Don't Bunch Up: One Marine's Story

by William Van Zanten

Captain William Van Zanten was one of the “Magnificent Bastards” of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, in 1966–a year when any day could bring death or dismemberment from a Bouncing Betty or a punji stake, a firefight or a sniper bullet. He and his men faced B-52-sized mosquitoes, rain, heat, disease, and a determined and elusive enemy who kept the Marines off-balance, edgy, and sleepless.

Yet Van Zanten persevered with a soldierly professionalism built on rigorous training. Dedication and boot camp forged the volunteer Marines of the early war years, so when the stakes went through the roof in Vietnam, commitment of man to man and man to unit was total. They supported each other with a soldier’s intimacy and endured with a soldier’s humor–and together that meant survival.

Genres: History

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 1, 1993

Reviews

[Ron Wroblewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book wasn't what I thought it was when I first began. I thought it was going to be all about his time in Vietnam. Instead it was all about his time in the Marine Corps, starting with high school. I found myself identifying with him more and more. When he went through Platoon Leader Class (PLC) summer training I thought of my NROTC Bulldog Cruise at Quantico (between my junior and senior years in college)which was just the second part of the PLC training. And then Basic School. Followed by his being in Vietnam. As a Marine Officer myself, I could "see" all the events he went through, including serving under great and less than great senior officers. I realized that with the dropout rate of officer candidates up to two-thirds, that the Marines didn't for the most part flunk you out, but that candidates dropped out. The Marines were looking for perseverance and endurance, the ability to see the mission through. I like how he ends: "humans actively and consciously strive so we make mistakes. Mistakes are a big part of life. I made plenty of them and always will. I trust that the reader can understand that in my view and judging from my own experiences, recovering from mistakes is almost always possible. Living life purely for the purpose of avoiding mistakes is self defeating. Life has to be lived with the fervent belief that the attempt is what counts. Failure can be overcome."

[Martin Koenigsberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captain William Van Zanten served with the 2/4 and 3/7 Marines in Vietnam, in 1965/66, the M-14 rifle and H-34 helicopter war- before the M-16s and the UH-1 Hueys. He led rifle platoons, served as a staff officer and operations officer- and seemed to have mastered the art of procuring beer via means both formal and informal. He lived by the credo "Get the Job done- and Take Care of the men"- that my father taught me was his own in WWII. In a taut, but detailed 269 pages, Van Zanten takes you from High School , through Boot camp, to college and then through Officer Cadet School for the Marine corps in the early 60s- the Post Korea Cold War Marine corps. But then a posting to Okinawa happens to coincide with the Gulf of Tonkin Incident/Resolution....

Peacetime Marines become combat vets fast. Van Zanten give you the war the way it was when everyone thought it would end next week- not when it was a fact of American life. Endless patrolling, medal-seeking Skppers, and the Helo insertions were all New, not cliches and tropes. The Corps adjusted to the conditions and the logistical base- and then began to go after Charlie. Van Zanten is in country from Operation Starlite to Operation Texas, for you hard core Vietnam hands- so his perspective as a middle executive in those actions is really interesting. I found the narrative informative and compelling from beginning to end.

There are some adult themes and combat gore, so this is a book best taken on by the junior reader over about 13/14, with an interest in history. For the Gamer/Modeller/Military Enthusiast, this is a rich trove. The Gamer gets a few ideas for smaller scenarios- and solid background information on the two named Operations (Starlite/Texas). The Modeller and Enthusiast get Diorama ideas aplenty and rich tactical and logistical details of the real Marine Vietnam. Getting a junior officer's view of this war, to sandwich in mind between the grunt memoirs and the Historians' or General's views, is very valuable for a fuller understanding of the conflict.

[Bob Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

History

This book should be required reading in our schools! The military cannot win wars controlled by politicians! We were sent to war by politicians, controlled by politicians, killed by politicians!

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A former Marine company commander tells of his experiences early in the Viet Nam war. He spends a good part of book explaining how he became a Marine officer. His role in several battles is described. He nails the Marine Corps spirit and pride right on the head but from the point of the officer ranks which are not exactly same as for the enlisted Marine.