Reports of Their Demise

Miles To Vietnam #2

by William Peter Grasso

The fury of the Tet Offensive burns out quickly in most of South Vietnam. But at the ancient city of Hue, the American and ARVN victory is anything but assured. The same American commander who brushed aside warnings that Tet was imminent now makes an erroneous and dangerous the Viet Cong have been destroyed as a fighting force. Jif Miles and the men with whom he fights know that’s not true. Jif is still a second lieutenant—a butter bar —but one with far greater combat experience than a rookie officer in country only four months has usually accrued. From Tet’s bloodbath on the central coast to the slaughter at Hue, where the Viet Cong augment the resilient North Vietnamese Army, he finds the VC still very much alive and the reports of their demise to be deadly nonsense.

Genres: Military Fiction, Historical Fiction

411 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 18, 2021

About the author

A lifelong student of history, William Peter Grasso served in the US Army and is retired from the aircraft maintenance industry. His devotion to all things historical, military, and aviation remains unabated and continues to inspire his fiction.

Reviews

[Christopher Wakim]

Excellent Read! I have read all of Mr Grasso's books. I appreciate two qualities in particular: his character development and the historical accuracy of equipment, tactics, and ordnance.

First, character development. His characterization of BG Jock Miles and SGM Sean Moon over three wars retains their indivudual personalites but also expresses well the growth of experience and how this experience dictates the actions they take. Truly an impressicve writing skill. For this book in particular, the cravenness of would-be career officers is very accurate indeed!

Secondly, in this book Mr Grasso's knowledge of artillery is very accurate. I am IMPOC qualified (Infantry Mortar Platoon Officers' Course) from the early '80s, and I learned a few things!

I look forward to his next novel.

[Kristie Cooper]

Enjoyed this book!

I really have enjoyed these books on JF Miles', though saddened I need to wait for book 3.
Being an Army Brat I these books have helped me in understanding what my father went through during his two yours in Vietnam. Though my Dad did not discuss it with us kids but we did hear his having horrible nightmares, waking up screaming and soaked in his own sweat and then came the drinking. Dad was a "LIFER" but he never drank on duty! We continued to move every three to four years all overseas, Thank you for this book and what did go on especially things around PLeiku and the Montanrads. My father worked very closely with them.

[James DeRousse]

Outstanding continuation of the miles seried

The more I read this series the more I realize how screwed up out army officer corps was and still is. I was a captain in man and meet some in person that weren't worth two dead flies. This book was outstanding and I look forward to more of the same.

[Ed]

Continuing story of Artillery Lt. Jif Miles shifting to a Cav unit in the relief of besieged Marine Fire Base Khe Sanh. This is an impressive multi book series of how a smart, tough Army Artillery officer functioned in the post Tet Vietnam war and his courageous efforts as a Forward Observer who correctly plots where fire missions would land; radioed ships offshore, air force bombers, Army/Marine Artillery units or field mortar units with the type of munitions required and exact map coordinates. Always risky since a minor mistake in the process could result in American casualties. Absolutely fascinating story. I was in the neighborhood, Quang Tri with 3/3 in 1969 so the series has me totally enthralled!

[Bob]

An excellent Vietnam War tale

This is a thoroughly enjoyable Vietnam war novel continuing the story begun in Butterbar. It does an excellent job capturing the essence of the individual experience of the war as well as the frustration of the ordinary soldier at the myopic and self aggrandizing viepoint at the highest command levels. As a veteran of 18 month in’country with the 5th Special Forces Group, I eagerly await the next book in the series.

[Douglas Brown]

Interesting summary of the post-Tet battle

Another increment of artillery and infantry cooperation. Naturally being a novel, the hero performs some bigger-than-life heroics but the general idea is solid. This episode is more of a personal effort than the realistic portrayal of ground troopers found in the first volume, but now that you've bought into the characters it works as a good read and still somewhat informative on the Vietnam environment.

[L. W. Lynch]

Viet Nam in a nutshell

Clearly written and easy to understand novel. Technically close to correct yet some terminology was missing and others slightly skewed. Enjoyed the insertion of previous storylines which were seamless. Overall good read and a days solid entertainment.

[Paul H Elkins]

Truely a good read, esp. for those who served or were on the edge during the war. Love the characterization of some of the senior officers which I found to be accurate in many respects. I am looking forward to the next book.

[Boyd]

Very good read. Waiting for book #3. Would recommend this series to anyone interested in a different Vietnam perspective. Fact and fiction are skillfully woven together in an interesting narrative.

[Nancy]

Great work !!!

Great read about the people of the fighting machine that only those of us who served tru!y know about. Lots of action with great facts and data that makes it all come together.😁

[Glen]

Incredible author

From the moon brothers to now every book has only gotten better! William Peter Grass makes you feel you are right there. Well written and waiting for the next book!

[Benjamin J]

Fave Author/storyteller Hits Gold Again

I've read all the Moon/Miles novels and like them all. Well-told tales of men in action. The twists and turns keep the stories fresh and interesting.

[Richard Corns]

Being a VietNam Vet I enjoy these type of books. I was two weeks from rotating out of the Army when Tet Offensive hit. They blew up the Ammo Storage facility which created a heat wave that blew down most unachored buildings.

[james a. odom III]

Well done

Even though it is fiction it gives a good idea of what really happened over there right down to politics getting people getting killed for nothing .

[John Fargo]

Artillery expertise required

Too technical at times You would need to be an artillery officer to understand the verbiage.I was lost at times.

[Bill Elston]

Read the first book? Now read the sequel

A very entertains book. A Good continuation of the character, Jif, in his VN exploits. This book is also worth reading.

[Tony]

Tony

Outstanding book. Can't wait to read #3. Was a hard book to put down once you stated to read it.

[Kenneth Holbert]

This book was as good as the first in the series and I'm looking forward to the third book this summer

[Martha McLaughlin]

Review

Great novel. I really enjoyed
The book. Thank you. I was infantry in 71. 1st 22 infantry 4th division, recon. Thank you again for the m
Novel.

[Stephanie Cohu]

good story line

I am impressed with how well the author has written this book. The action scenes were exciting and kept me going. I gave this book 5 stars.

[dan]

It smells like Vietnam.

I'm looking forward to Jif's next adventure. Worth a read with non stop action and a little humor. Summer 2022 can't come soon enough.

[M ROFFEY]

Enjoyed it .. good read

[Thomas Peck]

This is an easy read and very enjoyable as a series

[Sam Carpenter]

Great

Tell it like it was, Don't hide the fluff. Be a man act like a man. Grow some.
Rock on!

[Phillip Mclaughlin]

easily flows from one book to another

Good story telling with a good detail.
When I think JIF might be out of the soup, surprise he is now up to his eyes in gumbo.
Great series

[Jack Rilkoff]

This is a pretty good read. The story moved at a fairly good pace.

[Inez Marroquin]

Good reading!!!

Realistic encounters and good perspective that does not glorify the reality of war. I liked the perspective and the commentary by the different characters.

[Peter]

Each book gets better and better

[Sid Mickle]

Review

Another very solid read from Mr. Grasso. Well researched, blunt, and unfiltered. This is how the Vietnam War was fought, according to friends who served. Very solid book.

[Scott]

I really enjoy the setting (Vietnam war), the story line and the characters (especially JF Miles). I find this author to be a good story teller and I enjoy his work.