A Shau Valor: American Combat Operations in the Valley of Death, 1963-1971

by Tom Yarborough

Throughout the Vietnam War, one focal point persisted where the Viet Cong guerrillas and ARVN were not a major factor, but where the trained professionals of the North Vietnamese and U.S. armies repeatedly fought head-to-head. A Shau Valor is a thoroughly documented study of nine years of American combat operations encompassing the crucial frontier valley and a 15-mile radius around it the most deadly killing ground of the entire Vietnam War. Beginning in 1963 Special Forces A-teams established camps along the valley floor, followed by a number of top-secret Project Delta reconnaissance missions through 1967. Then, U.S. Army and Marine Corps maneuver battalions engaged in a series of sometimes controversial thrusts into the A Shau designed to disrupt NVA infiltrations and to kill enemy soldiers, part of what came to be known as Westmoreland s war of attrition. The various campaigns included Operation Pirous in 1967, 1968 s Operations Delaware and Somerset Plain, 1969 s Operations Dewey Canyon, Massachusetts Striker, and Apache Snow which included the infamous battle for Hamburger Hill culminating with Operation Texas Star and the vicious fight for and humiliating evacuation of Fire Support Base Ripcord in the summer of 1970, the last major U.S. battle of the war. By 1971 the fighting had once again shifted to the realm of small Special Forces reconnaissance teams assigned to the ultra-secret Studies and Observations Group SOG. Other works have focused on individual battles or units, but A Shau Valor is the first to study the nine-year campaign for all its courage and sacrifice chronologically and within the context of other historical, political, and cultural events.REVIEWS Colonel Thomas Yarborough spent his time in the air over the A Shau Valley, but he has detailed knowledge of what took place on the ground. He insightfully covers the infantryman's hardships, difficulties, and physical price paid. Thanks to his extensive research, study, and personal knowledge, Tom describes the nine-year war in the A Shau in riveting detail. This book is a "must read" for all interested in why we did not close and win that war.Wesley L. Fox, Colonel USMC (Ret), Medal of Honor recipient and author of Marine Rifleman: Forty-Three Years in the Corps"

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, Military History

336 pages, Hardcover

Published March 22, 2016

About the author

Colonel Thomas “Tom” R. Yarborough, USAF (ret.) served in the Air Force for thirty years in a variety of flying and staff assignments. A command pilot, during his two Vietnam tours as a forward air controller, he earned thirty combat decorations, including the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, Air Medal, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He currently lives in Springfield, Virginia, where he maintains ties to the academic community as an adjunct history professor at Northern Virginia Community College.

Reviews

[Mitchell Land · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting mix of overview that occasionally dives down into individual details. It certainly conveys the sense of the A Shau being the Valley of Death although it occasionally strays into other actions of the war at least tangentially related to the fight in the valley. Definitely worth reading.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't write out reviews as a rule, but this book deserves a note. It is well-researched, well-written and uses the many citations written for valor as a vehicle to move chronologically through an operational history of the American experience in the A Shau valley. I spent two months in the Valley of Death in 1969 and remember well Tiger Mountain, Shiloh, and Cunningham fire bases. If you have an interest in the Vietnam War and the Northern I Corps combat experience, it is worth reading.

[Military Writers Society of America (MWSA)]

MWSA Review

A Shau Valor, by Thomas R Yarborough—a veteran of 600 combat missions during the Vietnam War—focuses on a relatively small but significant part of Vietnam War: the A Shau Valley. The valley is located in the northern section of what used to be South Vietnam and lies along the border with Laos. For most of the war, it was a major entry point for North Vietnamese military personnel, equipment and supplies into the south. Because of its location and proximity to the Ho Chi Minh Trail, it was an area of consistent, large and bloody battles. Perhaps the best known was the battle for Hill 937 or “Hamburger Hill.”

The book concentrates on the nine years the US fought in this valley, providing a detailed and unflinching look at the US operations in an area often referred to as the "Valley of Death." In doing so, Yarborough provides us with a well-researched and valuable contribution to the historical record.

Yarborough's work is replete with repeated references to the valor of those who served in this hotly-contested section of Vietnam. In many cases, the details of combat heroism seem to be taken almost directly from the medal citations themselves. However, given the almost unbelievable bravery these citations document, it’s very appropriate to do so. It's not Yarborough’s writing that is repetitious; it is the consistent and conspicuous valor of those who fought… and died there.

Highly recommended for those interested in this important part of the War in Vietnam.

Reviewed by John Cathcart, MWSA Awards Director & Reviewer

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not sure what I expected when I borrowed this book from the library other then some information related to one of the more notorious locations in Vietnam. There are no rear areas in this book, chapter after chapter is focused on what happened on the front lines in the valley over 9 years. Very well written and very hard to put down as you can't wait to see what happens next. Air Cav unit, Marines, Special Forces, Green Berets, Air Force, Navy, Paratroopers, ARVN, NVA, VC are all here, even Coast Guard helos trying to literally pull guys out by a string under heavy fire in the middle of a triple canopy jungle. I am going to take a break but I plan to read it again. I will buy his first book also, Da Nang Diary. If you are looking for real American heroes, they are here.

[Mike Worley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars, well written, couldn't put this book down, heartbreaking. To say the A Shau Valley during the Vietnam War was most definitely a scary, malevolent location would be a huge understatement. Learned so much from this book.

[David Bilodeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where was our country's leadership?

Excellent analysis of the A Shau and the Vietnam war. Concise and cogent. Perhaps in a few days I will be able to calm down sufficiently to forgive the government for the loss of all the brave patriots who were sacrificed by our politicians.

[Gary Trembath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read.

Well written and organized book. The American Marines and Army units fought very well, even why not always effectively lead or managed! The Au Shau area certainly showed what the soldiers and supporting pilots were capable of! I really enjoyed this book.

[Doug · Rating 1 out of 5]

A very detailed, but hard to follow account of operations in the A Shau valley.

[Martha McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

I enjoyed the level of detail and the recurring battles, Book was well done, we sure had a strange strategy, talk about a political war,,,

[Edward L · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book with insights about the Viet Nam War that really put the war in historical perspective. It was especially interesting because I am an Viet Nam era army vet an could really relate. I so enjoyed this book that I ordered Tom Yarborough's earlier book, Da Nang Diary.

[Rob Ballister]

Read and reviewed as part of MWSA awards and review program. Review published when award winners are announced.

Excellent work about valor and heroism in the A Shau valley. Subtitle makes it sound more like a history book, but the author does an excellent job of relaying Medal of Honor, Service Cross, and other heroic level actions throughout the book. Author also does excellent job of telling both sides of the story and letting the reader draw their own conclusions.

Well researched, well written, with sources properly annotated, this book works well in a research project or on the library of Vietnam history or infantry history fans.