Foxtrot Ridge: A Battle Remembered

by Mark W. Woodruff

Book Overview

Setting the Scene...By mid-May, 1968, American ground troops had fought the Vietnam War for seven bloody years. The Communist s Tet Offensive had been soundly defeated some four months previously and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0918339588
• ISBN13: 9780918339584
• Release Date: December 2002
• Publisher: Vandamere Press
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Want to know why there will always be a US Marine Corps?

For my background and perspective in writing this review, see my review of "Eye of the Tiger". This is a first-rate book by a member of the Marine infantry company that lived the events described in it. Its heroic commanding officer, Captain Jim Jones, went on to become Commandant of the Corps and (is still?) senior Nato general. Observing first-hand another, more famous Marine battle from an offshore ship in another war a quarter century earlier, Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal said "The raising of that flag on Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next five hundred years." But the American public has a short memory and a tendency to want to quickly relinquish to the dusty attic, memories of the sacrifices made by the relatively few who serve in the crucible of combat. Fortunately and sadly, as America's fire brigade since 1775, the Marine Corps is confronted with relatively frequent opportunities and demands to prove that what happened from 1942-45 was not a one-off product of a uniquely motivated and endowed "greatest generation" fighting a "good and just war", but rather, is what the "Marine Corps brand" is about, what those who volunteer and are gutsy enough to get through boot-camp, sign up to become a part of: to seek out and destroy the enemy. This book will give you a feel for what makes the Marine Corps so special, the truly great, uniquely democratic American institution that it is. Its author will take you there: when the chips are down, uncommon valor becomes a common virtue. The expression "Semper fi, do or die", is played out in the living hell of mortal combat here. That thematic, recurrent in many large and nameless small-scale battles like this one in Vietnam for six years and often since up to and including in Iraq today, is described on an hour-by-hour basis in this survivor's tale. The author is meticulous in detailing what happened, which gives his narrative a feel of immediacy that makes it a great read. It's a war-story in the best sense of that term, and he's done a great service in recording for posterity what happened in a highly readable account of the unfolding battle - - paying an honor especially to the men who served there with him and managed by their sheer fortitude and love for one another to survive under terrible conditions in the face of long odds, and to the families and memories of those who didn't, in giving their all. "In pro patria mori..." This story will drive home the fact that the American people owe a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid to the sacrifices made by its sons, brothers and husbands. God Bless the Marine Corps and every man and woman who ever served in it. Here you see them doing what Marines exist to do, standing toe-to-toe in a slug-fest against an equally tough, wily, brave and determined enemy, paying the high-price of freedom, and prevailing. Semper fi.

Innacuracies and falsehood

Relative to 3 previous reviews focusing on Kevin "Canadian' Howell's statement on Pg. 29 I can only say the following; Whether or not he was a sniper with 3rd. Force is irrelevant to the content of this account of a fierce battle. I cannot or will not speculate as to why Canadian made this statement.I fought in the hole (such as it was) next to the author.Anyone who doubts either the veracity or factual narrative from those of us who were there is sorely mistaken. This book is an account of what happened THAT NIGHT and that night only!!Mark's first book UNHERALDED VICTORY took years to write and was meticulously researched. The Foreword was written by the 32nd CMCGe. Jim Jones, our CO on the Ridge. Gen Jones, now Supreme Allied Commander, Europe(NATO) was also interviewed for "FOXTROTRIDGE" and a final manuscript, before going to press was submitted for his approval.The passage of time and the ferocity of this battle can dull memory, but I can assure everyone, and those of us who were therewill tell you that this is a great book.Mark Woodruff has composed a work that chronicles as accurately as humanly as possible a night that changed lives forever. 13 U.S.Marines are still dead. 44 of us still have a Purple Heart, and the families of over 230 North Vietnamese soldiers will never see their loved ones.Great job, 'Ruff' and Semper FiKevin

FoxTrot Ridge

This book brought back alot of memories, good and bad. There were several incidents that I had forgotten but after reading the book it jogged my memory. I think Mark Woodruff did an excellent job in putting this book together. Each word that I had said to Mark was put into print. In the thirteen months that I was in Vietnam it will always be this one day that I remember.Thanks, Mark for your dedication and esprit de corps.

I was also there

I read the book with personal interest. I was a member of 2nd plt fox co 2/3 on 28 May 1968. I was on the crows nest or the OP as some of us called it. The description of the general battle is accurate. Keep in mind that memories are not as fresh as they were 30 some years ago. Each in our own way contributed to the effort and attempted to keep our participation accurate. It is a excellent effort to record our time in vietnam and one of the many battles. Mark tells the truth as relayed to him from the survivors memories.

"The s**t hit the fan .. and then all hell broke loose"

I just finnished reading this book and was deeply moved. Told in the words of the surviving veterans of this famous battle, Foxtrot Ridge will be remembered as one of the great battle histories to emerge from that war.The author has seemlessly integrated naratives from over twenty people interviewed to create a fast-paced, highly readable story that can be appreciated as much by those who love a good action adventure as military historians and veterans. At times hilarious in their candour, the veterans recount their experiences with an honesty and level of rapport that could not have been acheived had the author not been a survivor of Foxtrot Ridge himself.Recommended reading for anyone with an interest in the Vietnam War and anyone who thought Mel Gibson's movie was the last word on the matter. Tightly written, the book maintains a 250 page adreniline rush. You won't find better!