Abbott, James Frank, 142
Abrams, Creighton
background, 210
Ewell and, 93
on military strength, 127
on Saigon, 178–179
task of “losing war” and, 210
Acheson, Dean, 106
Advanced Individual Training/Chuck Hagel
leave/return to Nebraska and family, 50
Officer Candidate School offer and, 49
Redeye antiaircraft missile training, 49–50
training description, 47–49
Afghanistan/fighting, xii, 265–268
Agent Orange, 157
Agnew, Spiro, 206
American Civil Liberties Union, 261
American Independent Party, 137, 141
American Spirit Honor Medal, 47
Amin, Mohammed, 267
Amnesty International, 261
Andrews Air Force Base
description, 17–18
anti-war movement, 52
anti-war movement/Vietnam
Chicago riots (1968) and, 204, 205–206
college students losing interest in, 254
draft and, 52–53
march on the Pentagon (1967), 52
media and, 85–87
military claims on enemy casualties and, 177
rallies/sayings, 52
US people/statistics (1967), 10–11, 145
See also specific individuals
APC (armored personnel carrier)
advantages/disadvantages, 70–72
movements, 161
tanks vs., 71
Apollo 11 astronauts, 248
Apple, R.W., Jr. (“Johnny”), 10, 65
Arapaho, 13
Armstrong, Louis, 138
ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam)
Nixon/Vietnamization and, 254, 255
role of, 7
Tet Offensive and, 86
Asterisk, 142
aftermath, 124–125
Claymore explosion/casualties, 120, 121–123
getting to water/using trail, 119–120
helicopter lifts and, 123–124, 129
“measure of success,” 130
night lift/“walking wounded,” 129
US shooting back, 120–121
attack (March 28, 1968) and Hagel brothers
going back/reasons, 122–124
leading others out/trip wire, 125–126, 128–129
medical treatment/rest, 130–131, 134–135
awards system
overview/problems, 200–201
See also specific awards; specific individuals
Bacon, Edward E. (“Gene”), 127–128
Ball, George, 106
Barnes, Brice H.
medal/recognition, 81–82
Barsanti, Olinto, 104
Bartek, Ronald, 104
basic training
centers for, 40
cleaning/repairs and, 41
evaluations summary, 43
marching/equipment carried, 44–45
marine-style Basic Combat Training overview, 39–40, 43
numbers of privates, 40
overview, 39–40
Tom Hagel/MOS, 50
See also Fort Bliss, Texas
basic training/Chuck Hagel
awards/recognition, 47
description/traits, 37, 40, 42, 43–44
drill sergeants and, 38
as leader, 37, 40–41, 42, 43–44, 45
MOS/Advanced Individual Training, 47
on other recruits, 43
as soldier/skills, 41, 42, 43–44, 45, 46, 47
travels to Fort Bliss, Texas, 37, 38
See also Advanced Individual Training/Chuck Hagel; Fort Bliss, Texas
Beam, James W., 209
Berens, Carlyne, 31
Bergeron, Robert J., 221
“best and the brightest,” 10, 57, 106
Binh Phuoc description/defense, 236–237, 238–239
Binh Son rubber plantation, French Michelin Company, 119
Bivens, Eddie, 221
Black Lives Matter movement, 296n36
Black Panthers
Chicago (1968) and, 205
disbanding in North Omaha, 262
FBI and, 250–251, 252–253, 259
Omaha, Nebraska, and, 139–140, 250–253, 259–261, 262
See also specific individuals
Bolden, Eddie, 252
“boonies,” 229
Bradley, Omar, 106
Brown, James, 150
Buffalo Chip, 142
Bush, George W., 55
Butler, William
rank, 127
Tet Offensive/effects, 78–79, 118
VC tunnel network and, 118
Caine Mutiny, The (Wouk), 43
Caldwell, Larry G., 168
Casey, George, 104
“checkerboard” operation, 211, 212
Cheney, Dick, 55
Chicago (Democratic National Convention, 1968) riot
Daley and, 205–206
Vietnam and, 204, 205, 207, 210
civil rights
1960s and, 138–141
blacks in Omaha, Nebraska, and, 137–138
See also specific individuals
Civil Rights Act (1964), 144
Civil War (US)
paying a substitute, 55
World War II comparisons, 22, 23
See also specific individuals
Clayton, George M., Jr., 221
Clinton, Bill, 55
Cody, Buffalo Bill, 30–31
COINTELPRO (Counterintelligence Program) tactics, FBI, 251, 259–260, 261–262
Cold War
descriptions, 24
FBI and, 250–251
“Looking Glass” and, 19
SAC headquarters and, 17, 18–20
Soviet foreign/military intelligence (KGB/GRU), and, 17, 20, 140, 250–251, 274n17
See also Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska; specific countries/individuals
Corrilla, John, 78–79
Craig, James B.
Company B appointment/description, 164, 228
injury, 175
Mini-Tet and, 166, 169, 173, 174, 175
Cronin, William B., 200
Cronkite, Walter, 86
Custer, George A., 15
Czajak, Daniel J., 221
Dakota, 13
Daley, Richard J., 205–206
Darnell, George W., 168
Davison, Frederic E., 151
DDT use, 178
Dean, Arthur, 106
DePuy, Bill, 104
Dillon, Douglas, 106
DISCOM and 2-47th, 212
Distinguished Service Cross, 81, 93
draft. See military conscription
drill sergeants
Fort Ord, 48
in movies, 36–37
recruits and, 36–37
See also specific individuals
Duerson, Dave, 163
Dunn, Elizabeth (“Betty”), 31
See also Hagel, Elizabeth (“Betty”)
Duvall, Jerry, 60–61
Echoes of War (documentary film), 263–264
Eisenhower, Dwight D., 137
Emerson, Henry E. (“Gunfighter”)
death, 199
description, 228
Ewell and, 189
jitterbugging and, 189, 199, 304n26
Enquist, Arthur John, 183
Ewell, George W., 90
Ewell, Julian J.
background/ancestors and, 89–90
description/traits, 89, 91, 93
education, 90
medals/recognition, 93
military background, 90–93
parachutes/paratroopers, 90–92
Ewell, Julian J./Vietnam
beer and, 232
changes made (overview), 102–104, 129
comparison to other military leaders, 104–105
critics of, 104
on guerrilla foe, 98
jitterbugging and, 190, 197, 211, 212
kill ratio and, 103–104, 177, 179, 183
mechanized units and, 97, 155, 211
Mini-Tet and, 165, 169, 170, 172, 177
new tactics (1968) and troop views, 211, 212
night flights and, 189
“night hunter” and, 211, 212, 213
numbers of men/tasks and, 101–103
personality/applying pressure, 97, 102, 104, 117, 125, 155, 164, 176, 177, 181, 183, 185, 197, 211–212, 222, 223, 225, 228, 232, 239
posting/9th Infantry Division and, 94
report demands and, 103
reputation/killing VC, 88, 89, 103, 104, 107, 118, 164, 181, 185, 197, 211–212, 240, 241, 242
riverine units and, 97, 103, 155
situation on arrival (1968), 94–98
World War II methods and, 104
Ewell, Jamie Offutt, 90
Ewell, Richard Stoddert, 89–90
Falana, Lola, 150
Fall, Bernard, 237
Fallaci, Oriana, 9
FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
Black Panthers and, 250–251, 252–253, 259
COINTELPRO (Counterintelligence Program), 251, 259–260, 261–262
King and, 147
Omaha, Nebraska, and, 140, 143, 250–251
Omaha, Nebraska, bombing (August 1970) and, 259–260, 261–262
See also specific individuals
“flyover country,” 14
Forrest Gump (film), 69–70, 283n23, 304n25
Fort Benning, Georgia, 67, 90, 91, 113, 115, 128, 188, 192, 252
bivouac week/training, 45–46
description, 40
drill sergeants and, 38–39, 40, 41, 42, 50
evaluations summary, 43
fire watch, 42
individual proficiency test, 46
individual skills/evaluation, 43–45
night infiltration course, 46
physical fitness test, 45
recruits work and, 41–42
rifle marksmanship, 45
role/MOS, 46–47
Tom Hagel and, 50
Fort Dix, New Jersey, 50–51, 60–61
Fort Ord, California, 47–49
Fortas, Abe, 106
France and Vietnam, 11, 119, 157, 166, 216
“Freedom Bird,” 244
Freedom of Information Act, 261–262
French Revolution, 53
From Here to Eternity (Jones), 132
Fromson, Martin, 10
Furguson, Ernest B., 5–6
Garcia, Martin M.
Hagel brothers and, 111, 191, 207, 209
on staying busy, 239
Get Smart (television), 230–231, 311n17
Giap, Vo Nguyen
views on US peace movement, 64
on war deaths, 62–63
war strategy, 9
Gise, Donald R., 221
Gitlin, Todd, 54
Goldberg, Arthur, 106
Grant Park, 204
Gross, John E., 75
Hagel, Bertha, 26
Hagel brothers/after Vietnam
fistfight, 253–254
renting place together, 253
return to Vietnam (1999), 263–264
Vietnam war views, 253–254
Hagel, Charles Dean
American Legion/war remembrances, 25–26, 257
childhood, 26
death, 33
description/traits, 32
marriage/children and, 31–33
relationship with father, 32, 33
role in World War II, 27, 29–30, 31, 71, 98, 176
sons remembering him, 34
World War II and, 25, 26–30, 31, 67, 71, 98, 136, 176
Hagel, Charles Leo
brothers/parents and, 26
World War I and, 26
Hagel, Chuck/after Vietnam
Afghanistan trip (2013), 265–268
dealing with Vietnam and, 257
Jimmy’s death and, 256–257
as US Secretary of Defense, 265–268, 297n48
See also Hagel brothers/after Vietnam; Vietnam/Chuck Hagel
Hagel, Chuck/childhood
birth/full name, 31
education, 34
newspaper delivery and, 31
relationship with brothers, 33
as “Tim,” 31–32
Hagel, Elizabeth (“Betty”)
children’s births, 31
Chuck/Tom discussing Vietnam and, 254
description/traits, 33
following husband’s death/as mother, 33–34
Jimmy’s death and, 256–257
remarriage, 254
sons volunteering/serving and, 51, 111–112, 130, 203
vacation in Hawaii with family, 208–209
views on war/those avoiding war, 209
wedding/background, 31
Hagel, Herman Christian, 26, 83
Hagel, James
birth, 31
childhood, 33–34
death/effects, 256–257
high school, 256
at home/brothers in Vietnam, 110, 111
vacation in Hawaii with family, 208–209
volunteering for service/medical and, 203
Hagel, Michael
birth, 31
childhood, 33–34
at home/brothers in Vietnam, 110, 111
vacation in Hawaii with family, 208–209
Hagel, Tom/after Vietnam
dealing with Vietnam and, 257, 258
law school/as public defender, 258, 263
See also Hagel brothers/after Vietnam; Vietnam/Tom Hagel
Hagel, Tom/childhood
birth/full name, 31
personality/traits, 33, 34, 35
relationship with father, 33
Haig, Douglas, 89
Harriman, Averell
peace talks and, 146
Hasselbach, Alma, 34
Head Start beginnings, 144
Heatherton, Joey, 150
helicopters/Vietnam
advantages/disadvantages, 70, 71, 100, 102, 186, 187–188
crashes/US casualties and, 187–189
maintenance/schedule, 102–103
types/descriptions, 187
Van Deusen and, 186
See also jitterbugging
Hell in a Very Small Place (Fall), 237
Hendrix, James Marshall “Jimi,” 150, 297n42
Hitler, 86
Ho Chi Minh, 61
Ho Chi Minh Trail and NVA, 9
Hodges, John, 221
Homestead Act (US/1862), 14–15
Hoover, J. Edgar, 140, 250–251
Hope, Bob, 188
Humphrey, Hubert
description, 204–205
presidential run (1968), 204–205, 222
“humping,” 228–229
Jersey, William C., 140
Jim Crow, 138
jitterbugging
Chuck Hagel on, 190
continuing/casualties (summary), 199
description, 189–190
helicopters damaged/destroyed, 199
jitterbugging operation (July 1968)
aftermath, 197–199
casualties, 193, 194, 197, 198, 201, 202
fighting description, 192–197
inflating enemy casualties, 197
soldier numbers carried and, 191
staff officers after/souvenirs and, 197–198, 201
VC/helicopter shoot-down, 196–197
jitterbugging operation (July 1968) and Tom Hagel
aftermath, 198–199
fighting/injury and, 192, 193–194, 196, 197
Purple Heart and, 199
shooting VC, 197
Johnson, Howard (“Skeets”), 91, 92
Johnson, Jerome (“Skip”)
description/traits, 152, 175, 228
Mini-Tet and, 175–176
Obama and, 297n48
Vietnam/race and, 151–152
Johnson, Lyndon B.
anti-poverty legislation/results, 252
Chinese-intervention and, 6
civil rights and, 137, 143–144
COINTELPRO and, 251
global conflicts (1968) and, 105
Kerner Commission, 143–144
National Guard and, 55, 105, 127
political rivals/decision on 1968 presidential race, 145–147
public views on, 145–146
Tet Offensive and, 144
Vietnam counsel/advice and, 106–107, 146
Vietnam peace speech, 146–147, 153
Vietnam War and, 6, 7–8, 10, 51, 105, 143, 144, 145–147, 153
Westmoreland and, 6, 7–8, 105–107, 146
Jones, James, 132–133
Joyce, William
background, 38–39
Chuck Hagel and, 43–44, 47, 50, 72, 163, 268
as drill sergeant, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43–44, 50, 72
on staying busy, 239
Julius Caesar, 94
Keane, Jack, 69
Keats, Robert G.
description, 228
Kennedy, John F., 93, 145, 180
Kennedy, Robert F.
presidential run, 145
views, 148
Kerner Commission
findings, 143–144
purpose/representation, 143
Kerry, John, 56
King, Ernest J., 94
King, Martin Luther, Jr.
assassination/effects, 147, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 155, 248, 293n1
civil rights and, 139
FBI/KGB and, 147
King, Rodney, 296n36
Kinnard, Harry W. O., 93
Kipling, Rudyard, 119
Korean War
description, 67
as limited war, 67
results/effects, 10
US “regiments” and, 96
US weaponry and, 99
Kudzu operation, 212
La Chapelle, Gary G., 221
land mine explosion (April 22, 1968)
explosion/aftermath, 161–163
report from village chief, 155
return to base, 160–161
searching village/houses, 159–160
travels to village/plan, 156–158
village/location, 155
land mine explosion (April 22, 1968) and Hagel Brothers
explosion/injuries and, 161–163, 184
medevac chopper and, 163
recovering, 163–164
trip/search and, 158–161
LeMay, Curtis
Andrews Air Force Base and, 17–18
background, 21
description/traits, 17, 20, 24, 106, 222, 239
SAC/Offutt Air Force Base and, 17, 18–19, 31, 137
Wallace’s presidential campaign and, 136, 222
World War II and, 21–22, 23–24, 25, 30, 98
Lincoln, Abraham, 88
Little Big Horn River battle, 15
Little, Malcolm (Malcolm X), 139
Lodge, Henry Cabot, Jr., 106
Logan Fontenelle public housing complex, Omaha, Nebraska, 249
Long An Province operation/deaths, 181–182
Long Binh base
Tet Offensive and, 60–61, 63, 65–66, 74–76, 77–82
as VC target, 66
See also specific individuals
Louis, Joe, 163
Ludendorff, Erich, 63–64, 285–286n1
M*A*S*H (film/television), 77
McCarthy, Eugene, 145
McKenzie, Scott, 47
McNair, Leslie J., 68
McNamara, Robert
Johnson and, 10
Vietnam War and, 68, 105–106, 149
MACV. See Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV)
Malcolm X (Malcolm Little), 139
map reading skill, 115
Marine Corps methods, Paris Island, South Carolina, 39
Marshall, George C., 24–25
Matchee, Donald, 78–79
Medicaid beginnings, 144
Medicare beginnings, 144
Mekong Delta
importance in Vietnam War, 94, 95
rice and, 94
Michaelis, John (“Mike”), 93
Middle East conflict (1968), 105
Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV)
description, 5
See also Vietnam War; specific events; specific individuals
military conscription
French Revolution and, 53
Soviet Union (World War II), 53
military conscription/US
Civil War/paying a substitute, 55
history overview, 53–54
voluntary history vs., 53
military conscription/US Vietnam War
arbitrariness of, 53–54
avoiding, 54–56
draft/draftees, 52–53
ending draft, 255
other armed services and, 55–56, 280n39
resistance/jail and, 54
Selective Service categories, 54
statistics on, 53–54
student deferment, 55
military serving in Vietnam
age and, 57
economic class and, 57–58
education and, 58
overview, 56–57
senior people and, 56–57
shortages, 83, 126–127, 288n31, 292n33
statistics on, 57–58
See also military conscription/US Vietnam War
military/war
administrative problems and, 108–109, 110
attrition strategy and, 51
“butchers” overview, 88–89
combat rifleman phases, 224–226
getting hit by the enemy/meaning, 132–133
individual vs. unit replacement, 66–69
“limited war,” 67
picking leaders and, 37–38, 50
“regiment” changes, 96
soldiers returning after injuries, 133–134
staying busy and, 239
terminology/acronyms, 227–232
US weapons/enemy kills ratio over time, 99
See also anti-war movement; specific events; specific individuals
Minard, Larry D., 259
Mini-Tet
air power and, 170, 172–173, 301n48
ARVN and, 165
civilians moving out/deaths, 166, 167, 173, 178
comparison to Tet Offensive, 165
enemy casualties claims, 177–178
fighting descriptions, 168–176
Hagel brothers and, 164, 167, 170, 174
helicopter observation and, 169, 170
location/Saigon and, 165
miscommunication/results, 171
South Vietnam police and, 168, 174
US casualties, 168, 170, 171, 172, 173, 175, 176–177, 179
US fighters involved/plan, 164–165
VC after, 181
VC/NVA fighters involved, 165
See also Rice, David
moon/walking on moon, 248
Morrison, Frank
as governor, 139
Hagel brothers and, 259
“Omaha Two” and, 261
Murphy, Robert, 106
Nakota, 13
napalm use, 172, 178, 190, 232, 243
National Advisory Commission on Civil Disobedience. See Kerner Commission
National Guard
Omaha, Nebraska and, 139, 142, 147, 249
training/obligations, 55
Vietnam War and, 55
Nebraska, xiii (map)
before Civil War, 14
European settlers and, 14–17
following Civil War, 14–15
Great Plains Indians history overview, 13–17
Indian reservations, 273n9
See also specific individuals; specific locations
Newsweek, 35
Newton, Wayne, 150
“night hunter” operation
description, 215–216
October 1968 operation/casualties, 220–221
October (1968), 222
soldiers for, 213–214
“night hunter” tactic/Chuck Hagel leading
description/VC and, 215–220
equipment/preparation, 214–215
radio/messages, 217
selecting men, 214
9th Infantry Division
Area of Operations (1968), xv (map), 103
avoiding atrocities, 242
casualties summary (2-47th), 200
components, 96
“Old Reliables” nickname, 66, 283n23
patch, 82–83
as regional division, 96
See also specific individuals
Nixon, Richard M.
background, 206
COINTELPRO and, 251
election (1972) and, 256
presidential run, 145, 206, 222–223, 251
“Tricky Dick”/“new Nixon,” 206
North Koreans
conflict/violence (1968), 105
See also Korean War
North Vietnam Army (NVA)
ending war, 263
Obama, Barack, 297n48
Officer Candidate School
Chuck Hagel and, 49
Tom Hagel and, 50
Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska
atomic bombers, 18–19
Nebraskans and, 19–20
Offutt, Jarvis J., 90
Omaha, Nebraska
National Guard and, 139, 142, 147, 249
race riot (1966), 139
race riot before 1960s, 138
racial tension/conflict, 134–135, 137–139, 140–141, 147–148, 247–250, 259–262
riot/looting with Wallace visit, 134–135, 137, 141–143, 248, 250–251, 252
See also Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska, bombing (August 1970) and aftermath
Black Panthers and, 259–261
description/casualties, 259
FBI/COINTELPRO and, 259–260, 261–262
trial/verdict of “Omaha Two,” 260–261
white males leaving scene and, 260
Omaha, Nebraska, riot (1969)
Black Panthers and, 250–253
casualties/damage, 249
causes/underlying conditions, 249
Chuck Hagel on, 248
description, 247–250
“outside agitators” and, 250
Omaha Star, 251–252
Omaha World-Herald, 31
Palumbo, Antony P., 176
Patton, George S., 69, 190, 210
Patton, George S., III, 100, 285n41
Patyani, Aminullah, 267
Pawnee, 13
Peace, Charles N., 221
peace talks, Paris (1968), 153, 154
Penner, Brad, 263
Pentagon, march on the Pentagon (1967), 52
Philippine Insurrection, 24–25
Plains Indians
defeat reasons, 16–17
description/groups, 13
European settlers and, 15–17
history overview, 13–17
reservations/culture and, 15, 16–17
Platte River
description, 14
railroads and, 15
Poindexter, Edward
Black Panthers and, 252
Omaha bombing (1970) and, 260–261
prison and, 261
post-traumatic stress/PTSD, 257
Powell, Colin
individual vs. unit replacement and, 69
presidential campaign (1968)
Johnson and, 204–205
See also Chicago (Democratic National Convention, 1968) riot; specific individuals
Project 100,000, 149
Pugh, Lawrence E., 127
Purple Hearts, 93, 132, 163, 184, 191, 199, 200–201, 203, 221, 232, 235, 246
PX descriptions, 232
Quayle, Dan, 55
racial tension/conflict
blacks shot by white police (in 2000s), 296n36
King’s assassination and, 147–148, 152
Omaha, Nebraska, and, 134–135, 137–139, 140–141, 147–148, 247–250
Rodney King and, 296n36
urban riots, 134–135, 139, 141–143, 147–148, 152
Vietnam War/US and, 148–152, 297n41
See also civil rights
railroads history, 15
Ray, James Earl, 147
Redding, Otis, 226
Redeye antiaircraft missile training, 49–50
“REMFs,” 228
Rice, David (Mondo we Langa)
Black Panthers and, 252
Omaha bombing (1970) and, 260–261
prison/death, 261
rice growing importance, Vietnam, 94
Ridgway, Matthew, 106
riots
Omaha (1966), 139
Omaha before 1960s, 138
urban riots, 134–135, 139, 141–143, 147–148, 152
Wallace visiting Omaha (1968), 134–135, 137, 141–143, 248, 250–251, 252
See also Chicago (Democratic National Convention, 1968) riot; Omaha, Nebraska, riot (1969); racial tension/conflict
Robinson, Jackie, 138
Rogers, Philip (“Doc”)
attack (March 28, 1968) and, 121–122, 123–124
death, 185
Roth, Eric, 69–70
rubber plantation, French Michelin Company, 119
Saigon
saving from violence and, 170, 174
See also Mini-Tet
Saigon battle (starting May 1968). See Mini-Tet
“San Francisco” (song), 47
Schall, Charles N., 221
Schwarzkopf, Norman
individual vs. unit replacement and, 69
Vietnam and, 69
Scovel, James L., 200, 211, 212, 222
“search and destroy”/“search and clear” strategy, 98
Seau, Junior, 163
Selective Service. See military conscription/US
sergeants
Company B and, 127
shortages in Vietnam, 126–127
training time, 127
Shepoka, Richard, 256
Sherman tank, 26
Sioux, 13–14
Smith, Rudy, 252
Smith, William E.
death, 182
land mine explosion (April 22, 1968) and, 158, 161, 162–163, 164
Mini-Tet and, 167
Sole Survivor Policy (Sullivan Rule), 108
Sorenson, Axel (“Al”), 139, 141
Sorley, Lewis S., 5–6
South Vietnam, xiv (map)
Central Highlands summary, 95
Mekong Delta summary, 95
northern area summary, 94–95
Saigon summary, 95
zones/ARVN overview, 94–95
South Vietnam people
clothing/VC clothing, 158
selling to US military, 231
US racism and, 230–232
US terminology/language and, 230–231
VC/communist opposition and, 231
South Vietnamese army. See ARVN
Southeast Asia (1968), xiv (map)
Soviet Union
Czechoslovakia and, 105
foreign/military intelligence (KGB/GRU) and, 17, 20, 140, 250–251, 274n17
See also Cold War
Stars and Stripes, 134–135, 207
Stepp, John P., 221
Stevenson, Howard L. (“Butch”), 134, 142
Streuding, Philip, 168
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), 140
Sullivan brothers, 108, 290n50
Sullivan Rule (Sole Survivor Policy), 108
Summers, John T., III
death, 120, 121, 122, 124, 130, 133, 134
funeral, 151
Swierczek, Joe, 37
Taylor, Maxwell
Johnson and, 106
Tet Offensive
aftermath, 107
American public and, 85–87
beginnings, 61
casualties/statistics, 86
Cobra gunships, 81
communists hopes for, 63
description/targets, 60–63, 64–65, 84–85
house clearing, 77
Long Binh base/Chuck Hagel and, 60–61, 63, 65–66, 74–76, 77–82
reasons for, 62
Saigon and, 65
VC/NVA response to failure, 152–153
Widows Village fighting/Chuck Hagel and, 77–82, 100–101
They Were Expendable (film), 27
Thin Red Line, The (Jones), 132
Time, 35
Time for Burning, A (documentary), 140–141
Tower, John B.
Chuck Hagel on, 130
landmine explosion (April 22, 1968) and, 155
Mini-Tet and, 164, 169, 170, 171, 172
position, 181
Tet Offensive and, 74–75, 77, 79, 81
toxic chemicals use, 157
See also specific chemicals
Tran Do, 64
traumatic brain injuries, 163
Truman, Harry S., 137
Trump, Donald, 55
Tucker, Reuben, 93
USS Juneau, 108
USS Pueblo, 105
USS The Sullivans, 108, 290n50
Van Deusen, Frederick French “Fritz”
background, 185–186
death effects, 199
helicopters/jitterbugging and, 189, 190
jitterbugging operation/death, 190, 195, 197
Vietnam posting (June 1968), 185
Westmoreland relationship, 186
Vance, Cyrus, 106
VC (Viet Cong)
American troops names for, 74, 229
attacks and, 8–9
“Charlie worship,” 229
description/traits, 229–230
strategies, 8–9, 99–100, 117, 225
as targets, 8–9
Tom Hagel on, 229
tunnels/Bear Cat, 117–118
See also specific operations
Veterans Administration, 246
Vietnam
jungle description, 1–2, 3–4, 72, 99, 114, 115–117, 229
weather/climate, 40, 101, 114, 154, 155, 157, 181, 182, 233, 298n2
Vietnam/Chuck Hagel
9th Infantry Division/patch, 83
background summary/arrival in Vietnam, 66–67
bet on 1968 presidential election, 207
Camp Martin Cox, Bear Cat, 66, 107
comparisons with father/World War II, 71
descriptions, 128–129
individual replacement and, 66–67, 68, 102
on intelligence sharing, 118–119
King’s assassination and, 149, 151
last month of service, 223
on Project 100,000, 149
Reliable NCO Academy course and, 191
replacing Smith and, 182–183
roadrunner operation/VC and, 69, 72–74
on VC, 174
views on war/fighting, 3, 203, 226
volunteering/expectations and, 34–35
on weapons/APC, 71
See also Vietnam/Hagel brothers; specific operations/events
Vietnam/Hagel brothers
9th Infantry Division/patch and, 82–83
attempting to serve together, 108–109
becoming sergeants, 209–210
correspondence/phone calls between, 83–84
correspondence/phone calls home, 131–132, 184, 303n14
planned departures, 223
Purple Hearts, 132, 163, 184, 191, 199, 200, 203, 221, 232, 235, 246
questions about serving together and, 3, 108
reunion/serving together, 109–111
sleep and, 114
vacation in Hawaii with family, 208–209
volunteering for, 50–51
walking point, 1–3, 113–117, 119
See also Vietnam/Chuck Hagel; Vietnam/Tom Hagel; specific operations/events
Vietnam/Tom Hagel
on Agent Orange effects, 157
arrival in Vietnam/9th Infantry Division, 83
Camp Martin Cox, Bear Cat, 82
individual replacement and, 67, 68
killing foe one on one/effects, 197, 201, 202–203
as leader, 3
Reliable NCO Academy course and, 191
Silver Star and, 200
Sullivan Rule and, 108
unit nomenclature, 83
views on war, 2, 191–192, 203, 226
volunteering/expectations and, 34–35
See also Vietnam/Hagel brothers; specific operations/events
Vietnam/Tom Hagel last days
building his own bunker/shell fragments and, 238–239
leaving/process, 245–246
nights/remembering violence and, 235–239, 240–241, 242–244
PX description, 232
trip for supplies, 232–235
Vietnam veterans and American society, 258
Vietnam War/US
9th Infantry Division Area of Operations (1968), xv (map)
alcohol/marijuana and, 214, 232
brothers serving together, 111
continuing Vietnam War mistakes, xii, 268
“enemy” behavior and, 241–242
enemy casualties claims/counting and, 177–178, 185, 197, 199, 211, 241, 297–298n50, 302n63
generals views of intensity, 225
inbound/outbound soldiers meeting, 244–245
individual replacement system/problems and, 67–69, 101, 126
infantry branch color, 302–303n7
King’s assassination and, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 155
legacy, xi–xii
losing war and, 210–211
“maneuver and fire” tactic, 99–100
news effects on soldiers (summary), 180
number of shells/VC death, 99
punishment and, 214
“regiments” and, 96
regional vs. national divisions, 96
riflemen carrying machine gun/ammunition, 158, 299n10
terminology/acronyms, 227–232, 310n9, 311n16
units usefulness (Ewell), 96–97
as war of attrition and, 6–7, 12, 22, 51, 62, 65, 73–74, 86, 98, 106, 129–130, 184, 272n11
withdrawal and, 254–255
See also military serving in Vietnam; specific individuals/groups; specific operations/events
“Vietnamization,” 255
village/house searches
description, 158–159
effects on South Vietnamese, 158
hidden weapons, 159–160
prisoners of war and, 160
tunnels/tunnel rats, 159
Vivian Strong Liberation School, 252–253
Voting Rights Act (1965), 144
walking point
description, 113–116
items carried/weight, 116
See also Vietnam/Hagel brothers
description/views and, 137, 144, 147, 148, 206–207, 251
in Omaha, Nebraska/riot, 134–135, 137, 141–143, 248, 250–251, 252
presidential run, 134–135, 136, 137, 206–207, 222
Walt, Lew, 104
war. See anti-war movement; military/war; specific wars
War Bonnet Creek battle, Nebraska, 30–31, 83
Ware, Keith, 104
Washington, George, 69
water in Vietnam
microbes and, 119
purification and, 119
See also attack (March 28, 1968)
Westmoreland: The General Who Lost Vietnam (Sorley), 5–6
Westmoreland: The Inevitable General (Furguson), 5–6
Westmoreland, Katherine Van Deusen, 199, 247
Westmoreland, William
US Army chief of staff position (1968), 146
World War II/Korea and, 6, 24, 50, 67, 94
Westmoreland, William/Vietnam War
artillery calculations and, 8–9
books on, 5–6
description/traits, 5, 6, 20, 84, 85, 179
enemy casualties and, 177
Ewell and, 94
man-by-man rotation/tour, 67
National Press Club talk (1967), 4–5, 11
New York Times article on, 10
phases/American numbers and, 7
position, 5
speaking about Vietnam, 4–5, 11
Tet Offensive and, 65, 84–85, 86, 282n11
troop request/plans (1968), 105, 107, 144–145
weapons/APC and, 71
Weyand, Frederick C.
criticism of war/Westmoreland, 10, 65
military background, 10, 65, 93
Mini-Tet and, 169
“White Mice” meaning, 168
White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, 49–50
Widows Village
creation/description, 77–78
fight casualties, 82
fighting description, 77–82, 100–101
Williams, Danny, 221
Wooten, Philip M., 176
World War I
casualties and, 199
drafting soldiers and, 53
Haig/battle descriptions, 89
Ludendorff’s strategy and, 63–64, 285–286n1
Offutt and, 90
See also specific individuals
World War II
B-24s (US) and, 27–30, 31, 275n32
Battle of the Bulge/effects, 86, 98
Civil War comparisons and, 22, 23
death statistics, 22
firebombing/atomic weapons use (US), 18–19, 22–24, 30
German surrender, 22
Japan continuing (1945), 22–24
Japanese Zero pilots, 27–28, 275n34
Pearl Harbor bombing/Japan and, 26–30
US “regiments” and, 96
Vietnam War comparisons, 86
See also specific individuals
Young, Paul, 252
Zamperini, Louis, 28