Blackhorse Riders: A Desperate Last Stand, an Extraordinary Rescue Mission, and the Vietnam Battle America Forgot
The battle, which took place on March 26, 1970, didn’t even have an official name. An American infantry unit was pinned down and outnumbered by the North Vietnamese. The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, also known as the Blackhorse Regiment, responded to the unit’s distress calls. Despite daunting odds and fierce opposition, the Blackhorse Regiment, led by Captain John Poindexter, carried out a rescue mission, after which Poindexter campaigned to have his men recognized for their accomplishment. The book is a detailed account of the rescue mission and a chronicle of Poindexter’s tireless efforts to provide some sort of recognition for his soldiers. There are a lot of “forgotten” battles in the long history of warfare, but this one’s neglect seems particularly egregious, given the heroism involved. Keith, a decorated aviator who fought in Vietnam, shows real compassion for the soldiers of Blackhorse Regiment, and his own anger and frustration at their subsequent lack of recognition bubble through from time to time. For followers of books about the Vietnam War, this is a definite must-read. --David Pitt