Casting Alpha: Amtracs in Vietnam (Paperback)

~ James R. Kelly (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Casting Alpha depicts the daily life of U.S. Marine Corps amtrac crewmen during the Vietnam War and the continuing anxiety, as a result of enemy land mines, referred to as the big wait.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: 1st Books Library (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0759671710
• ISBN-13: 978-0759671713
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,147,978 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Realistic and down to earth of the everyday life in Nam, March 27, 2004

By	Don Harty (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I served in that unit about during the same time period in both Chu Lai and Danang. The one thing that struck me about the book was the way Jim dealt with the everyday realities and boredam of life coupled with the moments of danger and insanity. I was taken back to the days of my youth and really was moved by the book. There is a section about burning the latrines which is classic and brought back some funny memories. I am buying two copies and sending them to my children so they can understand in some small way what their dad did during the war.

Amtracs are big armored vehicles that float (sort off) and were used in Nam to do many different things. His portrayal refreshed memories that have been long surpressed and hidden in my own mind. It covers the life as we lived it every day. It was 37 years ago but it seems like yesterday when I read this book.

I highly recommend it for those children of us "old vets" to better understand us.

5.0 out of 5 stars Casting Alpha: Amtracs in Vietnam, October 26, 2009

By	Kenneth B. Rush (New Albany, IN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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This review is from: Casting Alpha: Amtracs in Vietnam (Hardcover)

Having served in the same unit (3rd Amtrac Bn) two years after James Kelly, Casting Alpha brought back many forgotten memories of Hill 190 and Namo Bridge from 40 years ago. It is very well written book.