Guns Up!: A Firsthand Account of the Vietnam War

All who went to Vietnam to fight that ugly war, with very few exceptions, deserve accolades and not the harsh criticism and treatment they got upon returning to their homes. Those that did not return are to me the reason why the USA remains a powerful unwavering force in this modern world, because soldiers like them gave there all for their country in a conflict where politics and military agendas were constantly in conflict. When I see a veteran proudly wearing a hat, or a shirt, or whatever proclaiming their participation in that unwanted conflict, I bow to the memories of all the wars dating back to World War I, World War 2 (specially daunting for those who took on the Japanese side of the war), knowing how many gave their lives while their families agonized every single day hoping for their safe return, which of course many never made it out of the foreign soils in which they had to fight.This book, following in the fine tradition of the US Military Forces, is a fine example of the day to day struggles to remain in one piece, for the foot soldiers are the ones that carry the hard task of venturing forward while the high command strategize and mobilize them by the thousands. There is humor (as much as humor can be found in a live or die daily situations in which they had to exist), there is camaraderie of a higher dimension of the short friendships that ignited in the heat of battle and the tragic way in which a lot of those friendships ended. The writer has its own way of telling his story of that violent place that was Vietnam, and for readers who prefer non fiction, well, it doesn't get any more non fiction that this, where bravery of the american soldier surpassed all expectation many times over. Without disregarding the opposite side tenacious ways, my one sided review applies to this side of the war. Some volunteered, most were drafted and had no choice to go out there and fight, officers and enlisted men alike fought like one and in the process made clear to the world the american soldier is a deadly force to be reckoned with when provoked into battle.I like the book, and like all books about this subject, it has one common denominator and that is that the american flag has never been disgraced, either in wanted or unwanted wars. What a tragic war Vietnam was! I will always have a special part in my heart for one and all veterans in this country, and when sometimes I go to the Marine Base in Camp Pendleton and watch those fine men supporting that base and carrying on with their daily assignments, I say thanks a lot. Because regardless of how many were against this or any other war in which the american soldiers have taken part, one fact remains painfully clear: Without their participation, without their strength to support this country when the shit hits the fan, US would not be half the country it is now.When I hear the song played each time a soldier dies (Taps, Butterfield's Lullaby, and Days is Done, all one and the same) I know how grateful and proud I am to have known the best of people I have ever met, that most of them happened to be soldiers is no small coincidence.4 Stars for the book, not enough stars to assign for the US soldier.

I've read so many Vietnam books. There is a balance, for me, between the story and the detail. Too much battle detail tends to lose me and I end up with no idea where anyone is or how the situation is developing. I fully understand that these books are very subjective and each author tells it their way as only they can.Guns Up! got it right for me. This is a true story with a few recollection slips which are corrected in the epilogue. The story follows Johnnie Clark a PFC with 1/5th Marines during his tour of Vietnam as an M-60 gunner in Arizona, I corps during TET of 1968. Based on military statistics marine gunner lifespans are short as obviously, the enemy wishes to silence the heaviest grunt weapon first. It took a special breed to man the M-60 as operating the weapon along with carrying it for miles on end would erode the spirits of the most impervious and determined marine.Clark and his buddy Chan had a unique way of always being "up" in spirits whilst dealing with the worst conditions Vietnam could throw at a platoon. Endless marches, endless rain soaked nights in muddy holes, firefights with no one to shoot back at, a chronic lack of supplies and that was just the first week. Clark tells his story from the first person perspective and introduces us to his buddies and mentors with enough detail to make us remember them and see how their influence carried him and, probably help keep him alive.About 1/3rd of the way through you really start to like Clark and Chan. The bond between them is so tight that many of us can only hope for something close to it in our own lives. Chan is intelligent, well read and helps Clark make sense of what's happening through his logic and abundance of biblical knowledge. Whenever Clark is struggling with what he sees or does, Chan can point him at a passage that helps Clark make sense of it. Some may see this as justification to keep doing what you're doing but I see it as doing what it takes to get you through 13 months of hell that someone else put you in.Clark recalls the anti-war climate he and a lot of his buddies came home too and his feelings towards it. He's not so much bitter but there is a sense of irony to his narrative in so much as "They only report the bad stuff". I feel this is rightfully said by him. Good news is not news as much as bad news. Whatever your views on war you have to remember that the guys on the ground don't put themselves there. They do what they do to keep their buddies and themselves alive. War never was, is, or will be pretty.In the epilogue, Clark brings us up to date regarding himself and some of his buddies he got back in touch with after rotating back to the US. It's an emotional time as some of his buddies finally get honored by their communities and their government many many years later than they should have.This is a great book and it's a fast read. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a sense of what it's like at the sharp end of a war.

Wow - what a book. Really well written by someone who is not claiming to be a literary genius but just told it as it was. A good account of a US soldier caught up in the choas of Viet Nam and the experiences that he underwent.The book really helps you understand the background of the War, the apparent lack of what the US call `offensive` action. They went looking for the enemy but never really consolidated ground; partly due to the fact that the political masters wouldn't let them. You get a really good feel for what it was like as `grunt` level - these boys lived in the field until their clothes rotted (and their feet) - you really get to appreciate the terrible conditions that they (and their enemy) lived in. The sheer fear and constant paranoia.This is another `raw` account of the War with no real political agenda - Johnnie Clark was a soldier and did what he was told. They never saw the `bigger picture`. He spends most of him time in the field with his friend Chan - as part of an M-60 gun crew (real bullet magnets due to the enemy desire to silence them as soon as possible - an M-60 could literally win or lose a firefight). Every time `guns up` was heard it was their job to get to the acion. Their sense of humour is at times quite astounding, but you start to appreciate the `black humour` of being in combat 24/7. They took risks but they survived (Chan's story itself at the end of the book is quite amazing as well).I really enjoyed reading it and found it to be on a par with Chicken Hawk and Acceptable Loss. Down to earth, believable and very easy to read.

What a book. I have read dozens of Vietnam books detailing the Authors participation, some good and some not so. This book by Johnnie M. Clark is up there alongside 'With The Old Breed' by Eugene Sledge, itself a true masterpiece. 'Guns Up' tells it how it was with no frills and for that reason, it is all the better. It takes you into a world of fear, pain, degradation and sheer heroics coupled with terror. I would have given it ten stars but alas it only goes to five. An incredible read.

What an awesome book . It gives you the nitty gritty inside look of sleep deprived Marine's who are forced to make life and death decisions at the end of human limits . At times I felt it left me in awe of these poor guys who were put into Jungle warfare that was a meat grinder. This book has left me wanting to know more about the whole war . As for the author and his friends I hope they have found there place of peace . I will re-read this book and try to absorb more of these tales . And I would advise anyone interested in this period of time to look at this book as this side looks at the poor guys trying their very best at the edge of what is humanly possible for each other knowing that at home they were looked on as the bad guys .

I had it standing on my shelf for some time, just wondering if I really want to read another Vietnam story. Then I decided to give it a try. 2 pages later I was already addicted. This is not just a story - this is THE STORY. Once you start reading it you cannot stop. Brilliantly written, very personal, including all aspects of their life in the bush.If you are looking for an excellent Vietnam war book - this is definitely where you have to start. The only issue you can create with this book is that it may set your expectations too high for other books - but this is a risk to take.

Writings of a young man, who survives physical and mental hell of the war. I wish I could go back in time and sit with my friends, who were there and tell them I now understand and how proud I am of them..