In this Marine combat memoir, Steve Johnson recounts his service in Vietnam from April 1967 to May 1968. Only 17 when he enlisted in 1964, Johnson deployed to Vietnam with the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, and his tour included such now famous locations as Phu Bai, Khe Sanh, Nha Trang and Quang Tri, among others. With a sometimes humorous tone, Johnson describes a war of often terrified high school and college-aged youngsters faced with exotic plant and animal life, monsoon rains, harrowing reconnaissance missions and death. Details are plentiful about tactics, equipment, geography and, always, fellow Marines.
Reading this book brought back to many memories. The time the author spent is Vietnam was the exact same time I was there down to the last day except on my last day I was wounded. Although I had a different MOS, (0811) we experienced many of the same experiences written in this book. Reading this book was like reliving my 13 months in Vietnam. I read this book in two days. It was hard for me to put it down. Although I didn't go out on patrols, we were the ones that fired artillery support for the guru he and Recon. One of the most frightening orders a cannon cocker could hear was "Expend All Ammo". When you got that command, you knew somebody out there was in deep shit!
This is an outstanding memoir of this Marine's service in Vietnam. The author is specific in his descriptions of events, locations, procedures and equipment while at the same time being humorous when describing certain things. I highly recommend this book as one of the best I have ever read about service is Vietnam from a fellow Vietnam Marine Corps veteran. Semper Fi to the author!
Very, Very well done. Things you think you'll remember forever, fade with time. Thank you so very much for returning the memories. Some painful, but all part of me. God bless you. Welcome home brother.
It is a simple book in its entirety and his narrative on his time in the Corps is well told. To the inexperienced reader, not having any military experience, this is a great primer on what Marine recon did in Vietnam. The author went through great pains to inform his father by corresponding through letters about his responsibilities as a team leader and in doing so, educated all of us. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you, Mr. Johnson for your service to our country and to your community of Jamestown. This was an effortless read and well worth the time spent. Excellent trailing commentary. Thank you, sir.