Vietnam Rough Riders

A Convoy Commander's Memoir

By: Frank McAdams

Narrated by: David Drummond

Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

In the Vietnam War, American "rough riders" drove trucks through hostile territory delivering supplies, equipment, ammunition, weapons, fuel, and reinforcements to troops fighting on the war's ever-shifting front lines. But, all too often, the convoys themselves became the front lines.

Frank McAdams, a Marine Corps lieutenant, learned that the hard way during a tour of duty that began right after the 1968 Tet Offensive and the siege at Khe Sanh. In this compelling memoir he recounts his personal battles - not only with a dangerous enemy but also with an incompetent superior and a sometimes indifferent military bureaucracy.

A decidedly different take on the Vietnam experience, his chronicle focuses on the ambush-prone truck convoys that snaked their way through dangerous terrain in narrow mountain passes and overgrown jungles. When an ambush occurred, strong leadership and quick thinking were required to protect both the convoy's mission and the lives of its men.

Fast-paced and highly absorbing, his book offers an insightful look at a largely neglected aspect of the Vietnam War, while reminding us of how frequently the crucible of war reveals one's true character.

©2013 The University Press of Kansas (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A rare look at the unheralded efforts of the Marines whose courage and determination kept these vital lifelines open." (Otto J. Lehrack, author of No Shining Armor)

great story

a good insight of what goes on inside a soldiers mind during wartime. LT McAdams shares his personal and professional views along with his experiences during his time serving as USMC officer.

A Good Read

Throughly enjoyed this book. I served in Viet Nam from 1971 to 1972 and rode in convoys through the Hai Van Pass numerous times.

I Admire McAdams

Well written book, I was Army during that time and can relate to his experience. I was heading for Vietnam but was sidetracked to S Korea in 67-68, I was RA meaning I joined not drafted and had many buddies that told their stories of the war. Good book.

Great Story!!!

This was an amazing story. I would not have been able to put up with the garbage from those that were in charge.

Great Read

Lt McAdams captured his Vietnam war experience vividly- right down to the major SNAFUs that occurred up and down the chain of command. His honesty is laudable.

Excellent book

Frank McAdams had some real incompetent commanding officers in Vietnam, his Capt sounded like the typical go by the book officer and was a coward who dodged taking convoys out. As a Marine grunt myself who rode as a convoy escort, I can tell you the motor T Marines had no picnic. The convoy runs were hazardous from Quang Tri to LZ Stud. I don't know how he was able to deal with his incompetent superiors who should have been relieved of command. His Capt is lucky he wasn't fragged. My officers in my unit Charlie Company 1st bn 3rd Marines were competent, proffesionals and excellent leaders and thankful that they cared about their Marines. I highly recommend this book.

Well written and well read.

Another perspective of the war we waged in the Nam from a very different but important point of view.
Frank made the most of having his creativity and talent as a natural leader stifled by the REMFs.
I highly recommend this book.

Recommended memoir.

Narration is better than merely acceptable, certainly not deserving of the low rating given by one of the other reviewers.

Story moves along at an unhurried pace. Material is organized chronologically and logically.

This is a description if the particular challenges that beset the US Marine long haul truck transport units.

The “captain” manifests the worst of leadership malfeasance: disrespect for subordinates; leadership by dictate, but not example; in civility; gratuitous, harsh treatment of soldiers and officers challenging his discriminatory, selfish actions; corrosive impact on morale; unrestrained imposition of personal preferences and bigotries on others; sadism; ignorance; illogic; stupidity; intransigence….you name it.

Included are classic examples of:
— “convenient, advantageous forgetting”; specifically, not remembering or recording specific times when crucial information is requested but not acted upon, which unfairly obstructs accurate, verifiable, exculpatory reporting (truck blown rather than left for the enemy);
— indirect, tangential, nonspecific communication strategically calculated to be ambiguously interpreted, which favors more empowered than less empowered communicators, this tactic frequently employed by manipulative supervisors;
— restricting access to information and resources needed to do one’s job, then blaming that person for not having done their job;
— unnecessary cruel scolding, mocking insulting upbraiding of subordinates to their faces, but behind-the-back such diatribes targeting superiors;
— assigning trivial, make work tasks intended to sap others of their energy and degrade their spirit;
— refusing to apologize for blatant errors and patently unacceptable behavior (e.g., calling a soldier “spic,” then refusing to apologize; worse still, castigating for the person asking him to do so;
— shirking responsibilities, not leading by example, as in avoiding dangerous missions, which the leader foists on others;
— cowardly and opportunistic forgetting (e.g., “oh no, I never said that!);
— not acknowledging, much less rewarding, subordinates for jobs well done;
— gratuitous, insulting slurs and cursing;
— egotistical boasting;
— etc,

If this book is not required reading during officer training, it sure as heck should be.

An important addition to one’s Vietnam War collection.

Great book

This is the only book I have been able to find about a convoy unit and I really enjoyed it. Crazy story told well. It was a little slow getting started, but kept my attention until the end.

enjoy the book immensely

first of all I want to take the author for his service, The book is really interesting to me talks about part of the Vietnam war that I knew nothing about. we also learn a lot about leadership are lack thereof with his experiences.