Asia Books

Before this one, many other books often provide one-sided view from Washington by war historians, scholars and analysts (who did not know off-hand the combat and strategic position at the time nor the moral, spirit and willingness to fight by these young, heroic and patriotic Special Branch Commandos). These books were based largely from declassified War Department MACV-SOG material since 1995, with few interviews with actual SB personnel. The sacrifice these Commandos made (in secrecy from 1956 to 1975) were not told the way it deserves in these books.
At Paris, in 1972, hundreds of these Commandos had been betrayed by Henry Kissinger and their American allied. The American team members got released while the Vietnamese are kept 10 years or longer in prisons. Years later, they are still cheated by many books that often lack the acknowledgement of their heroic sacrifice.

Finally this is one of the two books (the other is by Ken Conboy and Dale Andrade) about the secret war conducted by the CIA and Colonel Ngo The Linh's Bureau 45B (or Special Branch). Mr. Tourison interviewed many Vietnamese commandos & case officers and have made great effort to provide a more complete and accurate account of success and failure of CIA & Special Branch and SOG & Coastal Security Service.

Many of these Commandos died in North Vietnamese cruelest prisons, the rest spent between 15 to 22 years in hard-labor. Their stories are now finally told.

I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Thank you Mr. Tourison.

Before this one, many other books often provide one-sided view from Washington by war historians, scholars and analysts (who did not know off-hand the combat and strategic position at the time nor the moral, spirit and willingness to fight by these young, heroic and patriotic Special Branch Commandos). These books were based largely from declassified War Department MACV-SOG material since 1995, with few interviews with actual SB personnel. The sacrifice these Commandos made (in secrecy from 1956 to 1975) were not told the way it deserves in these books.

At Paris, in 1972, hundreds of these Commandos had been betrayed by Henry Kissinger and their American allied. The American team members got released while the Vietnamese are kept 10 years or longer in prisons. Years later, they are still cheated by many books that often lack the acknowledgement of their heroic sacrifice.

Finally this is one of the two books (the other is by Ken Conboy and Dale Andrade) about the secret war conducted by the CIA and Colonel Ngo The Linh's Bureau 45B (or Special Branch). Mr. Tourison interviewed many Vietnamese commandos & case officers and have made great effort to provide a more complete and accurate account of success and failure of CIA & Special Branch and SOG & Coastal Security Service.

Many of these Commandos died in North Vietnamese cruelest prisons, the rest spent between 15 to 22 years in hard-labor. Their stories are now finally told.

I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Thank you Mr. Tourison.

Tourison provides a long overdue account of ill-conceived covert operations which achieved little other than to demonstrate the bravery of the naive young Vietnamese men who undertook these missions. This is a group which suffered some of the worst treatment dished out in the Vietnamese communist re-education camp system. Readers of Vietnamese should seek out the lengthy memoir "Thep Den" written under the pen name Dang Chi Binh, which covers the recruitment, training, mission, capture and inmprisonment of one of these operatives. Sadly, when some of these men arrived in the refugee camps of Thailand during the late 1980s they had trouble convincing the officials screening them for refugee status that their far-fetched backgrounds were indeed true. That some small measure of financial compensation has finally been provided to this group by the United States government is a welcome gesture, but no gesture will erase the guilt of those responsible for dispatching these men to certain death or imprisonment.

I admire Tourison for revealing the truth about the Gulf of Tonkin incidents which led to an escalation of the Vietnam conflict. The book tells of the CIA's Operation Plan 34a which directed commando raids against N Vietnam which resulted in PT boat attacks against American destroyers in the gulf where they seemed to be supporting the commandos. Those attacks resulted in the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which gave the president extraordinary war powers which began an all-out war, although it was never declared as such by congress. It was great to learn how the war *Really* began. Sad to say, it was started by us :-(

Before this one, many other books provide the one-sided view from Washington by war historians, scholars and analysts (who did not know off-hand the combat and strategic position at the time nor the moral, spirit and willingness to fight by the young and heroic Special Branch Commandos). These books were based largely from declassified War Department MACV-SOG material since 1995, with few interviews with actual SB personnel. The sacrifice these Commandos made (in secrecy from 1956 to 1975) were not told the way it deserves in these books.

At Paris, in 1972, the Lost Commandos had been totally ignored by Henry Kissinger. Their American team members got released while the Vietnamese are kept 10 years or longer in prisons. Years later, these Commandos are betrayed again and cheated of the praise they deserve in many books by American writers.

Finally this is one of the two books (the other is by Ken Conboy and Dale Andrade) about the secret war waged by the CIA and Colonel Ngo The Linh's Special Branch. Mr. Tourison interviewed the Vietnamese side and have made great effort to provide a more complete and accurate account of success and failure of CIA & Special Branch and SOG & Coastal Security Service.

Many of these young SB Commanods died in North Vietnamese cruelest prisons. The rest spent between 15 to 22 years in hard-labor prisons until 1982.

Their stories are now finally told...

Persian Images, are fascinating to begin with right? However, what brings more interest to this book, is that most of these pictures come from a collection that was purposely destroyed in the early 1900's,by the Iranian government. The stories shared in reference to each photo are as interesting as the pictures themselves. There happens to be a much larger collection both in Iran, and in the states, but sadly they did not make an appearance in this particular book.

If the area of your study or/and interest involves Art,Photography,History of Asia and Near East this is a must have book. Sevruguin went to Iran and stayed there for almost all of his life. This book is a collection of the first photographs from Iran (that of course he took). Through Sevruguin's eyes the reader/viewer is able to discover a new world. Not only this world is new to you if you are a western viewer, but also these photographs reveal yet another angle for a native viewer, such as myself, since many of these photographs have never displayed back in Iran. I think, in a broader sense, as long as one keeps in mind that these are representations of one culture through the eyes of an outsider, this book is useful and interesting.

One of my favorite photo essays on the old middle east. Wonderful collection of photographs and fascinating history.

"Sevruguin and the Persian Image" presents the Smithsonian's collection of one of Qajar Iran's preeminent photographers. In addition to the photographs, the volume contains valuable histories of early photography in Iran, the career of Antoin Sevruguin, and how the collection itself came about. The double entendre of the title refers to how Sevruguin's art was informed by and catered to the Orientalist tastes of a Europe in which he was educated. Yet as an Armenian Christian who was born, lived, died and was buried in Tehran, he presented a different image of Iran than the typical Orientalist photographers of the day. "Sevruguin and the Persian Image" is both a solid examination of a photographer's art as well as a thoughtful analysis of the Western image of Iran in the late nineteenth century.

this is a great collection of some excellent photos of iran at the turn of the last century - it chronicles everyday life, including peasants, and the aristocracy and monarchy - there is a great picture of tehran's bustling main street, with horse-drawn, rail carriages, and the throngs of crowds, some of whom are temporairly mesmerized by the photographer perched on some rooftop. A must-have for iran-history-nastalgic buffs. Only wish there was more...

This book by Narendra Singh Sarila is a true eyeopener. Many commonly held beliefs about the history of the Indian subcontinent are disputed and in some cases heartily debunked. The author was the ADC to Mountbatten and thus comes with the imprimatur of "being on the scene".

I remember reading various sources like Wolpert wherein it was emphatically stated that Gandhi was always against partition. Well here Sarila reliably infers that at the end Gandhi thought partition was a necessary evil. Jinnah AND certain Hindu hotheads played the religion card to the hilt appealing to the lower angels of human nature via the fear route. Arguing that muslims would never get a fair shake in a Hindu Congress and nation Jinnah shrewdly played the fear card. The Congress on the other hand made no credible effort to include Jinnah early on (1929-30?) in a viable leadership position thus breeding distrust. Of course thirty million muslims who were not in the demarcated areas as proposed by Jinnah were left high and dry.

In talking to some of my Pakistani friends I am told that Nehru's "affair" with Edwina Mountbatten predisposed the memsahib to lobby her husband for a decision favoring India. I personally think that partition was the result of the lack of true STATESMEN in the situation. The whole concept was predicated on the belief that Hindus and Muslims could not co-exist. There was not sufficient give and take. Yes, Gandhi made the effort but his ideas were so impractical as to be dead on arrival. The partition need not have taken place. A great tragedy for both sides.

What is truly sad is the low opinion that Churchill had about Indians in general and Hindus in particular. Yes in those days it was quite common to view Indians as a cacaphony of peoples incapable of governing themselves, but Churchill's animosity seems to have been beyond the bounds of reason. Too bad because Churchill truly was the man of the hour during WW2 and helped save Western civilization. In my eyes the greatness of Churchill is tangibly abased by the vile alloy of racism.

Sarila recounts, in detail, the behind the scenes machinations of various players mostly to the detriment of a united India.

A sad commentary on a lamentable period of the Indian subcontinent. Highly recommended.

This book is a significant contribution to the understanding of the fateful events surrounding the independence and partition of India and the players involved. The book presents the events in a cogent manner with insightful analyses into the events and personalities. It is a must read for any student of Indian history and politics since it gives insight into the situations affecting the national security and political decisions made even today. We all have heard so much about the "Divide and rule" policy of English. The reader is able to witness that policy in action in this book.

Key features that one learns from this book are: i) the British determination to hold on to India as long as possible, and in the event that this becomes impossible, secure the northwestern portion of India to thwart any real or imagined Russian adventures, ii) The naivety of Indian National Congress leaders, especially Nehru, about the survival of an independent India in a predatory world, iii) the aging of Gandhi and weakening of his faculties and judgment in dealing with the changing political environment, iv) Even though Mountbatten contributed to bringing the princely states into the Union he also did double cross Nehru in dealing with Kashmir, and v) Hunger for power at any cost on the part of Jinnah who died regretting what he had done with his life.

The role that President Roosevelt played in pushing Churchill towards Indian independence and the US gesture to be the first country to send an ambassador to India is neither appreciated nor known among the India's polity nor did the historians pay much attention to the subject. Better management of the relationship with US early on might have paid dividends and the world history could have turned out to be totally different than what we have witnessed.

The author has to be specially commended for his assessment that Indian independence came not because the British had an enlightenment about egalitarianism or human rights but because the empire was economically not tenable any longer, and even more important, the events of the second World War and its conclusion created an environment in India where they could not even count on the loyalty of the Indian army any longer. The "awe" with which the ordinary Indian looked at the Englishman had ended. The bluff that worked for two hundred years stopped working.

The author worked from 1948 to 1985 in India's Foreign Service. He uses primary sources in this excellent book to show how from 1906 to 1947 the British state allied with Islamists to defeat India's majority-supported Congress Party.

The Aga Khan and some Bengal landlords founded the Muslim League in 1906 and at once petitioned Viceroy Minto to introduce separate Muslim electorates, a sure way to split a country. Lord and Lady Minto immediately welcomed this: she wrote that it would mean "Nothing less than the pulling back of 62 million people from joining the ranks of the seditious opposition."

Churchill too played the Muslim card, lying that the real problem lay in Hindu-Muslim differences about India's future and not in Britain's rulers' unwillingness to accept Indian independence. Viceroy Linlithgow forged an alliance with Jinnah's Muslim League Party. Linlithgow's successor Lord Wavell produced the 1946 blueprint giving the strategic prize of North-West India to Pakistan.

Jinnah called a `Direct Action Day' for 16 August 1946. The British governor of Bengal knew of the League's intention, yet the British brigadier in charge of law and order in Calcutta ordered his troops confined to barracks for the day. 5,000 people were killed. Wavell's blueprint was implemented when the British withdrew from India in 1947, even though it was kept secret to avoid any impression of a British hand in the division of India.

Sarila summarises, "Once the British realized that the Indian nationalists who would rule India after its independence would deny them military cooperation under a British Commonwealth defence umbrella, they settled for those willing to do so by using religion for the purpose. Their problem could be solved if Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the leader of the Muslim League Party, would succeed in his plan to detach the northwest of India abutting Iran, Afghanistan and Sinkiang and establish a separate state there - Pakistan. The proposition was a realizable one as a working relationship had been established between the British authorities in India and Jinnah during the Second World War and he was willing to cooperate with Britain on defence matters if Pakistan was created."

Imperial policy was and is divide and rule - whether setting Muslim against Hindu in India, Bosnian Muslims against Serbs in Yugoslavia, Sunni against Shia across the Middle East, Protestant against Catholic in Ireland, or Scottish against English in Britain. As Sarila notes, "The successful use by the British to fulfil political and strategic objectives in India was replicated by the Americans in building up the Islamic jihadis in Afghanistan for the same purpose, of keeping the Soviets at bay."

An interesting and detailed analysis based on historical documents that sheds light on the british machinations to encourage, even engineer the partition. lots of other fascinating facts and details are brought to life as well.

The Partition of India is one of the great un-studied subjects of modern times, especially in light of the great ethnic-cleansing that it caused, it is suprising it is ignored and its refugees forgotten. This book however is not about these crimes but about the politics and also the prejudices that brought about partition. It mostly focuses on the British decision to assist Ali Jinnah and his attempts to form a Muslim state. The British had long supported Muslims in India, both as civil servants and administratively, allowing them to keep Shariah law while suppressing Hindu traditions.

As the Great Game ended in 1905 and world politics changed the British continued to cultivate loyal Muslims in India and used them to split India, eventually using them to create Pakistan, and using Pakistan against Soviet Russia, which would have reverberations in the 1980s and even today.

This is a very interesting and new point of view. Few authors have tackled the subject of British pro-Islamic politics in their colonies and this is an important contribution.

Seth J. Frantzman

As another reviewer of this particular Karl May travel and adventure story, I was mesmerized by his stories when I was growing up in Luxemburg. It is shame that he is virtually unknown in North America. I've started my great nephew (who unfortunately does not know German) reading the stories in translation. I hope that he will get a greatly expanded view and understanding of other peoples, ways, mores as I did; and that he just plainly will enjoy the stories, because they are SUPERB.

I'm the translator of this unabridged first volume of Karl May's Orient Cycle, a six book series of adventures that detail a journey and exiting adventures through many Middle Eastern countries.

Karl May's 73 novels are still being published today in numbers that are astounding. Yet whilst his works have been translated into about 30 languages, he is virtually unknown in North America.

Given the current events in the Middle East today, it is amazing how much insight he had into the psyche of the people he wrote about. In reading his work you will discover that little has changed over the last 120 years since he penned the original narrative. You will also discover a wealth of pertinent facts about the people and their religious beliefs.

I consider Karl May's travel narratives a body of text that has been well researched and whilst some of the information contained therein may not be entirely accurate when compared to the facts as we know them today, they represent nontheless a very clear insight into the customs of the local inhabitants of these foreign lands.

My wife and I have enjoyed the often frustrating task of rendering Karl May's work into English and we hope that you too will enjoy the tale as it unfolds.

This book is a gripping tale of adventure and suspense that left me unable to put it down especially towards the end. I was drawn into the characters and found myself laughing at their antics. In reading this story I felt like I was traveling through the land alongside the heroes of the story.
I especially liked Halef who was a very important part of the story and I can't wait to see if he continues his journey in the next book.
Even though the book was written more than a hundred years ago the customs and traditions of the Arabs have not changed through to the present day.
Not being an avid reader, a book must be exciting to keep my attention and this book met and exceeded my expectations.
Growing up in my grandmothers house who was from Germany I know the German language can be very difficult to understand and with many of the translations from German to English the true meaning of the prose is often lost.
It is obvious that a great deal of time and effort went into this unabridged translation of this adventure story.
This is the first Karl May book that I have had a chance to read and I can't wait for the next book to be translated.
To the translator I say, 'Great job!'. I highly recommend this book to readers of adventure stories and to children - most enlightening.

The Shadow of the Padishah

This book is a step into the world of Shaharazhad and a little beyond. Our Hero, the Frank, Emir Nemsi, is a German writer on an odyssey into the realm of the Padishah, of Arabian Knights and the rich culture of the Middle East, in search of adventure. He travels with a native companion, little Halef, a devoted servant, bent on converting his beloved Master to the True Faith of Islam. It is interesting to note that our hero becomes a Muslim against his will, all the while remaining a devout Christian, an interesting twist of events. The series of adventures, beginning with the discovery of a murder victim, through the Hajj to Mecca to the victory against the Haddadihn leaves the reader panting for more and more, until you are dropped on your head with a cliffhanger. I feel much like the Shaharazhad? sultan, I simply must know what happens next.

I was quite surprised to find out that this story was actually written in the late 1800?s, as it has a fresh and modern feel. I especially liked the author?s use of the Arabic words, with the translation right behind. It gives the story an exotic cast, without sacrificing the meat of the Tale.

The story is an honest portrayal of this world, with only a slight European smugness, but much less than most of the literature of the day. The Arab Culture is not portrayed as barbaric or savage; rather we are shown its depth and richness.

I am waiting less than patiently for the next installment of my hero?s adventures.
HURRY UP!!!!

I grew up in Germany, and that means I grew up with Karl May. I probably read more than 20 of his books and I even brought some of them with me to the U.S. Unfortunately nobody I talk to here knows about this great author, and my children can't read German well enough to share my experience. I was therefore delighted to find this unabridged translation. I sure wished more of Karl May's books were available in English.

". . . medieval sources do not allude to specific Shaolin fighting methods, Indeed they neither mention how Shaolin monks fought, nor which weapons they employed in battle. Attributing their descendant's martial arts to Tang Shaolin monks would be anachronistic." (The Shaolin Monastery. M. Shahar, pg. 52)

This is a serious, academically critical, look at Shaolin Monastery, and a
good critic of what is being practiced at Shaolin today.

Rik Zak
[...]

This is a deep and throughly researched book detailing the true aspects of Shaolin history and it's strange but interesting link between religion and martial arts.
Everything you needed to know about ancient Shaolin that can be found in ancient records is detailed here.
Other books do not come close and even lie.

I came to this work as both an academic and a practitioner of a Shaolin style of pushing hands. The evolution of the Shaolin arts from staff fighting to unarmed styles is explored in great detail from a variety of sources (many of which are primary and have been translated here for the first time).

This is one of the first books I've read that makes a scholarly attempt at explaining how the Buddhist monks of Shaolin successfully negotiated the cognitive dissonance caused by commitment to Buddhist principles of non-violence on one hand and mastery of martial arts on the other.

The book also succeeds in recognising and clarifying the role of Daoist thought and cultivation practices (namely the Dao Yin) in the development of Shaolin Gung Fu.

Some of the conclusions (especially in relation to the unarmed styles) lend some support to Nathan Johnson's (2000) thesis 'Barefoot Zen'. After long and careful study of the forms of Shaolin Gung Fu and Karate Kata, Johnson contended that these arts were never intended for fighting (whereas Shahar would likely contend that fighting was not their sole purpose, p.180 and p.200).

A much more readable book than the previous review suggests, desoite its thoroughness, and a welcome antedote to the self-serving mythology that passes for history in most book about Shaolin. Meir's discussion of the roots of some of the most familiar Shaolin-based styles of will be especially absorbing for fans of kung fu movies.

Meir is the foremost expert outside of China (and possibly even within China) on the history of the Shaolin Temple. An academic book by an amazing scholar, and a must read for anyone serious about learning the in-depth history of Shaolin, and martial arts, as he traces the history back 1500+ years. Scholarly, well written, peer reviewed, with loads of annotations...

A great book if you're seeking insight of the origins of Kung Fu If you are not seriously interested in martial arts, and their Shaolin China roots, this book is probably not for you.

I discovered this book at the library, renewed it several times, and then decided I just had to have it. I love fiber arts. The work from the countries of Asia stupefies the mind with its intricacy, delicacy, and sheer beauty. The book explains the meanings of many of the designs and weaves history with aesthetics. The author is an accomplished needle artist herself.

I splurged and ordered this book, and am I glad that I did. It was a jaw-dropping feast for the eyes, and well-worth ever penny spent on it.

The photographs are absolutely amazing, the details are brought to light
exceptionally well, and the text illuminates this Asian craft world just
perfectly.

One of the best features of this volume is that one can readily SEE in detail the various works of the needleworker's arts from each timeper-
iod, providing as an added bonus, inspiration for one's own embroidery.

