Retired army brigadier general Bahnsen (West Point class of 1956) presents his war memoir with the help of old military writing pro Roberts (Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun
, etc.) in an oddly shaped narrative. It consists primarily of Bahnsen's vivid, first-person recollections of his two action-packed Vietnam tours of duty, in 1966–1967 and 1968–1969, with the 118th Assault Helicopter Company, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment and the 1st Armored Squadron. Interspersed with Bahnsen's remembrances are detailed oral history–like interviews with the general's former military colleagues, along with occasional italicized passages, presumably from Roberts, since several refer to Bahnsen in the third person. Bold subheads mark transitions between Bahnsen's offerings and the others, such as "Then Major Jim Dozier talks about pacification and Vietnamization." The stories, which rely significantly on reconstructed quotes, paint Bahnsen as a "tough, bullheaded" warrior, as one of his former sergeants puts it. Bahnsen, who Roberts says fought in Vietnam with "nonstop heroism," remains a true believer in the mission in that controversial war. "My only regrets," he says, "are the men killed and wounded and the fact that we did not kill more of the communist bastards!" 16 pages of color photos. (Mar.)
