ASSAULT ON DAK PEK

[RifleMaster]

Just finished reading "Assault on Dak Pek" by Leigh Wade. I enjoyed this book which mostly describes his last tour at Camp Dak Pek, Vietnam in 1970. He gives a typical description of life in an ODA border camp late in the Vietnam War. It brought back some old memories!

[Samuel]

I enjoyed that book to.I've read it three times.I haven't read his other books cause they are not availleble here in Holland.
You say it brought back old memories?Why don't you write a book?

[RifleMaster]

Hi Samuel,

A few months back, I read Wade's "The Protected Will Never Know". I also enjoyed this book. "The Protected Will Never Know" has a "Lessons Learned" section at the end that contains his thoughts and opinion on several combat subjects. I agree with most of them.

I'm slowly writing my Vietnam service memoirs for my family and especially for my Grandkids (son). Someday after I retire, I may try documenting what it was like to be on a four man advisory team living and operating with the ARVN infantry and ARVN Recondos. I may also try to document my thoughts and opinions toward training tactical rifle shooters. I have worked with several junior shooters on past California State Rifle Teams.

Currently as a Staff Design Engineer, I spend way too much time pecking-out design assessments, design reviews, test specifcations, invention disclosures, status reports, etc. . . etc.

Thanks for your reply! . . . Carl

PS: Email me if I can help you obtain any specific book! I live close to several large book stores.

[This message has been edited by RifleMaster (edited 10-02-2000).]

[This message has been edited by RifleMaster (edited 10-02-2000).]

[Samuel]

Hi riflemaster
First of al,thank you for offering your help,but i don't think i need it.After posting a reply to your message i searched the dutch yellow pages on the net and found a large bookstore in amsterdam that has a lot of import.So i think i have Wade's books by the end of the month.

I got a question for you.When you worked with the ARVN did you see any progress in their abbillity to perform combatduties or were they as bad as several people have said?
Several writers have written that the ARVN are a bunch of idiots.

I really liked to read about everything that has to do with the military.I grew up listening to warstories of my grandfather and his friends.They fought in Indonesia against the Japs and later against Indonesia for the independence of their homeland,MALUKU,which they lost.
I have posted a new topic at FORNET about the indonesian SF.If you have time, read it.

Samuel

[Samuel]

Hi riflemaster
If you decide to check out my new topic at FORNET,you got to go to general international sof issues.When you're there you got to choose "show topics from last 5 days"

[RifleMaster]

Hi Samuel!

I'll try to answer your question of ARVN combat efficiency without going into great detail . . . can't write a book. The ARVN were strong in some areas and weak in others, like any other Army. Because of their years of combat (experience), they were much better than US combat units in land navigation, identifying booby-traps, and anticipating enemy tactics. They certainly were not as agressive as the US would have liked. I believe the primary reasons for this was the lack of modern individual weapons and inadequate medical facilities and supporting firepower (Arty and Air). Also, I'm sure that being drafted for the duration and in many cases concern for the safety of their families didn't help their morale. If our (US) combat units had to operate under the same conditions as the ARVN units their performance would have been quite different.

I really liked combined US and ARVN operations. There was almost always three meals a day (one hot!) and all the gunships, arty, and air we wanted. Hell, what more could an Infantryman ask for?

Take care!

Carl




[This message has been edited by RifleMaster (edited 10-05-2000).]