Blackhorse Riders: A Desperate Last Stand, an Extraordinary Rescue Mission, and the Vietnam Battle America Forgot

I just bought this book and found it hard to put down. In 1967 I rode with the elite Blackhorse Regiment in Vietnam. I was the troop Tunnel Rat. As one of the Blackhorse it wasn't all that hard to become highly addicted to adrenilan.As a Blackhorse trooper the days were endless, not just long. We had one R&R in 12 months, in one whole year we only spent 11 days in Blackhorse Basecamp in Xuan Loc.Up at before dawn, morning patrols, back to whatever Jungle Camp we'd usually built for ourselves, clean the machine guns, then back out for afternoon patrol...and drop off night ambush patrols or LP's. The days never ended for men of the Blackhorse.I volunteered for a slot in our Air Cavalry Troop as a Door Gunner on a Huey Gunship, that way I could still stay in the fight. It was late 1967 and I thought the war couldn't last much longer by the number of enemy we were killing almost daily.Gunships was the perfect fit for an adrenlin addict... Nice clean duty, a tent over your head, a real bunk and hot food...but I saw more action in one month than a whole year on the ground. We flew morning Recon missions and evening Recon missions...and inbetween we waited for the horn to blow...which was almost constantly.Where the Scouts would sometimes go weeks without firing a shot...the Gunships didn't take off unless there was someone in trouble or the enemy spotted...and that was almost every single day. During TET 1968 Helicopter Gunship Crews flew round the clock sometimes rearming 5 times in a single day. Door Gunners would sometimes fire 25,000 rounds through their Machine Guns in one long day.I believe A troop was long over due for the recognition they rightfully deserved for their outstanding courage in the face of overwhelming enemy numbers that could have easily found them dead or in a enemy POW camp / bamboo cage for years.11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Air Cavalry Troop, 1st. Platoon Gunships was also awarded the "Presidential Unit Citation" for Valor, and it was only a "Platoon". In addition Gunship Crews had a $10,000 bounty on their heads (literally).The Helicopter Gunship Platoons of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment had 3 Helicopter Gunships per platoon. Six Doorgunners, and Six Pilots total.The exploits of 1st Platoon Gunships during TET 1968 at Duc Hoa Vietnam earned those 12 men the PUC as well. However the cost was very high we lost 4 doorgunners, 2 pilots, and one Gun Ship. We couldn't count the number of enemy we killed as the pilots were usually too busy doing "pilot stuff" to confirm the kills, but we did count the enemy resupply Sampans we sent to the bottom of the rivers.The war from the air was much more sanitary than slugging it out on the ground...eye to eye. I remember being in both worlds, and I can say without reservations that it was much nicer (although more dangerous) to fly in, lay waste to the enemy and with clean hands and uniforms...fly away to a hot meal and dry bunk.Vietnam had a lot of hero's...for the enlisted men it was called "doing our jobs". Vietnam also had a equal amount of undeserving Officers who put each other in for undeserved medals to advance their military careers, one is a serving US Senator today. The Book Stolen Valor unmasks several of them.That is the one thing about heroism and courage... you can fool almost anyone, but you can never fool yourself.Those men of the Blackhorse who saddled up and charged into that enemy base camp to rescue their fellow Americans...to civilians they were "hero's", to each other it was expected and just another day... in the Nam. That's what makes them real hero's.Take notice... next time you see some young enlisted man (non-Officer) and notice a chest full of medals, you can be sure he "earned those medals". Enlisted men can't put each other in for medals, only officers can do that. Look at his eyes he may be only in his early 20's, but you'll see something very different in his eyes compared to others of his age.There is a quietness about the warrior. Mr. Keith did the country a great service in writing about these brave men who put duty over self, a very very rare trait in today's America. You can honor them too by reading their story. I'm sure a day doesn't go by that they remember moments of that day too.As we age we aquire the time to reflect...which is a good thing because we sure don't get around any better...lol

Whether you are a Vietnam Vet, a family member of one, you were for or against that war, have an interest in history, or are a patriotic American citizen, this book is a must read!It is well written and gives one pause for thought about what the men and women endured in Vietnam and upon returning home to America. It is a heart-rending book about the sacrifices made by our military personnel and their struggles to overcome the traumas they encountered during and after that war. It is about courage in the face of fire and enduring strength of character. All wars leave their marks upon those that served in the military, but this particular war left many "wounded" in ways that had not occurred to others returning home after serving. It left many men and women, unrecognized for their sacrifices, returning to a country whose citizens offered little more than a cold shoulder.It is heartwarming to know, that after many years of struggling for justice, some received their due honors. Will that ever completely repay their sacrifice? Only those who served in the military can answer that question.Phil has written a book that captures your heart and soul and leaves one wondering how so many of our military men and women could have been so grievously overlooked.This is a history lesson that is well-worth reading. Taking the time to reflect on the value and gravity of their bravery and self-sacrifice is our responsibility and duty. Phil's book is a much-needed reminder and cautionary tale.The book is a fast read and filled with information that reflects many views and is written with honesty, integrity and marked gratitude to those who serve in the military.We, as American citizens, can never repay our military men and women who sacrificed so much for our freedoms. I, for one, felt a depth of appreciation to each and every soldier who stood tall in the face of fears and conflicts both here and abroad.

