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Run Through the Jungle: Real Adventures in Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne Brigade
An authentic account of combat with an airborne company in the waterlogged rice paddies and demanding jungles of South Vietnam. Share the experiences of fighting men under punishing conditions, extreme temperatures, and intense monsoon rains as they search for the enemy in the rugged mountains and teeming lowlands. Relive all the terror, humor, and sadness of one man’s tour of duty with real-life action in spectacular stunning detail.
358 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2015
125 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 25, 2024
Man, what a story!
Mr. Musson just surviving was a miracle for him.
He did what his country asked of him only to discover that he and the other young men were lied to.
Mr Musson gave very descriptive details of how he and others fought for their very lives at times and other times they were having a bit of fun. As much as you could in a war zone.
There were times when he had the same problems with the Army as all of us did. Only he had to put up with the crap while fighting for his life.
After the war, Mr. Musson had trouble at times dealing with PTSD, but only VA didn't recognize the problem for years.
Mr. Musson went on to find help for himself and started reconnecting with fellow soldiers from his platoon.
Good read.
Mr. Musson just surviving was a miracle for him.
He did what his country asked of him only to discover that he and the other young men were lied to.
Mr Musson gave very descriptive details of how he and others fought for their very lives at times and other times they were having a bit of fun. As much as you could in a war zone.
There were times when he had the same problems with the Army as all of us did. Only he had to put up with the crap while fighting for his life.
After the war, Mr. Musson had trouble at times dealing with PTSD, but only VA didn't recognize the problem for years.
Mr. Musson went on to find help for himself and started reconnecting with fellow soldiers from his platoon.
Good read.
November 30, 2019
This was a really great biography. There are too many stories about the same high ranking people designed to make them all look like Caesar. Who cares? Not me, particularly. It's artificial as often as not. If they're still alive they're doing it to launch some kind of political career and if they're dead they're written by a some fanboy or another.
If you're wanting to learn about what being a Soldier deployed to Vietnam in the early 70's was like then this is a great place to start. Musson's story is interesting, engaging, and down to earth which is rare for someone to hit all three of those. It's rare enough that you can almost bank on people being able to hit two of the three every time and make money on it.
He does a great job explaining things for a layman and non military person, but keeps it technical enough to interest veterans of any era and people looking to expand their knowledge and history of the war in general. The WW2 comparison that I'd compare it to would be Parachute Infantry (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...), which is infinitely better than that Band of Brothers watered down garbage can dumpster fire of a novel.
If you're wanting to learn about what being a Soldier deployed to Vietnam in the early 70's was like then this is a great place to start. Musson's story is interesting, engaging, and down to earth which is rare for someone to hit all three of those. It's rare enough that you can almost bank on people being able to hit two of the three every time and make money on it.
He does a great job explaining things for a layman and non military person, but keeps it technical enough to interest veterans of any era and people looking to expand their knowledge and history of the war in general. The WW2 comparison that I'd compare it to would be Parachute Infantry (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...), which is infinitely better than that Band of Brothers watered down garbage can dumpster fire of a novel.
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January 6, 2024Although it is not "professionally" written, Muss describes his tour the way one would do it sitting with some fellow vets or friends. The experiences he had brought back memories of the army in which I belonged and served. I hope that everyone who reads it understands the "stuff" that soldiers went through due to the stupidity of a few in Washington. If nothing else, remember his comment to respect those who served or are serving.
Former Sp/4, US Army.
Former Sp/4, US Army.
April 4, 2024
This was a detailed look at one man's experience in Vietnam. It isn't representative of what all soldiers experienced or a commentary on the war in any way. It is simply what it claims to be, insight into one of many thousands of experiences. There is some combat, some boredom, some excitement, death, injuries, small adventures, bureaucracy and everything in between. It certainly held my interest, but may not do so for everyone.
February 10, 2018
Heroes
Once again I enjoyed reading a book about soldiers and the war in Vietnam. The biographies are always better reads than the others. This book again reminds me what combatants really go through. Anyone in the military past or present deserve our respect and gratitude and may God Bless you and your families.
Once again I enjoyed reading a book about soldiers and the war in Vietnam. The biographies are always better reads than the others. This book again reminds me what combatants really go through. Anyone in the military past or present deserve our respect and gratitude and may God Bless you and your families.
August 2, 2021
I served as an Infantryman with 2nd Battalion 173rd Airborne about a year prior to the author and really enjoyed the book. If you want a good feel for the actual experience this is an excellent book.
Only things I have vivid memories of that he doesn't mention are the fire ants and big wasps we called B52's that both resulted in medivacs during my tour.
Only things I have vivid memories of that he doesn't mention are the fire ants and big wasps we called B52's that both resulted in medivacs during my tour.
November 24, 2022
The real deak
This book is written in a way the makes you feel like you are there and and aviods, or explains in plain Englih, what's going on so both military and civilians can understand what's happening and some of the "catch22" scrap that goes on in the military. Thanks for your service and our jiurnry.
This book is written in a way the makes you feel like you are there and and aviods, or explains in plain Englih, what's going on so both military and civilians can understand what's happening and some of the "catch22" scrap that goes on in the military. Thanks for your service and our jiurnry.
August 12, 2023
Amazingly Complete Account of A Year in Nam
Having read many renditions of a tour, this was so complete and well written about so many aspects of that experience that it was hard to put down. Nothing seemed held back and it conveyed ups and downs and ineptitude, as well as lasting impressions.
Having read many renditions of a tour, this was so complete and well written about so many aspects of that experience that it was hard to put down. Nothing seemed held back and it conveyed ups and downs and ineptitude, as well as lasting impressions.
June 4, 2025
You read the English-French wars of the late 1700’s and there are two antagonists for the protagonist: the French and an incompetent officer. Never would you imagine it being Real Life…. Until you get to the latter parts of this book. A good day-to-day of a guy who was THERE. To the author: thank you for the enlightenment and your efforts.
September 13, 2020
Great book to read during a pandemic
What a great read!! I enjoyed every page. I served but never saw action. This book makes me both happy and sad that I never had a chance to prove mysel!!
What a great read!! I enjoyed every page. I served but never saw action. This book makes me both happy and sad that I never had a chance to prove mysel!!
September 14, 2022
Musson projects a calm competence about his experiences in Vietnam. He recounts many of the situations that appear in most memoirs. What is most interesting to me, anti-authoritarian that I am, is how he handles those offended by his competence. Not of course the men he is responsible for, who are grateful for his competence; not of course those who welcomed his large scope of the actions involved because of the centrality of his radio experience. No, it was the few officers above him in rank who would belittle him, make stupid mistakes ignoring his sound advice, those who felt that rank takes precedence over the respect earned in combat. He was as adroit in his maneuvers as he could be, and utilizing his understanding of how an authoritarian organization works, was able to break the rules effectively, sometimes with glee.
His notes of his experience were sent to -- as it turns out -- to an unfaithful girl friend. In anger at her, he burned his notes. This means that this account is almost entirely from memory, meaning there is a smoke of objectivity which removes some of the juiciness of his stories. I am not complaining. Had I been in the military I would have followed this 6'6" guy any where!
His notes of his experience were sent to -- as it turns out -- to an unfaithful girl friend. In anger at her, he burned his notes. This means that this account is almost entirely from memory, meaning there is a smoke of objectivity which removes some of the juiciness of his stories. I am not complaining. Had I been in the military I would have followed this 6'6" guy any where!
February 8, 2025
Great stories, even for non military readers.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Well written and clear. Was wishing it hadn't ended.
Highly recommend this one, and I have read several Vietnam era books.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Well written and clear. Was wishing it hadn't ended.
Highly recommend this one, and I have read several Vietnam era books.
September 4, 2017
If you want a boots on the ground personal story of what the Vietnam war was like then this is a great read.
December 7, 2017
Very well written
Very well written. Kept the story going so you wanted to see what was going to happen next and to whom.
Very well written. Kept the story going so you wanted to see what was going to happen next and to whom.
April 29, 2023
Great book
This is a fascinating and well-told story of his experiences in Vietnam. It is easy to read and keeps one interested to find what comes next.
This is a fascinating and well-told story of his experiences in Vietnam. It is easy to read and keeps one interested to find what comes next.
July 12, 2023
Excellent read, straight forward tell how it was for him. I would recommend to all.
November 13, 2024
Butterball circus!
I could drink a beer with man.
This man’s story of his year in Nam reflects the utter confusion of the war.
I could drink a beer with man.
This man’s story of his year in Nam reflects the utter confusion of the war.
February 11, 2016
We arrived in country two days apart and were about twenty five miles apart!
This book was a good based on the the fact that Larry was very honest and forthright in his writing. I arrived at Cam Ranh Bay on Sept. 10, 1969 so we were both in Sha rang valley at the same time. While we were there a Captain and a team of Rangers from LZ English put on a night demonstration and interviewed volunteers the next day. I was one of only a few that got selected and was sent to LZ English after jungle school. We operated mostly North and west from there but according to the book we also operated in some of the same areas. I'm so happy that we did not go to the field with officers, there were a few good ones but as Larry brings out in his book there was a lot of incompetence and arrogance. In the Rangers if a team leader displayed certain instabilities or wasn't a good fit he was either moved within the Company or sent to one of the 173rd Battalions. Every man on a ranger team was issued a compass and knew how to read it. We were also each trained as a basic medic and carried what we needed for a short, quick fix. It sounds to me like Larry would've made a good Ranger. He had basic instincts that put him above some of the officers in Alpha Company. As I was reading I cringed at some of the situations that his CO put the men in. they were lucky there weren't more men killed. About the only things I could find fault with is the fact that LZ English was only home to the second Battalion, the forth Battalion was at LZ North English about a click North of English. I also don't know where he got the idea about tracers being dipped in green or red phosphorous. Any tracers bullet is made by having a small hollow at the base of the bullets and filling it with a chemical that will give the appropriate color when burned, in the case of red tracers one of the components is Strontium Nitrate, the same thing that make a flare red. In the case of the green tracers it was probably a Copper compound. As an aside , green wasn't the only color that the vc/nva used, I've also seen white. It depended on the Communist block country the ammo came from, Chinese was green.
This book was a good based on the the fact that Larry was very honest and forthright in his writing. I arrived at Cam Ranh Bay on Sept. 10, 1969 so we were both in Sha rang valley at the same time. While we were there a Captain and a team of Rangers from LZ English put on a night demonstration and interviewed volunteers the next day. I was one of only a few that got selected and was sent to LZ English after jungle school. We operated mostly North and west from there but according to the book we also operated in some of the same areas. I'm so happy that we did not go to the field with officers, there were a few good ones but as Larry brings out in his book there was a lot of incompetence and arrogance. In the Rangers if a team leader displayed certain instabilities or wasn't a good fit he was either moved within the Company or sent to one of the 173rd Battalions. Every man on a ranger team was issued a compass and knew how to read it. We were also each trained as a basic medic and carried what we needed for a short, quick fix. It sounds to me like Larry would've made a good Ranger. He had basic instincts that put him above some of the officers in Alpha Company. As I was reading I cringed at some of the situations that his CO put the men in. they were lucky there weren't more men killed. About the only things I could find fault with is the fact that LZ English was only home to the second Battalion, the forth Battalion was at LZ North English about a click North of English. I also don't know where he got the idea about tracers being dipped in green or red phosphorous. Any tracers bullet is made by having a small hollow at the base of the bullets and filling it with a chemical that will give the appropriate color when burned, in the case of red tracers one of the components is Strontium Nitrate, the same thing that make a flare red. In the case of the green tracers it was probably a Copper compound. As an aside , green wasn't the only color that the vc/nva used, I've also seen white. It depended on the Communist block country the ammo came from, Chinese was green.
January 30, 2016
Felt like I was there.
I appreciate the author recording his experience of his part of the Vietnam war. The documentation of this experience will provide a excellent history for generations to come. Many thanks to all our vets who have answered our country's call. Thank you for this book.
I appreciate the author recording his experience of his part of the Vietnam war. The documentation of this experience will provide a excellent history for generations to come. Many thanks to all our vets who have answered our country's call. Thank you for this book.
February 7, 2017
Read this book and weep...
Read this book and weep for all the brave soldiers who fought a war the was run by the politicians in Washington. Brave men who came home to be spit on, called names and treated as criminals by people who didn't know or care what these men went through. GOD BLESS THEM ALL. But this country will never learn.
Read this book and weep for all the brave soldiers who fought a war the was run by the politicians in Washington. Brave men who came home to be spit on, called names and treated as criminals by people who didn't know or care what these men went through. GOD BLESS THEM ALL. But this country will never learn.
January 22, 2016
Well written
Great book, had a friend who made the combat jump with the 173rd, hardcore but would do anything for his squad. Lots of respect given for the 173rd.
Great book, had a friend who made the combat jump with the 173rd, hardcore but would do anything for his squad. Lots of respect given for the 173rd.
May 25, 2016
The Real Vietnam
This author is convincing and earns your interest I would recommend this book to anyone that is interested in learning about the Vietnam War.
This author is convincing and earns your interest I would recommend this book to anyone that is interested in learning about the Vietnam War.
December 26, 2016
Good amount of detail.
Some personal non combat details were a little boring. particularly enjoyed details of combat situations. I would recommend this read to others.
Some personal non combat details were a little boring. particularly enjoyed details of combat situations. I would recommend this read to others.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews