Mekong Mud Dogs: Story of: Sgt. Ed Eaton

by Ed Eaton

Ed; a Army Sniper Hall of Fame member has written a eLit Gold 1st place award winner that is offered at the National Infantry Written about in books, magazines and highlighted in the History Channel " Deadliest Missions"! Ed tells his story of being a Platoon Sgt. and Sniper with the River Raiders of the Mekong. His stories include the one which garnered him a recommendation for the Medal of Honor.

Genres: Nonfiction, War, Military History, Military Fiction

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 4, 2014

Reviews

[Jay Edmonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ed Eaton’s story first became widely known on the Military Channel and on the National Rifle Association network. I remember watching it as a boy and being incredibly moved by his refusal to leave his company commander to die alone - defending the wounded man against waves of Viet Cong at a helicopter crash site in Vietnam. “Mekong Mud Dogs” is an honest, raw memoir of Ed’s experiences with the US Army’s 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam. This book has plenty of practical lessons in jungle warfare, riverine operations, & small unit tactics from Ed’s time as an infantryman, squad leader, platoon sergeant, sniper, & sniper platoon sergeant in countless engagements against the Viet Cong. But more importantly, Ed’s story of facing fear, apathy, guilt, rage, anxiety, addiction, and post traumatic stress disorder holds a deeply relevant message for other veterans. He talks about the long road to making peace with his past and the changing world around him - in his case catalyzed by a journey to his old battlefields in the Mekong River Delta that enabled him to find meaning in his pain, share his story to pass on valuable lessons, and finally find love and joy. I highly recommend this book to all veterans who find themselves struggling with the transition back home or back to civilian life. It’s a story of hope.

[F.E. Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another story, a good one, about folks that sign up for the gore of war and then have trouble dealing with it. Must be a better way to fight a war. Perhaps no one under the age of 25 engaging in combat.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a VN vet also. Brown water navy, USS Garrett County LST 786 song ong doc, Mekong delta, class of 1970.

First of all, welcome home brother. Your story is tragic and amazing. I saw things that affected me but nothing to the degree you endured. Your depiction of life before war was right on. What a wakening for this country.
I know people who had life changing experiences, but the worst part for me was re entry to the world and you said it, nobody cared and I held it in for over 40 years.

Your explanation of PTSD was the best description I've heard yet.. I read it 3 times and you hit on it like I've never heard before.
Thank you your story and again, WELCOME HOME.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

MEKONG MUD DOGS by SGT. ED EATON IS AN HONEST FIRST PERSON ACCOUNT THAT DARES TO TAKE YOU INTO THE UNIQUE LIVES OF THE LOWLY INFANTRYMAN OF THE MOBILE RIVERINE FORCE’S RIVER RAIDERS AND THE MEN WHO GAVE THEIR ALL IN THE MUDDY MEKONG DELTA OF VIETNAM. ED HAS RECAPTURED THE DAY TO DAY LIFE OF AN INFANTRYMAN IN THE MUDDY MEKONG DELTA, LEECHES, SNIPERS, FIREFIGHTS, HOT LZ’S, AMBUSHES, SHIPS BEING BLOWN UP, HE TELLS IT ALL.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Word's from a man who has been there and back.

This is not just another book about Vietnam, but more of a personal memoir about.what it took to survive and the tragedy felt when returning home. I can only hope that our lessons have been learned on the treatment of our soldiers and the very real horrors that some deal with after war.

[Doug Dickerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. One of the best Vietnam memoirs I have read. I am really proud to say they are Americans.





Read this book. You will not retreat it. We should give all.the help possible to Americans that have to go and fight for our Country.

[Reg Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Change...

The book follows the change in attitude of a young man who starts off as wanting to serve his country. He then becomes a teenager who is afraid of not being a good soldier. He then fears being killed, then doesn't care. Things get worse.

[Danielle H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Read

I liked the story line at the beginning of the book but then when he avoided his assignments at the end of his time country I lost all respect for him . He lost his way.
Done

[Roger P. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitive Read on the Vietnam Conflict

For all who stayed at home while others fought and died, this author fully records the impact upon those who served, particularly those who survived. All should read and understand.

[Kyle Wiggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absorbing Must Read

One of the best accounts of the fighting in 1969. Authentic. Revealing the unbelievable day to day fighting in the Mekong Delta and the brave men who suffered all.

[Carol S. Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

heartbreaking and fantastic

A must read for any Mental health worker who needs to understand PTSD in the Vietnam war. It was very hard to put this book down very detailed and intriguing to read

[Ciara Levine · Rating 5 out of 5]

True American and an excellent read

True American and an excellent read. Highly engaging story from a first hand participant in the Vietnam war. We cannot forget these heroes and the horrors they faced just doing their duty.

[clayton goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely an amazing and excellent book. Much respect.

[matthew mintz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I'm a veteran of Iraq and have always wondered what Vietnam was like this book answered as lot of questions i had.

[Joe R, · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Sgt. Eaton's book Mekong Mud Dogs. I was interested in the book because my brother served his year at Dong Tam with an engineering battalion. It is an interesting read. I recommend it.

[LARRY MURPHY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good 👍.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, our brothers and sisters are writing their memories for the future generations.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

An honest first person account that dares to take you into the unique lives of infantryman of the Mobile Riverine Forces River Raiders.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book. Ed did a great job of telling the story of his experiences in Vietnam. What I appreciate about the books is that the facts about units and the war (not about his personal experiences - obviously) align with other books I am reading. For example, I read about helicopter pilots in the Central Highlands and the make comments about flying a few missions in the Delta and it aligns with the details Ed gives. Plus the story is good and interesting. I think of my life at Ed's age during the book and my life consisted of college, video games, dating girls, and hot meals - not nearly as interesting.

In summary, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the Vietnam War.

[Tim Hahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had this on my shelf for years, wanting to learn more about the war in Vietnam. I randomly picked it up from a used book store, but never cracked it open. The 2026 BAS reading challenge made me take stock of my bookshelves, and I was pleasantly surprised to find this self-published work. The moment I started it, I was hooked. For a self-published book by a self-proclaimed army grunt, the story-telling is excellent, and readers are immediately dropped into the Mekong Delta as Ed describes the emotions and physical feelings of a FNG (F'n New Guy). The rest of the book takes readers through the life of a grunt as they join mission after mission, with excellent story telling. The pinnacle is Ed's recounting of April 3, 1969 when he acts with valor worthy of the Medal of Honor.

I sped through this in just over two days. It can be a bit graphic at times, but it's a war story after all. That said, I think anyone wanting to understand the life of a grunt in Nam would do well to read Ed's story.

[George Seaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

As good a personal history of the Vietnam war that I've read. Had a little angst when the narrative flowed back and forth from past tense to present, sometimes in the same sentence, but that didn't take away from the compelling story. The pictures were great. I thought it was remarkable that there was such detail provided for each mission, and wondered if Eaton had kept a diary or copious notes during his time in-country. Reread the preface where it is explained Easton started keeping notes in 1971, and that he had assistance from his Bravo Company brothers who reviewed the manuscript and offered insight. The last part of the book became an uneasy read--at least for me--when it appeared Eaton just 'quit' the war when he became a short-timer and avoided circumstances where he could be reassigned to field duties. Maybe I missed something about why that occurred, but again, it took nothing away from the courage and honor with which Eaton served. A good read, and I do recommend it.

[michael r ory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good read


First hand account of the everyday life of a vietnam veteran. A lot of action and what these brave soldiers went through only to be rejected by their own country upon returning. Thank you to veterans of all our wars for putting your lives on the line for the American people.

[Rick Holt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping and honest

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[Lance Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Book

I read "Good To Go" before I read "Mud Dogs", it was interesting to see how the grunts vs Seals operated in the Mekong Delta. Both books make for good reading.

[Patti Merz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

I always enjoy reading books about Vietnam Vets in their words. I always felt bad the way the soldiers were treated returning to the US