Reluctant Warrior Audiobook By Michael C. Hodgins cover art

Reluctant Warrior

A Marine's True Story of Duty and Heroism in Vietnam

 Preview
Try for $0.00
Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

Reluctant Warrior

By: Michael C. Hodgins
Narrated by: John McLain
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $21.49

Buy for $21.49

By the spring of 1970, American troops were ordered to pull out of Vietnam. The Marines of First Reconnaissance Battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel "Wild Bill" Drumright, were assigned to cover the withdrawal of First Marine Division. The Marines of First RECON Bn operated in teams of six or seven men. Heavily armed, the teams fought a multitude of bitter engagements with a numerically superior and increasingly aggressive enemy.

Michael C. Hodgins served in Company C, First RECON Bn (Rein), as a platoon leader. In powerful, graphic prose, he chronicles his experience as a patrol leader in myriad combat situations-from hasty ambush to emergency extraction to prisoner snatch to combined-arms ambush....

©1996 Michael C. Hodgins (P)2018 Tantor 20th Century Americas Asia Biographies & Memoirs Military Military & War Modern Southeast Asia United States Vietnam War Wars & Conflicts Marines Vietnam
Compelling Narrative • Authentic Military Account • Suspenseful Missions • Memorable Recounts • Captivating Storytelling

Highly rated for:

All stars
Most relevant  
This book gives the listener a truly in-depth understanding of all the pre-mission planning and contingency procedures that are required to execute even the shortest of small unit recon missions. But it’s not a dry government issue field manual either. In compelling narrative form it provides the listener the heart-pounding real-world mission sets performed on the battlefield in a time of war; the fluidity and contingency flex that must be brought to bare when the enemy combatants have a vote too!

Insightful layout of myriad of diverse skillsets needed to be even the most junior of Army Infantry Officers.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I really liked how the author described everything in a way that made you feel like you were right there with him. One of the best books I’ve listened to.

Very well written

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This story is not flashy. It's not overly heroic or gripping even. What it is, or what it feels like I should say, is very honest and real. This is definitely one of my favorite accounts of the war.

One of my favorites

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I have read a lot of military stories… This is one of the best excellent narration

Captivating story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book holds an important key for understanding Marine Force Recon in the Vietnam War. It was copyrighted in 1996, sold online in 1997, and released in audio in 2018. I spent a lot of time relistening to certain chapters, amazed at how much there was to glean from the material.

Lieutenant Hodgins played a critical role in covering the pullback of American forces, and he saved a lot of American lives through his leadership. This is an authoritative account of military actions and organization in highly contested areas including behind enemy lines. What provides the hook that keeps the listener on edge is that Lt. Hodgins was a real serious commander by the time he took charge of a fort on Hill 425. He was the highest authority in most respects at the fort. His diverse combat experience shaped him to become a tactical wizard in that particular battle space. It helped that he operated with the full support of Lieutenant Colonel "Wild Bill" Drumright.

Hodgins was a mustang, as he had served for years as an enlisted Marine. He wasn't fond of chickens--t and harassment of the grunts, because he lived through it and wanted something better. He led the normal patrols that ran into booby traps and ambushes. He got mortared. He later was part of 6 or 7 man recon teams that were inserted into enemy territory and extracted up to six days later. He liked being on the more active side versus being in what he described as the reactive side, and I think he was completely forthcoming on the differences.

I thought the book was plenty suspenseful and harrowing when Hodgins went on recon patrols behind enemy lines. But later when he took charge of the fort on Hill 425, there was real drama with many others who were in numerous roles. He performed intelligence operations and achieved superior understanding of what the enemy was doing within his area of operation. Through force of that intangible asset called leadership, he got the cooperation of others and directed their energies to thwarting the enemy's plans. He managed this despite the fact that everybody on Hill 425 knew the U.S. was pulling out of Vietnam.

Gem hidden in plain sight

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The narrator was often a mismatch for the thoughtful writing which was not at all John Wayne like as his narration. However by later chapters he settled it down to more a match of humility as the words written. Good stuff.

Real good deep dive from on ground

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I liked how you could picture where he was at or what he was doing through his words. It’s an amazing book.

It’s worth listening to. Amazing book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Very readable, interesting throughout even with relatively sporadic combat action. Highly recommended, one of my favorites.

Interesting throughout

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I was hoping to hear familiar names of Marines who may have served with my brother

Radio communications

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Narration. Clear and holds attention.


Story: Memorable, poignant recounts...some painful, some humorous, though in dark way.

Recommended.

Excellent Vietnam memoir

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews