Naked In Da Nang

FACs (forward air controllers) in Vietnam flew low and slow, searching for signs of an elusive enemy. Often they trolled themselves as bait for the NVA troops to try to shoot down. When a friendly unit made contact, having a FAC overhead made their day because the FACs controlled the bomb-, rocket-, and napalm-laden fast movers, fighter jets and attack aircraft whose ordnance often made the difference between life and death. They were regarded by many of their airforce and naval aviator brethren as insane, suicidal, or both. In addition to the perils of enemy fire which ranged from lucky AK-47 shots to .51 caliber machine guns and SA-7 shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles, you had to watch out to keep from being blown up in a B-52 Arc-Light strike or knocked down by friendly artillery. As the title suggests, however, Naked in Da Nang is not an angst ridden account of mortal combat. Following in the footsteps of Richard Hooker's classic M*A*S*H: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, author Jackson has a keen eye for the absurdities that abound in a combat zone. That the humor is often dark only serves to sharpen its comic edge.- These pilots were considered the "Guardian Angels" of the Vietnam ground soldier- Refers to the "unarmed" nature of FAC (Forward Air Controllers) aircraft- Low-tech aircraft that survived combat on pilot skills only

“[An] intimate account of a Forward Air Controller working with the Special Forces on their secret operations in South Vietnam and Laos . . . Don’t miss it!” (John Prados, author of Storm Over Leyte). Originally published in 1991, this classic work has now been revised and updated with additional photos. It is the story of how, in Vietnam, an elite group of Air Force pilots fought a secret air war in Cessna 0-2 and OV-10 Bronco prop planes—flying as low as they could get. The eyes and ears of the fast-moving jets who rained death and destruction down on enemy positions, the forward air controller made an art form out of an air strike—knowing the targets, knowing where friendly troops were, and reacting with split-second, life-and-death decisions as a battle unfolded. The expertise of the low, slow FACs, as well as the hazard attendant to their role, made for a unique bird’s-eye perspective on how the entire war in Vietnam unfolded. For Tom Yarborough, who logged 1,500 hours of combat flying time, the risk was constant, intense, and electrifying. A member of the super-secret “Prairie Fire” unit, Yarborough became one of the most frequently shot-up pilots flying out of Da Nang—engaging in a series of dangerous secret missions in Laos. In this work, the reader flies in the cockpit alongside Yarborough in his adrenaline-pumping chronicle of heroism, danger, and wartime brotherhood. From the rescuing of downed pilots to taking out enemy positions, to the most harrowing extended missions directly overhead of the NVA, here is the dedication, courage and skill of the fliers who took the war into the enemy’s backyard.

The Routledge Dictionary of Modern American Slang offers the ultimate record of modern, post WW2 American Slang. The 25,000 entries are accompanied by citations that authenticate the words as well as offer examples of usage from popular literature, newspapers, magazines, movies, television shows, musical lyrics, and Internet user groups. Etymology, cultural context, country of origin and the date the word was first used are also provided. In terms of content, the cultural transformations since 1945 are astounding. Television, computers, drugs, music, unpopular wars, youth movements, changing racial sensitivities and attitudes towards sex and sexuality are all substantial factors that have shaped culture and language. This new edition includes over 500 new headwords collected with citations from the last five years, a period of immense change in the English language, as well as revised existing entries with new dating and citations. No term is excluded on the grounds that it might be considered offensive as a racial, ethnic, religious, sexual or any kind of slur. This dictionary contains many entries and citations that will, and should, offend. Rich, scholarly and informative, The Routledge Dictionary of Modern American Slang and Unconventional English is an indispensable resource for language researchers, lexicographers and translators.

Dave Simms is a young black marine stationed at the Da Nang Air Base during the Vietnam War. Working as a supply clerk, he fights not only the Viet Cong but also everyday boredom and the absurdity of military life. In the face of those challenges, his search for personal identity leads him through a drunken and reefer-smoking year of ludicrous encounters. Simms finds himself in perilous surroundings and yet is protected from the worst of events in many waysbut not always. The horrors of war reach even him, leaving a mark that not even alcohol fueled nights can erase. Simms rarely meets the enemy, but his worst fears arise more from what the marines might do to him. The preposterous, bloodthirsty mind-set of the Marine Corps feeds his hatred for them and his determination to leave Vietnam not only alive and in one piece but also in his right minda goal that might prove impossible to achieve. In this military novel, a young marine serving in Vietnam struggles to stay alive and keep his sanity in the face of the brutality of war.

In 2014, the US marks the 50th anniversary of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, the basis for the Johnson administration’s escalation of American military involvement in Southeast Asia and war against North Vietnam. Vietnam War Slang outlines the context behind the slang used by members of the United States Armed Forces during the Vietnam War. Troops facing and inflicting death display a high degree of linguistic creativity. Vietnam was the last American war fought by an army with conscripts, and their involuntary participation in the war added a dimension to the language. War has always been an incubator for slang; it is brutal, and brutality demands a vocabulary to describe what we don’t encounter in peacetime civilian life. Furthermore, such language serves to create an intense bond between comrades in the armed forces, helping them to support the heavy burdens of war. The troops in Vietnam faced the usual demands of war, as well as several that were unique to Vietnam – a murky political basis for the war, widespread corruption in the ruling government, untraditional guerilla warfare, an unpredictable civilian population in Vietnam, and a growing lack of popular support for the war back in the US. For all these reasons, the language of those who fought in Vietnam was a vivid reflection of life in wartime. Vietnam War Slang lays out the definitive record of the lexicon of Americans who fought in the Vietnam War. Assuming no prior knowledge, it presents around 2000 headwords, with each entry divided into sections giving parts of speech, definitions, glosses, the countries of origin, dates of earliest known citations, and citations. It will be an essential resource for Vietnam veterans and their families, students and readers of history, and anyone interested in the principles underpinning the development of slang.

Booklist Top of the List Reference Source The heir and successor to Eric Partridge's brilliant magnum opus, The Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, this two-volume New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English is the definitive record of post WWII slang. Containing over 60,000 entries, this new edition of the authoritative work on slang details the slang and unconventional English of the English-speaking world since 1945, and through the first decade of the new millennium, with the same thorough, intense, and lively scholarship that characterized Partridge's own work. Unique, exciting and, at times, hilariously shocking, key features include: unprecedented coverage of World English, with equal prominence given to American and British English slang, and entries included from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India, South Africa, Ireland, and the Caribbean emphasis on post-World War II slang and unconventional English published sources given for each entry, often including an early or significant example of the term’s use in print. hundreds of thousands of citations from popular literature, newspapers, magazines, movies, and songs illustrating usage of the headwords dating information for each headword in the tradition of Partridge, commentary on the term’s origins and meaning New to this edition: A new preface noting slang trends of the last five years Over 1,000 new entries from the US, UK and Australia New terms from the language of social networking Many entries now revised to include new dating, new citations from written sources and new glosses The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English is a spectacular resource infused with humour and learning – it’s rude, it’s delightful, and it’s a prize for anyone with a love of language.

A most secret plan by the U.S. Government to prepare for a pullout from Vietnam was initiated in 1968 just after the momentous Tet Offensive. The plan called for the caching of great treasure to support the expected network of spies that would stay behind. The Green Beret soldiers who unknowingly planted these treasure troves learned of its existence and now they were determined to retrieve it. The officials who directed these missions in the past were now holding higher offices and were ambitiously seeking even higher positions. The American public could not be allowed to find out about the government’s plan to cut and run and the needless deaths of thousands of our young men and women who fought and died for a cause already determined to be without merit. When these government officials learn of the covert plans of these men to retrieve this treasure, they decide this cannot occur and the deadly decisions are made. The chase begins and with it the treachery and lies.

A stirring and honest account of war in Vietnam with no holds barred, revealing brotherhood, duty, fear, loss and a love song to his wife, Diana. A mind-expanding read in hopes to change human perspective on war, it is a sincere first-hand portrayal of daily life in the wilderness of Southeast Asia versus glorification of battles and heroic encounters. This eye-opening book was conceived upon Hills retirement. It provided him the time and incentive to open the letters he sent from Vietnam to his wife which lay dormant for 42 years, preserving the experience and emotions he felt of the days gone by in the battlefield. Perusing the epistles and reliving the weighty memories, the author realized it was a noteworthy story waiting to be retold. Providing an honest account of life and combat in the bush of Vietnam and its impact to those engaged in the war, as well as their families back home, this book relates Hills activities and encounters while leading a platoon of Marines during the peak of the war. Integrated are portions of the letters to his wife that describe fear and doubt in fighting an endless war. It recounts perilous exploits in Vietnam, south of Da Nang in the Quang Nam Province. It concludes by coming to grips with the burdens warriors brought home to their families. This book centers on the human experience of wargut-wrenching decisions, fear, loss, regret and questioningmaking it a valuable read for soldiers and their families who sacrificed then, and continue to sacrifice today. Featuring a full range of emotions including dread, hate and sly wisps of humor, Being Frank About Vietnam is a collection of honest stories for any adult audience interested in reading a truth about Vietnam.