Vietnam, 1969 - 1970: A Company Commander's Journal (No.1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Col. Michael Lee Lanning (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 12, 1988

Lieutenant Michael Lee Lanning went to Vietnam as an eager young patriot who was confident of surviving the war. After six months in-country, he was promoted at age 23 to company commander, and his sense of duty began to shift from his nation to preserving the lives of the men in Bravo Company.

Lanning and his men faced an enemy who was patient, elusive, and firm in the belief that they could outlast the Americans. The young commander also confronted the prospect of sudden, violent death, bone-numbing weariness, and the stench of blood and decaying flesh. He would lose friends and would acquire a cynical contempt for all Vietnamese, both allies and enemies.

Vietnam, 1969-1970, like its predecessor, Lanning's The Only War We Had, is taken from the journals the author kept during his tour of duty. He writes, "I dusted off men with wounds that will disable them for the rest of their lives. I dusted off a dead man that was one of the best soldiers I ever have known. I am realizing the full burdens of being a company commander."

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

". . . one of the most honest and horrifying accounts of a combat solder's life to come out of the Vietnam War." -- The New York Times Book Review --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

MICHAEL LEE LANNING was born in Sweetwater, Texas, and graduated from Texas A&M University in 1968. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1988, after having been awarded the Bronze Star with two oak-leaf clusters and numerous other decorations for his service in Vietnam.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (January 12, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804101876
• ISBN-13: 978-0804101875
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,026,437 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books I've ever read, January 3, 2007

By 

C. C. Ingersoll (Ann Arbor, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Vietnam, 1969 - 1970: A Company Commander's Journal (No.1) (Mass Market Paperback)

I've had these books for more then 20 years now - taking them with me through flood and fire. The first is SECOND 6 months of his tour while, "The only war we ever had: A company Commanders Journal" is the FIRST 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 "Only War We Had: A Platoon Leader's Journal of Vietnam" that is the first of this series - it contains his journal entries from the first 6 months of his tour.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Real World Vietnam Book, August 27, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Vietnam, 1969 - 1970: A Company Commander's Journal (No.1) (Mass Market Paperback)

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 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 recommend the companion book "The Only War We Had."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars vietnam 1969-1970, December 8, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Vietnam, 1969 - 1970: A Company Commander's Journal (No.1) (Mass Market Paperback)

this book is the best book ive ever read.This book started out in hawaii lee was a luitenant at the time but he wanted to upgrade his level in office so he was asked to become company commader his journey through the viet kong was very exiting it was full of action and outrage his tale was very inspireing he stood up for his men and became very popular as bravo company commander and became one of the best plotoon in vietnam his wife lived in sanfracico her name was linda when lee move out of the states his wife was pregnant with there girl rosallie.he was waiting to come home after 8 months in the war he was a month awayfrom coming home to the states when he got a rear job which he was waiting for and then took his long ride back home to sanfracisco.