The Soldiers' Story (Fall River Press Edition): Vietnam in Their Own Words

Ron Steinman

2011-11 · Union Square & Co.

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Most history-minded Americans have discussed the Vietnam War, becoming familiar, at the very least, with the names of such pivotal events as the Siege of Khe Sanh, the Tet Offensive, and the Fall of Saigon. But to grasp the full impact of this agonizing conflict, the human costs of an infernal war that raged for ten years and took more than 58,000 American lives, one must hear about it from the soldiers, sailors, and airmen who experienced the fighting and endured.

In The Soldiers’ Story, veteran journalist Ron Steinman gathers the candid reminiscences of seventy-six men who survived combat in Vietnam. Not a military analysis or political study, this oral history vividly conveys the hardships, friendships, fears, and personal triumphs of Marine, Army, Air Force, and Navy veterans—each of whom shares memories that have lingered to this day. It is a valuable frontline record of battle-torn Vietnam from the perspective of those who lived it first-hand, giving us a window into the horror, intensity, and raw courage that the war engendered.

For this tenth anniversary reissue of the book, at a time of the continued commitment of American military forces on other continents, Steinman has added a brief new foreword, addressing the ongoing significance of soldiers’ stories—both to themselves and to their families.

Praise for The Soldiers’ Story:

“Ranks among the most vivid accounts of the war.”—Stanley Karnow

“Their stories are as dangerous as the battles they fought—stunning, plain-spoken recollections that reveal the terror of combat and theperils of a far-off war and the folly of government policy.”— New York Newsday

“A powerful book that brings to life the triumphs and tragedies experienced by American soldiers in Vietnam. This excellent compilation belongs on every Vietnam bookshelf.”—Publishers Weekly

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Ron Steinman an award-winning news journalist and television producer, was NBC Bureau Chief in Saigon for two years, leading that networks coverage of the Tet Offensive. His awards include a Peabody, a National Press Club Award, and five Emmy nominations. He is executive editor of The Digital Journalist.