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Lions of Medina: The True Story of the Marines of Charlie 1/1 in Vietnam, 11-12 October 1967
Thursday, 12 October 1967
Marine Lance Corporal Kevin Cahill stepped onto a trail deep in the remote Hai Lang National Forest of South Vietnam. Following Cahill were the 166 Marines of Charlie Company, First Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division. Confident, well armed and ready to fight, their mission was to locate and annihilate any North Vietnamese Army forces they could find.
Cahill, a sharp and experienced point man, knew that taking the well-worn and ominous trail was a bad idea, but an order was an order and he led Charlie Company forward. It was a decision that would cost the 19-year-old his life. As he took a step to his left, toward a small knoll, Cahill walked right into the blast of a machine gun and the column of men he led suddenly faced decimating grenade and small-arms fire.
Rather than Charlie Company finding the enemy, the NVA, over two thousand men strong, had found Charlie Company. Surrounded, outnumbered, outgunned, and quickly running out of ammunition, the Marines now faced annihilation and hell on earth under the jungle canopy.
Would the men of Charlie Company survive? How could they hope to beat back a vastly superior enemy force set on their complete destruction? Who would ever live to tell the tale of the “Lions of Medina”?
Marine Lance Corporal Kevin Cahill stepped onto a trail deep in the remote Hai Lang National Forest of South Vietnam. Following Cahill were the 166 Marines of Charlie Company, First Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division. Confident, well armed and ready to fight, their mission was to locate and annihilate any North Vietnamese Army forces they could find.
Cahill, a sharp and experienced point man, knew that taking the well-worn and ominous trail was a bad idea, but an order was an order and he led Charlie Company forward. It was a decision that would cost the 19-year-old his life. As he took a step to his left, toward a small knoll, Cahill walked right into the blast of a machine gun and the column of men he led suddenly faced decimating grenade and small-arms fire.
Rather than Charlie Company finding the enemy, the NVA, over two thousand men strong, had found Charlie Company. Surrounded, outnumbered, outgunned, and quickly running out of ammunition, the Marines now faced annihilation and hell on earth under the jungle canopy.
Would the men of Charlie Company survive? How could they hope to beat back a vastly superior enemy force set on their complete destruction? Who would ever live to tell the tale of the “Lions of Medina”?
494 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2007
About the author
Doyle D. Glass
3 books8 followersDoyle Glass (born January 22, 1962) is an American historical novelist and sculptor. He is best known for his bestselling nonfiction books Lions of Medina (2007), Swift Sword (new edition 2023) and for sculpting the Texas Medal of Honor Memorial (2008) and the Kentucky Medal of Honor Memorial (2001). Glass began writing and sculpting following a career as a criminal prosecutor in Texas and Kentucky.
Glass was born and raised in Midland, Texas, to George H. Glass, a rancher and oilman, and Myra Glass. He has two brothers, George, Jr., and Braxton. When Glass was twelve years old, he made his first visit to the Alamo and read 13 Days to Glory by Lon Tinkle. He has been fascinated by history ever since. A love of art followed shortly thereafter.
He graduated from Southern Methodist University (SMU) with a BA in history in 1983 and received his Juris Doctor degree, also from SMU, in 1988.
After graduating from law school, Glass began a career as a criminal prosecutor, working as an Assistant District Attorney in McLennan and Bell Counties, Texas and later, as an Assistant Attorney General, Special Prosecutions Division, in the office of the Kentucky Attorney General. In his spare time, he worked to foster his love of creating art.
In 2000, inspired by the American sculptor Augustus Saint Gaudens, Glass retired as a prosecutor and began work as a professional artist. Combining his love of history and art, he conceived of, designed, and created the Kentucky Medal of Honor Memorial, a life-size representation of WWII MOH recipient John Squires, and, later, the Texas Medal of Honor Memorial, a heroic size representation of Korean War MOH recipient George O’Brien.
Inspired by the heroes honored by these memorials and by Lon Tinkle’s account of the Battle of the Alamo that he had read many years before, Glass authored two nonfiction books about the men who fought in the Vietnam War.
His first book, Lions of Medina, was so successful and personally rewarding that he embarked on a career as a full-time writer. Based on personal interviews Glass conducted with survivors of Operation Medina, a military operation conducted by the Marine Corps in the Hai Lang National Forest of South Vietnam, the book was published by Coleche Press in 2007 and by NAL Caliber Penguin in 2008. Medal of Honor recipient William T. Perkins is featured prominently in the work. Lions of Medina was selected as winner of the 2008 USA Book News Best Book Award.
His second book, Swift Sword, based on personal interviews of nearly fifty survivors of Operation Swift, recounts, in the words of the men themselves, a harrowing fight for survival by Marines on a lone knoll in Vietnam’s Que Son Valley. The heroic acts of Medal of Honor recipients Father Vincent Capodanno and Lawrence Peters, along with countless other heroes, are told. The new edition of Swift Sword was chosen as winner of the 2023 Pencraft Award for Best Nonfiction.
Both Swift Sword and Lions of Medina have spent multiple weeks at the top of the Amazon bestseller lists for the Vietnam War, as well as numerous other categories. His third book, Unthrottled, a historical fiction work based on the remarkable life of WWII hero Robert Benoist, is due to be released in 2026.
Glass was born and raised in Midland, Texas, to George H. Glass, a rancher and oilman, and Myra Glass. He has two brothers, George, Jr., and Braxton. When Glass was twelve years old, he made his first visit to the Alamo and read 13 Days to Glory by Lon Tinkle. He has been fascinated by history ever since. A love of art followed shortly thereafter.
He graduated from Southern Methodist University (SMU) with a BA in history in 1983 and received his Juris Doctor degree, also from SMU, in 1988.
After graduating from law school, Glass began a career as a criminal prosecutor, working as an Assistant District Attorney in McLennan and Bell Counties, Texas and later, as an Assistant Attorney General, Special Prosecutions Division, in the office of the Kentucky Attorney General. In his spare time, he worked to foster his love of creating art.
In 2000, inspired by the American sculptor Augustus Saint Gaudens, Glass retired as a prosecutor and began work as a professional artist. Combining his love of history and art, he conceived of, designed, and created the Kentucky Medal of Honor Memorial, a life-size representation of WWII MOH recipient John Squires, and, later, the Texas Medal of Honor Memorial, a heroic size representation of Korean War MOH recipient George O’Brien.
Inspired by the heroes honored by these memorials and by Lon Tinkle’s account of the Battle of the Alamo that he had read many years before, Glass authored two nonfiction books about the men who fought in the Vietnam War.
His first book, Lions of Medina, was so successful and personally rewarding that he embarked on a career as a full-time writer. Based on personal interviews Glass conducted with survivors of Operation Medina, a military operation conducted by the Marine Corps in the Hai Lang National Forest of South Vietnam, the book was published by Coleche Press in 2007 and by NAL Caliber Penguin in 2008. Medal of Honor recipient William T. Perkins is featured prominently in the work. Lions of Medina was selected as winner of the 2008 USA Book News Best Book Award.
His second book, Swift Sword, based on personal interviews of nearly fifty survivors of Operation Swift, recounts, in the words of the men themselves, a harrowing fight for survival by Marines on a lone knoll in Vietnam’s Que Son Valley. The heroic acts of Medal of Honor recipients Father Vincent Capodanno and Lawrence Peters, along with countless other heroes, are told. The new edition of Swift Sword was chosen as winner of the 2023 Pencraft Award for Best Nonfiction.
Both Swift Sword and Lions of Medina have spent multiple weeks at the top of the Amazon bestseller lists for the Vietnam War, as well as numerous other categories. His third book, Unthrottled, a historical fiction work based on the remarkable life of WWII hero Robert Benoist, is due to be released in 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 25, 2020
It is quite obvious that the author spent many hours researching this battle and its warriors in order to write this book. Mr. Glass introduced his characters (those from the battle) telling how they grew up, through military training, and what they did during the battle.