I highly recommend this book, for needleworkers and designers and for
the aficionado of handwork arts.

This comprehensive account of East Asian embroidery is a must for any textile collector. Beautifully illustrated throughout and wonderfully informative it educates and feasts the eye. The photographic details are very clear and provide a good indication of the different textures. There is also a useful, fully comprehensive bibliography encouraging further exploration of this fascinating subject.

Silken Threads leads the reader through a wonderful journey charting the evolution of the embroidery of the East Asian region.

Dr. Chung apart from being a Master Embroiderer, and probably the only women in the word who has had a Museum named after her in her native Korea, is also a well respected Art Historian. This is not a "how to" book but a serious study of the history and art as it relates to the embroidery of China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam.

It is well illustrated and reflects the many years of study that Dr. Chung has spent researching this absorbing area of study.

Silken Threads is real winner ! Collectors, Asian Art scholars ,and Costume designers ,both fashion and theater,will find this book an indispensable reference work in the field of East Asian embroidered textile and costume. What this book is NOT is a "how-to" on embroidery.

Dr.Chung gives a comprehensive history of the evolution of East Asian embroidery and the significant contributions it has made to the cultural history of the region. The influence of China and the dissemination of Chinese techniques , motifs and artistic convention on other regions in East Asia are thoroughly discussed. The author examines in depth a wide variety of embroidered costume ,accessories,household furnishings and religious textiles.

Perhaps the most valuable aspect of this book,and there are many,is its pioneering effort in the field of Vietnamese textiles and
costume,a subject largely ignored before this publication .

Silken Threads is a exemplary production of scholarship,beautifully illustrated and completely documented .Dr.Chung's grasp of her subject represents the culmination of many years of extensive research by a leading authority on East Asian embroidered textiles .

I love the format of this book. Lots of pictures and maps. Flipping through the book you see things that look beautiful, fun, exciting, interesting and tasty. A picture is worth a thousand words, and this short, compact book packs a lot of information. Text is only used to explain concepts and history, while pictures are used to show places to visit, things to do, things to eat, with lines back to their source on an easy to read map. It really is an excellent way to convey this type of information.

I will be making the trip to singapore later this year, and this book will be right there with me.

In my opinion, the "Eyewitness Guides" are a must reading whenever my wife and I travel to a location we've never been before.
In addition to the usual tourist information they present great background on the history and culture of the area. This particular guide was no exception.
Well worth the money by adding immeasurably to the trip.

I needed a travel guide to help me with my first trip to Singapore. The Eyewitness guides have consistently been the best for me. They contain a good mix of historical information and practical guidance, and the graphics are excellent (I keep my Eyewitness travel guides as souveniers so I can remember all the things I did on my trips and their pictures are usually better than mine). The writing is interesting and informative - not too technical and not too "touristy". For the Singapore edition, the mapping, directions and information were particularly helpful and accurate. Singapore is not a large place but it has a mountain of things to do and see, so it is important to have an accurate guide that breaks things down into specific geographic sections as well as into subject matter. This book does just that. I highly recommend this guide to any traveller heading to Singapore.

Seduced as I am by the highly glossy, supremely compact and wonderfuly illustrated DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, I suppose I am somewhat biased as a reviewer. The combination of succinct text, numerous useful details, spectacular photographs, eyecatching 3-D graphical images, and user-friendly maps make the Eyewitness Travel Guides uniquely useful, distinctive and even collectable. The new Singapore book is no exception to these considerations, so much so, I wish I had it my disposal when I visited there last year, if only for the invaluable details it provides. Now shortly before leaving for Singapore once again, I have recently acquired this book, and it has whetted my appetite, by reminding me of the places, the colors, the smells, the greenery, the heat, and the vibrancy I had already experienced. It has also made it quite clear, exactly how much I missed last time, particularly in terms of wildlife reserves, museums, and galleries. The book contains a brief, but informative overview of the history and multi-cultural nature of this exciting island country. As with other titles in the series, the guide enables the user-traveler to gain maximum benefit from his or her visit, by highlighting THE places to visit, and what to expect from these experiences. If I have any criticisms of this, and indeed with many other Eyewitness Travel Guides, it is a shade small, with tiny text font, and it is a tad too short for my liking. But I guess they have to fit comfortably into your pocket, and, in any case, you cannot have too much of a good thing, otherwise you may just stay at home and gloat over the marvellous pictures.

If you ever go to Singapore, don't forget to bring this book. Even if you have been there many times (I have), you will always find new and interesting sights to visit and new information you didn't know about. What I like most is the detailed map section that covers most of the central city, that is the part you would want to visit as a tourist anyway. The street-by-street pictorial maps are excellent, but not always true to detail. The general index (for looking up things) is very good. However, on the downside, I would have liked to see more budget options in the "where to stay"-chapter. Nevertheless, probably the best guidebook to buy.

Students of the Vietnam War have many, many histories and analyses to choose from: now SOLDIERS IN REVOLT: GI RESISTANCE DURING THE VIETNAM WAR provides yet another angle, and is the first to explore in depth the process of organized opposition and resistance that undermined U.S. military attacks. It was a uniquely American movement at home and abroad which helped bring the war to an end: SOLDIERS IN REVOLT focuses on the rebellion WITHIN the U.S. military, from front lines to stateside.

This is a re-issue of an older book (early 1970's), this book is still relavant because much of its contents are not recognized by many people. It tells the story of the dissent that brewed among the GI's in 'Nam. By no means universal, the dissent actually crippled America's ability to fight the war.

Neo-cons admit the truth of this book's comments every time they extol the greatness of an all-volunteer army as opposed to one formed by draftees. The truth of this book is exhibited by the armed forces' refusal to start a draft even as recruiting goals fail today. But the history books still do not speak of the widerspread GI revolt in Vietnam.

I started to protest the Vietnam War in Sept. of 1967. Long before the
Winter Soldier start up.
I can't find any news stories about S.P.D.s???
Let this also be part of the history...
Sorry About That.

On December 20, 2004 the Department of Veterans Affairs, granted me full disability as a result of what happened to me in the service. I was diagnosed under the `Decision'
"Service connection for bipolar disorder is granted and the disability is combined with your evaluation for posttraumatic stress disorder." This is unique because I am the first serviceman granted as having PTSD cause my bipolar. My PTSD was caused from trauma, I incurred while in combat...
My bipolar on the other hand incurred while serving out my time stateside. You see, what happened to me after I made it home was far more stressful and horrifying than anything I experienced in combat.
What makes this interesting is that if it wasn't for the Freedom of Information Act, I couldn't prove anything. While I was still in the military and after I was released from their custody I tried in vein to seek help for my condition to no avail. I felt that there was something wrong with me and was concerned enough to seek help.
Here's the rub; that was back in 1967.
Granted, the military did not know anything about PTSD or bipolar in those days. So I was just pushed along as being a disgruntled grunt. `Sorry About That' boy, now get on with your life. So be it, I felt...
It is not my style to bore you with `my' Vietnam experience. You know all too well we all have a story to tell. {Blah, blah, blah}.
Saying that, I believe many people do not realize that less than 6% of Vietnam veterans saw any actual combat doing their tour. And even fewer were involved in hand to hand
hard core combat. Lets say, maybe 1%? I can say with confidence I am in the 1% club.
Within 72 hours of landing in Saigon, I was fighting for my life. My experience is noted in the book the fields of bamboo by General S.L.A. Marshall. (1971 The Dial Press). Starting on page 68, "A Romp In The Sun." Amazon dot COM books has it rated `Five Stars.' (Few years ago)
If that wasn't enough, I served as a door-gunner on a UH 1 B Gun Ship where I survived three crashes. I got my PTSD the old fashioned way, I earned it.
What I feel I did not earn, was my bipolar.
There were over "half a million" less than honorable discharges given from 1966 to 1973. It was as though many of us who had been in the war realized there was something wrong with what our country was doing and wanted out. {1967-1968 two hundred thousand courts martial took place}
Because the system was so overcrowded, makeshift "concentration camps" were set up around the country,{ Known as "Special Processing Detachments."} Aka, S.P.D's.
That's where I found myself, (1967- 1969) after I protested our country's involvement in the Vietnam War. Not, mind you in the streets, but rather, to my `Band of Brothers.'
Before I did this, I sought help from the military mental hygiene department at Fort Bragg while serving with the 82nd Airborne Pathfinders. (1967)
I told the so- called head shrink'ers. That I believed that the war was unconstitutional
That our country attacked a sovereign nation with malice and our commander-in-chief was not to be trusted and was in fact, using us to fight an immoral war. It was our duty to stop him at all cost and by any means. I told the head doctors that I had been informed as early as 1966 in the jungles of Vietnam by an ex OSS officer that there isn't any South Vietnam and Ho was the truly elected leader of his country. I was also told that China was Vietnam's number one enemy and has been for over a thousand years. In fact, some of what I was told back in 1966 was to come out later in the Pentagon Papers.
I was told many things that turned out to be the case. (Too many, to take your time here).
However, this I do know and believed in 1966, that if China was Vietnam's number one enemy and Russia was China's enemy then we were not there fighting the communist threat. To my dismay, the two psychiatrists listening to me rant came unglued. They didn't think I was mad but rather delusional and had to be dealt with. I was sent back to my unit and held under house arrest. "For what", I asked? {murder, and spreading commie propaganda, to the troops, at Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base}.
I went ballistic. My military record, exemplary until then, begin turning black.
I would not stand to be held and or wait until the military tried to figure out just what to do with me. Acting stupid I thought I had no options. I then demanded a dishonorable discharge. (I felt the just deserts for an elite warrior participating in a dishonorable war).
No one would oblige. I was told I was simply confused. So to help matters along, I deserted the military in order to get what I wanted.
After being hounded by the FBI and government authorities I was turned in by my own family and friends. Being from Orange County, California, they were doing their duty and thought it was for my own good. Once in the grips of the military system, my life became worse than it had ever been in combat. Sadistic guards wanted to make an example of me because they believed I was a veteran who disgraced his uniform. I was tortured, stripped, and had a gun put to my head. I was thrown naked into solitary confinement where the shadow of the stars and stripes-{designs cut into the ceiling} - covered my body. I was forced to eat cereal and water from a bowl like a dog while others watched. I witnessed other prisoners being tortured and murdered.
`Abu Ghraib in spades'. Right here in America back in 1967 the military guards did the same things to U.S. soldiers in stockades across the country. I survived in and escaped from three stockades and four courts martial. I witnessed the same treatment from guards at every stockade I was in.
I do not feel sorry for myself. I joined the military and volunteered to go to Vietnam. I was proud and excited to become a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne. I loved it.
That is until I found out what was really going on `over there.' I was not to be part of the BRIGHT and Shinning Lie that was to be known as the Vietnam debacle.
Anyway, if you think another Vietnam story is not as interesting as our latest war so be it.

