Rice Paddy Recon: A Marine Officer's Second Tour in Vietnam, 1968-1970

by Andrew R. Finlayson

A young U.S. Marine officer recounts his experiences of the Vietnam War over a nineteen month period. He graphically describes what it was like to perform three distinct combat long-range ground reconnaissance in the Annamite Mountains of I Corps, infantry operations in the rice paddies and mountains of Quang Nam Province and special police operations for the CIA in Tay Ninh Province. Using Marine Corps official unit histories, CIA documents, and his weekly letters home, the author relies almost exclusively on primary sources in providing an accurate and honest account of combat at the small unit level. Of particular interest is his description of his assignment to the CIA as a Provincial Reconnaissance Unit (PRU) advisor in Tay Ninh Province, where he participated in several secret missions as part of the controversial Phoenix Program. The name and contribution of the CIA's most valuable spy during the war, the famous "Tay Ninh Source," is revealed.

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 28, 2014

Reviews

[Bob Olmstead · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good follow up to A great book.

Volume 2 was a good follow up to the 1st book. A tough transition back to the USA and back into the war zone. This second book is a bit more cerebral as the more experienced marine returns to combat . Some very interesting opinion are expressed on the planning of the war fro a guy who was in the middle of it.

[Kevin Rumsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent view and perspective on the Vietnam War

[John W Hodgkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most fascinating book about VietNam that I have ever read!

Colonel Finlayson puts together a fascinating many faceted look into the finer mechanisms of of the NVA and the Viet Cong infrastructure that I could not have imagined! As a member of a Ranger company in 69-70 I lived and experienced first hand the sheer terror, hardships and wonderful comraderie of recon/search and destroy operations but then Lieutenant Finlayson didn't stop there, he entered the shadowy world of the CIA and spy craft that most soldiers and marines could never imagine! His unbelievably wide and varied experiences gave him an insight into why we (politically) lost the war and how some of the same socially and politically left thinkers of today permeate our government and I believe are still trying to bring our country down. Kudos to you Colonel Finlayson!

[a.t.m. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marine goes back to Vietnam for second tour

Interesting read about a career marine that goes back for another tour of duty in Vietnam. The author kept meticulous records about his tours of duty and so his two books on his experiences are not dependent on his memory. Good read, I recommend.

[Dewayne Stark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The military and Vietnam ABC can be confusing. Lot of spook info.