The battle, itself, seemed like a blow-by-blow commentary where the author reported both the 1,000 feet high observations and the action occurring on the ground; one of the fiercest of the war. A single company held off repeated assaults by an enemy four times their strength, only half of the soldiers survived.
After the battle, the survivors discussed how they acted and what they might have done differently during the battle. It was clear that the battalion commander should have paid more attention to those troops on the ground instead of rushing them and also involving Delta Company to support Charlie much earlier in the battle then he did.
Mr. Glass continued to report on the survivors of Charlie Company up to the publication of the book, both the good and the bad. Finally, the book includes both a character summation and a glossary of terms used in the story.
Operation Medina could have ended differently and many more lives could have been saved. The men of Charlie Company were truly the Lions of Medina. Good job Mr. Glass!
The battle, itself, seemed like a blow-by-blow commentary where the author reported both the 1,000 feet high observations and the action occurring on the ground; one of the fiercest of the war. A single company held off repeated assaults by an enemy four times their strength, only half of the soldiers survived.
After the battle, the survivors discussed how they acted and what they might have done differently during the battle. It was clear that the battalion commander should have paid more attention to those troops on the ground instead of rushing them and also involving Delta Company to support Charlie much earlier in the battle then he did.
Mr. Glass continued to report on the survivors of Charlie Company up to the publication of the book, both the good and the bad. Finally, the book includes both a character summation and a glossary of terms used in the story.
Operation Medina could have ended differently and many more lives could have been saved. The men of Charlie Company were truly the Lions of Medina. Good job Mr. Glass!
March 31, 2023
I generally do not take to books - fiction or nonfiction - addressing the Viet Nam war. Perhaps it is generational (I graduated high school in 1968) when there were in our country two wars being fought simultaneously and when if you were a military age male you either went to college if you could get in and afford it or you were drafted. This book, however, takes a microcosm of the war one unit - Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Regiment, 1st Marine Division and follows it both before and after a singularly challenging operation - Operation Medina. It was the veterans and their stories I found compelling particularly since even with my privileged background and education, in my demographic group, it was the rare individual who did not know and interact with these veterans either before or after the war or did not know earlier someone whose name ended up inscribed on a black slab of marble.
June 18, 2024
This book is overwhelming, not only because of its subject matter, but also because its chief organizing principle is the roster of all the parties. We start with the background location and family situation of every potential soldier; we move to the same roster when we see how the men respond to boot camp and other training; then we get stories of men's flights to Vietnam; then their first reactions on landing in Vietnam; then their reactions to small arms and quickly-over combat situations. Everything funnels to the battle named Medina. And everything funnels out from the battle named Medina for the survivors using the same roster organization. Same pattern for how men returned to civilian status and what they were doing twenty years later. It's overwhelming, hard to follow.
The core of the book, however, is brilliant and awe-ful in its description of the battle of Medina: A small group of US soldiers nearly overrun over hours and hours by professional NVA men. By the time I got to the actual battle, I was able to follow some key figures, wondering in my eighty-sixth year at the skills and bravery and devotion of twenty year olds. The horror and luck and humor and blood and smell will not be forgotten; nor will I forget the incandescent love that governed the care the men showed to one another.
Many of the men spoke out against 'hippie' protesters; many also spoke out about a government which imposed 'rules of engagement' which blocked straight-forward aggression in the face of the enemy -- a government which also was revealed to have lied to the soldiers and to other citizens. Stories were told of being spit at for their service, but also of drinks 0ffered unendingly and meals paid for an0nymously. Hopefully we are getting closer to being able to honor the sacred commitment men and women make to serve in the military, while reserving our anger for politicians when we think they deserve it.
I believe this book deserves a second read, which would help me t0 focus on the individuals and their cohesion, instead of my worrying about being able to pay attention to the roster. I also want to honor the author and all the survivors who dove for a second time into the battle of Medina in order to share with us their more-often-than-not very very painful and truly traumatic experiences.
I can see how this particular conflict eventually resulted in the availability of the diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome, and our ability to see it more quickly in subsequent deployments. It makes me wonder about the experiences of my father (WW2), my grandfather (WW1), and my great-grandfather (The Civil War).
The core of the book, however, is brilliant and awe-ful in its description of the battle of Medina: A small group of US soldiers nearly overrun over hours and hours by professional NVA men. By the time I got to the actual battle, I was able to follow some key figures, wondering in my eighty-sixth year at the skills and bravery and devotion of twenty year olds. The horror and luck and humor and blood and smell will not be forgotten; nor will I forget the incandescent love that governed the care the men showed to one another.
Many of the men spoke out against 'hippie' protesters; many also spoke out about a government which imposed 'rules of engagement' which blocked straight-forward aggression in the face of the enemy -- a government which also was revealed to have lied to the soldiers and to other citizens. Stories were told of being spit at for their service, but also of drinks 0ffered unendingly and meals paid for an0nymously. Hopefully we are getting closer to being able to honor the sacred commitment men and women make to serve in the military, while reserving our anger for politicians when we think they deserve it.
I believe this book deserves a second read, which would help me t0 focus on the individuals and their cohesion, instead of my worrying about being able to pay attention to the roster. I also want to honor the author and all the survivors who dove for a second time into the battle of Medina in order to share with us their more-often-than-not very very painful and truly traumatic experiences.
I can see how this particular conflict eventually resulted in the availability of the diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome, and our ability to see it more quickly in subsequent deployments. It makes me wonder about the experiences of my father (WW2), my grandfather (WW1), and my great-grandfather (The Civil War).
October 16, 2022
Compelling true story of the men (Marines) who fought in Viet Nam.
I was a Marine during that time 62-67, however I did not go to Viet Nam due to a leg injury I received in training for Viet Nam.
Reading this was like having a real bad night mare while awake. It just scared the daylights out of me, wonering how I might have reacted if I was there. I was a communications mortar man. These guys were the front line grunts.
The average American sometimes gets all teary eyed about patriotism for flag and country - I get it, but these guys were not fighting for that, they for trying to survive a living hell- on their own.
The main take away, from this book for me was to establish critical thinking of what you do in life and what our politicians do make foolish decisions on going to war or what is supposed to be good for the American people.
These young men joined up for flag and country, and their country abadoned them during their combat and after they got home. Very hard to forgive that,.
I was a Marine during that time 62-67, however I did not go to Viet Nam due to a leg injury I received in training for Viet Nam.
Reading this was like having a real bad night mare while awake. It just scared the daylights out of me, wonering how I might have reacted if I was there. I was a communications mortar man. These guys were the front line grunts.
The average American sometimes gets all teary eyed about patriotism for flag and country - I get it, but these guys were not fighting for that, they for trying to survive a living hell- on their own.
The main take away, from this book for me was to establish critical thinking of what you do in life and what our politicians do make foolish decisions on going to war or what is supposed to be good for the American people.
These young men joined up for flag and country, and their country abadoned them during their combat and after they got home. Very hard to forgive that,.
June 2, 2023
I had no idea...
Despite reading many, many war memoirs as a hobby over the past 40 years, I had never heard of Operation Medina in the Vietnam War. I'm glad I ran across this book. Not having been written by a Marine who was there, it's perhaps not a true "memoir" but it's a well researched account that honors the sacrifices made, and includes many excerpts from the Grunts who fought the battle.
Many memoirs follow a similar format for their storytelling but occasionally I'll discover one that does it differently. Although I don't mind the more traditional format, switching it up occasionally is a nice change of pace. This one definitely breaks the mold and takes a different path, but it's well written, organized & is easy to follow.I
If you've interested in the Vietnam War, the USMC, or the military in general, or you're just a patriotic American, I highly recommend this book.
