Author: Joseph W. Callaway Jr.
Title: Mekong First Light.
Publisher: Presidio Press.
Copyright: 2004.
Pages: 222.
Price: $7.99 (US).
Overview and Impressions:
Lt. Joseph W. Callaway Jr. talked about his time in the US Army from 1966 to 1968. He served as a platoon leader in the Mekong Delta for six months in 1966. He then went to being a special adviser for the Royal Thai army in 1967, who deployed to South Vietnam. Lt. Callaway finally served as an officer at a Special Forces Base Camp during the Tet Offensive.
The author had a troubled childhood before settling in New Haven, Connecticut. The US Army's Officer Candidate School straightened him out. He then shipped to "Indian Country" along the Mekong Delta for six months as a platoon leader. He lost many friends and acquaintances there.
Callaway was then transferred for a tour as a special adviser to the Royal Thai Army. He said that was more PR than anything else. Once he finished up there, Callaway signed on for an extension of his tour with the Special Forces. Then, the Tet Offensive happened. He was in charge of base security for a local MIKE base. Things got interesting from there.
The author survived the conflict. Though he hated President Johnson and distrusted the Federal government because of its conduct during the Vietnam War. That's something that still resonates to this day. Recommended.
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