Grab Their Belts to Fight Them: The Viet Cong's Big Unit-War Against the U.S., 1965-1966
A fresh and remarkably detailed portrayal of how a clever enemy force adapts to fight American soldiers. Wilkins descriptions and insights apply to the war being waged in Afghanistan.--Bing West, author ofThe Village, The Strongest TribeandThe Wrong WarIn this important history of Americas early Vietnam battles, Warren Wilkins offers new insights by analyzing the fighting from both the American and Vietnamese Communist perspectives. This book belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in the military history of the Vietnam War.--Mark Moyar, author ofTriumph ForsakenThis is a huge contribution to understanding what made the Viet Cong tick, even when impatient zealots from Hanoi were winding their clock. Let s be honest: the Viet Cong were the al Qaeda of their day, willing to risk all, and lose all, for their cause with little coaxing. We have learned lately not to dismiss those we don t understand, a subtheme of this extraordinary book. Warren Wilkins makes the case that the VC was pushed into the 68 Tet Offensive. But if the VC was weakened with overwhelming casualties in untimely attacks, the Hanoi-sponsored talk-fight strategy ultimately worked wonders achieving duel goals driving the U.S. out of the country and sapping the strength from our allies in Saigon.--Lt. Col. Charles Krohn, USA (Ret.), author ofThe Lost Battalion of Tet: Breakout of the 2/12th Cavalry at Hue. . . .An absolutely invaluable contribution to military history shelves, especially those with a focus on the Vietnam War. --Library Bookwatch, May 2011Wilkins gives us here an objective, thoroughly researched, and insightful analysis of enemy military operations --Dan Cragg, co-author of Inside the VC and the NVAThis is a huge contribution to understanding what made the Viet Cong tick, even when impatient zealots from Hanoi were winding their clock. Let s be honest: the Viet Cong were the al Qaeda of their day, willing to risk all, and lose all, for their cause with little coaxing. We have learned lately not to dismiss those we don t understand, a subtheme of this extraordinary book. Warren Wilkins makes the case that the VC was pushed into the 68 Tet Offensive. But if the VC was weakened with overwhelming casualties in untimely attacks, the Hanoi-sponsored talk-fight strategy ultimately worked wonders achieving duel goals driving the U.S. out of the country and sapping the strength from our allies in Saigon. ----Lt. Col. Charles Krohn, USA (Ret.), author of The Lost Battalion of Tet: Breakout of the 2/12th Cavalry at HueWilkins gives us here an objective, thoroughly researched, and insightful analysis of enemy military operations in Vietnam. This work is a significant addition to the historiography of the Vietnam War, no mean feat considering all that has been previously written on this subject. Mr. Wilkins' s book deserves a prominent place on every military historian's bookshelf --Dan Cragg, co-author of Inside the VC and the NVAThis is a huge contribution to understanding what made the Viet Cong tick, even when impatient zealots from Hanoi were winding their clock. Let s be honest: the Viet Cong were the al Qaeda of their day, willing to risk all, and lose all, for their cause with little coaxing. We have learned lately not to dismiss those we don t understand, a subtheme of this extraordinary book. Warren Wilkins makes the case that the VC was pushed into the 68 Tet Offensive. But if the VC was weakened with overwhelming casualties in untimely attacks, the Hanoi-sponsored talk-fight strategy ultimately worked wonders achieving duel goals driving the U.S. out of the country and sapping the strength from our allies in Saigon. ----Lt. Col. Charles Krohn, USA (Ret.), author of The Lost Battalion of Tet: Breakout of the 2/12th Cavalry at HueWilkins gives us here an objective, thoroughly researched, and insightful analysis of enemy military operations in Vietnam. This work is a significant addition to the historiography of the Vietnam War, no mean feat considering all that has been previously written on this subject. Mr. Wilkins' s book deserves a prominent place on every military historian's bookshelf --Dan Cragg, co-author of Inside the VC and the NVA