Many of us, whether we are veterans of war or not, are touched in some way by acquaintances that were part of the Viet Nam conflict. I have friends that have died, or were disabled, and, although I am not a war veteran ,I have on, many occasions, tried to picture the stress and obstacles that these people faced.Philip Keith has created a masterful account of a battle during the Viet Nam War, played out in May of 1970, in which Alpha Company, the 1st regiment of the eponymous Black Horse Regiment, struggle on the brink of defeat until its heroic resue. It serves as a microcosm for this war as well as many wars past and present , as this group deals with the fear, pain and duty to fellow soldiers, including vivid detail of character and bonding that makes this account all the more absorbing.The book is formed as sort of a flashback narrative starting and ending with a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House in 2009. Mr. Keith's account is all the more riveting in that the narrative is told more or less in real time focusing on the day of March 26th on an hourly basis which allows the reader to immerse himself in the situation that these men faced on that given time. The writing style is precise and economical, compelling the reader to become more and more engaged as the account continues.As with many well written non-fictional accounts, the story supplies a detailed epilogue of the present status of those that were involved in this battle. This lends a valuable perspective to the narrative heroism as it morphs into mundane civilian existence many years afterword.

THERE ONLY APPEARS TO BE ABOUT 50-60 PAGES OF ACTUAL FIGHTING AND THAT IS NOT VERY DETAILED.THE INTERVIEWS ARE OK BUT NOT VERY CONCISE.IF YOU WANT REAL COMBAT NARRATIVES READ KEITH WILLIAM NOLANS BOOKS LIKE RIPCORD .MAGNIFICENT BASTARDS. HOUSE TO HOUSE OR DEATH VALLY , THESE BOOKS LEAVE BLACKHORSE RIDERS STANDING ,THE AUTHOR SEEMS TO BE CASHING IN ON THE REASSESSMENT AND POPULARITY OF VIETNAM VETERANS IN THE USA TODAY,OVERALL A VERY LAZY BOOK P.S WHY DID,NT THE AUTHOR INCLUDE THE BATTLE OF FIRE SUPPORT BASE ILLINGWORTH WHICH HAPPENED A DAY OR TWO LATER AND INCLUDED SOME OF THE UNITS INVOLVED IN THE BLACKHORSE RIDERS BATTLE.AT ILLINGWORTH 29 US SOLDERS ALONE WERE KILLED AND 50-60 WOUNDED COMPARED TO THE 1 KILLED IN THE 11TH ARMOURED CAV AT THE BLACKHORSE RIDERS BATTLE.BUT ILLINGSWORTH IS NOT GI JOE KICKING VC BUTT.READ NAM OR BLOODS OR EVEN JOURNAL OF A PLAGUE YEAR TO GET A BETTER VIEW OF THE REAL VIETNAM WAR

This is an interesting book that deals with a forgotten battle in the Vietnam war. Towards the later stages of the war, the US decided to invade Cambodia in order to attack North Vietnamese troops that were staged there. This battle comes slightly before that, as a road is being cleared to accommodate the upcoming attack.In the process, the 11th Armored Cavalry is given the job of policing the area. Composed of a mix of infantry and light armor, they soon find themselves running into deadly opposition. It culminates in a battle on March 26, 1970 when an infantry company stumbles into a battalion-size (so 5x as big or so) network of NVA bunkers. They are soon under siege and face a very real risk of being wiped out. Their only hope are their armored brethren, who ride to their rescue like cavalry of old. Only this time they are using APCs and light tanks (M-551). After busting through thick jungle, they find themselves locked in a deadly combat with a deadly adversary. What's worse, daylight is running out and everyone knows that the NVA owns the night. If they can't get the job done soon, the job will get them!The action here is quite intense and well-covered. It's necessarily brief given that it largely deals with the event of a single day. The final couple of chapters deal with how many of the awards recommended for the soldiers in the battle go missing (i.e., the recommendations). Over thirty years later this is redressed by the efforts of the group's members and the entire armored unit is given a presidential award for their role in saving their beleaguered comrades.Overall, it was a fast and interesting read. It's not the best description of war that I've read, nor the best book on tanks in Vietnam (Tank Sergeant was much better). But it is a good description of the heroism of men under fire, the horrors of war, and the need to recognize the valour of brave men. The writing isn't the best, and there's quite a lot of extra material (e.g., an update on all the individual soldiers mentioned in the book), but it's good enough for me to recommend this book with four stars.

Enjoyed this book very much. Not gaving much knowledge of ranks in Vietnam found it informative. Plus more of a memoir with the experiences of individuals instead of a dry historical review.

Book was a I expected.

Interesting piece of history in a war very few care to remember. A little too much "Hollywood" in the narrative but overall a good read.