Leading the Way: How Vietnam Veterans Rebuilt the U.S. Military: An Oral History - Hardcover

Santoli, Al

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0345374983 ISBN 13: 9780345374981

Publisher: Ballantine Books, 1993

Synopsis

"Compelling, at times sad, at times energizing, always thought-provoking, there is no book like it regarding the essential nature of the U.S. military leadership."

JOHN DEL VECCHIO

Author of THE THIRTEENTH VALLEY

LEADING THE WAY is a historic record of the rebuilding and reenergizing of America's armed forces, as told by 56 combat veterans who helped to bring it about. They bring to life the most critical moments they experienced in combat, from the Central Highlands of Vietnam to the air-strips of Panama and the deserts of Kuwait and Somalia. But just as riveting as their battle stories are their behind-the-scenes accounts of how confidence, discipline, and integrity were restored to the military after Vietnam by the work and example of its leaders. . . which led to the victory of Desert Storm.

About this title

From Kirkus Reviews:

A well-done oral history from Santoli (Everything We Had, 1981), showing why our military was much more effective in the Persian Gulf than in Vietnam. Luminaries such as Colin Powell, Secretary of the Navy James Webb, and lesser-knowns reveal here how confidence, discipline, and integrity were restored to the military after the low of Vietnam and the even lower low of the immediate post-Vietnam era. Santoli (himself a vet first travels back to wartime Vietnam, then visits the morass of the ``Wilderness Years''--a ``bad trip'' through the mid- and late-70's that's marked by rampant racial unrest, lack of military leadership (during the war too many NCOs had been given direct commissions; in turn, young or incompetent older men were made into staff NCOs), cutbacks, and plain poor morale. President Carter undermined the Shah, but a positive evolved out of the hostage debacle as the American public regained its respect for national security. Then, in the early 80's, under Commandant Alfred Gray, the Marine Corps changed over to a revolutionary new battle doctrine. Grenada proved a turning point when, for the first time since before Vietnam, an American President gave the military a free hand--which gave Schwarzkopf and others confidence that carried over to Panama and Desert Storm. After hashing over the war against Iraq, Santoli's subjects discuss our military future, advocating using the armed forces to prevent the spread of regional ``brushfire'' wars, counterterrorism, and drug- and illegal weapons-dealing. Some contend that lessons learned from Vietnam and Desert Storm may not apply to crises like Bosnia. How will the military cope? By maintaining the best possible leadership at the top, says Secretary Webb. Required reading for anyone seeking a valid perspective on America's military over the past three decades. (Eight-page photo insert--not seen) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

From Publishers Weekly:

Santoli ( Everything We Had ) traveled to military bases and headquarters around the country interviewing career personnel who served during the troubled Vietnam years and the postwar period when morale plummeted in all branches of the service. The first half of the book makes for disturbing reading as veterans recall the racial tensions, drug abuse and antiauthoritarianism that crippled the spirit of the U.S. military establishment in the '60s and '70s; but the second half, dealing with the mechanics of reenergizing the forces and the successful operations in Grenada, Panama and the Persian Gulf, is upbeat. Participants in this oral history that will primarily interest advocates of maintaining a strong military include the present Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Colin Powell; the former commandant of the Marine Corps, Al Gray; Navy SEAL commander Timothy Holden; Colonel Barbara Smith, chief nurse of Central Command; and Marine tanker Gunnery Sergeant James Graham. Photos.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0345374983
• ISBN 13: 9780345374981
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 428