David Hearne, an OCS classmate, fellow artilleryman and decorated Vietnam War Veteran, has written a compelling and compassionate book about war: its scope and many dimensions. Above all, it is about the human component and raw emotions of those brave soldiers in the fight. David takes us on a personal look at small unit leadership and the human cost for those on the field of battle and those back home. He also reminds us that, along with the physical scars of battle, there are the emotional scars. Those scars often linger long after the sounds, sights and smells of the battle are no longer readily apparent.
In David’s own words “a war of attrition as the main strategy of a war is not a strategy at all. Attrition, unfortunately, is simply part of the very nature of war.” Clausewitz posited that war was politics by another means. There must be more logic applied to the prosecution of wars and more thought of what our actions will cause. Our institutions must do a better job of defining who we are and for what we stand. When we define those boundaries, we cannot continue to allow people and factions to stray outside of them. We have been involved in “incrementalism” to a fault since the end of WW II. David Hearne’s book is a heartfelt and thoughtful recount of a Vietnam battle that should serve as a constant reminder of what is at stake when our nation calls. Our soldiers are willing to give their all. We should expect that our senior military and civilian leaders are willing to do no less.
Major General Morris Boyd, USA (Retired)
Field Artillery OCS Class of 5-66
Vietnam 1966-1968 and 1970-1971
The Gulf War 1990-1991
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