Abandoned in Hell: The Fight For Vietnam's Firebase Kate

by William Albracht, Marvin Wolf, Joseph L. Galloway (Foreword)

An astonishing memoir of military courage at a remote outpost during the Vietnam War

“A riveting, dead-true account in the tradition of  Black Hawk Down  and  We Were Soldiers Once...and Young .” —Steven Pressfield, national bestselling author of  The Lion’s Gate 

In October 1969, William Albracht, the youngest Green Beret captain in Vietnam, took command of a remote hilltop outpost called Firebase Kate held by only 27 American soldiers and 156 Montagnard militiamen. At dawn the next morning, three North Vietnamese Army regiments—some six thousand men—crossed the Cambodian border and attacked.
 
Outnumbered three dozen to one, Albracht’s men held off the assault but, after five days, Kate’s defenders were out of ammo and water. Refusing to die or surrender, Albracht led his troops off the hill and on a daring night march through enemy lines.
 
Abandoned in Hell is an astonishing memoir of leadership, sacrifice, and brutal violence, a riveting journey into Vietnam’s heart of darkness, and a compelling reminder of the transformational power of individual heroism. Not since Lone Survivor and We Were Soldiers Once...and Young has there been such a gripping and authentic account of battlefield courage.
 
INCLUDES PHOTOS

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, War, Military History, Biography, Audiobook

400 pages, Paperback

First published February 3, 2015

Reviews

[RANGER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overlooked Vietnam War Saga of Heroism Under Fire and Brilliant Tactical Leadership
Fantastic memoir of the Vietnam War written in the spirit of Mark Bowden's Black Hawk Down (Somalia) and Sean Naylor's Not a Good Day to Die (Afghanistan) in that this is the story of American troops compelled by larger political decisions to fight and survive against seemingly impossible odds. Captain William Albracht was the youngest Special Forces captain in Vietnam when he assumed command of Firebase Kate, a Montaguard CIDG company and their US artillery detachment of three howitzers sitting on a sleepy hilltop overlooking the Cambodian border. The previous commander was unaware Kate was under enemy observation. Albracht recognizes the bases' defensive deficiencies but has no time to make changes before being attacked by three NVA regiments. Firebase Kate is left on its own while the US chain of command hopes for the Republic of Vietnam to muster a counter-attack. Kate withstands five days of attacks as Albracht and his men are literally "abandoned in hell" by a higher headquarters constrained by its political agendas. Only the heroic intervention of US aviation assets saves Kate from being overwhelmed. Finally, Albracht leads his surviving men on a harrowing nighttime exfiltration through enemy lines to link up with a relief force. Abandoned in Hell is a compelling picture of the consequences of Vietnamization at the tactical level and a genuine portrayal of a truly heroic last stand by a small group of Americans and their young but tenacious leader. As a former 11B (and Ranger school grad), I recognize how hard it is to covertly exfiltrate a company of battle wearied troops off of a position to link up with another unit in the middle of a nighttime jungle. But to do that in the days before GPS, when your position is surrounded, you've sustained days of bombardment and most of your men either don't speak English or are untrained in combat night operations is near miraculous. Captain Albracht's actions undoubtedly saved many lives. Abandoned in Hell is Albracht's personal memoir, which would be a compelling story on its own given he was the youngest SF captain in theater. In this regard he covers the Vietnam era Army's pragmatic but reckless leadership development system that oftentimes put immature and inexperienced men in command. But the book is also a team effort, co-authored by another vet (and seasoned writer), Marvin J. Wolf, and with a host of contributors, many of whom took part in the battle and wanted to see it memorialized. Along the way, the reader learns much about Vietnam combat operations circa 1969, of the close coordination necessary between ground and air assets, and of the geo-political agendas and Army leadership decisions that created the tactical conditions at Firebase Kate. Warriors, veterans, Vietnam history buffs and students of military leadership should add this book to their must-read pile. Absolutely recommended.

[Holden Barbaree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose the Abandoned in Hell written by William Albracht and Marvin J. Wolf, for my independent reading book. This book follows two first hand accounts of being stationed in Firebase Kate in South Vietnam. The story follows the two authors through the defense of Vietcong attacks on the base, everyday life and eventually the destruction and evacuation of the premise. The book can be slow at times but it never fails in providing exquisite details from men who experienced life in the midst of the Vietnam War. A quote I liked was, "I hadn't even thought about leaving. I shook my head. I wasn't going anywhere"(pg 110). This relates to the essential question how do we form and shape identities. It shows that this soldier is willing to stay and keep fighting with his men after the doctor asked if he needed a medevac. It shows his real identity and character that he's willing to fight through severe injury and pain to stay with his brothers and fellow soldiers. I would recommend this book to people who are interested in the personal experiences that these men lived through at Firebase Kate. I would also recommend this book to people who are interested in the Vietnam War or life in the military in general.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in preparation for traveling to Vietnam. Eye opening details of army life and how mucked up the Vietnam War was - at least for me who doesn't normally read military non-fiction.

[Jaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the kind of story one doesn't get to read very much anymore. The media these days is flooded with the heroic stories of the veterans of our current wars (see American Sniper or Lone Survivor), but thrilling stories of Vietnam are just not in evidence. This is an exception. In 1969, the youngest captain in the Green Berets was assigned to command the remote outpost called Fire Base Kate. He led a small detachment of American artillerymen and a larger group of hill tribesmen organized into a militia. Shortly after he arrived, the base was surrounded and attacked by a force of 6000 troops of the People's Army of Vietnam.

Captain Albracht and his men fought hard for several days, with the support of Army helicopters and Air Force fighters and gunships, until they ran out of supplies. He then led the surviving troops out of the base under cover of night, and made a rendezvous with friendly forces.

[Jack Haren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This journey into the frontline struggle along the Cambodian border is a must read for anyone who wants a taste of what combat was like on the far western edge of the Central Highlands of II Corps. First hand account by a US Special Forces First Lieutenant who finds himself leading a beleaguered firebase through a five day siege by a NVA regiment. This courageous last stand by a American artillery battery and a reinforced team of montenyard tribes men gives the reader a view of what it was like to live on the receiving end of a constant stream of incoming ordinance. Narrative is vivid and well paced. Finishes as a tale of escape and evasion.

[Heidi J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A harrowing account of the fall of Firebase Kate. I was amazed and impressed by the heroism shown by these men. It was well-written and gave me a very different perspective on the Vietnam War than I ever got out of school history classes (which was just what I was looking for). There is a glossary of terms at the front which was very helpful for a non-military person like myself. It's not a dramatically gory book, but fair warning, some traumatic scenes are depicted, and typical soldier profanity does pepper the conversations (though it was not as prevalent as I feared). Overall, well worth my time and gave me a new appreciation for those who served in Vietnam.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book by William Albracht and Marvin J. Wolf retelling the account of a remote hilltop outpost known as Firebase Kate. Twenty-seven Americans and 156 Montagnard militiamen fought and defended their position against an army of six thousand North Vietnamese. The five day battle was fierce, but the troops defended their position, with the help of superior air cover. In the end, Albracht led his men in the dead of night through enemy lines to a safety. The book title, Abandoned in Hell is a good description of the battle.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably deserves 3 stars, and it was a decent account, but it lacked something. My guess is that the fact most of the allied combatants on the hill were Montagnards that he didn't get to know may have lessened the impact of the story, and a lot of the story was about help delivered from the sky. I was a bit surprised that they didn't know, and couldn't find out, the names of some personnel.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The life of Firebase Kate during the Viet Nam was short and deadly. Vastly outnumbered by their Vietnamese opponents, a Green Berets team and 156 lightly armed Montagnard would hold out for five days before effecting a breakout. This a gripping read about the harshness of war.

[Nathan Casebolt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m usually a sucker for first-hand combat memoirs, but I struggled to pay attention to this one. Which surprised me: you’d think I’d be riveted by a five-day hilltop siege of an American firebase and a nighttime evacuation through Vietcong-infested jungle. For me, though, it lacked something.

One thing it did drive home for me was how young a war it was. I was born three years after the fall of Saigon, so for me Vietnam was never more than pictures and paragraphs. Reading this account and remembering afresh how many high school grads died in a meat grinder that had no plan for either victory or withdrawal, it’s sobering. I’m not surprised Vietnam ripped apart the social fabric of America.

Another thing this memoir does well is depict the chaos of war. This comes through in the sorts of stories you’d expect: a rear-echelon supply officer halving requisitions because he doesn’t believe you’re as desperate as you claim, a chopper dropping off a field gun no one’s trained to use (and no ammo to go with it anyway), and a high-ranking officer getting machine-gunned to death because he refuses to follow protocol and rotate his call sign.

Beyond that, there’s the chaos of the ethics of war: allied Montagnard tribesmen summarily executing one of their own for cowardice, Albracht calling in an air strike against an enemy position in nominally neutral Cambodia, and the tension of fighting to defend a regime that oppresses its indigenous people against a regime that enslaves and slaughters them.

Albracht doesn’t attempt to untangle these conundrums, and I think that’s a strength. He just shoots it as straight as he can. But this is also, paradoxically, why I think the book landed a bit flat for me. Albracht writes in a matter-of-fact tone with numerous digressions to explain background and context. For me, this structure and tone made it hard to hold onto a sense of peril or to feel the terror of those five days of incessant attack.

This story deserves to be told, and I’m glad it was. I appreciated picking up on flashes of what it was like to be an American kid dropped into a war that many just wanted to survive so they could get back to their interrupted lives. Sadly, far too many never got that chance.

[Jim D · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the most powerful books about infantry combat in the war in Vietnam or any war for that matter, that i have ever read. I am sad to say i knew nothing about this battle, which in the big scheme of things was just a minor blip in thewar... except if you were one of the Americans there fighting for your lives day after day. The policy of Vietnamization left these men isolated and ultimately forced to escape under cover of darkness. It is a story of heroism, stupidity and a callous disregard for the lives of grunts on the ground who were the pawns in an increasingly lost conflict. I read each page with a renewed respect for the special forces and the infantrymen put on an isolated firebase daring the North vietnamese to attack. God bless the men who lived through this; the airmen who day and night provided air support until it could no longer help; and the Montagnard tribesman who supported this effort.

[Medusa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Five stars to those who fought, were wounded, and killed - American and Montagnard -in this relatively small but bitter and hard fought action on a besieged firebase in 1969. The book is well written for the most part although there is some disjoint in the authorial voices. While I understand some personnel were not named as a gesture of respect and forgiveness to human failings, some of the unnamed could and should have been, one feels, with better scholarship. And I’m dinging it a bit for the whiffs of self aggrandizement in this book - the authors can’t get all the names of whose who served but boy howdy that missing bronze star is rectified with lots of research along with murmurings that this was CMH level service. Some religious claptrap too. Still, it’s a quick listen available at this writing on Scribd as an audiobook, with a good performance. Read it to witness and honor those who served. Three stars, rounded up.

[John Min · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a young man I joined the military and I am SO glad I didn't see combat and books like this just reinforce that view. This story is so messed up, as it is a true telling of what war is really like always is. The problem with being a soldier is that all too often our leaders are dumb as posts and do really stupid things that cost men (and women and children and all sorts of other non human living things) their lives. So much waste and pain and horror, often for no good reason. So much of the Vietnam war falls into this category but it is EVERY war. This is a tale well told by the men who were there. I was all in once I started. These tales, told in the horror of war also bring out the best in humanity and ability and there is that here in individual men performing selfless acts, heroic acts in the face of death and worse. Good book, a cautionary tale, of why you don't want to be a soldier. I read this book on Kindle.

[Glen Chern · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written by the fire base Kate Commander Captain Bill Allbracht, US special forces. It is largely his account of the final four days of fire base, Kate before US forces and the native Montagnards were forced to evacuate, their hilltop camp and then dark of night through a jungle. It is an absolutely remarkable account and brilliantly written. Capt. Albracht served several more years in south Vietnam before returning home to the United States. in the epilogue of the book, the author provides an update on the numerous US troops under his command or with whom he interacted during his time on Kate.

One of the things that I found most admirable about the captain was his humility and modesty. He gives so much credit to the men in his command and so very little to his own.

I strongly recommend this book, especially to those who served the US military during the Vietnam war, but also to students of history who really need to read what really happened in south Vietnam.

[Albert Town · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having been sent to the outpost known as Firebase Kate, Captain William Albracht along with his SF Sergeant enhance the security of the base. In the course of the 6 days, the NVA along with the VC assault the base with vastly superior number of men, and weapons. While the base loses all three of its guns; Cpt. Albracht uses his resources to keep the NVA at bay. Cpt. Albracht makes the call to walk his men off the base, and towards a Mike Force in order to save them. While the US Army has commended his conduct with a third Silver Star; his conduct merits due consideration for the Medal of honor.
The style of writing is a conversation that flows with ease; it does not require any advance knowledge of the conflict in Vietnam.

