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8/16/2010 1:59:17 PM Reviews and opinions about my book "A Hard Place". Let me begin this with saying how much I appreciate the members for their support,comments and just checking out my books and profile. The numbers to me are extremely pleasing.
Now to the gist of this post. Two and a half years ago I published my Vietnam War story, after it taking me over three years to write.Even at that I only began it after years of urging from my family and friends,especially my son (also a soldier) and my daughter (an Army Brat married to a Marine)without their prompting along with that of their mother I probably would not have written it. Even though I wrote and published it as "Thriller Novel" I had to relive a lot of ugly memories and scars from that war.Along with a bunch of fond and humorous ones. I personaly give nay damn who will,or will not,believe the story! But what I do care about is being called a "phony" and that I probably never even went to Vietnam. Well, my DD214 says I spent three tours there. The Veterans Affairs says that I am 100% Disabled because of it.I have refrained from counter attacking those few malcontent souls who felt it necessary to impune my honor. But it does not sit well with me. Hooah! It's an Army thing!!!!
Jacamo Peterson,SFC US Army (ret),Reno Nevada
My Son, also a John L Peterson has held up the five generation line of Army Service, Sgt ,19D Cavalry Scout (OPFORS) and is also now a Disabled Veteran.(also a Certified Structural and Wildland Firefighter)
My Father was also a John L Peterson MSG, 81st Inf, Pacific Theatre 1942-46
Three of my Uncles jumped into Normandy 6 Jun 1944, Two with the 101st, one with the 82nd..Two others were Merchant Marine.Â
Other Comments:
Presidential Certificate of Appreciation for Armed Forces Service, Richard M Nixon President of the United States, August 1973
Letter of Appreciation for Armed Forces Service, Robert F Froehlke Secretary of the Army, August 1973
Oregon Army National Guard Commendation Medal, Richard A Miller Major General Adj Gen. May 1979
I wrote the Vietnam War book to honor the service and sacrifice of all Vietnam Veterans, Yes that includes me! To all members of all the Armed Forces who were there, whether Volunteer or Draftee,  who served with Honor and Distinction,  this book is dedicated to you. Let us never forget our fallen and lost Brothers. Our cause was just,Our Service was Honorable.
I Have seen TOO many movies about American forces in Vietnam, portraying the soldiers as anti-war draftees who hated the military. That was not the case,over 95% of american soldiers, marines,airmen and sailors served with honor and distinction. We did NOT lose the Vietnam War, we were pulled from the field. Hooah!
Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase II Campaign (1966-67)
From Month/Year
July / 1966
To Month/Year
May / 1967
Description This campaign was from 1 July 1966 to 31 May 1967. United States operations after 1 July 1966 were a continuation of the earlier counteroffensive campaign. Recognizing the interdependence of political, economic, sociological, and military factors, the Joint Chiefs of Staff declared that American military objectives should be to cause North Vietnam to cease its control and support of the insurgency in South Vietnam and Laos, to assist South Vietnam in defeating Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces in South Vietnam, and to assist South Vietnam in pacification extending governmental control over its territory.
North Vietnam continued to build its own forces inside South Vietnam. At first this was done by continued infiltration by sea and along the Ho Chi Minh trail and then, in early 1966, through the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). U.S. air elements received permission to conduct reconnaissance bombing raids, and tactical air strikes into North Vietnam just north of the DMZ, but ground forces were denied authority to conduct reconnaissance patrols in the northern portion of the DMZ and inside North Vietnam. Confined to South Vietnamese territory U.S. ground forces fought a war of attrition against the enemy, relying for a time on body counts as one standard indicator for measuring successful progress for winning the war.
During 1966 there were eighteen major operations, the most successful of these being Operation WHITE WING (MASHER). During this operation, the 1st Cavalry Division, Korean units, and ARVN forces cleared the northern half of Binh Dinh Province on the central coast. In the process they decimated a division, later designated the North Vietnamese 3d Division. The U.S. 3d Marine Division was moved into the area of the two northern provinces and in concert with South Vietnamese Army and other Marine Corps units, conducted Operation HASTINGS against enemy infiltrators across the DMZ.
The largest sweep of 1966 took place northwest of Saigon in Operation ATTLEBORO, involving 22,000 American and South Vietnamese troops pitted against the VC 9th Division and a NVA regiment. The Allies defeated the enemy and, in what became a frequent occurrence, forced him back to his havens in Cambodia or Laos.
By 31 December 1966, U.S. military personnel in South Vietnam numbered 385,300. Enemy forces also increased substantially, so that for the same period, total enemy strength was in excess of 282,000 in addition to an estimated 80,000 political cadres. By 30 June 1967, total U.S. forces in SVN had risen to 448,800, but enemy strength had increased as well.
On 8 January U.S. and South Vietnamese troops launched separate drives against two major VC strongholds in South Vietnam-in the so-called "Iron Triangle" about 25 miles northwest of Saigon. For years this area had been under development as a VC logistics base and headquarters to control enemy activity in and around Saigon. The Allies captured huge caches of rice and other foodstuffs, destroyed a mammoth system of tunnels, and seized documents of considerable intelligence value.
In February, the same U.S. forces that had cleared the "Iron Triangle", were committed with other units in the largest allied operation of the war to date, JUNCTION CITY. Over 22 U.S. and four ARVN battalions engaged the enemy, killing 2,728. After clearing this area, the Allies constructed three airfields; erected a bridge and fortified two camps in which CIDG garrisons remained as the other allied forces withdrew.
