Rating: 
Summary: A ground-level view of war in Vietnam
Review: Many accounts of our war in Vietnam have been penned, including a number of first-person accounts. But anyone who would like to know exactly how it was to be on the ground with an infantry platoon, as viewed through the perspective of a freshly-minted West Point lieutenant, this is your book. McDonough's platoon is stuck in an area of pacification, in I Corps, infested by Viet Cong and their sympathizers; it is also late in the war, the summer of 1970, and one of the enemies that McDonough has to fight is that of the morale of his men. While the prose style is direct and unadorned, the piling on of the day-by-day platoon operations, the descriptions of the terrain and the people, and, most importantly, McDonough's handling of the varied soldiers who pass through his platoon gives this book a feeling of "being there" far exceeding what a more polished prose style could bring. To prospective authors who would like to find out how the ground war was fought, this book is a must. One comes away with a better appreciation of not only this ugly war, but also a new admiration for those, officers and enlisted personnel, who held our war-weary forces together.
Rating:
Summary: A ground-level view of war in Vietnam
Review: Many accounts of our war in Vietnam have been penned, including a number of first-person accounts. But anyone who would like to know exactly how it was to be on the ground with an infantry platoon, as viewed through the perspective of a freshly-minted West Point lieutenant, this is your book. McDonough's platoon is stuck in an area of pacification, in I Corps, infested by Viet Cong and their sympathizers; it is also late in the war, the summer of 1970, and one of the enemies that McDonough has to fight is that of the morale of his men. While the prose style is direct and unadorned, the piling on of the day-by-day platoon operations, the descriptions of the terrain and the people, and, most importantly, McDonough's handling of the varied soldiers who pass through his platoon gives this book a feeling of "being there" far exceeding what a more polished prose style could bring. To prospective authors who would like to find out how the ground war was fought, this book is a must. One comes away with a better appreciation of not only this ugly war, but also a new admiration for those, officers and enlisted personnel, who held our war-weary forces together.
Rating:
Summary: An absolute must read. Fantastic book.
Review: The honesty and humbleness in this book are second to none. This is a fantastic book. Lt McDonough gives a new sense to humanity in the face of insanity, pride in the midst of defeat, and paints a candid portrait of a soldier's heart in time of war.
I have recommended this book to many of the officers and NCO's alike in my unit.
Definetly a top-notch read.
Rating:
Summary: An absolute must read. Fantastic book.
Review: The honesty and humbleness in this book are second to none. This is a fantastic book. Lt McDonough gives a new sense to humanity in the face of insanity, pride in the midst of defeat, and paints a candid portrait of a soldier's heart in time of war.
I have recommended this book to many of the officers and NCO's alike in my unit.
Definetly a top-notch read.
Rating: 
Summary: Very worthwhile, interesting story; not quite a 5 star book
Review: This book is worthwhile reading. It's fairly brief and recounts the interesting experience of the author as a platoon leader operating near an important contested village in Vietnam, Truong Lam. He details his own struggles and triumphs as he takes control of his platoon and his responsibilities. Since his service was fairly late, starting in August, 1970, he had his share of problems due to the general war weariness of everyone involved. He spared the true identities of the other characters, which I'm sure was appreciated by his company commander and several others.I didn't rate this a 5 star book because I didn't find the quality of writing to be in the same league as I'd expect from a professional writer. McDonough did a respectable job of writing and used a simple, straightforward style. Still, I thought his experiences would have been more gripping and interesting if he'd had some help from a professional writer. As such, I didn't find it hard to put the book down and was glad it wasn't longer. Basically, I found the writing to diminish the story rather than equal or enhance it. No disrespect to the author, who seems like a fine Army officer and a decent writer. It's just that I think the book could have been better if there had been some writing help. I'd recommend this book to be read along with On Point by Roger Hayes (spelling?). Platoon Leader is a low level officer's experience and On Point an enlisted man's experience. The two books are similar in strengths and weaknesses and the two authors seem to share a lot of the same attributes.
Rating:
Summary: Very worthwhile, interesting story; not quite a 5 star book
Review: This book is worthwhile reading. It's fairly brief and recounts the interesting experience of the author as a platoon leader operating near an important contested village in Vietnam, Truong Lam. He details his own struggles and triumphs as he takes control of his platoon and his responsibilities. Since his service was fairly late, starting in August, 1970, he had his share of problems due to the general war weariness of everyone involved. He spared the true identities of the other characters, which I'm sure was appreciated by his company commander and several others. I didn't rate this a 5 star book because I didn't find the quality of writing to be in the same league as I'd expect from a professional writer. McDonough did a respectable job of writing and used a simple, straightforward style. Still, I thought his experiences would have been more gripping and interesting if he'd had some help from a professional writer. As such, I didn't find it hard to put the book down and was glad it wasn't longer. Basically, I found the writing to diminish the story rather than equal or enhance it. No disrespect to the author, who seems like a fine Army officer and a decent writer. It's just that I think the book could have been better if there had been some writing help. I'd recommend this book to be read along with On Point by Roger Hayes (spelling?). Platoon Leader is a low level officer's experience and On Point an enlisted man's experience. The two books are similar in strengths and weaknesses and the two authors seem to share a lot of the same attributes.
Rating:
Summary: A "must read" for all initial entry officers.
Review: This is an excellent guide for lieutenants to obtain valuable first hand accounts of a veteran's experiences in small unit leadership. Learning through personal experience is the main theme that perhaps even the best military schools cannot teach.
Rating:
Summary: Must-read for army lieutenants
Review: This is the best first-hand war report I have ever read - a must for all platoon leaders.
Rating:
Summary: I LITERALLY NEVER PUT IT DOWN!!!
Review: Well I found a book that ranks with Macdonalds' Company Commander, the best military memoir ever. Platoon leader is an unbelievable glimpse into the life of a typical platoon leader sent into the bush of Vietnam. After reading this book it is obvious why the Army chose it as required reading for officer candidate school. Macdonough describes clearly and with brutal honesty his tour as a young LT sent in the fight with no idea what to do. His platoon was on an isolated outpost and has to not only spend the days patrolling but endures the nights of fierce enemy attacks. Here it is described in such a flowing exciting manner that I finished it in one sitting. This is no 'glory of war' type memoir, but a plain portrayal of the senselessness and viciousness of war. Truly one of the classic military memoirs ever written!
Rating:
Summary: I LITERALLY NEVER PUT IT DOWN!!!
Review: Well I found a book that ranks with Macdonalds' Company Commander, the best military memoir ever. Platoon leader is an unbelievable glimpse into the life of a typical platoon leader sent into the bush of Vietnam. After reading this book it is obvious why the Army chose it as required reading for officer candidate school. Macdonough describes clearly and with brutal honesty his tour as a young LT sent in the fight with no idea what to do. His platoon was on an isolated outpost and has to not only spend the days patrolling but endures the nights of fierce enemy attacks. Here it is described in such a flowing exciting manner that I finished it in one sitting. This is no 'glory of war' type memoir, but a plain portrayal of the senselessness and viciousness of war. Truly one of the classic military memoirs ever written!
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