The Walking Dead: A Marine's Story of Vietnam [Mass Market Paperback]

Charles W. Sasser (Author), Craig Roberts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2, 1989

FROM RAW RECRUIT TO COMBAT HERO

In July 1965, Pfc. Craig Roberts crossed the Da Nang River with the 9th Marines -- into the heart of a jungle alive with savage Viet Cong. Eight months later his unit would be called...

THE WALKING DEAD

In constant danger, they flushed the enemy from tunnels and rat traps; defused lethal mines, punji pits, and trip wires; and scored countless hits in ambushes, sweeps, and all-out firefights. From booby-trapped villages to battles at Cam Ne, Le Son, the Phong Le Bridge, and in "Operation Starlight," they shared incredible risks, comradeship, and pride. Now Roberts tells the gripping tale of their war.

Shot down and rescued, wounded in action, Roberts survived against fantastic odds and served as an automatic rifleman, recon leader, sniper, and as an advisor to a Combined Action Company of ARVN Rangers. Transformed from an ordinary nineteen-year-old into a deadly killer, he was the recipient of ten decorations, including two Purple Hearts, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, and a Combat Action Ribbon. His memoir is a story of extraordinary challenges met for honor, freedom, and the Corps.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Charles W. Sasser has been a full-time freelance writer, journalist, and photographer since 1979. He is a veteran of both the U.S. Navy (journalist) and U.S. Army (Special Forces, the Green Berets), a combat veteran and former combat correspondent wounded in action. He also served fourteen years as a police officer (in Miami, Florida, and in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he was a homicide detective). He is author, co-author or contributing author of more than 30 books and novels, including One Shot-One Kill and Hill 488, both available from Pocket Books. Sasser now lives on a ranch in Chouteau, Oklahoma, with his wife Donna.

Craig Roberts retired from the armed forces in 1999 with 30 years total service. He was awarded ten decorations for his Marine Corps service in Vietnam, where he served as a Marine sniper. He was also a career police officer with the Tulsa, Oklahoma, police department. An internationally published writer, he is the author of Combat Medic-Vietnam and Police Sniper, as well as the co-author of One Shot-One Kill, and The Walking Dead.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books; Second Pocket Books Printing edition (January 2, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671657771
• ISBN-13: 978-0671657772
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #834,980 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #31 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Asia > Southeast Asia
  • #79 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Military > Strategy
  • #90 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Military > Vietnam War

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars John J. Freeman, SSgt. USMC - member of The Walking Dead, October 23, 2005

By 

John J. Freeman - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Walking Dead: A Marine's Story of Vietnam (Mass Market Paperback)

This book, although interesting reading, is replete with historical inaccuracies. The writers, both Tulsa Police Officers, "borrowed" a title belonging to another unit - that of the FIRST BATTALION, NINTH MARINES. Roberts writes of his service with the Second Battalion and Third Battalion, and even talks of those unit's nicknames, "Hell in a Helmet" (2/9) and "Shadow Warriors" (3/9). There are very few Vietnam Marines living who do not know that "The Walking Dead" was indeed 1/9.

The books title gives a false impression that he served in one of the most famous infantry battalions in the Marine Corps. His book is fiction and self-flattering.

Roberts & Sasser's accounting of the Morley Safer incident at Cam Ne don't match up with the actual incident either. Although 2/9 did operate in that area, it was Delta Company of 1/9 (not 2/9 as Roberts states) that entered the village on the day described in his book. I would know because I was there at the time.

When reserching Roberts claims of being a Marine Sniper I found a website with a photo of his "donated" uniform to an alma mater of his. The uniform had a Rifle "Sharpshooter" marksmanship badge on it along with Vietnam Service Ribbons. I never heard of a "Sharpshooter", or anyone less than a qualified Marine Rifle "Expert" qualifyer ever being selected to be a Marine Sniper either.

I don't recommend this book to ANYONE interested in an accurate war novel. This book is not about the famed "Walking Dead" as it's title implies. I am throwing away my copy.

30 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The Walking Dead: Misrepresented, January 5, 2000

By 

David Anderson (Western Montana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Walking Dead: A Marine's Story of Vietnam (Mass Market Paperback)

Throughout the history of the United States Marine Corps, officers and enlisted alike have consistently distinguished themselves, through altruistic and heroic acts of courage on the battlefield. During America's involvement in the Vietnem War, 1st Battalion 9th Marines, Third Marine Division, nicknamed The Walking Dead, was no exception to this tradition. One Nine's roster is replete with names of men who earned numerous senior personal decorations for bravery and valor, often at the cost of their lives. Unfortunately, costs were high during the War in RVN, as evidenced by more than 440 of the Walking Dead killed in action and over 2500 wounded in action.

In their book, The Walking Dead: A Marines Story of Vietnam, Major Craig Roberts, USA ret. and former Green Beret medic, Charles W. Sasser, advance a story of the heroic exploits of Pfc. Craig Roberts. The story takes place in 1965 when Roberts was serving a tour with 3rd Battalion 9th Marines and 2nd Battalion 9th Marines, Third Marine Division. This book was written to appeal to non-Marine, non-Vietnam veterans, who are not concerned with historical accuracy and are not offended by Roberts disingenuous self aggrandizement.

Roberts betrays his lack of affiliation with The Walking Dead by refering to it as 2nd Battalion 9th Marines. One would be hard pressed to find a Marine Vietnam veteran who doesn't know that The Walking Dead is the First Battalion of the Ninth Marines and not the Second Battalion. This might seem trivial to non-Marine readers, but it would be equivalent, in the sports world, to Joe Montana, writing a book about his career and insisting that he played for the San Francisco Raiders. Roberts and Sasser also advance the non sequitor bovine scat that during his tour, Pfc. Roberts was not only a marine rifleman, but also a sniper, and recon team leader. Other than these representations, it's an interesting read that should be in the fiction section at Amazon.com.

Amazon.com has some exemplary books on the various unit participation in the Vietnam War at great prices. I would recommend to readers interested in the factual history of that war, to save their money on The Walking Dead and instead buy some of the following selections: SOG by John L. Plaster, Marine Sniper by Charles Henderson, Inside Force Recon:Recon Marines in Vietnam by Michael Lee Lanning and Ray William Stubee, and Never Without Heroes: Marine Third Reconnaissance Battalion in Vietnam 1965-70 by Lawrence C. Vetter.

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The Walking Dead, October 21, 2005

By 

Robert J. Syler "USMC 'Doc" (Salado, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Walking Dead: A Marine's Story of Vietnam (Mass Market Paperback)

Mr. Roberts attempts to capture the essence of the Vietnam combat experience for the noncombatant reader, which can't be done. One has to live it to really understand it. Simply ask any Vietnam Vet and they will tell you...Only those who've "been there" can understand. I find it extrememly difficult to believe that Mr. Roberts lead a recon team, served as a sniper, advised a CAC team of ARVN Rangers, and was shot down and rescued... all in one tour, and as only a PFC. I would rate the book as a work based on limited historical fact, mixed with large doses of personal fictional embellishments designed to entice the reader to purchase more of the author's works. By the way, it was 1/9 who were "The Walking Dead".

Robert J. Syler
Master Chief Petty Officer, USNR RETIRED
Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines
Combat Corpsman 1966-'67