Vietnam Combat: Firefights and Writing History [Hardcover]

Finalist, 2023 Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing AwardsFinalist, War & Military, 2023 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year AwardsBronze Medal Winner, Best First Book, Non-Fiction, 2023 IPPY AwardsWinner, Military Nonfiction, 2023 NYC Big Book Awards2nd Place Winner, Nonfiction  War, 2023 PenCraft Book AwardsSilver Medal Winner, Military Writers Society of America (MSWA) In this firsthand account of Vietnam combat, Bartlett provides vivid details of life in the Airmobile Cavalry and outlines some of the notable elements of the fighting conducted by this unit, which carried lighter packs and more ammunition while deploying into hot landing zones under fire.  American RiflemanThe year 1968 was arguably the most significant year of the war. It was the height of the American involvement, and because officer casualties had been so great after the Tet Offensive of January 1968, all prior officer assignments were canceled.1st Lieutenant Robin Bartlett, originally on orders to the 101st Airborne Division, suddenly found himself at the repo-depo in Bien Hoa reassigned to the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). The unit had more helicopter support than any other unit in Vietnam. The soldiers carried lighter packs, more ammo and water because of the availability of rapid helicopter resupply. Immediate support from artillery, helicopter gunships and ARA (aerial rocket artillery) was only minutes away to support a firefight. Wounded troops could be medevaced even in dense jungle using jungle penetrators. It also meant that Bartletts platoon could deploy through helicopter combat assaults into hot LZs (landing zones) at a moments notice if an enemy force had been spotted. And they did.It was with extreme anxiety that Bartlett made his way to join his battalion and company  it was the worst of times to be a platoon leader in Vietnam, let alone a grunt serving in a combat unit. Bartlett also had to cope with personal issues of commitment to a war that was rapidly l³%