Author Description

"This investigation of the combat performance of the U.S. soldiers and marines in Vietnam presents a perspective of American ground troops that many will see as a long overdue first step toward rehabilitating the Vietnam veteran's reputation. The objective analysis is based on the results of two surveys conducted by Russell Glenn, an army combat veteran with a Ph.D. in history. Glenn first surveyed members of the 1st Cavalry Division who fought in Vietnam, then polled a sample of officers currently on active duty to validate the results. His findings demonstrate that contrary to popular perception, nearly all American combatants met the fundamental demand of combat: engage the enemy when called upon. This is a far different statistic from the 25 percent commonly attributed to U.S. ground forces in World War II.". "The veterans' responses to Glenn's surveys and his review of other primary sources not only explain American troops' willingness to engage their adversaries but also allow the author to analyze the influence of training, fixed duration combat tours, and frequent leader rotation on performance under fire and chances of survival. Overall, the study clearly indicates that the conduct of these men under fire and their dedication to the U.S. compare favorably to those of their forefathers in World War II and Korea. These insights, in turn, offer a fuller understanding of U.S. fighting men, a special benefit to those who will lead them in future conflicts."--BOOK JACKET.