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Abandoned: A Novel of the Vietnam War
The 1970 Cambodia Campaign know as the Cambodia Incursion was a series of military operations conducted in Eastern Cambodia by the United States and the government of South Vietnam. It's primary objective was to capture or eliminate forces of the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) and the Viet Cong (VC) which used this region as a base of operations against South Vietnam. After the Tet Offensive of 1968, the United States military feared another major coordinated offensive.
The incursion was authorized by President Nixon at enormous political risk. It was made possible by a change in the Cambodian government when Prince Norodom Sihanouk was overthrown and replaced by the US backed general, Lon Nol. The Khrmer Royal Army (the Cambodian Army) and the South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) conducted a series of joint operations inside Cambodia against the North Vietnamese after the North Vietnamese Cambodian offensive in late March, 1970 which captured and consolidated their hold on the border regions of Eastern Cambodia.
Nixon saw this as an opportunity to expand operations into Cambodia on a limited basis denying the NVA of their border sanctuaries. President Lyndon Johnson had previously conducted covert military bombings of this region during his administration. Due to perceived expansion of the Vietnam War into Cambodia, opposition to the war grew enormously across the United States. Nixon's belief was that by eliminating these sanctuaries the enemy would be weakened and any major offensive by the NVA would be put off by a year or two. This would allow the United States to increase the withdrawal of American troops and enable the South Vietnamese to defend itself against a North Vietnamese takeover.
Planning for the incursion was rapidly put into place. Intelligence about the region was sketchy at best. Clandestine cross border patrols were previously conducted by the Military Assistance Command Vietnam - Studies and Observation Group (MACV-SOG) but they were of little intelligence value. Maps of the region were almost non-existent and those maps that did exist were featureless expanses of green, uncharted areas. Another major obstruction was that the Eastern border region was devoid of any infrastructure. Roads and helicopter landing zones had to be constructed to facilitate all movement. There would be over seventy thousand American and South Vietnamese troops involved in the incursion. As a result, the logistical aspect of the incursion became equal to, and in many aspects, exceeded the military actions. Communications were stretched to the breaking point. Something as simple as separate radio frequencies for the individual units were in short supply. The Army found itself relaying messages from unit to unit. Relayed orders became garbled, confused and misinterpreted.
Even with all these problems the incursion which began in June of 1970 was enormously successful. The North Vietnamese were unwilling to engage in major confrontation and fled west, deeper into Cambodia abandoning thousands of tons of weapons and supplies in locations spread all along the border. It was felt it would take over two years for the NVA to replace all these supplies and mount another major offensive giving Nixon the time to withdraw additional American troops and increase the Vietnamization of all subsequent military operations.
It is in the chaotic early days of planning we begin our story.
The incursion was authorized by President Nixon at enormous political risk. It was made possible by a change in the Cambodian government when Prince Norodom Sihanouk was overthrown and replaced by the US backed general, Lon Nol. The Khrmer Royal Army (the Cambodian Army) and the South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) conducted a series of joint operations inside Cambodia against the North Vietnamese after the North Vietnamese Cambodian offensive in late March, 1970 which captured and consolidated their hold on the border regions of Eastern Cambodia.
Nixon saw this as an opportunity to expand operations into Cambodia on a limited basis denying the NVA of their border sanctuaries. President Lyndon Johnson had previously conducted covert military bombings of this region during his administration. Due to perceived expansion of the Vietnam War into Cambodia, opposition to the war grew enormously across the United States. Nixon's belief was that by eliminating these sanctuaries the enemy would be weakened and any major offensive by the NVA would be put off by a year or two. This would allow the United States to increase the withdrawal of American troops and enable the South Vietnamese to defend itself against a North Vietnamese takeover.
Planning for the incursion was rapidly put into place. Intelligence about the region was sketchy at best. Clandestine cross border patrols were previously conducted by the Military Assistance Command Vietnam - Studies and Observation Group (MACV-SOG) but they were of little intelligence value. Maps of the region were almost non-existent and those maps that did exist were featureless expanses of green, uncharted areas. Another major obstruction was that the Eastern border region was devoid of any infrastructure. Roads and helicopter landing zones had to be constructed to facilitate all movement. There would be over seventy thousand American and South Vietnamese troops involved in the incursion. As a result, the logistical aspect of the incursion became equal to, and in many aspects, exceeded the military actions. Communications were stretched to the breaking point. Something as simple as separate radio frequencies for the individual units were in short supply. The Army found itself relaying messages from unit to unit. Relayed orders became garbled, confused and misinterpreted.
Even with all these problems the incursion which began in June of 1970 was enormously successful. The North Vietnamese were unwilling to engage in major confrontation and fled west, deeper into Cambodia abandoning thousands of tons of weapons and supplies in locations spread all along the border. It was felt it would take over two years for the NVA to replace all these supplies and mount another major offensive giving Nixon the time to withdraw additional American troops and increase the Vietnamization of all subsequent military operations.
It is in the chaotic early days of planning we begin our story.
374 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 29, 2023
309 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 22, 2024
Liên đoàn bóng đá Bahrain (BFA) yêu cầu trận đấu giữa Bahrain và Indonesia không diễn ra tại Indonesia vì lo ngại an ninh, muốn tổ chức trên sân trung lập. Tuy nhiên, FIFA đã ủng hộ Indonesia, khẳng định trận đấu sẽ tổ chức tại đây và Indonesia cam kết đảm bảo an toàn cho Bahrain. Nếu Bahrain không tham dự, Indonesia sẽ được xử thắng. AFC chưa quyết định, nhưng phía Indonesia thể hiện sự không hài lòng với AFC và báo chí Indonesia đề xuất PSSI nên xem xét việc rời AFC.
Xem thêm tại: https://starstreams1.tv/
Xem thêm tại: https://starstreams1.tv/
April 22, 2023
Read at your own Risk!
Talk about a cluster mess, lost and found. Never ending action from start to finish. Abandoned,misinformed,lied to and hung out to dry,
This is one action thriller you don’t want to miss.
Read it , weep and never forget, it was a real terrible war ,over sixty thousand American men/women - Soldiers,-sailors,-Air Force, -Marines Died ! Hopefully —never again.
Talk about a cluster mess, lost and found. Never ending action from start to finish. Abandoned,misinformed,lied to and hung out to dry,
This is one action thriller you don’t want to miss.
Read it , weep and never forget, it was a real terrible war ,over sixty thousand American men/women - Soldiers,-sailors,-Air Force, -Marines Died ! Hopefully —never again.
July 1, 2023
we need one more chapter
Wow! When is the next book coming out detailing Holt’s exploits? I would love to know about his return to the states and to Janet. His continued friendship with Joe? Tuna and Gator? You could write a book about those two alone! This has been the best four book series I’ve read in a long time. Please, give us one more book detailing their after ‘Nam experience. Seriously!
Wow! When is the next book coming out detailing Holt’s exploits? I would love to know about his return to the states and to Janet. His continued friendship with Joe? Tuna and Gator? You could write a book about those two alone! This has been the best four book series I’ve read in a long time. Please, give us one more book detailing their after ‘Nam experience. Seriously!
July 16, 2023
Respect is Not Enough
The people portrayed in this story had their counterparts in Vietnam , they did their job to the best of their ability, they fought in a war that was despised by many, for and against a race that was at times fickle and untrustworthy, they were on a hiding to nothing but they manned up and did the business , god bless them, they deserved far more than their countrymen gave them.
The people portrayed in this story had their counterparts in Vietnam , they did their job to the best of their ability, they fought in a war that was despised by many, for and against a race that was at times fickle and untrustworthy, they were on a hiding to nothing but they manned up and did the business , god bless them, they deserved far more than their countrymen gave them.
August 7, 2024
Very enjoyable book
I believe this was the last book in this series, I enjoyed the way the author wrote and the storyline. Even though it was fiction many parts were true and I found myself drifting back to a different time and a different world. I highly recommend reading this book and the other books in this series!
I believe this was the last book in this series, I enjoyed the way the author wrote and the storyline. Even though it was fiction many parts were true and I found myself drifting back to a different time and a different world. I highly recommend reading this book and the other books in this series!
June 12, 2023
very good ,
This book was one of the best Vietnam books I ever read, and I’ve read probably a dozen it’s written very well. There is a lot of typos, but other than that it’s written well.
This book was one of the best Vietnam books I ever read, and I’ve read probably a dozen it’s written very well. There is a lot of typos, but other than that it’s written well.
February 4, 2024
An appropriate ending to Sgt. Holts Adventures in VN
This book brought it all together, the men of Viking were over worked and underpaid. The series of adventures and misadventures were compelling and mad3 for interesting reading.
This book brought it all together, the men of Viking were over worked and underpaid. The series of adventures and misadventures were compelling and mad3 for interesting reading.
April 8, 2024
Excellent read,
This is an excellent read in the series, and spot on as far as the happenings with the 25 Wolfhounds and the rubber plantations, we would sometimes shoot the trees with a few rounds and sweat we saw someone behind the trees with an AK.
S
This is an excellent read in the series, and spot on as far as the happenings with the 25 Wolfhounds and the rubber plantations, we would sometimes shoot the trees with a few rounds and sweat we saw someone behind the trees with an AK.
S
April 28, 2024
Loved this series. It's obvious the author experienced Vietnam himself. The things our boys endured are terrifying. The treatment they received when returning home is heartbreaking and quite frankly shameful. There is definitely a need for editing but the series is well worth reading.
June 10, 2024
Excellent And accurate
EDWARDS has the true flavor of the war,the disconnect between the realities of the life of the grunts and the fantasies engaged in by higher command and the politicians . I was involved with the 25th in 1968. What he writes rings true.
EDWARDS has the true flavor of the war,the disconnect between the realities of the life of the grunts and the fantasies engaged in by higher command and the politicians . I was involved with the 25th in 1968. What he writes rings true.
October 23, 2024
Best books EVER RE VIET NAM!!!
Mr. Edwards put me right there - I understood the dangers of the jungles...The perils of walking point... The dirt & the stink & the fear....No fancy heroics - just brave men at their worst & best... BEAUTIFUL!
Mr. Edwards put me right there - I understood the dangers of the jungles...The perils of walking point... The dirt & the stink & the fear....No fancy heroics - just brave men at their worst & best... BEAUTIFUL!
December 19, 2024
Never Give Up
What a story! Sergeant Holt epitomizes the Nam Green Beret warrior. Under incredible conditions, he and his men survived by sheer determination and guts. This book is a great read!
What a story! Sergeant Holt epitomizes the Nam Green Beret warrior. Under incredible conditions, he and his men survived by sheer determination and guts. This book is a great read!
March 25, 2025
Simply outstanding!
A realistic and exciting portrayal of US warriors doing their best while US forces were being withdrawn and with few exceptions the troops of South Vietnam were destroyed by the onslaught of troops from North Vietnam.
A realistic and exciting portrayal of US warriors doing their best while US forces were being withdrawn and with few exceptions the troops of South Vietnam were destroyed by the onslaught of troops from North Vietnam.
July 12, 2023
Excellent read for any idividual that may have served as a combat infantryman during the incursion into Cambodia towards the end of the Vientnam War. Very accurate discription of the actions that took place during that period. One book that you will like not put down until you finish.
July 17, 2023
Great Read
Great read about a group of tight knit special forces soldiers tossed around and somewhat "lost" in Vietnam. Good story telling.
Great read about a group of tight knit special forces soldiers tossed around and somewhat "lost" in Vietnam. Good story telling.
September 5, 2023
excellent read
The type of book you can’t put down. Read it on a beach in south east Asia, at least could understand the climate if not the horrors these people went through
The type of book you can’t put down. Read it on a beach in south east Asia, at least could understand the climate if not the horrors these people went through
December 17, 2023
A good geographical reference for Cambodia/Thailand and conditions/actions/politics regarding a rag tag green beret group. A good overall read, although a little repetitive.
February 7, 2024
Great book
I was sorry that I finished this book. It was an excellent read. The author obviously walked the walk. I look forward to future books.
I was sorry that I finished this book. It was an excellent read. The author obviously walked the walk. I look forward to future books.
March 5, 2024
Outstanding series of books.
I was totally engrossed by the characters in these books. I would still like to know how Holt fared after all was said and done.
I was totally engrossed by the characters in these books. I would still like to know how Holt fared after all was said and done.
July 30, 2024
good, not as good as the previous books
A good read. Again this is the fourth book in the Sgt Holt group and if a fifth would come out I would have no problem getting it.
A good read. Again this is the fourth book in the Sgt Holt group and if a fifth would come out I would have no problem getting it.
August 22, 2024
The Story Continues
The story line carried over from the previous book and never lost its appeal!! It was an excellent read for me
The story line carried over from the previous book and never lost its appeal!! It was an excellent read for me
January 12, 2025
Outstanding
Excellent book I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.
The entire story from beginning to end was great....
I'd like to see more from this author
Excellent book I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.
The entire story from beginning to end was great....
I'd like to see more from this author
December 22, 2025
Like It Was
A well researched novel ... A war that changed a whole generation! I will look for more books by the author!
A well researched novel ... A war that changed a whole generation! I will look for more books by the author!
February 21, 2023
interesting read
Took me back to my time in-country. Brought back memories I had long ago buried in my mind . Blessed are the Warriors
Took me back to my time in-country. Brought back memories I had long ago buried in my mind . Blessed are the Warriors
May 5, 2023
Exciting Read
The author obviously served in Vietnam and has firsthand knowledge of a grunt’s environment. It’s amazing to me that so many young men fought such an insidious enemy while suffering the effects of terrible heat, mosquitos, leeches and everything that Mother Nature could expose them to. No wonder there’s an epidemic of PTSD. My year’s service as a REMF Engineer pales in comparison. Aside from a few grammatical errors, this is a good read.
The author obviously served in Vietnam and has firsthand knowledge of a grunt’s environment. It’s amazing to me that so many young men fought such an insidious enemy while suffering the effects of terrible heat, mosquitos, leeches and everything that Mother Nature could expose them to. No wonder there’s an epidemic of PTSD. My year’s service as a REMF Engineer pales in comparison. Aside from a few grammatical errors, this is a good read.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews