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Vietnam Was More than Just the Killing

by Patrick H. Dockery

240 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #02-0057; ISBN 1-55369-244-6; US$20.00, C$23.00, EUR15.59, £10.34

Vietnam War lessons learned and looked at after the event. With two tours of duty in Vietnam, a young officer's lessons - learned through various assignments and the problems that go with each - culminate in his promotion to Company Comander.

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about the book      about the author      sample excerpts or Table of Contents      catalogue info

About the Book This is the untold story of day to day history in the life of an Infantry officer during 2 tours of duty in the Vietnam War. It's about supporting the troops and how the Bond develops between soldiers. The story begins with a new first lieutenant arriving "in country". It describes all the things that the lieutenant learned by himself and under the control of others. It talks about his thoughts and ideas. Then he goes home and returns one year later. Now, as a captain, he must make decisions that affect himself and a lot of others. He stays this time with the Battalion, and ends his tour with an assignment as the C Company Commander and a tour in Cambodia.

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About the Author I was the second born of eight children in the Canal Zone, Republic of Panama. So was my father. His father, my grandfather, a United States citizen, worked on the construction of the Panama Canal and was a recipient of the Roosevelt Medal, a medal only given to those that work for at least one complete year. My mother of pure German lineage was brought to the Canal Zone at nine months of age and remained there until my father's retirement from the government. The Canal Zone was run by the Panama Canal Company, a government owned enterprise. Everything to include housing, schooling, commissaries, plus cutting our grass was controlled by the Company. The one controlling stock was passed from one Secretary of the Army to the next until everything was finally returned to the country of Panama. I grew up amongst the military, I spent time on all the bases on the Atlantic side of the Isthmus. Military service, duty and belief in the federal government were revered subjects as we grew up. Everything was positive in supporting our lifestyle. Being so close to an actual jungle environment, it was not uncommon to spend a complete day playing such things as soldiers, cowboys and Indians, hide and seek and such. We all knew and loved the jungle along with our secret trails and hidden forts we built. More importantly we got to know what was dangerous, what bit or chewed and how to identify them. My school system and its teachers were second to none and were rated at one time as seventh best in the Middle States Teachers Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges. It was an accepted fact that each of us was a potential college graduate. I graduated 33 rd out a class of 94 students. Knowing that after college I was probably going to Vietnam, I researched small colleges with a Reserve Officers Training Course (ROTC). Knowing that my knowledge of my own religious faith (Catholic) was weak, I wanted a Catholic university too. The Vincentian Order of Priests ran Niagara University. This was the same group that did missionary work in Panama. Niagara was also a small university located on a bluff outside of Niagara Falls, NY and had mandatory Basic ROTC (Freshman/Sophomore). I only applied there and was accepted. My overall plan included the taking of Advanced ROTC (Junior/Senior). Within Niagara University, every one of my goals was accomplished. In my sophomore year, I met the woman that I later married at the end of my junior year. Marriage, which has lasted over thirty-seven years now, was also good for my college education. I was graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education with a strong minor in the sciences and in coaching philosophies. Commissioned in December 1966 as a Military Police Officer. I was however, a Distinguished Military Graduate so I had a Regular Army Commission pending that was to the Quartermaster Corps with a two-year detail assignment to the Infantry. Ordered to active duty on 6 February 66, I completed Military Police Officer Basic and Airborne School. Because of delays in obtaining my Regular Army Commission, I was assigned to the Basic Training Center at Fort Benning, Georgia. Did some problem solving and learned a lot about the mental state of the young Infantry soldier. Then I came down on levy to Vietnam, only it asked me to go as a Military Policeman. Since I now had my Regular Army Commission, the levy was returned to the Pentagon. A month or so later, I came down on orders again, only this time as an Infantry Officer. My training however was not Infantry. I was placed on orders to complete the Infantry Officer Basic Course-Counterinsurgency right there at Ft. Benning. Eleven total weeks devoted to learning how to conduct war in Vietnam. Graduation was a fast moving period. First I moved the wife and kids (one girl and one on the way) back to Niagara Falls with her parents near by. Then it was off to the Jungle Operations Course in Panama. Yes, it is true, the Army sent me back to my home for three weeks. Got to visit my parents for a few days while there. All of this is to give you some background in the causes and events that shaped my life and brought me to the beginning of my tours in Vietnam that are still part of my memories today. To read more of LTC Dockery's writing, visit the Vietnam Veterans website www.vvi.org to find his article Agents Orange, White & Blue - New Disclosures - A Combat Soldier's Research

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Sample Excerpts or Table of Contents

CONTENTS

1 Arrival

MAY 1969
* FIRST TEAM ACADEMY * HOME SWEET HOME *

2 Operations

JUNE 1969
* THINGS TO LOOK FOR * CLOVERLEAF TECHNIQUE * DANGER CLOSE * FIRST PATROL * OPERATION BILLINGS * LEADERSHIP ALONE * SEARCH AND DESTROY MISSIONS * DON'T TELL ANYONE WE'RE COMING * CRITTERS THAT SUCK YOUR BLOOD * THE DUD MAN *

3 Personalities

STILL JUNE 1969
* THE "TANK" FORMATION * LEADERSHIP 101 * COOKING OR HEATING RATIONS * PENTHOUSE SEVEN *

4 Firebase Commander

STILL JUNE 1969
* RATIONS OLDER THAN ME * CONSEQUENCES *

5 Delta Packet

JULY-AUGUST 1967
* QUICK KILL * COMPASS AND PACE * INCOMING * NEXT DAY * AFTERMATH * TRAINING, SECOND PHASE * DESK TOP WAR TROPHY * NEW ASSIGNMENT *

6 Sanitation

STILL AUGUST 1967
* WATER * HOW SAFE WAS THE WATER IN THE FIELD? * BURNING SHIT... * FOLLOWING ORDERS TO THE LETTER *

7 ARVN Mobile Refresher Training Team

20 AUGUST-27 OCTOBER 1967 * OFFICER'S CLUB/PLANTATION HOUSE * AGRARIAN WILDERNESS * HOME SWEET HOME * ASSESSMENT * ENLIGHTMENT * DIFFERENCES * ARVN REACTION TO INCOMING * THE ADJUSTMENT * ABRAMS * MOVEMENT AND SECURITY * CUISINE * OTHER DUTIES * SPORTS AND RECREATION * SITE VISIT * GRADUATION * ROLE OF DESERTERS * SMALL WORLD * FAREWELL *

8 Homeless

EARLY NOVEMBER 1967
* AGENT ORANGE * REDEPLOYMENT * LOC NINH-PERSONAL ANALYSIS * NEW ASSIGNMENT * FOLLOW-ON * BATTALION AMBUSH * SWEET SICKNENING SMELL OF DEATH * ENEMY ORDER OF BATTLE * SUMMATION *

9 Brigade Toc

LATE NOVEMBER 1967
* 10,500 METERS * DUTIES * ARTILLERY RETURN FIRE * THE FIX * ENEMY RESPONSE * RESPONSE WHEN OUTSIDE THE TOC * STAYING AWAKE * R & R * ADDITIONAL DUTIES * KNOW YOUR ENEMY * ARVN ROAD SECURITY * OVERCOMING BOREDOM *

10 Special Forces "B" Forces

JANUARY 1968
* DILEMNA * AN LOC * BUNARD * ...ARE YOU LOST "2"? * THE RESCUE *PAYBACK TIME *

11 Operation Attilla

21-26 JANUARY 1968
* MISSION * LINKUP * DAY ONE * DAY TWO * DAY THREE * DAY FOUR-FINAL DAY *

12 TET

30 JANUARY TO 1 FEBRUARY 1968
* ADVENT OF TET * INCOMING * THE EDICT * PIECE AND QUIET * BRANCH TRANSFER * CAPTAIN - 1 APRIL 68, NOT YET 25 YEARS OLD * OFFER TO COMMAND * SHRAPNEL *

13 Song Be

APRIL TO MAY 1968
* AREA SUPPORT ARTILLERY * 101 ST BRIGADE * PROVINCE CAPITAL * LIFE UNDER THE CANNONS * CANNON CHOW * ADAMS * GOING HOME ("NEXT") *

14 Interlude

MAY 1968-JUNE 1969
* CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP * HEADQUARTERS COMMANDANT * MCNAMARA'S 100,000 *

15 Back Again

JULY 1969
* FIRST TEAM ACADEMY * BACK TO THE MOUNTAIN * FIRST CLASS ASS CHEWING * SUPPORT 101 * EXPANSION OF LZ BUTTONS * PROBLEM AND SOLUTION * AGENT ORANGE *

16 Echo Company Commander

SEPTEMBER 1969
* CEOI * BARBED WIRE BARRIERS * MISHAP * GENIUS IS BASED ON NECESSITY * MORTAR INCIDENT * COMMAND AIN'T EASY LORD * MISSION IMPOSSIBLE *

17 S4 (Battalion Supply Officer)

OCTOBER 1969
* TO BUILD A FIREBASE * WHY SUPPLY ACTIVITIES WERE DIFFICULT * FORCED TO CHEAT * CAUSE AND EFFECT * NEW LIFE * RADIO REPAIR * CONEX CONTAINERS * ONE CORPS, ONE ARMY * ICE CREAM * "LOG BIRDS " * DUMB IS AS DUMB DOES * AIRMOBILE GARBAGE TRUCK * BARTERING * EVEN THE PROUD CAN HELP THEMSELVES *

18 BRIGADE XO

STILL OCTOBER 1969
* TEAR GAS * CRYSTALLINE "CS" * LZ BUTTONS TEAR GAS TRAINING * BONDING * DOG SOLDIER * IDLE MISCHIEF * BURN, BABY, BURN * RECOVERY * INCOMING *

19 Back to Phouc Vinh

NOVEMBER 1969
* SSSC * SUNDRY PACKS * BRAND NEW REPLACEMENT STOVES * BATTALION MOVE BY FIXED WING * DIVISION REPORT OF SURVEY * PHOUC VINH * FIXING THE PROPERTY BOOK * WHERE THERE IS A WILL... * THE ACCIDENT * WHEELING AND DEALING * ARTILLERY RAIDS * THE WIFE *

20 The Best of Times

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1969
*ACCIDENT OF WAR * THE CRIMSON TIDE * IN THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER * CONDIMENTS FOR THE FIELD * SLINGS AND LIFT EQUIPMENT * FATIGUES AND INDIVIDUAL COMBAT EQUIPMENT * PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING * OPCON DOES NOT MEAN "ADMIN AND LOGISTICS" * ROCKET BELT WAS AGENT ORANGE TERRITORY * FATHER MAY I * AUTOMATIC AMBUSHES * FIXING THE SUPPLY SYSTEM * NOTHING IS EASY LORD *

21 Reputation Is Everything

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1970
* EACH MUST DO HIS DUTY * THE PRICE OF A PISTOL * HELLO COSVN, YOUR STATION IS MISSING * BEGINNING OF THE END * PAYBACK *

22 Company Commander

FEBRUARY-MARCH 1970
* CS-2 PERSISTENT * GROUND ZERO * R & R * PARTS DO NOT MAKE A WHOLE * COMBAT CUISINE * COMMAND AND CONTROL * WHY IT WAS CALLED THE ROCKET BELT * WHISTLING IN THE WIND * DOG'S HEAD *

23 Life Amongst The Weeds

MARCH 1970
* PROTECT YOUR BUTT * REFUSAL TO MOVE * FLAT, DRY, SANDY AND THIRSTY * LIEUTENANTS * PERSONAL HYGIENE * WHO CAN FORGET THE FxxxING BEES * UCMJ * LZ CONSTRUCT *

24 Prelude

FIRST WEEK IN MAY 1970
*TACTICAL AIR COMBAT EVACUATION (TACE) *

25 Cambodia

MAY 1970
* GI HUMOR * BONDING * RELOCATION OF THE MAIN BASE CAMP * DOWN THE HILLSIDE * EXTENDING THE RANGE OF THE RADIOS * ARTILLERY SUPPORT * WHAT LIEUTENANTS ARE FOR * ENEMY REAR SERVICE GROUP * CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS * YES WE DID, NO WE DIDN'T *

26 Over The Hill

MID MAY 1970
* THE BAD GUYS * FIRST BLOOD * USE EVERYTHING, EVERYBODY * CHICKEN SHIT RIDGE * NEW MISSION/NEW URGENCY * THE TOP OF THE HILL * MORE BONDING * ONE DEAD, SEVEN WOUNDED * HUMOR IS IN THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER * PSYCHOLOGY 101 * IT'S NOT EASY SAYING GOODBYE *

27 LZ Squash - Hardware Store Of The Orient

LATE MAY TO EARLY JUNE 1970
* SADNESS-AN ACCIDENTAL DEATH * PINK TEAMS, I LOVE YOU * MIAs *

28 FSB Neal And The Rice Cache

STILL JUNE 1970
* QUICK KILL TECHNIQUE * STILL FIRST DAY * MONTAGNARDS * WHAT WORKS, YOU CARRY * BACK OUT AGAIN * MEALS ON WHEELS * ANOTHER HELICOPTER CRASH * DOWN THE HILL * WATCH YOUR STEP * MORE RICE * CHICKEN-MAN TO THE RESCUE * TRUST YOUR SIXTH SENSE * HEY DIVISION, I HAVE THE MAP YOU HAVE BEEN SEEKING *

29 Medical Supply Warehouse

LATE JUNE 1970
* TREE CUTTING-INFANTRY STYLE * SURGICAL PREP KITS OR WHAT? * A NEW KIND OF HIGH * OTHER FINDS * PHOSGENE WHEAL* FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD * EVEN THE LEAST OF US HAS A GREATER VALUE * POINT-KILL (QUICK KILL) IN ACTION * TEAM COMBAT * THANK YOU ARVN * PULL BACK TO HIGH GROUND * ESCAPE FROM CAMBODIA *

30 Short, Shorter And Next

JULY 1970
* THREE DAY STANDOWN * THE DUD CAPTAIN * BARBED WIRE ENCLOSURE * MY WORD HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY BOND * FORGET THE WAR-MORE BEER, MORE PIZZA * MY VISION OF SUCCESS IN CAMBODIA * NEXT * THE DAY IS FINALLY HERE * REFLECTIONS * TO THE REAR WITH STOPS * TRUE FRIENDS ARE EVERYWHERE * HOMEWARD BOUND *

31 Aftermath

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Catalogue Information

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