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Road of 10,000 Pains: The Destruction of the 2nd NVA Division by the U.S. Marines, 1967
“Oh, yes,” a retired NVA officer matter-of-factly declared to former U.S. Marine Otto J. Lehrack. “In the Que Son Valley in 1967, we killed more Americans than at any time or place during the war.” Road of 10,000 Pains, which takes its name from The Iliad, is an epic oral history of Vietnam's bloodiest campaign, fought for seven months in a series of battles, most within four miles of each other, along Route 534. In October 1967, orders came down to the 2nd North Vietnamese Army Division commanding them to join with local Viet Cong units and seize the city of Da Nang in the coming Tet Offensive. When the time came, the division was so battered from its seven-month campaign in the Que Son Valley that it failed to carry out its mission. Only one platoon was to make it inside the city limits of Da Nang. Had it not been for the violent struggles in the valley, Da Nang may have suffered the same fate as the city of Hue.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
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44 people want to read
About the author
Otto J. Lehrack
6 books2 followersOtto John Lehrack is a retired Marine infantry officer, two-tour Vietnam veteran, former CEO of a small Silicon Valley computer company, blue-water sailor, and author of five books.
Three of his books have been Military Book Club Main Selections. He has received an award from the US Marine Corps Heritage Foundation for his first book, No Shining Armor: the Marines at War in Vietnam (1992), and a journalism award from the same organization. No Shining Armor was published under the Modern War Series of the University Press of Kansas.
He lives in Asheville, North Carolina, where he is working on a novel. He has an MA in history from the University of Hawaii, Manoa.
Three of his books have been Military Book Club Main Selections. He has received an award from the US Marine Corps Heritage Foundation for his first book, No Shining Armor: the Marines at War in Vietnam (1992), and a journalism award from the same organization. No Shining Armor was published under the Modern War Series of the University Press of Kansas.
He lives in Asheville, North Carolina, where he is working on a novel. He has an MA in history from the University of Hawaii, Manoa.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 23, 2020
The book; "Road of 10,000 Pains" by Otto Lehrack, who is a retired Marine and two-tour Vietnam veteran, is an excellent account or rather a well put together book of a number of the Marine's experiences during their battle with the 2nd NVA Division during a series of operations in Que Son Valley.
We follow a number of men and Marine units as they battle their way through Operation Union I, Operation Union II, Operation Swift and Operation Essex, from 21st April till 17th November 1967.
I found some great stories in the book, like this account from one of the Marines involved;
“Being shot at for the first time is an unforgettable experience. Having holes shot into a helicopter in which one is riding, like the prospect of hanging, really concentrates the mind. There is nowhere to hide, and suddenly one is faced with the prospect of death by gunshot, falling, crashing, or any combination of the above. Adrenaline runs hard and fast, heart rate soars, and one suddenly gets a mouth so dry that spit is almost impossible and no amount of water will ever be enough. One’s mind is on a razor edge, and thoughts are redlined at the upper limits of volume and rpm, almost as if one is screaming aloud. The prayer is always some variation of ‘Get me off this fucking helicopter NOW!’ Afterward, one never thinks about helicopters the same way again."
Or this story of a Marine Captain who took out one enemy machine gun position and was wounded twice when trying to silence a second gun position and then found that his men were nearly out of ammo:
He supervised the evacuation of the wounded to a slightly safer position and then returned to the paddy to protect Cpl. Marion Dirickson, who was wounded in the chest too badly to be moved. The Marines had tried dragging Dirickson by the ankles, and he shrieked in pain and kept saying, “Leave me, just leave me.” Captain Graham ordered the rest of the Marines back, but he stayed by the Marine until the end; his last radio transmission said that he was being overwhelmed by twenty-five NVA.
These and many other stories make up the core of the book and the final chapter; 'Parting Shots' really made me think about these young men who fought and died in Vietnam.
Another section of the book that has to be read is the Appendix; 'Awards For The Que Son Valley Campaign'. Not only did President Lyndon Johnson award a Presidential Unit Citation to the 5th Marines but also awarded 6 Medal of Honor, 21 Navy Crosses, 75 Silver Stars and 12 Bronze Stars.
We follow a number of men and Marine units as they battle their way through Operation Union I, Operation Union II, Operation Swift and Operation Essex, from 21st April till 17th November 1967.
I found some great stories in the book, like this account from one of the Marines involved;
“Being shot at for the first time is an unforgettable experience. Having holes shot into a helicopter in which one is riding, like the prospect of hanging, really concentrates the mind. There is nowhere to hide, and suddenly one is faced with the prospect of death by gunshot, falling, crashing, or any combination of the above. Adrenaline runs hard and fast, heart rate soars, and one suddenly gets a mouth so dry that spit is almost impossible and no amount of water will ever be enough. One’s mind is on a razor edge, and thoughts are redlined at the upper limits of volume and rpm, almost as if one is screaming aloud. The prayer is always some variation of ‘Get me off this fucking helicopter NOW!’ Afterward, one never thinks about helicopters the same way again."
Or this story of a Marine Captain who took out one enemy machine gun position and was wounded twice when trying to silence a second gun position and then found that his men were nearly out of ammo:
He supervised the evacuation of the wounded to a slightly safer position and then returned to the paddy to protect Cpl. Marion Dirickson, who was wounded in the chest too badly to be moved. The Marines had tried dragging Dirickson by the ankles, and he shrieked in pain and kept saying, “Leave me, just leave me.” Captain Graham ordered the rest of the Marines back, but he stayed by the Marine until the end; his last radio transmission said that he was being overwhelmed by twenty-five NVA.
These and many other stories make up the core of the book and the final chapter; 'Parting Shots' really made me think about these young men who fought and died in Vietnam.
Another section of the book that has to be read is the Appendix; 'Awards For The Que Son Valley Campaign'. Not only did President Lyndon Johnson award a Presidential Unit Citation to the 5th Marines but also awarded 6 Medal of Honor, 21 Navy Crosses, 75 Silver Stars and 12 Bronze Stars.
April 21, 2011
Wasn't a fan initially of the author's approach to telling the story with snippets by multiple participants, but the individual stories are compelling and the approach grew on me. I wish there were better maps of the engagements as they are described. This is a homage to the Vietnam Veteran. Lots of great personal pictures provided by the participants as well. One can not but be moved by the selflessness of these Marines who fought fiercely. The NVA were also formidable soldiers.
Some takeaways. I never knew that CS (tear gas) was employed so much in Vietnam. I can't even begin to imagine trying to wear a gas mask in the heat and humidity of RVN. I have met several of the men in this book and I'm in awe of their accomplishments. I knew they fought in Vietnam and had commanded squads, companies, and battalions but knowing that really didn't bridge the gap of my comprehension of their service. Only by reading this book do I now have an appreciation of just what they endured. I had read the official Marine Corps histories too. Also the amount of torture done by the NVA on prisoners and the mutilation of the dead was surprising. The other factor that just screams out is the M-16 rifle. So many Marines were killed because their rifle didn't work. More should have been said about the AK 47 which allowed a poorly trained NVA recruit to become a lethal killer.
It also struck me that the NVA capitalized on the audacity of the Marines. It seemed time and time again companies were caught in L shaped ambushes by two battalions of NVA. A good analogy might be the Civil War with the South fighting offensively and squandering their precious manpower with the USMC being like the South, always attacking. The Marines destroyed the 2nd NVA Division but at a high price in KIA's and this was the year before the 1968 Tet Offensive. This campaign basically prevented Da Nang from becoming like Hue. But I really don't know what we could have done otherwise in terms of offensive tactics. The NVA had no airpower but were masters of camouflage. We knew they were there but not exactly where.
Some takeaways. I never knew that CS (tear gas) was employed so much in Vietnam. I can't even begin to imagine trying to wear a gas mask in the heat and humidity of RVN. I have met several of the men in this book and I'm in awe of their accomplishments. I knew they fought in Vietnam and had commanded squads, companies, and battalions but knowing that really didn't bridge the gap of my comprehension of their service. Only by reading this book do I now have an appreciation of just what they endured. I had read the official Marine Corps histories too. Also the amount of torture done by the NVA on prisoners and the mutilation of the dead was surprising. The other factor that just screams out is the M-16 rifle. So many Marines were killed because their rifle didn't work. More should have been said about the AK 47 which allowed a poorly trained NVA recruit to become a lethal killer.
It also struck me that the NVA capitalized on the audacity of the Marines. It seemed time and time again companies were caught in L shaped ambushes by two battalions of NVA. A good analogy might be the Civil War with the South fighting offensively and squandering their precious manpower with the USMC being like the South, always attacking. The Marines destroyed the 2nd NVA Division but at a high price in KIA's and this was the year before the 1968 Tet Offensive. This campaign basically prevented Da Nang from becoming like Hue. But I really don't know what we could have done otherwise in terms of offensive tactics. The NVA had no airpower but were masters of camouflage. We knew they were there but not exactly where.
March 24, 2014
Mr. Lehrack has not so much written this book, but rather he has constructed an extremely well put together account of a seven month period in the year 1967 in and around Que Son Valley, South Vietnam. During this period the Marines actively engaged the thousands of North Vietnamese Army Regulars who were members of the 2nd NVA Division.
In this book Marines and Navy personnel recount their individual experiences of these events as they occurred, in detail...and often in heart breaking detail.
This book does not hide the terrible aspects of war and the battles that both sides experienced.
Nor does it diminish the bravery of the enemy fought by the Marines.
As I read this book, and as a Marine of the early 60's, I could not help but wonder how these Marines, some of whom were barely past 18 years of age, could perform the way they did, not to mention how they could persist day after day, under such fearful conditions.
This book is not for everyone. If you are interested in Marine Corp History, first hand accounts of modern combat, and the history of just some of the Vietnam conflict, then this book will be of interest.
I gave this book four stars. I would not say "like" is a term I would use to say how I felt about the book. After all it is a rather graphic account of war. However, I am glad to bought the book, and to have read it, and to have learned about these Marines and their everyday heroism in just surviving.
In this book Marines and Navy personnel recount their individual experiences of these events as they occurred, in detail...and often in heart breaking detail.
This book does not hide the terrible aspects of war and the battles that both sides experienced.
Nor does it diminish the bravery of the enemy fought by the Marines.
As I read this book, and as a Marine of the early 60's, I could not help but wonder how these Marines, some of whom were barely past 18 years of age, could perform the way they did, not to mention how they could persist day after day, under such fearful conditions.
This book is not for everyone. If you are interested in Marine Corp History, first hand accounts of modern combat, and the history of just some of the Vietnam conflict, then this book will be of interest.
I gave this book four stars. I would not say "like" is a term I would use to say how I felt about the book. After all it is a rather graphic account of war. However, I am glad to bought the book, and to have read it, and to have learned about these Marines and their everyday heroism in just surviving.
January 19, 2014
My father and his best friend were interviewed by the author and contributed to this book. It was amazing to read about the operations my father participated in, an the sacrifice he and his brothers made.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews