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No Safe Spaces: Stories of a Young Marine in Vietnam
A collection of over a dozen stories – including the #1 best seller, Ambush at the Waterfall, and #2 best-seller, Overrun. The author joined the Marines in 1966 at the age of 17 and arrived in Vietnam a year later, during the height of the war, when the casualty rate in a Marine rifle company was approaching 85 percent. Because it is a collection of individual stand alone stories, some information is repeated in each story to provide context if that story is read alone.
The gripping accounts of ambushes in the jungle, firefights in rice paddies, and night watches in listening posts. There is humor, horror, sadness at the loss of friends and primal fear. There is also bravery. During the entire Vietnam war, only one platoon in the US Marine Corps was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation. The engagement that brought about that distinction resulted in the members of that platoon being awarded a Medal of Honor, a Navy Cross, three Silver Stars, and a number of Bronze Stars.
You will feel as if you were present when an understrength squad attacked an enemy force that outnumbered them fifteen to one, in order to prevent a rocket attack against the airbase in Da Nang. You will meet the young men, most of them still in their teens, who fought that brutal war.
There were no safe spaces.
The gripping accounts of ambushes in the jungle, firefights in rice paddies, and night watches in listening posts. There is humor, horror, sadness at the loss of friends and primal fear. There is also bravery. During the entire Vietnam war, only one platoon in the US Marine Corps was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation. The engagement that brought about that distinction resulted in the members of that platoon being awarded a Medal of Honor, a Navy Cross, three Silver Stars, and a number of Bronze Stars.
You will feel as if you were present when an understrength squad attacked an enemy force that outnumbered them fifteen to one, in order to prevent a rocket attack against the airbase in Da Nang. You will meet the young men, most of them still in their teens, who fought that brutal war.
There were no safe spaces.
198 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 13, 2019
121 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Anthony H. Johnson
4 books1 followerAnthony H Johnson is a retired Judge, former Naval Intelligence Officer, Secret Service Agent, and US Marine. He lives in the small beach town of Treasure Island Florida, flies World War II airplanes and cruises his sailboat "Magic Dragon"
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 12, 2019
Definitive Writing
He tells the story of honor and selflessness. The experiences written in this book should be read by every high school student in the U.S. so they might gain perspective. Thanks or the experience.
He tells the story of honor and selflessness. The experiences written in this book should be read by every high school student in the U.S. so they might gain perspective. Thanks or the experience.
December 31, 2022
Devil dogs!
A good memoir. If memory serves, a relatively small proportion of the many military memoirs I've read were written by Marines. It's always a refreshing change of pace to read about how very differently Marines were and are treated, both by other branches of the military, and within their own chain of command. With the USMC budget being comparatively low, they truly are expected to do a great deal and suffer tremendous hardships while lacking a lot of equipment and supplies that seem abundant in other branches of the armed forces.
I hold US Marines in high regard.
A good memoir. If memory serves, a relatively small proportion of the many military memoirs I've read were written by Marines. It's always a refreshing change of pace to read about how very differently Marines were and are treated, both by other branches of the military, and within their own chain of command. With the USMC budget being comparatively low, they truly are expected to do a great deal and suffer tremendous hardships while lacking a lot of equipment and supplies that seem abundant in other branches of the armed forces.
I hold US Marines in high regard.
May 4, 2019
Good read.
I enjoyed each story. I thought they were well written and interesting. I am an old Marine, four years in the fifties, stories of ,and about the USMC interest me. My oldest brother, a USAF pilot served a tour in Vietnam, as did my youngest brother, a Lt. in the 4th Marines. Enjoyed the book.
I enjoyed each story. I thought they were well written and interesting. I am an old Marine, four years in the fifties, stories of ,and about the USMC interest me. My oldest brother, a USAF pilot served a tour in Vietnam, as did my youngest brother, a Lt. in the 4th Marines. Enjoyed the book.
May 29, 2019
To much redundancy.
To much redundancy. The book is interesting but more geared towards civilians, not Marines. Semper Fidelis. Ooohraaa! Long live Chesty!
To much redundancy. The book is interesting but more geared towards civilians, not Marines. Semper Fidelis. Ooohraaa! Long live Chesty!
December 7, 2019
Just like it was yesterday
Good read. Brought back a lot of memories of walking on the same real estate as the author. Loved it.
Good read. Brought back a lot of memories of walking on the same real estate as the author. Loved it.
June 20, 2022
Review
Good read. I appreciate the detail. I was army Infantry in 71. 1st 22nd infantry 4th division. Recon team . my brother in law was marine rto operator in 67. Dong ha. He deals with PTSD
Good read. I appreciate the detail. I was army Infantry in 71. 1st 22nd infantry 4th division. Recon team . my brother in law was marine rto operator in 67. Dong ha. He deals with PTSD
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March 11, 2022I was there and Tony does an excellent job of telling his....and our story
A well researched and written memoir of a marine's tour in the "Rocket Belt". Good background information on both USMC and VC/NVA tactics and armament. I was there at the same time but time has dimmed the events and chronology. This book reminded me of why I'm proud to wear the title of US Marine. Semper fishing!
A well researched and written memoir of a marine's tour in the "Rocket Belt". Good background information on both USMC and VC/NVA tactics and armament. I was there at the same time but time has dimmed the events and chronology. This book reminded me of why I'm proud to wear the title of US Marine. Semper fishing!
April 7, 2022
Good to read
Some times you read a book that makes you sad. I was sad reading this one.
The author had no one or anything to go to after getting out of Vietnam. All the training in the world can't give you something or some one that helps you get through a war. Every one should read this book and realize that if you have some one to love you then you should consider yourself a very rich person.
Some times you read a book that makes you sad. I was sad reading this one.
The author had no one or anything to go to after getting out of Vietnam. All the training in the world can't give you something or some one that helps you get through a war. Every one should read this book and realize that if you have some one to love you then you should consider yourself a very rich person.
March 22, 2022
This was an interesting story, thanks to the author for his service. Those dates were tumultuous times for all of us young, potential draftees. I was fortunate to have been drafted into the Army but was not ordered to VN. We all followed our orders ant went where we were sent.
Thank you sir, for your service. Glad you made it home to write this account.
Thank you sir, for your service. Glad you made it home to write this account.
November 12, 2021
Very interesting Book of A Marine fighting in Vietnam
Very interesting book and good details could not put it down until I finished it made me feel like I was in the jungle
Very interesting book and good details could not put it down until I finished it made me feel like I was in the jungle
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews