Mighty Men of Valor: With Charlie Company on Hill 714-Vietnam, 1970

by John G. Roberts

THE SCREAMING EAGLES IN VIETNAM 1970 : the Screaming Eagles of the 101st Airborne have been in combat against the elusive Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army for nearly seven years. In this memoir, author John G. Roberts tells the story of the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, the "Widow Makers" of the 101st Divisions' 1st Brigade. Written in the often crude language of the combat infantryman, Roberts describes what it was like to confront the enemy during close combat in the triple-canopied jungles of I Corps, west of the Song Bo River. As part of Operation Texas Star, the 502nd Infantry (the "O-Deuce") lost 30 men killed and over 200 wounded in a month long battle in April and May, 1970. JUNGLE COMBAT THRU THE EYES OF A YOUNG SHAKE-N-BAKE SERGEANT Roberts relates the shock and grief he and others felt when his 11-man squad lost 3 men killed and five wounded in about an hour of combat. The fights around Hill 714, Hill 882 and the 4-month Battle of Firebase Ripcord received very little attention in the media. The press was focused on the April invasion of Cambodia and the May student shootings at Kent State University in Ohio. Roberts, like many Vietnam combat veterans, carried the symptoms of PTSD with him when he returned home. The author is very open about the 35 year battle he had with PTSD and alcohol. With help from his family and support from medical professionals at Veterans Affairs, he has worked out a truce with the demons of PTSD and now lives a quiet life in Southern California. JOIN THE O-DEUCE DURING OPERATION TEXAS STAR By reading Mighty Men of With Charlie Company on Hill 714 - Vietnam, 1970 you have the chance to experience life (and death) as an infantry grunt during the last big American-led battles of the Vietnam War as only someone who was there can describe them.

Genres: Military History

342 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 12, 2013

Reviews

[Carlton Phelps · Rating 5 out of 5]

A raw look at what happened to our young boys who were sent to Vietnam.
As we should know by now, old men start wars and young boys fight them.
Charlie Company is well known for its bravery and toughness.
Mr. Roberts gives us a chance to walk with him and his platoon through the rainforest and gunfire. He also takes us along on his journey dealing with PTSD and what his family dealt with as he suffered, without the help of the VA, in his early years at home.
He also includes his search for old friends and a reunion.
There is also a chapter his wife wrote that is heartfelt, And how she dealt with his and her brother's suffering.
Excellent read.

[John Podlaski · Rating 4 out of 5]

John G. Roberts' memoir sometimes reads like a journal composed from after action reports; citing coordinates from topographical maps, unit injuries and amount of enemy kills. Just as a point of interest, the many maps and pictures found within the book are quite difficult to see or read on a Kindle. The story is told through the eyes of the author, a shake 'n bake buck sergeant, who chronicles his tour in Vietnam with the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry of the 101st Airborne Division (0-Deuce). I was anxious to read this story as I also served in a sister unit within the 101st: 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry (Geronimo), and wanted to compare his experiences to mine. Although, Sgt. Roberts left Vietnam three months before my arrival (I transferred up north for the final five months of my tour after the 25th Division went home), much of what he wrote hit home and brought back memories - both good and bad.

John writes about the day-to-day routines of the infantry grunts - the misery of humping, digging foxholes and keeping watch for the enemy during the black of night. Then waking up and repeating the process all over again. Most of the time, these treks are uneventful and soon become redundant and boring - causing soldiers to become complacent and sloppy. Their ranks continue to diminish as soldiers are Medivaced daily - not due to enemy action, but as a result of falls, sprains, heat exhaustion, dysentery and malaria. Relocating to the Ashau Valley changed everything.

The Ashau Valley is a dangerous and notorious place, the surrounding mountains, thick with vegetation, steep and mysteriously shrouded in clouds during the monsoon season, made it difficult to climb, sleep and fight. Here, everyone is on full alert, because the enemy is always nearby. When contact is made, there are moments of sheer terror before their training takes over. His descriptions of the gut wrenching action are spot on. Many of the battles here last days instead of hours - the author's experiences are on Hill 714 and others without a name.

Low hanging clouds on these half-mile and higher mountains often created a hardship to those grunts fighting in the hills; making it impossible to receive food, water, medivacs or air-support during those times - sometimes going without for several days. This is the time they are most vulnerable.

John also tells about his homecoming at the end of his war and of his difficulties with PTSD in the years to follow. His wife also contributes to the book and writes the final segment, offering advice about living with and supporting loved ones who suffer from PTSD.

I thoroughly enjoyed "Mighty Men of Valor" and recommend it to all. Veterans will relate...civilians will learn. Welcome Home Brother! God Bless!

John Podlaski, author
Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having lived through Hill 714 with the author, I debated, for several months, writing a review of his book, questioning my objectivity. But here goes. I found myself anxious, disturbed, captured, reading the book. It brought back many painful memories, many bittersweet moments, and led to a lot of overdue reflection on the ordeal we endured there. That tells me the author captured the essence of what we went through. He did not elaborate on what it felt like, but he gave a good account of what happened, mostly leaving it up to the reader to go beyond the words on the page to try to understand and "feel" what it was like. I liked that. Many books I have read on VN try so hard to put the feelings of going through battle into words that they somehow tend to become "hollow" or contrived or overblown. Reading this book I easily made the leap, from events to feelings. For other infantry veterans I expect it would be just as easy. For those who have no first hand experience, I suspect it may be harder to read this account and get the gut feelings. However, I think a slow and thoughtful reading of what John has provided can transport a reader into the mountain jungles of VN and let them feel fear, anxiety, camaraderie, the fragileness of our bodies, closeness of death, the elation of surviving, the pride of overcoming, the guilt of surviving, the humbling of overcoming and the strength of our spirit.

[Mark M. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my God.

I struggled reading this because I found it difficult with all the military jargon and names of groups. I have read maybe 20-25 Vietnam War books and often find them "educational or eye opening". But this one made me pause when I got to the end. John Robert's and his wife did something that really pulled on my heart strings. SHARI ROBERTS finished this book like no body I have seen do it before. She stepped forward telling her story and horrific pain she suffered. I was enlightened like never before. Thank you Shari and John and may God Bless you.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't do this book justice with mere words.

Good book, well researched & documented.
As a teen in the 80s I never understood why people used to view Vietnam vets with disdain. It troubles me, looking back, that a lot of people still held those feelings, 10 years, 20 years, or more, after the war ended. I had naively believed that movies like Platoon had shown Americans that Vietnam vets weren't evil, they just kids who wanted to survive, and weren't "baby killers."
Their stories deserve to be heard.

[Herbert Aaron Stokes · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent memoir

This is an excellent memoir. Well written and meaningful, and one of the first I’ve read to mention the beginnings of the recognition of PTSD, and it’s lasting effects on solders and their families. Everyone should read this story, and everyone should be educated about Vietnam, and what took place there. This was a purposefully lost generation of soldiers that are well deserving of the title of heroes. Thank you for your service Sir, and for sharing your story.

[Martha McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

Great job. I also was a shake and bake from benning. .graduated2/26/71. 1/22 infantry 4th division recon. Tuy HOA and an khe. Book was great. Thk you very much mac-1construction@cox.net

[Richard Esbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Having been there, done that I completely understand the feelings discussed in this book. The chapter written by his wife sounds like my auto biography

[Mark Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done

Great read you won't be disappointed
Those guys deserve all our respect and more very realistic accounts and stories,enjoy today

[Edward A Caba Jr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book review

Very well written. I know what the author has gone through and unless you have experienced it you cannot beginner