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Ripcord: Screaming Eagles Under Siege, Vietnam 1970 Mass Market Paperback – June 3, 2003

by Keith Nolan (Author)

105 customer reviews

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On April 10, 1970, Hill 927 was occupied by troopers of the Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne Division. By July, the activities of the artillery and infantry of Ripcord had caught the attention of the NVA (North Vietnamese Army) and a long and deadly siege ensued. Ripcord was the Screaming Eagles’ last chance to do significant damage to the NVA in the A Shau Valley before the division was withdrawn from Vietnam and returned to the United States.

At Ripcord, the enemy counterattacked with ferocity, using mortar and antiaircraft fire to inflict heavy causalities on the units operating there. The battle lasted four and a half months and exemplified the ultimate frustration of the Vietnam War: the inability of the American military to bring to bear its enormous resources to win on the battlefield. In the end, the 101st evacuated Ripcord, leaving the NVA in control of the battlefield. Contrary to the mantra “We won every battle but lost the war,” the United States was defeated at Ripcord. Now, at last, the full story of this terrible battle can be told.

Ripcord: Screaming Eagles Under Siege, Vietnam 1970

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“AN ABSOLUTELY SUPERB ACCOUNT OF WAR AT THE LEVEL OF THE INDIVIDUAL SOLDIER . . . This is a major contribution to Vietnam War literature, particularly of action at the small-unit level.”
—Military Review

“Keith Nolan’s research, his comprehension of the political as well as the military actions, his careful concern for those who were there, and, most of all, his writing, are superb. I recommend Ripcord without stint or reservation.”
—STEPHEN AMBROSE

“With Ripcord, Keith Nolan has added another significant battle history to his impressive list of works on the Vietnam War.”
—JOHN DEL VECCHIO
Author of The 13th Valley

From the Inside Flap

On April 10, 1970, Hill 927 was occupied by troopers of the Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne Division. By July, the activities of the artillery and infantry of Ripcord had caught the attention of the NVA (North Vietnamese Army) and a long and deadly siege ensued. Ripcord was the Screaming Eagles' last chance to do significant damage to the NVA in the A Shau Valley before the division was withdrawn from Vietnam and returned to the United States.
At Ripcord, the enemy counterattacked with ferocity, using mortar and antiaircraft fire to inflict heavy causalities on the units operating there. The battle lasted four and a half months and exemplified the ultimate frustration of the Vietnam War: the inability of the American military to bring to bear its enormous resources to win on the battlefield. In the end, the 101st evacuated Ripcord, leaving the NVA in control of the battlefield. Contrary to the mantra "We won every battle but lost the war," the United States was defeated at Ripcord. Now, at last, the full story of this terrible battle can be told.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product details

Mass Market Paperback: 560 pages
Publisher: Presidio Press; 59819th edition (June 3, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0891418091
ISBN-13: 978-0891418092
Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.2 x 6.9 inches
Shipping Weight: 0.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 105 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #693,961 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #547 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Leaders & Notable People > Military > Vietnam War
- #1303 in Books > History > Military > United States > Vietnam War
- #7493 in Books > History > Asia

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Top customer reviews

Brutally Honest

Bysusanon January 15, 2017

Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase

Love the book for the brutal honesty. The problem I have is, you must figure out in the beginning that the author is giving testimonies from many participants & so the story does not flow. I knew one man was killed, then 5 pages later, he is alive again, before I figured out it was another man's "take" on the same incident or battle. It is a little hard for me to follow, not being military & a female, but if you understand that going into the book, it is easier. I am not finished as yet but am really enjoying it. Maybe enjoying is a wrong choice of words but it is a good, true story. Husband is a Vietnam Vet & a man in his VA group was in the battle of Ripcord. That is what spurred my interest. Horrible thing our government did to these men. People must never forget that war is awful & mistakes are often made that cost many needless lost lives.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Excellent!

ByPatrick D. Mahaneyon November 2, 2012

Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase

One of the best works on company and battalion-sized actions during the Vietnam War. Ripcord has the grit and the focused attention to detail that rivals the best in military history. The individual level of combat analysis at the platoon and company reminds me greatly of some of the earlier works of S.L.A. Marshall ("Drop Zone" and "Men Against Fire"). Nolan's book Ripcord focuses primarily on small unit actions of the 2/506 Infantry of the 101st Airborne in the A Shau Valley in spring-summer 1970 with specific emphasis on seizing and holding a hillmass that was called "Firebase Ripcord." The four month long operation degenerated into a slugfest with the NVA, and sucked in most of the third brigade's line units before the operation was concluded in July 1970 with a forced withdrawal of the U.S. forces from the firebase. The book also includes significant material of the operational planning at the brigade and division level that was behind the brigade-size operation. Ripcord is a well-written and thoroughly detailed study of this mis-directed and strategically suspect campaign. A very valuable addition to the library.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

There but for the grace of God, go I.

ByRobin P.on April 26, 2013

Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase

As an Airborne RTO, I served from 69-71 but, thank the gods, I never had to report to this CF. If one book captures the whole of the war and the decisions made at the time from a combat perspective, this is it. It avoids the "big picture" politics but focuses from a macro/micro-level (i.e., Division, Brigade, Battalion down to the grunt) the movements and decisions made that continue to ask what it was that we were trying to do there. And while the mantra of "We won every battle we fought" will continue, this book admits the failure of our involvement in the Valley and answers why we did not win the battle for the A Shau.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

On a rock in a hard place

ByAMRon October 27, 2012

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Knowing the basic details of this action beforehand I read it with the same trepidation as my reading of Les Carlyon's "Gallipoli", I knew it would end badly but was surprised by just how badly it begun, continued and ended for the troops involved. With graphic detail of the siege itself, the author also portrays how the sixties has firmly arrived in vietnam by this, time albeit 1970; social unrest, drug culture and anti-war feeling by now manifesting amongst the troops deployed in theatre. A citizens army indeed.

The term "Lions led by donkeys" comes to mind when at points in the book the higher authorities seem to have become focused on disengagement from vietnam to the detriment of the troops they still committed to the combat therein. Frugality with amunition may have had a place in Bastogne '44 but A Shau valley '70 !

Brilliantly portaying the events down to the level of the individual soldier, at times it read like following the plight of GM100 in Bernard Fall's "Street without Joy". A desperate yet thoroughly engaging read, depicting the collision of heroes and villains with superior numbers of NVA thrown in for good measure. Like Gallipoli I hated reading it to the inevitable futile end while being compelled to do so.

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my war was different than those poor souls on Ripcord

ByRTOon March 19, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Keith Nolan is an outstanding chronicler of the Vietnam war. As a veteran from 67/68, my war was different than those poor souls on Ripcord. What a truly shameful waste of lives for nothing. It just epitomizes the whole war there. If you are not willing to do everything you possibly can to defend one PFC then don't start the fight. This is an excellent book.

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Impressive

ByT. J. Walshon September 15, 2013

Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase

Follows the C Ryan method of interview and detailed background based on solid research. We are constantly inundated with the ideas of drugs and anti war sediment making the troops totally ineffective in the field. This book paints a more complete picture, noting the above, but also most are dedicated troops doing their best in an almost impossible situation

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Poor leadership when it mattered and no way the Lt

ByBill son January 27, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Well written and documented.Top brass said they were concerned with the troops but it was all about career. Poor leadership when it mattered and no way the Lt.Col. deserved the MOH!I feel sorry for the grunts, they deserved better.

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Excellent description of the Vietnam War experience

ByJonathan Saboon July 9, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

One of the best books I've read about the Vietnam War experience. An excellent blend of front line action and the details that determine those front line events.

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Most recent customer reviews

Great 101st Airborne Vietnam War Book

Great book--one of the greatest about the Vietnam War! I read this mainly because my brother was in it, and he was awarded the Silver Star for combat in this firebase battle.Read more

Published 1 month ago by Amazon Customer

Five Stars

Historic account of this siege. Hard to put the book down.

Published 1 month ago by Les A. Cofer

Too bad there weren't more like him

Above all, Kieth Nolan told what nearly all of the participants of that battle(including me) believe to be the truth.Read more

Published 4 months ago by Jim Harris

Great read

Amazing read could not put it down it was recommended by a Vet who was there THE REAL DEAL FOLKS

Published 5 months ago by jonathon

BUY IT, READ IT!

This is a highly detailed true story of the 4 1/2 month long battle for Fire Base "RIPCORD" in 1970 Vietnam. You will never read anything else like it.

Published 6 months ago by Detective

Five Stars

Action at its best! Hard to put down!

Published 7 months ago by Ken Olson

Four Stars

Excellent narrative of the struggle and confusion in wartime.

Published 8 months ago by ClaimsGuy85

Five Stars

good history on Vietnam

Published 8 months ago by Robert A. Snyder

Great Book..

Got this book for my husband for Christmas and he has already finished reading it....loved the book...

Published 8 months ago by Shirley A Ward

Amazing book which you can't put down!

Outstanding, well written book!!!! Everyone should read this book. Keith Nolan puts you right up front with our guys who fought this battle.

Published 11 months ago by MB-17

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