[a.t.m. · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book on combat in Vietnam

The authors have written a compelling book about events that occurred 50 years ago. This book illustrated what a waste Vietnam was for everyone involved and the fact that in this battle, the Vietnamese army was nowhere near the fighting. How sad is that when the war is over that we try to fit the pieces together and the hard truth is that our country never recovered from the war. The authors in writing this book have immortalized their personal experiences, their units, their comrades that did not come back home and have shed light on America’s heroes. Peace to you and your comrades.

[Nick Ueber · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and well told story of a battle very few people were aware of. Captain Albracht does a good job of presenting the difficulties and dangers the men on Kate faced as well as their harrowing escape. He also does a nice job of presenting the geo-political bs that was involved with Vietnamization. Only criticism is that there are a lot of people mentioned and it got pretty hard to remember who was who but that’s a small gripe. All in all a good, quick read and much respect for everyone involved in Kate.

[Carla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ahh man.. I hate to give a book like this so few stars.. such a true tale of heroism and bravery deserves more than that. However, while the topic and characters were well deserving, the writing for me was lackluster at best. It didn’t set the scene as being horrific. It didn’t make me feel like I could envision the scene, the fear, or the horror being in this situation would entail. It didn’t feel very personal in the retelling. I’ve read other books from this era that I can still picture certain scenes in my mind. This one to me sadly just feels forgettable.

[Tom Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great account of a little known battle and failure of Vietnamization. Lots of heroic action

Being a veteran of that era I identified with a lot of the observations of the Army at that time. The book details a small but significant battle near the Cambodian border that was very tactically written but touched on failures at the strategic level, particularly with the approach to Vietnamization which was big at the time. I recommend this book, very good read.

[Kenneth R. Carlton · Rating 5 out of 5]

No BS allowed

Expertly written, and a carefully researched book. I flew helicopter gunships near FSB Kate, during the same time period.
Turning the war over to the South Vietnamese, was destined to fail, as pointed out in this book. I had a higher regard of the North Vietnamese, also pointed out in this book.
One of the best recollections of a war, fought by better soldiers, than America deserved.

191 AHC, Dong Tam 1969, IV CORPS Bounty Hunter Six

[Terry Chodosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bill Albracht’s book is extraordinary, for him to have taken charge of a firebase on the Cambodian border, muster the troops, whip them into shape, get besieged by a numerically superior force of NVA regulars, be abandoned by the US military and to lead his force out of the firebase crawling through enemy lines is a miraculous story of courage and leadership, made even more extraordinary given the fact he was only 21 years of age. He should have won the MOH!

[Mark Edlund · Rating 3 out of 5]

History - an intense and disturbing account of the fight for Firebase Kate in the Vietnam War. The author is not afraid to name names of incompetents as well as heroes. The American soldiers and Montagnards are victims of Nixon's absurd war policies when they are stuck on top of a hill in the middle of ARVN forces.
No Canadian or pharmacy references.

[David M. Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lessons to be learned but ignored

Perfect example of how not to win a war. Ridiculous waste of lives , time and money which ended with the unintended conclusion anyway. Afghanistan demonstrated that military intelligence didn't learn much about fighting wars. If you're fighting a war for 20 years, you're really bad at fighting wars!

[Carl Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would have liked to see the Sitrep for this dust up

As a RTT operator for A/6/32 I saw many Sitreps describing combat results at other fire bases but never anything like this. I was completely absorbed by the description of events. My hat goes off to all the brave men on and above fire base Kate. This is nothing short of a stunning account of brave men in action.

[Dwaine Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

First-person, on-the-ground history of a battle with the heroism, suffering, bad decisions, and bureaucracy on display. If you've ever wondered why Vietnam is such a watershed for a generation, this is a good place to start.

[John E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cordite, shrapnel and concussion in print

Albracht is a true American hero. The tale of Firebase Kate is beyond the ability of the most imaginative Hollywood storyteller’s. Truly amazing in scope and depth.

[Deena Scintilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

War IS hell and battle-hell is worse when extremely young inexperienced men are sent as decoys to lure the enemy from just across a nearby border of Cambodia. And NEVER told that was the plan. How any survived "Kate" is a testament to the bravery and skill of those young soldiers.

[Alan Van Bladel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Very well written, kept me on the end of the seat wondering what would happen next.
Thank God they got out.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Rating Scale
1 - Strong Do Not Recommend (Very Rare)
3 - Weak Recommend (Majority)
5 - Strong Recommend (Rare)

True story about a part of the Vietnam War that involves my father.

[Bob Lamons]

Enjoyed the descriptions. My dad was at one of these bases, Firebase Fuller.