#9A--James McDonough

Note: This is part one of a two-part discussion. The conclusion will be released shortly. In this episode, we discuss -The Strategic Hamlet Program (SHP) in Vietnam and the role of the 173rd Airborne Brigade in that effort -How US platoon positions used in the SHP made enticing targets for the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army -The layout of McDonough’s platoon position and the terrain surrounding it -McDonough’s assessment of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, as well as the South Vietnamese Regional Forces and Popular Forces -A particularly soul-shaking patrol that McDonough went on -The writing of Platoon Leader -The Viet Cong’s typical tactics, strengths, and weaknesses -McDonough’s biggest fight: October 6th 1970 -The story of McDonough’s wounding -The Viet Cong’s technique of employing M-79 ‘barrages’ -McDonough’s assessment of the small arms available to him and his men -A hair-raising interaction that McDonough had with one of his soldiers and an M-79 grenade launcher -McDonough’s relationship with Phil Nail, one of his radio operators -Killigan, arguably the best combat soldier McDonough ever saw -What it was like to lead a small unit with consistent attrition -McDonough’s advice for small unit leaders who may face high unit attrition in their units in combat -How well McDonough’s stateside tactical training lined up with his actual tactics in Vietnam -The value of “tactical cursing” Links Platoon Leader by James McDonough: https://www.amazon.com/Platoon-Leader-Memoir-Command-Combat/dp/0891418008 The Defense of Hill 781 by James McDonough: https://www.amazon.com/Defense-Hill-781-Allegory-Mechanized/dp/0891414754 The Limits of Glory by James McDonough: https://www.amazon.com/Limits-Glory-Novel-Waterloo/dp/0891413847 This Kind of War T.R. Fehrenbach: https://www.amazon.com/This-Kind-War-Fiftieth-Anniversary/dp/1574883348