Death in the A Shau Valley cover art

Death in the A Shau Valley

L Company LRRPs in Vietnam, 1969-1970

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Death in the A Shau Valley

By: Larry Chambers
Narrated by: Joe Barrett
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About this listen

Featuring a new introduction by the author about his return to Vietnam, his reflections on the war, and his humanitarian work in Cambodia.

"The enemy had a single purpose: kill me and my teammates."

Larry Chambers was still new to Vietnam in early 1969 when the LRRPs of the 101st Airborne Division became L Company, 75th (Rangers). But his unit's mission stayed the same: act as the eyes and ears of the 101st deep in the dreaded A Shau Valley - where the NVA ruled.

Relentless thick fog frequently made fighter bombers useless in the A Shau, and the enemy had furnished the nearby mountaintops with antiaircraft machine guns to protect the massive trail network that snaked through it. So, outgunned, outmanned, and unsupported, the teams of L Company executed hundreds of courageous missions. Now, in this powerful personal record, Larry Chambers recaptures the experience of the war's most brutal on-the-job training, where the slightest noise or smallest error could bring sudden - and certain-death...

©1998 Larry Chambers (P)2020 Tantor
Americas Military Military & War Vietnam War War

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I got the paperback by the author quite a few years ago and have now listened to audio book and would recommend😃

A detailed and interesting listen

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What sets this apart from most other books by Vietnam Vets, is the shorter length. This is achieved by avoiding talk about life before and during training, instead it begins very quickly with that rotted jungle odour mixed with burning diesel fuel.
While there's no less action overall (in some cases, there's more combat story here, than other books over twice as long). The author goes very sparse on the emotional side, which I find is often the difference between a gripping recollection of a combat situation, Vs a catalogue of chronological descriptors. Fears before, sadness on losing a friend etc. Some might argue this cold lack of feeling is special forces for you, and that's of course a possible, either way I prefer books that take me through the highs and lows.
Unfortunately the narrator's performance does zero to help matters, and once again, one of those voices & styles that can work well for a million things, but simply not at all suitable for life and death combat. Overall it's worth a listen as an included title, not the best, nor worst, and I'll rate it a solid Average.

Hours Less Padding Between Missions

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If you are looking to this to further your knowledge of the operations of the LRRP, perhaps this is not for you. The author does provide good information on personal experiences, however details on how the LRRP operated in Vietnam is a little thin on the ground. This feels more like a non-connected series of personal anecdotes rather than a history of LRRP.
The stories bring forth the human element of war in Vietnam, but for me, I could not finish this book. I appreciate the personal stories, however as one with a keen interest in history, this did not further my knowledge in any way.
Sorry to be a little negative – just not for me.

Good personal experience rather than LRRP history

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Impersonal stories about "someone" who happends to be a ranger. Nice narrated, but has no structure what so ever. Wouldn't recommend.

Your mother is the password

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