Thanks,
Richard F Denne
Rdenne@aol.com

David Cortright originally wrote his hidden history of resistance within the U.S. Armed Forces to the Vietnam War in 1975. Thanks to Howard Zinn for rescuing it from the memory hole of information warfare.

Cortright's thesis is that the U.S. military in Vietnam resisted the war on a massive scale. By 1969, the enlistees took the lead over the draftees in opposition to the war. Stateside, enlistees had formed protest organizations at most bases in all the branches of the military. The enlistee resistance movement produced over 200 G.I. newspapers such as "All Hands Abandon Ship" and "Harass the Brass". Enlistees also organized off-base meetings in coffee houses and staged demonstrations against the war. Over in Vietnam, "survival politics" led to refusals to engage the Vietnamese in combat, avoidance of making contact with the Vietnamese, and 12 mini-mutinies of companies and platoons.

This is an important history. When the peace movement pressured the government to get out of Vietnam, it was to be a time of peace - especially for the U.S. military. Later the Berlin Wall fell and the Warsaw Pact was disintegrating. The Soviet threat was neutralized by its own perestroika. Then came the Bushes, Clinton and their wars and monthly bombings in Iraq non-stop during the last 15 (that's right - fifteen) years.

This latest Iraq invasion and occupation has reached deeply into our communities. Fathers, and mothers, left their children only to end up killing children in a land whose inhabitants had never made a threat to us. Worse, some troops engaged in shameful tortures.

Bush should be impeached now for his war crimes. And after that, one more thing remains: bringing the troops home to their children and our apologies.

Timely new edition of pioneering 1975 study of GI resistance during the Vietnam war. Most younger Americans know about the anti-war movement from first-hand film accounts of the massive marches and sit-ins. Yet far fewer know the extent of resistance within the armed forces themselves. There are no video tapes of widespread clashes between MP's and GI protesters during war's peak period. Nor is there footage of crew members demonstrating aboard such elite ships as the USS Kitty Hawk, nor even from blue-collar vessels such as the USS Nitro (a humorous and inspiring episode). Yet the resistance in many instances proved doggedly disruptive. And despite silencing efforts by the Pentagon and its media allies, the war's outcome was seriously affected by thousands of courageous resisters in uniform, who, each in his own way, refused to support a murderous politicians' war.

Cortright exhaustively documents stateside developments from Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, to Camp Pendleton, California, plus the role of civilian supporters in facilitating the movement. Coverage of GI resistance in Vietnam is harder to document because of battlefield censorship. Nonetheless, revealing instances of fragging, combat avoidance, and conscience-baring convocations such as Winter Soldier are included and speak volumes. Cortright's approach is sympathetically objective, providing a good birdseye view of what was going on behind the general coverup. Morover, he's careful to point out those cultural factors which intensified resistance, including widespread racism for which black resisters bore the brunt. If there's a downside, it's the absence of subjective, first-hand accounts that would make the reader feel the oppressive weight of the war machine as it attempted to roll over those who would stand in its way. In addition, some material in Part II has dated and perhaps should have been elided, while a 2005 Postscript begs for comparisons with Iraq but proves somewhat disappointing.

Nonetheless, the length and breadth of resistance is meticulously set forth, along with some surprising results -- enlistees were more likely to resist than draftees; the least educated were more likely to physically resist than the more educated. But most importantly, the research shows a rapidly disintegrating fighting force that belies apologist claims that the war was lost because it was fought "with one arm tied behind us". No, the war was lost because it was one that should never have been fought in the first place, as increasing numbers of those participating came to realize, (not to discount the astonishing will of the Vietnamese people to resist Western neo-colonialism) . All in all, this is an excellent resource for those wondering what actually went on inside the processing centers, the training bases, and the killing fields during a tumultuous period that in so many ways is still with us.

True story told truly. It might sound grand, but this is indeed a lesson on life and attracts respect, for the courage then and now to tell the story so humbly.

Historically it is not insignificant at all either, as so little has been written on that period and that aspect of the conflict, and even less with seriousness.

First off, I'm biased. Col. Bailey is my grandfather. Secondly, I never asked why we call him Boompaw. I suppose it may be the last thing he heard standing in the doorway of Rose Bowl, ready to bail...Boom. Grandpaw went BOOM.

Thirdly, this is a fantastic account of another time, another place and another generation. If you feel you know all about Southeast Asia and that painful time in world history, you will find an entirely different perspective in Solitary Survivor.

I often wonder when reading autobiographies, especially assisted ones, if I am hearing the author or flowered up prose from his professional co-author. When you read this, know that you are hearing the author's words, in his words. The first time I read it I don't know if I cried more because of what the author went through or because I was hearing my grandfathers voice telling the story. His story.

The honest reason it gets five stars? They don't offer six.

As the son of Ralph Magee, the pilot for the mission I am grateful for the insights as to what happened to my father. Finding useful information on that incident and the politics surrounding that time is extremely difficult to do.

Lastly, I hope that Mr. Bailey realizes that he is a hero, and he can find peace knowing that my father (and his family) would have wanted him to be happy.

Jeffery (Magee) Woods

This book was written by my Dad. It accurately describes how I believe Dad would react to the circumstances in which he found himself. He spends a good amount of time on the historical aspects of America's early involvement in Southeast Asia, specifically Laos. I believe the warning signs of "things to come" were readily apparent to anyone not embroiled in politics. My Dad's selfless commitment to his country and his courage under harsh conditions continue to raise the question in my mind, "Where will we find men like this should our country need them again?"

Solitary Survivor is a fascinating book detailing one of the first American soldiers taken captive during the initial stages of the Vietnam war. Colonel Bailey's story is revealing in many ways as he is the only survivor of a C-47 code named Rose Bowl that crashed in Laos with seven others on board in 1961. There is some speculation that one other on board survived but Bailey explains what he knows concerning Edgar Weitkamp and gives the reader the information and allows us to form our own opinions. He is unique in that he is only one of several men to return from captivity in Laos and details the dehumanizing treatment he received at the hands of his captors. In spite of or more because of his confinement and the total darkness he was kept in for most of the 18 months he was held in captivity, Colonel Bailey made a trek back to Sam Neua, Laos, to revisit, after 30 years the place that started the nightmares that are with him today. His return visit is very unique as Sam Neua is still considered Indian country and it has also been the focal point of many POW sightings over the years. Sam Neua is considered to be the place where many American POWs where held captive but were never returned at the conclusion of the Vietnam war. As a former 1st Cavalry soldier, I salute you Colonel Bailey and thank you for writing such an informitive book. Finally, I want to thank you for answering our country's call in three wars!

It had Chinese poem in Chinese as well. It is beautiful illustrated book and fantastic book to teach children about China.

Mu Lan, will intrigue boys and girls alike. Her mission to provide safety and refuge for others, does not come without a price. She faces alot of misundersood culture barriers-what one expects from a daughter or a son! This book has some thing for everyone, with a powerful message to all, about what the human spirit can accomplish. Disney is making this story into a movie in June of this year! It's message will effect all!

The illustrations are beautiful! This is an authentic presentation of the ancient folk ballad of Mu Lan. The translation adheres closely to the original Chinese text. This is simultaneously the great merit and the great fault of this translation, since the original text is allusive and elliptical in its phrasing. For example, the ancient text appears to have several speakers, but it is not always clear who is speaking at any moment. Because of this, the English translation is at times unclear. The imagery of Jeanne Lim's lean interpretation of this poem is nevertheless powerful and rich, comparable to Han Frankel's translation of this poem, and quite a relief from the excesses of Arthur Waley. I recommend it highly.

In the US, most people came to the legend of Mu Lan via or following the Disney version, which was, for a change, amazingly close to the source material. In China, this story is as well known as George Washington and his cherry tree is in America. I was quite taken with the Disney movie, and went looking for books of the story. Many books later, in both English and Chinese, I have come to regard this version as the best of all. The translation is excellent, the drawings nothing short of captivating. My children, now four to fourteen, all enjoy hearing me read this book aloud, and I have not grown tired of reading it. There are many small true things in this book which may not be readily striking to the casual Western reader, but to those who have studied or lived in China, the story makes a great deal of sense, both in the details and in the broad message of the story.. I can't heap enough praise on this book. It is perfect in every way, all the details are just right.

The story of Mu Lan is the chinese woman warrier fairy tale that describes a young girl that is capable and courageous. Her father has no elder son, so she disguises herself as a boy and joins up when they call her father's name. The original fairy tale poem is reproduced in poetry, both in chinese and english. The calligraphy is artfully done and the story rings genuine. The words are faithfully reproduced to convey the original meaning. It is a book you can display on your coffee table or read over and over to your children. The beautiful illustrations are done in watercolor on silk and are lush and expressive. Because of her service to the emperor, she is rewarded. But she only asked to go home after 10 years of valor. They welcome her like a lost child and hold a feast in her honor where she surprises family and comrades alike with her real identity. This is a wonderful book to teach girls that they can be anything they want and not lose their identity. And it is humerous when she reveals herself. The chinese proverb at the end states that when two rabbits run together, no one can tell which is male or female. The original text was written in AD 420-589, and it can be considered one of the first statements of female independence in a society that is proud of sons over daughters. I know it gave me and my daughters pride to be Chinese women and the sense that we can be both beautiful and strong. The book is a good teaching tool but it can also be enjoyed purely for the artwork and calligraphy. I would recommend this book highly to all girls everywhere and the action and surprise will surely delight young boys as well. It is no wonder that Disney chose this book.