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Brown Water, Black Berets: Coastal and Riverine Warfare in Vietnam (Bluejacket Books) Paperback – April 15, 2012

by Thomas J. Cutler (Author)

38 customer reviews

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The men of the U.S. Navy's brown-water force played a vital but often overlooked role in the Vietnam War. Known for their black berets and limitless courage, they maneuvered their aging, makeshift craft along shallow coastal waters and twisting inland waterways to search out the enemy. In this moving tribute to their contributions and sacrifices, Tom Cutler records their dramatic story as only a participant could. His own Vietnam experience enables him to add a striking human dimension to the account. The terror of firefights along the jungle-lined rivers, the rigors of camp life, and the sudden perils of guerrilla warfare are conveyed with authenticity. At the same time, the author's training as a historian allows him to objectively describe the scope of the navy's operations and evaluate their effectiveness.

Winner of the Navy League's Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Literary Achievement in 1988 when the book was first published, Cutler is credited with having written the definitive history of the brown-water sailors, an effort that has helped readers better understand the nature of U.S. involvement in the war.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Cutler reminds us that 1.8 million Navy and Coast Guard troops served in Vietnam (2670 killed in action), with most of the casualties sustained in coastal or riverine operations. Himself a veteran of brownwater action, the author presents a stirring collection of unit histories that starts with the arrival of the first U.S. naval adviser in Saigon in 1964 and ends in 1972 when the last American naval bases were turned over to the South Vietnamese. He chronicles the genesis and operations of Task Forces 115, 116, 117i.e., the Coastal Surveillance Force, the River Patrol Force and the Mobile Riverine Force. Most of the action consisted of small-craft interdiction patrols. Readers will find that, with one or two exceptions, the action reported here is low-keyed in comparison to most infantry-oriented books about the Vietnam war, but Cutler, who teaches at the Naval Academy, is primarily interested in publicizing the overall contribution of these special task forces, which was considerable.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This is a well-written journalistic account of some of those men in small boats who fought and died on the canals and rivers in Vietnam. Cutler writes from personal experience and interviews, paying particular attention to the human side of the war. There is little of the broad context within which these events took place, nor much criticism. The information is reliable, and some of the stories are gripping in their action. From books like this, the definitive history will be written. Illustrations not seen. For libraries with special interests in the Navy and Vietnam. Edward Gibson, Alderson Broaddus Coll. Lib., Philippi, W. Va.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product details

Series: Bluejacket Books
Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Naval Institute Press (April 15, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1557501963
ISBN-13: 978-1557501967
Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 1 x 9.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 38 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #737,586 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1385 in Books > History > Military > United States > Vietnam War
- #1659 in Books > History > Military > Naval
- #7968 in Books > History > Asia

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It reads like a novel

ByStanley Brookoffon July 15, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I needed EXACTLY this book for research on a particular section in a novel I'm writing. Only one small part of this large novel deals with the riverines in Vietnam. Without this extremely well written book, I would still be spending time researching on Google instead of writing.

This book is extremely well written and detailed. It reads like a novel, but it is filled with facts: names, places, events. If you are interested in riverine activity in the Mekong Delta and Saigon environs, or if you are interested in the Vietnam War generally, this is the book for you.

Hyperspace

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Brown Water Navy

ByD. Leggetton February 9, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I served 25 months in Nam and 7 of those were on the Mobile Riverine Force on T-112-10 (a flat top). It was really informative to me. My wifes old boyfriend was mentioned in it, Jere Beery, that was cool. I learned more about what I did, why I did and where I did than I did when I was actually doing it. Very good book. To all you "River Rats", welcome back and may God bless those who didn't make it.

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STAND BY TO RECEIVE PBR.

ByJoseph R. Calamiaon June 22, 2009

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

"Brown Water, Black Berets" by Thomas J. Cutler is, without a doubt, one of the most exceptional historical chronologies of America's brown-water Navy that I have had the opportunity to read. It is a chronology of the development of the Riverine forces in Vietnam, but...it is not a textbook by any means! The author explains the progressive trends and development of naval tactics on the rivers, but does so with real life and death stories that pull it all out of printed pages and onto the fast flowing chocolate waters of Vietnams numerous rivers.

The author's book re-illuminated my own personal memories of those rivers until they were in bright Technicolor, and stereo sound! Mr. Cutler does a superb job of explaining each operation until the reader feels like he/she has become a certified historian of the Riverine forces and naval operations of the Vietnam War.

A great book for any historian or, veteran's library!!

0Comment 4 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

An Excellent History of Vietnam Riverine Operations

ByShellbackon June 20, 2010

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is excellent book for anyone interested in the Vietnam War, and riverine operations. The book overviews Operation Market Time, Game Warden, the Mobile Riverine Force, etc, and it outlines why these strategies were developed and as to why they were, or were not successful.

The Navy's primary focus after WWII was its blue water fleet, and it neglected its small boat operations, so during the Vietnam War commanders developed new tactics, platforms and training for their riverine forces to disrupt the Vietcong's logistical lines. As the war dragged on the Navy's mission grew from patrolling the South China Sea to conducting raids on the rivers behind enemy lines. And just as in any war the enemy implemented new ways to overcome the American tactics, which led the American to develop new tactics.

This is an excellent account of an often overlook part of the Vietnam War.

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Five Stars

ByMario Garcia, Jr.on June 6, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

excellent

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A good general history

ByMiltonon November 1, 2009

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I found the book while researching the history of Clearwater, and I wish I had known of it 20 years ago when much of the information now available was not available elsewhere if you get the search terms right. I have personal knowledge of the happenings between pages 269 and 284, and I think it is a fair report. I only wish that the author had taken on the task of reporting what happened after the craft were turned over to the Vietnamese in northern I Corps, and the struggle of the advisors and Vietnamese to continue the mission without the support of the U.S. Within a year, the 23 boats turned over were, in the main, destroyed with a great loss of life and hope.

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... the section where it portrayed John Kerry as a great hero. Anyone who was there knows better

ByJohn B.on September 12, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

A thought it was a five star book until I got to the section where it portrayed John Kerry as a great hero. Anyone who was there knows better. Other than that pretty accurate.

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I was USN PBR sailer in the Mekong Delta

ByJLon February 23, 2014

Verified Purchase

I was there and this book is an accurate depiction of the roals played and some of the combat action experienced. For those wanting to know a bit more about the tole of the Brown Water Navy in Vientnam, This is a good start book to read.

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

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Five Stars

Great book I recommrnd it!

Published 8 months ago by Darrel Burger

Five Stars

Great book.

Published 10 months ago by jon neset

Five Stars

Great Book

Published 1 year ago by Richard Kelly

Five Stars

Great book

Published 1 year ago by Milford E. Traber

I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to know ...

As a former River Rat, I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to know what we did and what we went through, as well as our missions and the brotherhood of the Black...Read more

Published on August 15, 2015 by academy Bob

Five Stars

Published on February 25, 2015 by M. Gluck

no exit strategy.

excellent in-depth analysis of jungle naval warfare on inland waterways. the Vietnam war began as another U.S.Read more

Published on February 13, 2015 by aaron a yelverton

TET the Good Years

If you haven't been there you won't understand this book. I was 67/68/69 TET The Good Years

Published on January 18, 2015 by RICHARD E WILSON

Five Stars

great, awesome book. helped me know more history about this war. great read from front to end.

Published on November 4, 2014 by eugene f dunham III

Five Stars

gift for riverboat friend.

Published on November 2, 2014 by Harry L. Newkirk

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