Gone Native: An NCO's Story

by Alan Cornett

On his first combat assignment, Cornett accompanied the Vietnamese Rangers on a search-and-destroy mission near Khe Sang. There he gained entree into a culture that he would ultimately respect greatly and admire deeply. Cornett's most challenging military duty began when he joined the Phoenix Program. As part of AK squad, he dressed in enemy uniform and roamed the deadly Central Highlands, capturing high-ranking VC officers in hot firefights and ambushes. It was there, deep in enemy territory, where the smallest mistake meant sudden death, that the Vietnamese fighting men earned his utmost respect.

While offering rare glimpses of an aspect of the war most of the military and media never saw, Cornett tells the full, gut-wrenching story of his Vietnam. He also gives an unsparing view of himself - telling a no-holds-barred story of an American soldier who made sacrifices far beyond the call of duty . . . a soldier who, in defiance of the U.S. government, refused to turn his back on the Vietnamese.

Genres: War, Military History, History, Military Fiction

292 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 6, 2000

Reviews

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+ stars. This is one of those books you cannot put down. It is one man’s story of his seven years fighting in Vietnam. So many of the things he says remind me of what my NCO’s related to me in the early years after the war. Then, I wasn’t sure how true they were but now, after much reading, conclude they are. One truth is clear: too many times the “higher ups” do not know what faces the troops in contact and they order irresponsible, suicidal, tactically stupid advances to “confirm the situation.” Here (page 146) it cost one dead and one wounded American. Same scenario is repeated in Gary Linderer’s two “Phantom Warrior” books (Vietnam) and in Pete Blaber’s “The Mission, the Men, and Me” (Iraq). Unconscionable. Cornett introduces us to a highly professional Vietnamese soldier, Captain Le Xuan Phong, who supposedly is writing a memoir entitled “The Gray Tiger” (Phong’s nickname) about his war exploits. This is 2020, 20 years after the paperback was published and neither Goodreads or Amazon have such a title; will continue to search for it.

[Michael Burnam-Fink · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sgt. Cornett had an exceptional military career, centered around multiple tours in Vietnam. The son of a military family, he enlisted to get a choice of assignments rather than whatever the draft tossed his way. A good record in bootcamp got him through Special Forces Medic training. He didn't fit in with Special Forces culture, and after bouncing around the rear area teaching new troops medic techniques, he wound up with the "Foul Dudes" Lurps, a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol for the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne. Cornett and the Foul Dudes got into a ton of trouble: heavy combat, heavy drinking, smoking Marijuana and worse. It's amazing Cornett even remembers anything that happened, given his substance consumption. Cornett got into tons of trouble off the battlefield, from an annualed marriage to a local beauty queen, to an arrest for drug trafficking after he hit on a waitress at a cop bar in Los Angeles with a trunk full of Vietnamese marijuana. The book picks up again when he joins Project Phoenix, and gets assigned to Montagnard villages, and a Vietnamese Ranger company operating out of Dalat. Cornett winds up marrying the sister-in-law of his commander, Captain Phongm but his American commanders won't let him see his pregnant wife. After she miscarries, Cornett fragged the XO, with the confession "Yeah I blew him up. He was an asshole." The officer survived, Cornett served a few years in the brig, and then returned to the Army as an NCO, competition wrestler, and parachute team demonstrator.

This is a big rambling collection of warstories, and that's its strength and weakness. Cornett gives it to you straight, but the book could benefit from some organization, and maybe a little more insight.

[Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brought back some interesting memories since my aviation unit (174th AHC) supported his LLRP unit in Duc Pho during the author's tour described in the book. Probably dropped him off and picked him up on several of his missions. Overall, a good account of what it was like to conduct long range patrols, and serve in an adviser capacity during the war.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing tale! So many things that most people probably never knew or realized about Vietnam and how things went over there, both for the Americans and the native people. Well worth the read! Highly recommend this to any avid reader.

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting soldier's tale. Decent read. =)

[Lee Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping, very humble and absolutely necessary-to-read account of being a special forces soldier during the Vietnam war.
The author was rejected by the fifth special forces for being too young and with no experience in the field, recieved more training and became a long reconassaince medic.
A must read for anyone seriously interested in the story of a guy who fought for five extremely long years.

[Mike Pitonyak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story!

[Mykal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book. Seemed like a level headed guy that was pushed too far at the end. Those gaylords got what they deserved.

[Emmett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good biography of a soldier that spent many years fighting in Vietnam. Kind of eye opening after reading histories of men serving only one or two years in that war.

[Doug DePew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cornett's credentials are beyond reproach. He's been there and done just about everything the Army has to offer. This is a well written and very personal story of his journey through more than six years of combat in the jungles of southeast Asia. It is an amazing story. The author shares a lot of personal information that often would make a retired senior NCO uncomfortable, but he delivers it with the same candor as he does the combat stories. He saw parts of the war that few other men saw and lived to tell his story. He also made nearly every mistake it was possible to make. As a former Infantryman myself, I am in awe of men like Cornett. His story simply must be heard. He does it in an extremely straight-forward, direct way in this book that brings across the brutality of war and the bond of combat. His honesty and candor are laudable.

Alan Cornett was sometimes in conflict with his superiors over a rebellious streak, but he delivered when it counted. He managed to survive a rocky start to his career and to survive nearly seven years in combat. Being willing to admit it is even more remarkable.

This is an amazing account of an amazing life. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys military memoirs or Vietnam history. Actually, I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good story. I think it would be useful for any young person to read...especially one who is struggling to make it. It's a great book!

[Andrew Ziegler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent story. Should have been ghost written by someone other than the author. Alan's story is amazing, heartbreaking and breathtaking at times, however someone with more writing skill should have been given the pen here.

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at what it was like for American soldiers on the front line of the Vietnam War

[Marius Croeser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply, yes!

[Rodney Inciong]

A fairly well written first person bio. Nothing especially special but well written, sad and entertaining. I usually get bored with these type of memoirs
, but I enjoyed it and finished it.