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Outside the Wire: Riding with the "Triple Deuce" in Vietnam, 1970
This "wonderfully written" autobiographical account of a Vietnam vet's war experiences "takes the reader to a strange time and place." (Eric M. Bergerud, author of Red Thunder, Tropic Lightning)
In the summer of 1969, while America was landing on the moon or rocking out at Woodstock, Jim Ross left his home in Oklahoma to enter the U.S. Army. He arrived in Vietnam in February 1970 to serve his tour, first with the armored personnel carriers of the 2nd Battalion of the 22nd Infantry Regiment (the 2/22 or the "Triple Deuce") of the 25th Infantry. Written from the perspective a kid barely out of high school whose mission was to kill communists and whose goal was to survive, Outside the Wire is a thoughtful, action-packed memoir of one American soldier's combat tour in Vietnam. Ross served as a rifleman, machine gunner, tunnel rat, and demolitions man with the 25th infantry and 1st Cavalry divisions. Beginning with a tense ambush patrol, Ross doesn't let up through a year of hair-raising night watches, soggy humps through the jungle, and deadly encounters with the North Vietnamese, including such notable campaigns as the Cambodian incursion.
In the summer of 1969, while America was landing on the moon or rocking out at Woodstock, Jim Ross left his home in Oklahoma to enter the U.S. Army. He arrived in Vietnam in February 1970 to serve his tour, first with the armored personnel carriers of the 2nd Battalion of the 22nd Infantry Regiment (the 2/22 or the "Triple Deuce") of the 25th Infantry. Written from the perspective a kid barely out of high school whose mission was to kill communists and whose goal was to survive, Outside the Wire is a thoughtful, action-packed memoir of one American soldier's combat tour in Vietnam. Ross served as a rifleman, machine gunner, tunnel rat, and demolitions man with the 25th infantry and 1st Cavalry divisions. Beginning with a tense ambush patrol, Ross doesn't let up through a year of hair-raising night watches, soggy humps through the jungle, and deadly encounters with the North Vietnamese, including such notable campaigns as the Cambodian incursion.
349 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 31, 2019
Best you will ever read.
I am a non-combat Vietnam vet. A super REMF. I was on the USS Midway in 1975 and watched the boats and helicopters fleeing from Saigon and the communists. It was at the end of my two year Gulf of Tonkin cruise. Many young sailors died not from combat, but they were just as dead. I hid up in the super-structure and cried like a baby watching the evac. Was treated like a criminal by non- military citizens and treated as a loser by military. I have since read hundreds of Vietnam experiences. This book by Mr Ross is at the very top of the list. The very top. The combat narrative and the emotions are the very best you can read. I was raised in Leesville and might have served hamburgers to Mr Ross at Fort Polk. I wish I could salute Mr Ross and shake his hand. He was one of the best of young Americans that answered the call to arms during that time and returned to the same ungrateful nation that all Vietnam vets returned to. He should have won medals for some of his actions. Read the book.
I am a non-combat Vietnam vet. A super REMF. I was on the USS Midway in 1975 and watched the boats and helicopters fleeing from Saigon and the communists. It was at the end of my two year Gulf of Tonkin cruise. Many young sailors died not from combat, but they were just as dead. I hid up in the super-structure and cried like a baby watching the evac. Was treated like a criminal by non- military citizens and treated as a loser by military. I have since read hundreds of Vietnam experiences. This book by Mr Ross is at the very top of the list. The very top. The combat narrative and the emotions are the very best you can read. I was raised in Leesville and might have served hamburgers to Mr Ross at Fort Polk. I wish I could salute Mr Ross and shake his hand. He was one of the best of young Americans that answered the call to arms during that time and returned to the same ungrateful nation that all Vietnam vets returned to. He should have won medals for some of his actions. Read the book.
September 28, 2020
Being a veteran in another war during the '70's in Nambia (then South West Africa) and Angola with the South African National Defense Force as an 17 year old conscript, I can so relate to this book!
The author describes mundane things like C rations (we called them "rat packs") and these were as awful as he describes. I am sure we got the leftovers from the Vietnam stock after the war! We were permanently hungry from not being able to eat these things.
The continuous on/off adrenalin was absolutely exhausting whether you were in contact or not. After a contact you do a follow up only to find it was two enemy soldiers that held a full platoon busy for almost an hour.
As I was reading this, I could actually smell the webbing we used ( am sure this was `Vietnam era' kit),the extreme heat in Angola, the sweating etc. A lot of memories (tucked away) came rushing back, and I actually cried when his mate Dave was KIA.
Brilliantly written!!
The author describes mundane things like C rations (we called them "rat packs") and these were as awful as he describes. I am sure we got the leftovers from the Vietnam stock after the war! We were permanently hungry from not being able to eat these things.
The continuous on/off adrenalin was absolutely exhausting whether you were in contact or not. After a contact you do a follow up only to find it was two enemy soldiers that held a full platoon busy for almost an hour.
As I was reading this, I could actually smell the webbing we used ( am sure this was `Vietnam era' kit),the extreme heat in Angola, the sweating etc. A lot of memories (tucked away) came rushing back, and I actually cried when his mate Dave was KIA.
Brilliantly written!!
August 31, 2014
Well done, Mr. Ross. I don't imagine this was an easy book to write but hope you draw solace i knowing this book will bring closure and healing to those who went, those who stayed, and the families of those who never came home.. Thank you.
January 11, 2020
Interesting personal memoir of a year spent in country during the Vietnam war.
June 9, 2020
Highly Recommend
I have read several memoirs about the Vietnam war, but they all have taken place in the '65-'69 time period. This is the first one I've read that covers the last year or so of the war. This book is probably the most unsettling because by 1970-71 the war was clearly a lost cause, making the death and personal sacrifice so much more in vain. Another shocking detail is the poor leadership and callousness of some of the field grade officers incompetently sacrificing their brave men's lives to get a few late war combat combat ribbons.
I have read several memoirs about the Vietnam war, but they all have taken place in the '65-'69 time period. This is the first one I've read that covers the last year or so of the war. This book is probably the most unsettling because by 1970-71 the war was clearly a lost cause, making the death and personal sacrifice so much more in vain. Another shocking detail is the poor leadership and callousness of some of the field grade officers incompetently sacrificing their brave men's lives to get a few late war combat combat ribbons.
September 10, 2020
Good read James we could have crossed paths on my way home. I left Vietnam 2-23-70 from the 25th ID. Some of the AO’s are the same and I recall one day driving the tank somewhere outside Cu Chi coming in the opposite direction were some APC’s with the lead one swerving and ended up sideswiping the tank. I was surprised we didn’t feel anything. 53 ton M48 vs 15 ton APC. I also drove a deuce and a half of Bangalore’s and C-4 to a couple if firebases can’t recall their names near Cu Chi.
November 9, 2020
50 yrs ago today ...
Fifty years ago today I left Vietnam wjith almost a thousand hours flightme as a pilot. Many of those hours were spent looking down knowing there were scores of brave young men below. This book again reinforces just how good we pilots had life. Thanks Jim
Fifty years ago today I left Vietnam wjith almost a thousand hours flightme as a pilot. Many of those hours were spent looking down knowing there were scores of brave young men below. This book again reinforces just how good we pilots had life. Thanks Jim
February 22, 2021
Good story and well told.
I enjoyed this novel and it brought back a lot of memories. From May of 1970 to April of 1971 I was a member of the 1st battalion 5th mechanized infantry at Quang Tri. Mechanical maintenance on track vehicles PCs and 48s. Went to the field for the last time Dewey canyon two Laotian offensive of 1971
I enjoyed this novel and it brought back a lot of memories. From May of 1970 to April of 1971 I was a member of the 1st battalion 5th mechanized infantry at Quang Tri. Mechanical maintenance on track vehicles PCs and 48s. Went to the field for the last time Dewey canyon two Laotian offensive of 1971
September 16, 2023
Excellent Story of the Journey of Soldier
Ross did an amazing g job retelling his Journey from civilian to soldier. He told how you could give your life, take a life or watch a life lost to a senseless and somewhat meaningless cause. My brother served there and the language and slang was spot on. Ross did an amazing job chronicling, in great detail, his experiences.
Ross did an amazing g job retelling his Journey from civilian to soldier. He told how you could give your life, take a life or watch a life lost to a senseless and somewhat meaningless cause. My brother served there and the language and slang was spot on. Ross did an amazing job chronicling, in great detail, his experiences.
April 30, 2020
Better than Many Viet Memoirs
This fellow can write. Long ago all Viet memoirs seemed full of descriptive action and emotion. Most of the recent are boring, tell the same story. This is well done.
This fellow can write. Long ago all Viet memoirs seemed full of descriptive action and emotion. Most of the recent are boring, tell the same story. This is well done.
June 21, 2020
Stylish reflection on a difficult time.
Often masterful metaphores, pleasant reminder of why good writing is so satisfying.
One of the best and clearest recollections of life " Outside the Wire ".
Often masterful metaphores, pleasant reminder of why good writing is so satisfying.
One of the best and clearest recollections of life " Outside the Wire ".
July 6, 2026
This was a really good book! It told the stories of the grunts. My husband was one & it makes me feel closer to him learning about what he went through. He never talked about it. So thank you for writing this book.
July 14, 2020
222
Interesting book in learning what actually went on in Vietnam from someone that were there and the horrors of war.
Interesting book in learning what actually went on in Vietnam from someone that were there and the horrors of war.
December 7, 2020
Excellent
Stories like this are the best way to learn about a war that most would prefer forgotten. A worthwhile read for sure.
Stories like this are the best way to learn about a war that most would prefer forgotten. A worthwhile read for sure.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews