In a remote mountain stronghold in 1968, six thousand US Marines awoke one January morning to find themselves surrounded by 20,000 enemy troops. Their only road to the coast was cut, and bad weather and enemy fire threatened their fragile air lifeline. The siege of Khe Sanh-the Vietnam War’s epic confrontation-was under way. For seventy-seven days, the Marines and a contingent of US Army Special … Army Special Forces endured artillery barrages, sniper fire, ground assaults, and ambushes. Air Force, Marine, and Navy pilots braved perilous flying conditions to deliver supplies, evacuate casualties, and stem the North Vietnamese Army’s onslaught. As President Lyndon B. Johnson weighed the use of tactical nuclear weapons, Americans watched the shocking drama unfold on nightly newscasts. Through it all, the bloodied defenders of Khe Sanh held firm and prepared for an Alamo-like last stand.
Now, Gregg Jones takes readers into the trenches and bunkers at Khe Sanh to tell the story of this extraordinary moment in American history. Last Stand at Khe Sanh captures the exceptional courage and brotherhood that sustained the American fighting men throughout the ordeal. It brings to life an unforgettable cast of characters-young high school dropouts and rootless rebels in search of John Wayne glory; grizzled Korean War veterans; daredevil pilots; gritty platoon leaders and company commanders; and courageous Navy surgeons who volunteered to serve in combat with the storied Marines.
Drawing on in-depth interviews with siege survivors, thousands of pages of archival documents, and scores of oral history accounts, Gregg Jones delivers a poignant and heart-pounding narrative worthy of the heroic defense of Khe Sanh.
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I flew over that area just before the start of the standoff. I was a recon pilot for SAC LAOTION BOMBING . I was surprised not to have heard too much about the area except “stay as far west of the Marine outpost as possible and do not go slow over Khe Sanh . Get in and get out as fast as you can. I did my run at about 1100 mph for about 50K.That was my last flight in Vietnam/Laos. What a crappy war. I don’t think Mc Namarra wanted to win.
We did not want to hurt China and Russia’s feelings. But they were supplying ALL OF THE GUNS ETC FOR THAT WAR. The uUAUUUUUSSSs
For those who have not experienced the horrors of combat, it is a “should read”. I only gave it a 4-star rating because it was not a pleasant read, but the first hand experiences of these men was enlightening and very, very real. The futility of that war and the lifetime impact on the surviving participants is heartbreaking.
For those of us who came of age during the Vietnam war but didn’t fight, this is a must read in order to really understand what was going on on the ground
Khe Sanh mainly from the individual Marines experiences. Enough background information to allow you understand the events surrounding the battle. Excellent history.
I was stationed in Da Nang during the battle at Khe Sanh and have always admired the brave Marines that fought there. The book was a great read and brought back many memories, some good, some bad, about the Vietnam war and all the brave warriors that fought there. The book should be required reading for all American History classes. I thoroughly appreciate the book, the various Marines’ story, and the difficulty in writing a book of this type. Thanks for it!
It was just too hard to picture the locations with the limited map. I also couldn’t picture the landscape. I struggle with no character development. Extremely brace men who deserve our thanks. God bless them all.
Informative book about one of the most pivotal battles of the Vietnam war
Puts you right into the heat of the battle.
It was apparently a true story and the author had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. Sometimes I felt like I was there on the battlefield with each and every soldier.
Gives the reader a view of the hardships, the dedication, the will to fight against overwhelming odds, and the sacrifice these men gave for this country.
Great boo on Khe Sanh. Informative, first hand information. Reminds us of what great young men and women served in Vietnam.