The Army at War

The Vietnam Experience #22

by Michael Casey, Clark Dougan, Denis Kennedy

Relates the history and experiences of American soldiers in Vietnam, discussing in particular the 1st, 4th, 9th, 23rd, and 25th Infantry Divisions; the 173rd Airborne Brigade; the 199th Infantry Brigade; and the 11th Armored Cavalry

Genres: History

192 pages, Hardcover

First published April 28, 1988

About the author

Michael Casey (1947-) is a poet who is known for his poetry about the Vietnam War. He has published several collections of poetry.

Michael Casey received his B.S. in Physics from Lowell Technological Institute in 1968. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and served as a military policeman, both in the United States and in Vietnam. After the war, he began his M.S. in physics at State University of New York Buffalo, but left the program to become a full-time poet.

Reviews

[Robert Alexander Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐ Army at War

This volume offers a detailed look at the U.S. Army’s role in Vietnam, and I really enjoyed the strong visuals and clear breakdown of different units and how they operated in the field. The book does a good job showing what soldiers faced in combat, from the challenges of the terrain to the pressures of daily patrols and major operations. It’s informative and well-organized, and the photographs and maps help bring the material to life. While not the most gripping entry in the series, it’s a solid and interesting overview of the Army’s experience in the war.

[James Crabtree · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume of the series looked at the War from the aspect of the "Patches," the big units of the U.S. Army which fought in the war (with just a couple of notable exceptions). These units include the 25th Infantry ("Tropic Lightning"), the 173rd Airborne Brigade ("Sky Soldiers") and the ill-fated Americal Division (24th Infantry Division). The book provides thumbnails of how the divisions were employed, what the state of their training and manning was upon arrival in Vietnam, what operations they participated in and where they operated. Each division is discussed in context and a graphic provides the period of service, the names of commanders and which brigades, regiments, battalions and independent companies/detachments came under their colors. The book also includes a section of original artwork showing the various uniforms worn by the Army during the conflict. If the Army in Vietnam is what interests you, then this book is for you!