Guns Up!: A Firsthand Account of the Vietnam War

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 .

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.

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..

This is a great book based on machiine gunners in the vietnam war. I know there are lots of books about this tragic war but this truly is a great book without all the usual we won the war attitude.Give this one a go and you won't be disapointed

I've read a lot of Vietnam combat books and this is one of my favourites. Clark does a really good job of putting the reader right there with him in the thick of the action. The epilogue in which he re-establishes contact with his old comrades is touching too.

Brilliant book, well worth the read