#9A--James McDonough

Controversy & Clarity

Note: This is part one of a two-part discussion. The conclusion will be released shortly.

In this episode, we discuss

-The Strategic Hamlet Program (SHP) in Vietnam and the role of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in that effort

-How US platoon positions used in the SHP made enticing targets for the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army

-The layout of McDonough’s platoon position and the terrain surrounding it

-McDonough’s assessment of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, as well as the South Vietnamese Regional Forces and Popular Forces

-A particularly soul-shaking patrol that McDonough went on

-The writing of Platoon Leader

-The Viet Cong’s typical tactics, strengths, and weaknesses

-McDonough’s biggest fight: October 6th 1970

-The story of McDonough’s wounding

-The Viet Cong’s technique of employing M-79 ‘barrages’

-McDonough’s assessment of the small arms available to him and his men

-A hair-raising interaction that McDonough had with one of his soldiers and an M-79 grenade launcher

-McDonough’s relationship with Phil Nail, one of his radio operators

-Killigan, arguably the best combat soldier McDonough ever saw

-What it was like to lead a small unit with consistent attrition

-McDonough’s advice for small unit leaders who may face high unit attrition in their units in combat

-How well McDonough’s stateside tactical training lined up with his actual tactics in Vietnam

-The value of “tactical cursing”

Links

Platoon Leader by James McDonough: https://www.amazon.com/Platoon-Leader-Memoir-Command-Combat/dp/0891418008

The Defense of Hill 781 by James McDonough: https://www.amazon.com/Defense-Hill-781-Allegory-Mechanized/dp/0891414754

The Limits of Glory by James McDonough: https://www.amazon.com/Limits-Glory-Novel-Waterloo/dp/0891413847

This Kind of War T.R. Fehrenbach: https://www.amazon.com/This-Kind-War-Fiftieth-Anniversary/dp/1574883348

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