The Rescue of Bat 21 Paperback – February 9, 1999

I decided to read the book after enjoying the Gene Hackman movie "Bat 21". The introduction clears up that this book came after and is to a great deal a response to that movie and the book it was based on. More thoroughly researched and able to divulge more details, this is a more commplete and accurate story of the late way SAR operation than the movie could have been. Yes, acronyms - there are a bundle in this work, seemingly touching every sentence in a work possibly geared at vets and other military pros. Fortunately, there is a glossary and an index to remind you where technology and operation code names were first mentioned and explained. Among the tech I never heard of before was the debilitating BLU-52 poison gas (seemingly in between tear and nerve varieties; very nasty stuff) and such things as WAAPM: "these weapons would release hundreds of bomblets that ... would not explode, but instead would extend trip wires, that when snagged by a person would explode" and other air bomblet "gravel". Wow! How did that work? Similary the air-dropped sensors and automatic guns along the persitent Ho Chi Min Trail.

The author makes an observation that some may want to apply to later excursions: "the story is also a warning about the dangers of alliances and pitfalls of coalition warfare in wars that are too drawn out, with objectives not clearly defined."

This book is also a lot about this, late period in the war when it was largely an air war of a withdrawing America and an invading North Vietname. A time when pilots had very little connection to the ground and the war at all, but the SAR missions were integral to morale: they kept would-be victims fighting and offered missions pilots and crews actually believed in.

Had the opportunity to meet Mr. Whitcomb in October 2010 at a military conference in San Antonio, TX as I was part of the US Air Force Air Rescue and Recovery mission who flew those 11 days over Lt. Colonel Iceal Hambleton (BAT 21) who finally was rescued by Lt. Norris (Navy Seal) when all the other attempts kept failing and more personnel were being killed in their rescue attempts. Lt. Hambleton died in 2006 and he was a very gracious person who stated he could never repay every person who was involve in his rescue, and deeply saddened for those who paid the supreme sacrifice

I highly recommend this book about the rescue of Lt. Col. Iceal Hambleton (USAF), especially to those who have seen the movie “Bat 21” (1988) with Gene Hackman and Danny Glover. William C. Anderson's book “Bat-21” was the basis for that movie. Darrel D. Whitcomb's “The Rescue of Bat 21” gives rich development of the background, circumstances, and aftermath of that story, which Hollywood already portrayed. It does give the Bat 21 storyline, but not through the eyes of Hambleton. Though more analytical, Whitcomb did come across with intense feeling about the Bat 21 episode.

It is difficult to watch the history of the American involvement in Vietnam without coming to the conclusion that it was a display of the failure of American leadership - and more specifically, the instability of the American people of whom they represented. There is enough blame to go around.

Whitcomb, a Vietnam era FAC (forward air controller) himself, established for his readers the circumstances of the tragedy of America's Vietnam experience, since the rescue of Bat 21 illustrated the range of what was both right and wrong with putting American lives in harm's way. On the one hand, we had the American attention span. “The United States likes it's wars to be quick and with clear purpose.” America's purpose of stopping Communist aggression against the nation of South Vietnam was so modified and mired by the Administration's rules of engagement that a military victory could never be won. America's political war had already been lost in the White House, on the college campuses, and in the streets. Contrast this with the opposition. “North Vietnam was prepared to wait until the United States tired of the war and went home. Time, they felt, was on their side.” And, they were right.

By the time of the Bat 21 incident (April 2-9, 1972), not only were the protesters back home against the war, the draftees didn't want to be there, the professional soldiers were frustrated, the South Vietnamese and Americans were tired of each other, but even the American ground forces were increasingly indifferent toward the American air war being waged. UUUU was the graffiti of the low morale of the troops: “the unwilling, led by the unqualified, doing the unnecessary for the ungrateful.” The SAR (Search and Rescue) - That Others May Live - activities were one of the few remaining functions that motivated the air elements of our forces in Vietnam. “I'd do it for you” - “Flight of the Intruder” (1991) - was the understanding of the downed airmen. Airmen took care of airmen. That was Bat 21.

Chapter 14 “Disconnect” is probably the most insightful analysis of the American experience in Vietnam extant. The initial commitment of the American soldier to accomplish the mission was portrayed by Mel Gibson's “We Were Soldiers” (2002). By the time of the fall of Saigon (1975), the war had already degenerated into an environment that was characterized by the Animals' song “We Gotta Get out of This Place Place” (1965) - “If it's the last thing we ever do.” “Fragging” a superior officer with a fragmentation grenade soon became a part of America's wartime vocabulary. Jane Fonda's photo at an NVA anti-aircraft gun emplacement (1972) cemented her role as Hanoi Jane and illustrated the power of the opposition against further involvement in Vietnam. America had already been defeated because it clearly lacked the way to win. America's polarization had to be brought to a conclusion. We lost. But, Bat 21 illustrated that Americans could overcome obstacles and win, if they were motivated. Bat 21's rescuers were.

I served with Iceal Hamblton. I was at Hill AFB Utah when he went through combat training there before both he and I went to Southeast Asia. Although at least ten years my senior he was apparently in great physical condition then and it was demonstrated in his book in telling the ordeal he endured in the jungles of Vietnam.
I suppose a critical viewer might point to the actual writing but I found it to be incidental to the actual gripping story he tells in that book. I thoroughly enjoyed it perhaps more because of my personal attachment to its contents.
My own experiences while in Southeast Asia was 208 combat sorties. There but for the grace of God goes I.

I have read this book several times. It was excellent many for reasons. The bravery, and courage of all US service members and the South Vietnamese involved with this mission was incredible given the size and scope of the NVA breaking the DMZ. God Bless America. God Bless Lt.Col Andrew E. Andersen USMC who planned and led this mission. Col Andersen was A great Marine, a great friend, a great patriot of the USA, and a great father. Col. Andersen was wounded by a NVA mortar attack at the forward operating base. Please read the book.

If you want to read and know the real story... this is it. I met Darrel Whitcomb at a reunion in 2000; he spoke to our veterans group. My old Air Cavalry Troop (F Troop 8th Cavalry) was the one that lost the 2 helicopters and crews. The Hollywood version with Danny Glover and Gene Hackman is a joke. The War College was written and produced a paper on the incident - https://www.amazon.com/BAT-U-S-Army-War-College/dp/1511592702. Check it out for yourself....

Enjoyable book