Despite reading many, many war memoirs as a hobby over the past 40 years, I had never heard of Operation Medina in the Vietnam War. I'm glad I ran across this book. Not having been written by a Marine who was there, it's perhaps not a true "memoir" but it's a well researched account that honors the sacrifices made, and includes many excerpts from the Grunts who fought the battle.
Many memoirs follow a similar format for their storytelling but occasionally I'll discover one that does it differently. Although I don't mind the more traditional format, switching it up occasionally is a nice change of pace. This one definitely breaks the mold and takes a different path, but it's well written, organized & is easy to follow.I
If you've interested in the Vietnam War, the USMC, or the military in general, or you're just a patriotic American, I highly recommend this book.
April 21, 2023
A Real View Into War and It’s Toll OnThose Who Fought
I have read numerous books on WWII. This insight into Vietnam battles was the best, most complete, realistic and personal journey that I have ever read. Introducing me to members of Charlie Company from each marine’s home life and pre military personality through Marine training and the shock of battle. Closing with the return home of each soldier , his post Vietnam civilian career, and closed with retirement view of each member.
I have never read such authentic and detailed depiction of character development, details of battle, and complete stories of the magnificent men who fought to protect all Americans.
SEMPER Fi and thank you for your sacrifices and service.
I have read numerous books on WWII. This insight into Vietnam battles was the best, most complete, realistic and personal journey that I have ever read. Introducing me to members of Charlie Company from each marine’s home life and pre military personality through Marine training and the shock of battle. Closing with the return home of each soldier , his post Vietnam civilian career, and closed with retirement view of each member.
I have never read such authentic and detailed depiction of character development, details of battle, and complete stories of the magnificent men who fought to protect all Americans.
SEMPER Fi and thank you for your sacrifices and service.
July 6, 2023
An excellent story
“Lions of Medina: The True Story of the Marines of Charlie 1/1 in Vietnam, 11-12 October 1967” tells the story of a man who went through many things to become what he was and is.
It’s a book narrated in an excellent way by its author, Doyle Glass, who has already accustomed us to these good stories.
The book has a good narrative style, with totally credible dialogues and with its characters and places very well described. It has suspense and action, which makes you want to read the next page when you finish one.
It is a book that I recommend without a doubt because it tells us about the lives of people who were in those places and all the things that they had to go through for their country.
“Lions of Medina: The True Story of the Marines of Charlie 1/1 in Vietnam, 11-12 October 1967” tells the story of a man who went through many things to become what he was and is.
It’s a book narrated in an excellent way by its author, Doyle Glass, who has already accustomed us to these good stories.
The book has a good narrative style, with totally credible dialogues and with its characters and places very well described. It has suspense and action, which makes you want to read the next page when you finish one.
It is a book that I recommend without a doubt because it tells us about the lives of people who were in those places and all the things that they had to go through for their country.
April 21, 2024
I have read many books about the Vietnam war and count this as one of the very best. Glass has written a book that is so detailed, so comprehensive and so descriptive that as a reader you feel you know these Marines personally. He gives you an in depth look at their lives in war and as civilian life. He lets you know a little about their families and the pain and suffering they endured. The description of their battle in Operation Medina was so real, so compelling and so scary I found myself putting the book down every so often because I felt drained by the action, Glass put you in the battle not just described it to you. As soon as I finished it I downloaded his other book about the war. Whatever your view of the war was/is read this book and Thank A Vet.
June 30, 2023
All true stories have a special condiment to me, I am always eager to read them since they tell facts in the form of a tale and this makes the information more appealing.
By exploring the Vietnam War using simple language, author Glass has made this piece of history more accessible to all of us.
The pacing of the narrative is well-balanced and it effectively portrays what the young warriors had to endure. the thought-provoking approach adds depth and relevance to the narrative.
By exploring the ethical gray areas and moral dilemmas faced by the protagonists, the book prompts readers to contemplate the broader implications of what the war brought about.
By exploring the Vietnam War using simple language, author Glass has made this piece of history more accessible to all of us.
The pacing of the narrative is well-balanced and it effectively portrays what the young warriors had to endure. the thought-provoking approach adds depth and relevance to the narrative.
By exploring the ethical gray areas and moral dilemmas faced by the protagonists, the book prompts readers to contemplate the broader implications of what the war brought about.
July 4, 2023
significant book about Vietnam and what close combat was about.
The author has written a comprehensive book about young men serving in a very unpopular war and despite their bravery and sacrifices, many were met with tomatoes and spit upon when they their returned home. Times have changed since 1967, when young men from different countries were killing each other on sight. Diplomatic relations have improved dramatically between the U.S. and Vietnam. The only thing that hasn’t changed is the continued pain suffered by the families of those killed in the war and those that came back, forever changed. I highly recommend this book.
The author has written a comprehensive book about young men serving in a very unpopular war and despite their bravery and sacrifices, many were met with tomatoes and spit upon when they their returned home. Times have changed since 1967, when young men from different countries were killing each other on sight. Diplomatic relations have improved dramatically between the U.S. and Vietnam. The only thing that hasn’t changed is the continued pain suffered by the families of those killed in the war and those that came back, forever changed. I highly recommend this book.
October 13, 2022
Lions of Medina
First book I have read about a battle in Vietnam, an eye opener to say the least! It provided an insight I haven't considered or fully appreciated on what the Vietnam vets went. I was well aware of WW1 & WW2 battles but not necessarily Nam. I knew about Tet, Kei SSang and Heu city and the Citadel but this one. These Marines were hero's and I am very glad to have heard about this book and read it. Thank you to the author and Marines who's story was told.
First book I have read about a battle in Vietnam, an eye opener to say the least! It provided an insight I haven't considered or fully appreciated on what the Vietnam vets went. I was well aware of WW1 & WW2 battles but not necessarily Nam. I knew about Tet, Kei SSang and Heu city and the Citadel but this one. These Marines were hero's and I am very glad to have heard about this book and read it. Thank you to the author and Marines who's story was told.
September 21, 2024
Wonderful documentary of our country’s unsung heroes. So well written that I’ve already bought Doyle’s second book. The only trouble I have reading this type of literature is keeping track of all the characters and bonding with them. Probably the best way to totally benefit is to reread. Knowing about the key characters section at the end of the book would have helped had I known it was there earlier. I’m using Kindle format, so I missed that aid.
April 16, 2020
America the best
This was a great read. It is so very important for many reasons, one of which is the fact that history is not being taught in American schools anymore...what a foolish mistake. Because of that lets hope history does not repeat itself. Love the Marines, they have always made us proud!
This was a great read. It is so very important for many reasons, one of which is the fact that history is not being taught in American schools anymore...what a foolish mistake. Because of that lets hope history does not repeat itself. Love the Marines, they have always made us proud!
May 3, 2023
The men who fought
Excellent tale of those brave men who fought, lived, and died for our freedoms. Men who obeyed the call without hesitation to fight for the men next to them. A must read for any one interested in the Vietnam war. A war fought for the wrong reasons. A waste of our nation's finest.
Excellent tale of those brave men who fought, lived, and died for our freedoms. Men who obeyed the call without hesitation to fight for the men next to them. A must read for any one interested in the Vietnam war. A war fought for the wrong reasons. A waste of our nation's finest.
May 10, 2023
A very realistic telling of an ambush, and the exceptional bravery of young American Marines in combat.
Well documented with glossary and index.
An excellent read. Absolutely un-put-downable.
Thank you for writing this book.
Well documented with glossary and index.
An excellent read. Absolutely un-put-downable.
Thank you for writing this book.
September 7, 2023
A tremendous story about brave men
I have read many books about war from the Revolutionary War to Iraq and Afghanistan. This is one of the best books that I've read. The author brings the soldiers and their bravery to life. I felt that I was there in the midst of this battle.
I have read many books about war from the Revolutionary War to Iraq and Afghanistan. This is one of the best books that I've read. The author brings the soldiers and their bravery to life. I felt that I was there in the midst of this battle.
October 27, 2023
Vietnam - A True and Accurate Book
This book touched my soul. The men and women who served our Country in Vietnam were true heroes who went to Hell, many never returned, and many never recovered. They all deserve our thanks and appreciation. A must-read...
This book touched my soul. The men and women who served our Country in Vietnam were true heroes who went to Hell, many never returned, and many never recovered. They all deserve our thanks and appreciation. A must-read...
November 15, 2023
Seems like a good account with a lot of details and research that went into it. I expected something similar to "We Were Soldiers Once... And Young," but it reads very disjointed. I would've preferred a more orderly narrative.
February 4, 2024
Really enjoyed the book. I found it difficult to follow who was who and what was going on. Acknowledging its a very difficult story to tell and battle to follow. Appreciated how the author followed up with the marines post battle, post Vietnam and beyond. Would recommend!
April 18, 2024
Gripping tale
As a former jarhead I fell into this book with these guys ultimately fighting to keep their fellow Marines alive. A true story many of us weren’t aware of happened. A plus!
As a former jarhead I fell into this book with these guys ultimately fighting to keep their fellow Marines alive. A true story many of us weren’t aware of happened. A plus!
Read
June 6, 2023Good historical insights.
September 11, 2023
wow
Well written and and gripping. Well worth the time to read and learn about these incredible men. Do yourself a favor and read this book
Well written and and gripping. Well worth the time to read and learn about these incredible men. Do yourself a favor and read this book
April 18, 2024
Excellent accounting of an ill fated mission.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2009
I can't say I recommend this book, but my dad is in it so.... Operation Medina sent Marines into an area the North Vietnamese were using as a base to stage attacks. It was heavy jungle and the Marines were supposed to hack through the jungle toward their objective--eventually a hammer and anvil maneuver. Falling behind schedule, the point Company, Charlie, was ordered to use a jungle path despite the risk of ambush. Guess what? Once up on a small rise, they were ambushed as dark fell. Constant samll arms fire and hails of grenades (fragment and concussion) dogged Charlie Company all night. Eleven were killed and over a hundred were injured. The scene was chaotic and brutal and I can't imagine.
The book only profiles a few of the men involved and begins with basic training, why they signed up, and first getting to Vietnam. A few other brief missions are discussed, before the book moves onto the main fight. After that, Doyle says what happened immediately after Medina, then traces folk back home. Like I said, i can't recommend it, but it is strange to read about my then 18 year-old dad in firefights and losing his best friend. When he tells me he never thought he'd live to see nineteen, I know what he means now, somewhat.
Doyle, however, is a Christian and he focuses on the men who were already or became Christian afterward, in addition to focusing on the leaders in the hierarchy. He is also a patriot and war historian buff, so he expresses no horror at what happened, only admiration for the men's bravery--he is, in fact, a fairly dispassionate writer, though it is clear to see what side he is on and who he thinks is right. A big complaint I had was the constant reference to the Vietnamese as "the enemy" and "communists." Of course, that was how the marines refered to the, as "the enemy." But Doyle never calls the Marines "capitalists." He uses the word "communists"--although I doubt most of the Vietnamese fighting were hardcore believers anymore than the most Marines were in their leadership's ideology--interchangeably with "enemy" and "Vietnamese" or "NVK" and this creates the assumption that their meanings are all the same: bad.
Doyle also fails to collaborate any of the men's statements about returning home to being called "baby killer's" and not being served in bars to being spat on. These are all cliched stories--for instance, there has never been one recorded, fact supported instance of a returning vietnam veteran being spat on--and should be suspect.
I put this on the history shelf, but it isn't truly a scholarly history book.
The book only profiles a few of the men involved and begins with basic training, why they signed up, and first getting to Vietnam. A few other brief missions are discussed, before the book moves onto the main fight. After that, Doyle says what happened immediately after Medina, then traces folk back home. Like I said, i can't recommend it, but it is strange to read about my then 18 year-old dad in firefights and losing his best friend. When he tells me he never thought he'd live to see nineteen, I know what he means now, somewhat.
