Nationalist in the Viet Nam Wars: Memoirs of a Victim Turned Soldier“A dark and fascinating tale . . . illuminated by Nguyen’s story of escape from Communist tyranny to the United States in 1990, and by his honesty and integrity, which shine through on every page.” —Historynet.com This extraordinary memoir tells the story of one man’s experience of the wars of Viet Nam from the time he was old enough to be aware of war in the 1940s until his departure for America 15 years after the collapse of South Viet Nam in 1975. Nguyen Cong Luan was born and raised in small villages near Ha Noi. He grew up knowing war at the hands of the Japanese, the French, and the Viet Minh. Living with wars of conquest, colonialism, and revolution led him finally to move south and take up the cause of the Republic of Viet Nam, exchanging a life of victimhood for one of a soldier. His stories of village life in the north are every bit as compelling as his stories of combat and the tragedies of war. This honest and impassioned account is filled with the everyday heroism of the common people of his generation. “Long overdue, this memoir will be a worthy addition to any academic library interested in the tragedy of Vietnam. . . . Essential.” —Choice “An essential read for those who seek to understand the complex tragedy of the wars of Vietnam.” —ARMY |
Contents
The Year of the Crippled Dragon | |
On the Down Slope | |
Hearts and Minds | |
Sài Gòn Commando | |
VICTORY OR DEFEAT | |
The Tết Offensive | |
Defeat on the Home Front | |
The New Phase | |
Between Hammer and Anvil | |
The Shaky Peace | |
Bloodier Battles | |
The Geneva Accords | |
The Year of Changes | |
THE COGWHEEL | |
To Be a Soldier | |
Progress and Signs of Instability | |
Mounting Pressure | |
The Limited | |
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Nationalist in the Viet Nam Wars: Memoirs of a Victim Turned Soldier Công Luận Nguyẽ̂n Limited preview - 2012 |
Common terms and phrases
American anticommunist ARVN asked attacks Bảo Bảo Đại battalion battle Bình cadres camp campaign Chiêu Hồi Center Chinese civilians colonel combat commander communist leaders Communist Party communist regime Đại defectors Diệm Định district dozen enemy father fighting former friends front guerrillas Hà Nội Hồ Chí Minh Hòa Huế Infantry killed knew Kontum large number later lieutenant living Mekong Delta miles military months mother Nam Định nationalist Ngô Đình Ngô Đình Diệm Nguyễn Văn night North Việt officers operation patriots peasants people’s Phú platoon police political POWs President prisoners propaganda province public security Quảng Trị Qui Nhơn radio reports rice Sài Gòn sergeant serving Sơn South Việt South Việt Nam South Vietnamese Strategic Hamlet Strategic Hamlet program Tân Tết Offensive Thanh told troops units Việt Cộng Việt Minh Việt Quốc village week young