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White Water Red Hot Lead

On Board U.S. Navy Swift Boats in Vietnam

Dan Daly

$49.99

Paperback

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English
Casemate Publishers
01 October 2024
During the Vietnam war 3500 officers and men served in the Swift Boat program in a fleet of 130 boats with no armor plating. The boats patrolled the coast and rivers of South Vietnam, with the average age of the crew being twenty-four. Their days consisted of deadly combat, intense lightning firefights, storms and many hidden dangers. This action-packed story of combat written by Dan Daly, a Vietnam combat veteran who was the Officer in Charge of PCF 76 makes you part of the Swift Boat crew. The six man crew of PCF 76 were volunteers from all over the United States, eager to serve their country in a highly unique type of duty not seen since the PT boats of WWII. This inexperienced and disparate group of men would meld into a combat team - a team that formed an unbreakable, lifelong bond. After training they were plunged into a 12 month tour of duty. Combat took place in the closest confines imaginable, where the enemy were hidden behind a passing sand dune or a single sniper could be concealed in an onshore bunker, mines might be submerged at every fork in the river. The enemy was all around you, hiding, waiting, while your fifty-foot Swift Boat works its way upriver. In many cases the rivers became so narrow there was barely room to maneuver or turn around. The only way out might be into a deadly ambush. Humor and a touch of romance relieve the tension in this thrilling ride with America's finest.

AUTHOR: Dan Daly received his naval commission after graduation from Harvard College. After 18 months on a Navy destroyer, he volunteered for Swift Boat duty. After training, he and his crew served 12 months in Vietnam, 1967-68. He later founded several consulting firms and lives on Cape Cod with his family.
By:  
Imprint:   Casemate Publishers
Country of Publication:   United States
Dimensions:   Height: 241mm,  Width: 159mm, 
ISBN:   9781636244518
ISBN 10:   1636244513
Pages:   360
Publication Date:  
Audience:   General/trade ,  ELT Advanced
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Unspecified

Dan Daly received his naval commission after graduation from Harvard College. After 18 months on a Navy destroyer, he volunteered for Swift Boat duty. After training, he and his crew served 12 months in Vietnam, 1967-68. He later founded several consulting firms and lives on Cape Cod with his family.

Reviews for White Water Red Hot Lead: On Board U.S. Navy Swift Boats in Vietnam

""Plenty of detail about how these small boats, with a crew of just 6, managed their workloads and even how they coped with changing sea conditions. I found this an interesting read on a small yet important aspect of the Vietnam War..""-- ""Military Model Scene"" ""Skipper, each page brought me back to the time when we were young and strong, brave and fearless. The events from 48 years ago: Drag racing a Navy destroyer in San Diego and flying that 'last patrol, going home' flag in Vietnam. A cherished memory is being part of the crew aboard PCF 76. 'Thank you for remembering, Dan'.""--Rev. Oscar E. Wells, Maj. US Army, Engineman 2nd Class USN, ""Snipe"" ""A good story, very well told... All the adventure, drama, friendship and frustration of wartime military life are graphically presented as is even a bit of love life. His book is a good and valuable contribution to the history of naval activity in the Vietnam War.""-- ""Ausmarine"" ""An impressively written and riveting history of what this particular area of lethal combat was like on a daily basis by a man who survived it, ""White Water Red Hot Lead: On Board U.S. Navy Swift Boats in Vietnam"" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to community, college, and university library 20th Century American Military History collections in general, and Vietnam War History supplemental studies reading lists in particular. The stuff from which block buster movies are made""-- ""Midwest Book Review"" ""Another fine book from Casemate that reads like fiction - amazing accounts of daring and courage in one of the worst wars in living history.""-- ""Books Monthly"" ""Daly holds a lasting fondness for his crewmen and fellow Swift Boat skippers. Through his eyes, his men saw themselves as elite sailors working hard to maintain that status. His book makes a strong case for an overwhelming sense of teamwork and dedication to duty among Swift Boat crews. Throughout the book, Daly has blended an excellent collection of photographs, most of which he shot, with the text.""-- ""The VVA Veteran Books in Review II"" ""I have to say that it is one of the most pleasant books that I have read, and the comradeship and love that these warriors felt for themselves and others is a bright ray of sunshine in a war history...An excellent book about a little known area of an almost forgotten war and one I thoroughly enjoyed. 4.5 stars.""-- ""Army Rumour Service"" ""The author's story of his and his crew's progress, from training at Coronado, California, to combat in Vietnam, is well told. One gets a true feel for the experiences Lieutenant Daly and his men encountered during their time on the Swift Boats... Overall, the book is an enlightening read concerning Swift Boat operations in Vietnam, and the story should have relevance for those sailors currently engaged in Brown Water operations.""-- ""The Journal of America's Military Past"" ""The publishing standard is very high as one would expect from Casemate and this book is a great addition to anyone with an interest in naval operations of the Vietnam War and what leading a small team of young men into combat must have been like in such a unique and challenging assignment. I highly recommend this book.""-- ""Military Enthusiast Book Club"" ""The Vietnam War has had some 'classic' books written about it...and this book will be up there with them...If you have an interest in small-scale naval actions, and the Vietnam War in particular, then this is a must-read!""-- ""Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy"" ""This is a beautifully produced book...it's one of those reads that you won't put down once you get started...A great subject, well-written by someone who actually served.""-- ""Military Modelling"" ""Dan Daly's book captures the essence of the U.S. Navy small boats operations in Vietnam. Combat was never far away, we built the bonds of brotherhood, often with tears and laughter, where 'above and beyond' became the norm. You got it right. Bravo Zulu.""--Thomas Kelly USN, Vietnam Veteran, MOH ""I comment as a former Marine infantry platoon commander. Dan's book propels you, in seconds, from the laid-back and tranquil to the chaos of a firefight. If you are seeking a realistic portrayal of combat leadership in Vietnam, this is it!""--Beirne Lovely USMC, Khe Sanh, Vietnam 1968 ""White Water Red Hot Lead is an extraordinary story of heroism and love set against a backdrop of small boat operations in Vietnam. Above all, this is a book of leadership and deserves a close read from but historians and leaders in today's turbulent world.""--Admiral James Stavridis USN, Dean, The Fletcher School, Tufts University


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