Praise for Expendable Warriors has been received by a diverse group of experts including decorated military officers, academic authorities, and participants in the action.

 

“Expendable Warriors reveals a little-known chapter in the story of the siege of Khe Sanh–how the battle really began and who was targeted in the first and biggest North Vietnamese assault in the opening round of an epic clash.”   –Joseph L. Galloway, co-author: “We Were Soldiers Once…and Young” and “Triumph Without Victory: The History of the Persian Gulf War.”

“Presented here in graphic detail is an autographical account of the preliminary battle of Khe Sanh, the opener for the Tet Offensive of 1968, by the genuine American hero who commanded the American and South Vietnamese side. This under reported and close fought preliminary battle was engaged well outside of the famous Khe Sanh siege perimeter. As such, the work is both a primary historical source and interesting reading material for its own sake.”  –Military Magazine

“Warrior, professor, deep thinker, and highly engaging and articulate writer, Bruce Clarke has written with compassion and wisdom borne of his personal experience in the village of Khe Sanh, 38 years ago. Good war stories take a long time to write, and this one is worth the wait. I am fascinated by the tale and the wonderful new insights that this major historian and military analyst brings to the reader. His sharing of the battle before the battle, the defeat of an NVA Regiment before the main Khe Sanh battle ever began, is masterfully told. A real page turner. And the lessons learned that he shares are well worth noting at a time when we are again, as a nation, engaged in war.”  –John K. Swensson, Dean, Language Arts Division; De Anza College and Custodian, The DeCillis Viet Nam Conflict Collection

“Most books studying the 1968 siege of Khe Sanh focus on the Marine Corps’ defense of the base and the hilltops to the north. Other books examine the fall of the nearby Lang Vei Special Forces Camp overrun by North Vietnamese tanks. To most Khe Sanh was a Marine battle. While heavily shelled and the hilltop outposts fought off attacks, the main base experienced only minor ground attacks. There was another battle though, unheralded in most books, the vicious fight for Khe Sanh Village south of the main base. This fight saw 25 Army and Marine advisors and 175 Vietnamese irregular troops fighting off a North Vietnamese regular regiment. Bruce Clarke aptly describes the valor and spirit of the defenders as they beat back repeated assaults with little support from the main base. This is a first person account of a virtually unheard of battle characterized by heroism and dedication to duty.”  –Gordon L. Rottman, Author, Khe Sanh 1967-68

“I’m honored that Bruce Clarke has portrayed the bravery of not only the Americans but all of us who fought and won the largest ground battle of the siege of Khe Sanh. We believed in our cause and dedicated our lives to it and this book clearly illustrates what many efforts about the Vietnam War do not–the bravery and efforts of the warriors who fought beside the Americans in the Vietnam War.  The spirits of the ARVN soldiers who lost their lives at Khe Sanh would smile and say ” Cam õn Ðaị Ta” Clarke  (Thank you COL Clarke) because their sacrifice has not been totally forgotten.”  –Major Tinh-A-Nhi, District Chief Huong Hoa District, RVN, 1966-68.

“Expendable Warriors’ is an autobiographical account of the battle of Khe Sanh by one of the genuine American heroes of the 1968 Tet Offensive. That alone makes the work both a primary historical source and interesting reading material…[B]eyond history and autobiography, Col. Clarke offers two significant criticisms of the way the Vietnam War was fought: the lack of unity of command, and the misguided attempt to measure victory by body count. Professional and amateur historians will appreciate this text, and so will teachers of political and military science, as well as teachers of international relations.”  –Dr. John L. Safford, Professor of Political Science, University of South Carolina

“Colonel Clarke’s analysis of the events around Khe Sanh is must reading for future combat leaders. In fact, it should be read by everyone.  We should all heed Bruce’s admonition that ‘We need to learn from our mistakes and ensure that we don’t repeat them.  We owe it to the next generation of brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines that they will not have to endure similar tests of their courage and determination.’”  –General Jack Vessey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 1982-85, from the forward to Expendable Warriors

“Clarke’s purpose is to set the record straight–clarifying reports and stories that have failed to accurately depict what happened.”  –ARMY

“Clarke describes the experiences of himself and his colleagues in the battles around the Khe Sanh Combat base in 1968, during the Vietnam War. He looks at the decision-making at multiple levels surrounding the battle, which he judges to have been a bloody tactical victory and a strategic defeat for the United States.”  –Reference & Research Book News

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