House to House: Playing the Enemy's Game in Saigon, May 1968

by Keith William Nolan

Book Overview

Republic of Vietnam, May 1968: The battles of the Tet Offensive were over, and the Paris Peace Talks were about to begin. Yet, the battlefield situation remained tense. Shocked by the intensity and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0760323305
• ISBN13: 9780760323304
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: Zenith Press
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.7" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Accurate and Not Pretty

Well written, well researched and best of all an accurate and not pretty description of what we all know was an very ugly war. I was there. Dustoff Freddy

Nolan Got it Right

As one of the battalion commanders at the Battle of the Y-Bridge, I can attest to the fact that Keith Nolan got it right. He has to rank as the foremost historian of the Vietnam War with this, his eleventh book on that war. Nolan has done a masterful job of pulling together accounts of this battle from hundreds of sources, and producing a very readable story. He did so with great sensitivity and yet told the good and the bad, which is what war is. His transitions from the actions of the various units made for a smooth and continuous story, rather than a bunch of choppy events. As a participant in this action,I may be prejudiced, but I think this book is better than his previous book on the Vietnam War - Ripcord - and, having read the Maraniss book "They Marched Into Sunlight", House to House is as compelling an account. I highly recommend this book as a vehicle for discussion of leadership from the small unit to the Division levels of command. The situations encountered in this book are as applicable to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as they were to the war in Vietnam.

Missing Welcome Mat

The only thing not conveyed in this true and accurate writing is the smell of gun powder, napalm and death.The reader should know that Nolan has provided the world with an extremely accurate description of this intense battle. His research is impeccable and it is a wonder he could so deftly put to ink the chaos and intricacies of this particular marathon. To explain the men, the units, their order, movements, strategy, politics(military and civilian), historical context, and on a personal level, the fear of war, is an arduous feat. Make no mistake about it, this was a battle that was as intmate as it gets. Warriors confronting warriors on an urban battlefield. Most of us who fought here would much prefer the rice paddies or jungle we were used to. The enemy had us at a disadvantage. They had months to prepare this assault as we came to the defense of Saigon once again. We were not going to be denied but, we paid a heavy price for our tenacity. Nolan lays it out for you better than any of us has ever been able to sort it out amongst ourselves. We thank him for committing these pages to history. I also appreciate that he did not sugar-coat or leave anything out despite how politcally incorrect it may be. This is war. It will also benefit the reader to compare what happened to us and how eerily similar some of this is with events of today's war. If you want to read about a true and accurate description of men in the throes, this is the best example I know. Throughout the ages only a small percentage have fought in the conflicts of their times. Most of you will only get as close as this book to actual fighting. but it will definitely have you ducking for cover in some passages. Thanks to Nolan, you can experience the reality of a battle as it unfolds. Like most who have "been there" I would like nothing more than for there to be no more wars. Witnessing the mangled bodies and splattered blood is what gives rise to my saying this. But the truth is even more devastating because, like today's wounded soldiers, many of us carry the scars on our bodies and the horrors in our minds. And we were the lucky ones. Our friends who paid the ultimate price left shattered families never to be the same again. I hope you read these words in the comfort of your home and gain an understanding, a sense of what it's like to fight a determined enemy. In retrospect I can tell you that the enemy was a special group assembled to fight us. He didn't run or try to break contact. They were prepared to inflict serious damage. They were disciplined and masters in the art of concealment. Slowly you learn this as Nolan unravels the enemy's tactics and preparations. Read the book. Honor those that gave their lives.

House To House

H.D. Johnson After almost seven years of work, Keith W Nolans latest book: "House To House" (Playing The Enemies Game In Saigon, May 1968) has been published by Zenith Press. Mr Nolan has surpassed his previous standard of quality in reporting on the Vietnam War. He tells it all bluntly and reports the veterans comments-good and bad. After a quick scan through the book, I am impressed with the attention to detail and knowledge of the military mission by a civilian "war buff". In my opinion, the book could just as well been entitled, "The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly Of Urban Warfare". It covers it all from murder of fellow soldiers, desertion under fire, failure to follow orders, looting, putting politics above the mission, the body count game, and numerous instances of bravery by common soldiers and their officers to complete the mission. I highly recommend this book to readers who prefer non-fiction to the fictional drivel of the day The men of A/3/39th Infantry missed the first TET because of the untimely death of 4 company officers on 1 Feb, 1968. They performed admirably during this second battle in Saigon

Historically Accurate and riveting!

My brother and I had the opportunity to read excerpts from the manuscript because our father was a small but heroic part of the Mini Tet on 6 May 68. We had the opportunity to read actual accounts of not only HIS involvement, but the heroic efforts and sacrifices of many of our men in uniform. Get the book - read it - Whether you supported the war or not, you'll get a deeper appreciation of what it was like for our soldiers who were there and of those who paid the ultimate price.