Books and Graphic Novels

eggbeast

ok so let's post up our favourite books and novels about Vietnam.

Give the title, author a link to it on Amazon or elsewhere, and a few words about why you like it and recommend it to us!

We'll also post up some of our developers Graphic Novels soon

Here is my office bookshelf:

FUBAR

“Gentle Propositions” by J.S. Economos.
https://www.amazon.com/Gentle-Propositions-J-S-Economos/dp/0615997635/ref=nodl_

Its a fictional account of a SOG team in Vietnam and a new team members entry into the teams and his missions. The author isnt a vet himself, but you can tell he really did his research and has mad respect for the veteran community, MACVSOG in particular. He is also a super humble and down to earth guy, and I have personally corresponded with him on social media before, and he is very knowledgable.

Cochise

For all the "rotorheads". Two of my favorites.

https://www.amazon.com/Chickenhawk-Robert-Mason/dp/0143035711

https://www.ama z on.com/Low-Level-Hell-Hugh-Mills/dp/0891417192

eggbeast

Have met Jason Economos on messenger and chatted a lot - he's a great guy - he's in a Jocko podcast with Tilt.
I still need to get Low Level Hell!
Chickenhawk is a classic.

I'm currently reading Reluctant Warrior by Mike Hodgins
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reluctant-Warrior-Marines-Heroism-Vietnam-ebook/dp/B004G8OXVE
It's an interesting account of Force Recon Marines in Vietnam

FUBAR

I’ve seen a lot of the Tilt podcasts, but somehow I havnt seen or heard the one with J. Ill have to find it

Cochise

eggbeast wrote:
Have met Jason Economos on messenger and chatted a lot - he's a great guy - he's in a Jocko podcast with Tilt.
I still need to get Low Level Hell!
Chickenhawk is a classic.

I'm currently reading Reluctant Warrior by Mike Hodgins
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Reluctant-Warrior-Marines-Heroism-Vietnam-ebook/dp/B004G8OXVE
It's an interesting account of Force Recon Marines in Vietnam

Will have to check this out!☝

I've just finished
https://www.amazon.com/GUTS-GUNSHIPS-Really-Helicopters-Vietnam-ebook/dp/B014TUIW7O
There's a great audio clip the author has included too. Salty language so PG for the younger ones!

Next on the list is https://www.amazon.com/Matterhorn-Novel-Vietnam-Karl-Marlantes-ebook/dp/B003V8BRTQ/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

which I've been meaning to read for years. So much good reading so little time...

Sharpe

Dear Mom: A Sniper's Vietnam: Ward, Joseph T: Amazon.nl

A different perspective on sniping in the Vietnam War.

Dead Center: A Marine Sniper's Two-Year Odyssey in the Vietnam War: Kugler, Ed: Amazon.nl

Same as above. Both books are interesting for the simple reason that they're much more down to earth tales then what you'd find on Carlos Hathcock.

Also, probably the best starting point on the activities of SOG in the Vietnam war:

SOG: The Secret Wars of America's Commandos in Vietnam: Plaster, John L: Amazon.nl

AIFInfantrymen

Tunnel Rats, About the discovery of the Cu Chi tunnels during Operation Crimp by the boys of 3 Field Troop along with all the high jinx they got up off-duty

https://www.bookdepository.com/Tunnel-Rats/9781743317358

A Sappers' War, History of the Australian Engineers in Vietnam going from the start to the finished

https://www.bookdepository.com/Sappers-War-Jimmy-Thomson/9781743319628

Bomber, From Vietnam to hell and back: An Amazing Story of One Vietnam vet Tour of duty along with the hardship he face post service and he redemption latter on when he went back to Vietnam to help clear landmines he he help lay

https://www.bookdepository.com/Bomber-Mark-Whittaker-Tony-Bower-Miles/9781405040334

Damianteo31

A bit difficult to find some of these books online as they are no longer in print. So I decided to just put up all my SOG related books in one photo for you guys to see. Not in the photo are two volumes of Jason Hardy's MACV SOG books. Enjoy!

