Asia Books

After reading this book, my dives at the Liberty, the Tulamben drop off and Batu Kelebit seemed like visits with old friends.

As a terrific bonus, you can even dive these sites with Wally Siagian (+62 363 41869, persistantly) as I did.

Mao died and the political line changed. Lei distinguished herself as a student and teacher. She came to the United States for further study. She hoped that the United States was different. But what she experienced was a similar form of persecution from the liberal academic establishment.

Mostly this book is about courage. Lei has the courage to believe in reasonable, scientifically supported facts that contradict politically correct ones. She has the courage to express those ideas in hostile circumstances where a price is paid. And she has the courage to endure, believing in the value of even a lone voice of sanity.

I'm a retired teacher. I can attest to Lei's characterization of the educational establishment. But the book goes far beyond that, encompassing the heart of what promotes life and what corrupts it. "Dog's Daughter" is one of the most significant books I've read.

I can highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a good read and wants to learn about China at the same time.

My criticism? Too many poets are represented by only one or two poems.

The poems themselves are beautiful, simple yet complex, elegant. The words just seem to flow from the pages. A delightful reading experience.

"as I wonder aimlessly under a frozen moon a flute poors its beauty from a nearby tower. then morning breezes begin to rise and gust - the river already a carpet of scattered white blossoms." --Kuan Hsiu

JAN ("TURTLE") WENDLING "A"CO.3RD TANK BN.3RD MARINE DIV.1ST PLATOON

THE EASTER OFFENSIVE is another chapter of the Vietnam War unknown to the average Americans. It is an invaluable collection to the military buffs as well as those with a passing interest in the war. The focus of the book is on the crack South Vietnamese outfit, the Marine Division, and its American advisers bearing the brunt of resistance against the largest North Vietnamese offensive mounted in the history of the war. A preface by a highly-decorated Marine hero-turned novelist, James Webb, sets the frame for this unforgettable tale of gallantry and sacrifrice.

A group of gung-ho US Marine advisers are trapped in the North Vietnamese Division in stopping the onslaught of the heavily armed North Vietnamese mechanized columns in Quang Nam Province. The South Vietnamese Marines are to defend the province at all costs. The incompetent South Vietnamese corps commander in charge of the area has cracked under pressure. Their brethren division in defense of the province is routed with one of its regiments surrendering to the enemy. The Marine numbers are fast dwindling, and it is up to the South Vietnamese Marine commanders and their advisers to whip their bruised outfit to a fighting shape.

The South Vietnamese Marines take heavy casualties in the initial phase of the enemy offensive. The Marines try to take out the Communist tanks with 72mm anti-tank rockets, but to no avail. The Marine battalions fall back from their position, with some of its men stranded. The Marine morale is beginning to crack. However, the US Marine advisers and their South Vietnamese counterparts would slowly gain momentum through sheer courage and gung-ho initiative. No Marine battalions surrender to the enemy, despite the cowardice exhibited by its brethren division.

The book flows smoothly in a gripping narrative. While the book focuses on a South Vietnamese fighting unit, the author, then Deputy Senior Marine adiviser to the South Vietnamese Marine Corps, also tries to give a macro view of the war by describing the background to offensive, and the fighting capability of the South Vietnamese generals.

Also worth noting are the heroic exploits of the two American Marine captains, Ripley and Smith, who brought their South Vietnamese Marines to the safety while exposing themselves repeatedly to the enemy fire in rallying the Marine defense. Their tales of courage, the paragon of what an inspirational military leadership ought to be, are not easily forgotten and inspire the best of the fighting men.

The book, while filled with military lessons to be learned and fascinating exploits, does more than what is asked of it through its gripping narratives. It paints the acts of courage by America's often misunderstood ally, the South Vietnamese, with noble dignity. Through the gallant acts of its elite Marines, the book shows that they were willing to fight provided they had the spirit and proper leadership. The American Marine advisers and their own gung-ho Marine commanders provided them both during the Offensive. In the final outcome, they ran short of both in a wrong war whose cause they could neither articulate nor justify. But military men merely fight to live another day in a war started by their own politicians. This book gives the South Vietnamese Marines that very credit they deserve for doing their best despite the insurmountable odds.