Prodigals: A Vietnam Story

by Richard Taylor

During his first tour in Vietnam - 1967-68 - Dick Taylor was a well trained and highly motivated amateur assigned to advise a hard-bitten ARVN infantry battalion working in the mud and streams of IV Corps. He became savvy in a hurry and found that he was both brave and resourceful. He barely survived Tet 1968, then served on an advisory team staff.

For the next two years, Taylor earned a Ranger tab, served on a division staff, and schooled on. He met his wife, and married her days before he returned to Vietnam.

Taylor's second tour - 1970-71 - was altogether different. He immediately assumed command of Bravo Company, 1/7 Cav, and excelled as a commander and a leader. He was aggressive in the field, confident in his command, and assertive with his superiors. He fought a good war, a successful war, and when he was forced to take a staff job it was as his battalion's intelligence officer. But the war was winding down, its purpose lost. Taylor's spirit's flagged, but not his fidelity.

This well-written combat memoir is heartfelt, earnest, honest and just a little melancholy.

Table of Contents

Preface
List of Abbreviations

Chapter 1. History Repeats Itself
Chapter 2. The Long Journey
Chapter 3. Good Morning, Vietnam
Chapter 4. Sliders
Chapter 5. Mekong Delta
Chapter 6. Rude Awakening
Chapter 7. Storm Clouds over the Double Y
Chapter 8. Trouble at the Double Y
Chapter 9. Friendly Fire
Chapter 10. River Assault
Chapter 11. Into Snoopy’s Nose
Chapter 12. Changes
Chapter 13. Sudden Death
Chapter 14. East of the Sun
Chapter 15. Unfriendly Fire
Chapter 16. Big Storm
Chapter 17. Gates of Hell
Chapter 18. Storm Unremitting
Chapter 19. Mopping Up
Chapter 20. Rats of a Different Sort
Chapter 21. Blessed Respite
Chapter 22. Clock Winding Down
Chapter 23. Revival
Chapter 24. Returning
Chapter 25. Garry Owen
Chapter 26. Combat Assault
Chapter 27. War Zone D
Chapter 28. Green
Chapter 29. High-Angle Hell
Chapter 30: Operation Mercer
Chapter 31. Reorienting
Chapter 32. Bruised Heart
Chapter 33. Recovery
Chapter 34. Artillery Zone
Chapter 35. Back to Bravo
Chapter 36. Backs to the Wall
Chapter 37: Staff Wars
Chapter 38. Delta Demons
Chapter 39. News From Home
Chapter 40. All or Nothing
Chapter 41. Which Way Home?
Chapter 42. Fragments
Chapter 43. Saint Christopher

Postmortem / Acknowledgments
Chapter Notes
Index

Genres: Military Fiction, Nonfiction

331 pages, Hardcover

First published October 31, 2003

About the author

Richard Taylor was a soldier for all his adult life, serving in Vietnam, Europe, Grenada, the Philippines, Iraq, Afghanistan, and numerous posts in the United States. His service led to an understanding and appreciation of the sacrifices made by soldiers and their loved ones.

He documented his experiences over two tours of duty in Vietnam in Prodigals: A Vietnam Story (2003). The manuscript was an award winner at the Pike’s Peak Writers Conference the previous year. He earned a nomination as a Georgia Writer of the Year and the book was a featured selection by the Military Book Club.

His history of veterans is documented in Homeward Bound: American Veterans Return from War (2007), republished by the Naval Institute Press in 2009 as a featured selection for the Association of the United States Army.

Taylor is retired from active service but is still involved with veterans’ organizations.

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book with a different viewpoint from other Vietnam memoirs I’ve read, specifically of an officer attached as an advisor to the South Vietnamese (at least the first half). The writing was a bit grandiose at times, but a worthwhile read nonetheless.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I personally really enjoyed this book. It wasn’t really like other way books that I’ve read, it honestly reminded me a bit of the I Survived series. While reading it, I was able to imagine the situation and get an understanding of how someone may feel.