FUBAR

That’s quite a collection. You must be a Vietnam historian by this point 😆

Damianteo31

Haha nah. Just a very keen interest in all things SOG.

Sharpe

I'm going to add 2 more books of my collection

The Phantom Story: Davies, Peter E., Thornborough, Anthony M.: Amazon.nl

A bit of history on the F4 and F4 variants amd what they carried aboard during the Vietnam war.

Vietnam: The Helicopter War: Chinnery, Philip D: Amazon.nl

Title pretty much says it all. The book also contains info on several experiments like the gunship Chinook, and dropping napalm from a huey..

eggbeast

I updated the first post with photos of my office bookshelf - not read them all yet, but getting there!

Jonesey80

As the war in Vietnam has always fascinated me since watching Platoon, Hamburger hill and full metal jacket etc. I've managed to read quiet a few books based on the war.

Below is a little list of some of my favourite ones, a lot of these are based on helicopter operations and air support.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cleared-Hot-Marine-Combat-Vietnam/dp/125005155X

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lonely-Kind-War-Forward-Controller/dp/0891416382

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Firebirds-Chuck-Carlock/dp/0553577050

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Low-Level-Hell-Scout-Pilot-ebook/dp/B001QAP3JQ

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gunship-Pilot-Helicopter-Warrior-Remembers-ebook/dp/B07921KJYD

https://www.amazon.co.uk/When-Thunder-Rolled-F-105-Vietnam/dp/0891418547

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chickenhawk-Robert-Mason/dp/0552124192

eggbeast

Read already:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gunship-Pilot-Helicopter-Warrior-Remembers-ebook/dp/B07921KJYD

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chickenhawk-Robert-Mason/dp/0552124192

Goin on my list - thanks:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cleared-Hot-Marine-Combat-Vietnam/dp/125005155X

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lonely-Kind-War-Forward-Controller/dp/0891416382

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Firebirds-Chuck-Carlock/dp/0553577050

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Low-Level-Hell-Scout-Pilot-ebook/dp/B001QAP3JQ

https://www.amazon.co.uk/When-Thunder-Rolled-F-105-Vietnam/dp/0891418547

Two recommended pilot memoirs:

Snake Pilot by Randy Zahn

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Snake-Pilot-Flying-Helicopter-Vietnam/dp/1574886118

Fighter Pilot by Robin Olds
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fighter-Pilot-Robin-Olds-Rasimus/dp/0312569513

Damianteo31

For those looking for great Vietnam War graphic novels other than the Nam series,

Don Lomax's Vietnam Journal series is a quintessential Vietnam War read!

And also this one, The Other Side. Dark, but good.

Sharpe

Amazon.com: The Green Berets (9780312984922): Moore, Robin: Books

one more that i forgot from my collection

eggbeast

This ain't Vietnam, but 3 marines who wereawarded the MOH in recent conflicts wrote their books...
https://coffeeordie.com/gwot-medal-of-honor-books/

MWGFGhost

I just finished reading Death in the A Shau Valley: L Company LRRP's in Vietnam 1969-70 by Larry Chambers.

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Shau-Valley-1969-1970-1992-03-26/dp/B0168SN0RC/ref=sr_1_4?crid=24M5J6UIE05TN&dchild=1&keywords=death+in+the+a+shau+valley&qid=1623162613&sprefix=death+in+the+a+shau%2Caps%2C157&sr=8-4

I got through this book fairly quick. Really good read from start to finish with a bit of a sobering end. I got my copy from a local used book store. Men from his unit actually wrote a series of 3 books called Six Silent Men. I have the first one by Reynel Martinez, but I'm actually going to read a book titled First Force Recon Company Sunrise at Midnight by Dr. Bill Peters: https://www.amazon.com/First-Force-Recon-Company-Midnight/dp/0804118736/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=First+Force+recon+company+sunrise+at+midnight&qid=1623163322&sr=8-3

Again, I bought this at the used book store. I'll let you know how it is when I'm finished.

Sharpe

MWGFGhost wrote:
Again, I bought this at the used book store.

Used bookstores and thrift stores are basically treasure troves if you're out looking for books written on the subject, when the memories were still fresh..