Rating: 
Summary: A clear view of what was right and wrong in Vietnam.
Review: Moore and Galloway write a concise report on ground combat in the early years of the southeast asian conflict.
It also clearly and most proficiently points out the fallicy that this war could be controlled by the REMF command
that so swiveled their way around desks from the late 40's to the late 50's. If you can get a copy, I highly suggest
getting a copy of the CBS special that took Moore back to the Ia Drang with some of his troops to revisit the site.
North Vietnamese are also interviewed in the documentary. Truly a gut wrenching account of what it was like to 18,
and having a serious weapon by your side.
Rating:
Summary: The best book written about on-the-ground combat in Vietnam.
Review: This is by far the best book yet written about battle during the Vietnam War. The book is co-authored by two men who were on the scene during the battle of the Ia Drang Valley during November 1965. Lieutenant General Harold G. Moore was a battalion commander of the 1st Battalion, 2nd Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division and veteran correspondent Joseph Galloway was with the 1st Cav at the time of the action. A superb book, excellently researched, and a proud testament to the valiant troops who fought in one of the earliest phases of the Vietnam War
Rating:
Summary: Impossible to put down...
Review: This book, about one of the first battles of the Vietnam War using large-scale deployment of US forces, is impossible to put down. The book expertly details the battle for the Ia Drang Valley which took place in the fall of 1965. It is absolutely astonishing to consider the struggle that took place there and the extreme difficulties placed upon our troops. Truly, the men who fought there are heroes, and their story deserved to be remembered and told. While the movie made about the book was quite good, and accurrate with regards to the book, the book gives much more detail and is highly readable. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Simply Wonderful
Review: Simply put, it was one of the most amazing, most moving books I have ever read in my entire life. It helps that the two writers were actually there at the battle and so provide a first hand account of the battle. The movie, with Mel Gibson, is also recommended. I watched the movie and then read the book. I didnt regret the decision to read it one bit. I just cant say how moving it was...
Rating:
Summary: Read it now before the Movie!
Review: This is the best rendition of tactics in Vietnam and a must read for small unit leaders. We Were Soldiers Once...And Young takes us on a journey with then Lieutenant Colonel "Hal" Moore and Joe Galloway, the reporter who climbed on a helicopter heading for a "hot" landing zone, into the Ia Drang Valley. The North Vietnamese baited the 7th Cav into a firefight in order to determine how the U.S. would fight, and they learned quickly in the first major engagement of the war. As the battalion commander of the 1/7 Cav, LTC Moore engages in a battle for the lives of everyone in his unit. The lessons which Mr. Galloway and LTG (Retired) Moore illustrate in the first section of the book will drive home the need for discipline and leadership during combat. The first section makes the book worth the read, all by itself. Fortunately, there are two other sections, equally as dramatic. The second section lets us walk with the 2nd battalion, 7th Cavalry Division into an ambush quickly established by the NVA. This time almost the entire unit is wiped out. Due to poor discipline (not putting out security, letting soldiers smoke and talk on break, etc..) the 2/7 is completely surprised. This book uniquely juxtaposes the difference in success between two similar units, with very different leadership, morale, and discipline. The lessons are stark and vivid. The third section, titled Aftermath, describes life on the homefront - not the protests and demonstrations, but the military families waiting to hear how their soldiers are doing. The description of Western Union hiring taxi drivers to deliver death notices is emotional. Some wives were awakened at 4:00am in the morning and handed a yellow slip with the words, "The Secretary of the Army regrets to inform you that your husband .... was killed in action, etc.." If you don't want to go to bed crying, don't read this powerful account of how coldly the institution cared for families during the Vietnam era. My wife and I have both spent over ten years of service in the Army and found this section to be a powerful motivation for helping to care for military families. As the title of this review indicates, the movie is coming soon. Mel Gibson will play Joe Galloway, and other famous actors will take part. I highly recommend this account of courage, leadership, discipline, success and failure. This book spent several weeks on the New York Times best seller list, and almost every senior leader in the Army recommends it as mandatory reading for leaders at the tactical level. You won't be disappointed!
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