“The subject matter here is powerful, the stories intense and engrossing. I say this not because my unit was there, even if I was not, nor because I knew many that fought and some that died in the Cambodian Incursion. Berry gives us the details of powerful heroism and classic stupidity that makes up war of all ages. He writes of the minutiae that fills the day of the infantry soldier.
There are not many photos included but numerous newspaper articles from "The Ivy Leaf" of 1970 are reprinted. Those articles are only upbeat. No tragedies or setbacks ever acknowledged. This makes an interesting juxtaposition with background and intense emotion that the author presents in meticulous particulars.
The final pages of the book, a list of the dead, is somber testimony in itself of the price we paid during those twelve days in May. Tears welled in my eyes reading this book several times, but especially here at the end.
During the book I experienced fear and astonishment at the exploits of those who risked their lives to save their comrades on the battlefield, even though I know that heroism is nothing you think about but rather something that you suddenly find yourself doing. Many died during those valiant, often vain, attempts. This is a painful book in that regard but everyone should know what is done by those who serve.”
F1etcher wrote this review Friday, February 3, 2012.
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