd/16th arty 155 splittrail.there are some true reasons why we got overrun. before that night we had highteck devices to let us know if even a rat came within 100 ft. of the wire.but the big wigs pulled them in and evacted the grunts leaving the guns defense nil.there was an platoon of arvn regs that went out after dark,and came back the next morning.in all 76 americans lost there lives,and 3 arvns.a site i will never forget.pvt b.brownell

This book caused me to think of people and places I hadn't thought of for the past 30 years. I served with Delta company Sept. 1970 till July 1, 1971. Keith Nolan told a story that should have been told long ago. After reading Sappers in the Wire I was upset with some of the things that were said about Delta. But I now realize that not everyone will recall events in the same light. It has a lot to do with where you are at in the chain of command. This book caused me to get in touch with quite a few of my wartime brothers. It has also help me to remember things that were in the back of my mind, THANKS Keith for telling at least part of The Professionals story of 1970- 1971. I will re-read this book over and over, because each time it helps me remember more.
SFC Joseph H. Wolfe, Jr. US Army (Ret)
Charleston, SC

This was the 1st book I read about the Vietnam war and I thought it was well written and has a fast pace. I was in high school when the war ended so did not know alot about the war. This book & several others I have read afterward have been illuminating as to what our vets faced. Buy this book.

AASIGNED TO COMPANY "D" 1/46, 196 INF, I KNOW MR. NOLAN HAS TONS IF INTERVIEWS AND DOCUMENTS ON THE SUBJECT, FSB MARY ANN, I BELIEVE THAT VOLUMES COULD AND SHOULD BE WRITTEN AS WELL AS PHOTS, NOT TO STOP SHORT OF A FEATURE FILM.....

My husband was stationed there when he was in Viet Nam. He could not put the book down until he finished it and gave it to his son to read. He had forgotten so many things and people and the book brought back a lot of memories both good and bad. I want to thank Keith Nolan for writting the book.

AASIGNED TO COMPANY "D" 1/46, 196 INF, I KNOW MR. NOLAN HAS TONS IF INTERVIEWS AND DOCUMENTS ON THE SUBJECT, FSB MARY ANN, I BELIEVE THAT VOLUMES COULD AND SHOULD BE WRITTEN, AS WELL AS, PHOTOS, NOT TO STOP SHORT OF A FEATURE FILM.....