Doyle, however, is a Christian and he focuses on the men who were already or became Christian afterward, in addition to focusing on the leaders in the hierarchy. He is also a patriot and war historian buff, so he expresses no horror at what happened, only admiration for the men's bravery--he is, in fact, a fairly dispassionate writer, though it is clear to see what side he is on and who he thinks is right. A big complaint I had was the constant reference to the Vietnamese as "the enemy" and "communists." Of course, that was how the marines refered to the, as "the enemy." But Doyle never calls the Marines "capitalists." He uses the word "communists"--although I doubt most of the Vietnamese fighting were hardcore believers anymore than the most Marines were in their leadership's ideology--interchangeably with "enemy" and "Vietnamese" or "NVK" and this creates the assumption that their meanings are all the same: bad.
Doyle also fails to collaborate any of the men's statements about returning home to being called "baby killer's" and not being served in bars to being spat on. These are all cliched stories--for instance, there has never been one recorded, fact supported instance of a returning vietnam veteran being spat on--and should be suspect.
I put this on the history shelf, but it isn't truly a scholarly history book.
May 22, 2015
,One of the absolute best I have ever read
This author manages to take you into the heart of combat . The scenes in this book show the great courage and tenacity of the Marines who fought in Vietnam . Fighting not for country or valor but for each other . They were heroes each one of them This book takes you right in the combat but it also introduces you to the people who were there showing th they're eir great courage their suffering and caring for one another . It shows the tenacity of the Marines who are fighting in Vietnam who fought for each other . They didn't care who it was that was on the left or right as long as they were marine I know that that person would be there and what flight for them they faced the certainty of death and the thin line and thread of life . Some were damaged and did not recover but many recovered to go on to lead very successful and engaged lives . They were the ones who overcame their fear and the horror of war . We must always remember these man and women who served our country with such honor and Grace . They are the best of the best and this author does them justice as no other has done that I have read so far . I highly recommend this book for a wonderful engaging read other truly historical addition of a great battle in the annals of the Vietnam war . Thank you for writing this book. .
This author manages to take you into the heart of combat . The scenes in this book show the great courage and tenacity of the Marines who fought in Vietnam . Fighting not for country or valor but for each other . They were heroes each one of them This book takes you right in the combat but it also introduces you to the people who were there showing th they're eir great courage their suffering and caring for one another . It shows the tenacity of the Marines who are fighting in Vietnam who fought for each other . They didn't care who it was that was on the left or right as long as they were marine I know that that person would be there and what flight for them they faced the certainty of death and the thin line and thread of life . Some were damaged and did not recover but many recovered to go on to lead very successful and engaged lives . They were the ones who overcame their fear and the horror of war . We must always remember these man and women who served our country with such honor and Grace . They are the best of the best and this author does them justice as no other has done that I have read so far . I highly recommend this book for a wonderful engaging read other truly historical addition of a great battle in the annals of the Vietnam war . Thank you for writing this book. .
May 26, 2017
Glass takes us through the recruiting process, basic training, and arrival in Vietnam, as well as the aftermath. He tries to cover too many soldiers and too many events. Focusing on Medina would have been a better use of his time and readers would have been able to get acquainted with participants just as well as we did during Glass’s rambling and disorganized intro into training which served little purpose but to distract.
For a full review visit http://ireadalotofbooks.com/lions-of-...
For a full review visit http://ireadalotofbooks.com/lions-of-...
July 21, 2015
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May 11, 2024
Charlie 1/1 in Vietnam
As much as I have heard about the war in Vietnam, nothing describes it like Doyle Glass. I highly recommend this book.
As much as I have heard about the war in Vietnam, nothing describes it like Doyle Glass. I highly recommend this book.
April 16, 2017
Not a book to be enjoyed, but nevertheless an important book to read. I thought the strongest part of the book was the last 60 pages which dealt with what happened to the lives of those who were involved in this horrific mission and how they and the families left behind coped after Vietnam.
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