Death in the Highlands

The Siege of Special Forces Camp Plei Me

De: J. Keith Saliba

Narrado por: Jim Seybert

In fall 1965, North Vietnam's high command smelled blood in the water. The South Vietnamese republic was on the verge of collapse, and Hanoi resolved to crush it once and for all. The communists set their sights on South Vietnam's strategically vital West-Central Highlands. Their first target was the American Special Forces camp at Plei Me, remote and isolated along the Cambodian border.

As darkness fell on October 19, 1965, two North Vietnamese Army regiments crept into their final strike positions. The plan was as simple as it was audacious: one regiment would bring the frontier fortress under siege while the other would lie in wait to destroy the inevitable rescue force. Initially, all that stood athwart Hanoi's grand scheme was a handful of American Green Berets, a few hundred Montagnard allies-and burgeoning US airpower.

But as the overland relief force bogged down, 5th Group ordered in the legendary "Chargin" Charlie Beckwith and his elite Project Delta to help hold the line. Soon, the newly formed 1st Cavalry Division, under its commander Maj. Gen. Harry Kinnard, would join the fray, setting the stage for its bloody Ia Drang Valley fights a few weeks later. Before it was over, the siege of Plei Me would push its defenders to the brink and usher in the first major clashes between the US and North Vietnamese armies.

©2020 J. Keith Saliba (P)2022 Tantor

Not very well arranged.

Ok it's a good story, But the author drifts off into background of the characters
just as the subject action is happening. I got lost often on what the character was
doing at the time the author decided to tell the personal background .

It could just be me , but I found it a bit tedious with irrelavent details.

Great story with a lot of detail

The story was a great accounting of the siege of the special forces Camp and moved around and took the perspective of different individuals involved almost in a movie like fashion as long as you are paying attention. I could see where some of the reviews people had problems keeping up because maybe they were doing something else and just letting the book talk and missing I meant it or two. this book is not one you want to miss a minute or two off if you want the whole story and not to be found needing to rewind to catch up with what you missed. Great detail and you feel like you're right there with the action.

Our finest with best intentions

Another wonderful story about the ugliness of what one human being can do to others but definitely the show of camaraderie and fortitude which most times goes unchecked for many years but will not be forgotten.

Gripping

These men were tough and courageous. Willing to go forward to save others acknowledging their own mortal life could be taken. Inspiring. We must not forget their sacrifices. We must fight for our freedoms as Americans. Nothing else matters.

Detail

Too much detail! Too much superficial information. Too many characters to keep track of but as a Vietnam Veteran who operated in the same area I found it revealing!

very well done

very informative and worthwhile to listen to full of a lot of information my dad also loved it

Dull but Thoroughly Researched

Doesn't hit the mark as a human story. It feels more like a history report that doesn't suit audio book.

However, I think it was that historical approach that made it thorough enough to tell the NVA side of plans and strategy. I appreciated that part.

so true

everything else was fine and the family was great to work with and it was great

Good Listen

Author does good job setting up key battle and the key players involved in an early pivotal battle

Forest for the trees

Although I am intensively interested in the 1960’s and the Vietnam war, this book was difficult to follow. Instead of focusing on the big picture the author included so many details and names of combatants, although well deserved credit, made listening to the book complicated and confusing. This one would have been better read rather than listened to.