Kontum: The Battle to Save South Vietnam

Selected Bibliography

Selected Bibliography Although not perfect, the most accurate, official, blow-by-blow account of the battle is United States Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV), Command History, January 1972–March 1973, 2 vols., especially the annex to volume 2, Annex K, Kontum: The NVA Buildup, prepared by the Military History Branch, Office of the Secretary, Joint Staff, MACV. Lieutenant Gary R. Swingle interviewed participants soon after the battle while memories were still fresh, maps were still on hand, and many of the defensive positions, destroyed aircraft, and dead tanks were still in place. There are only minor differences between Swingle’s final draft and the published history, but he received no credit as the author. Contemporary accounts recorded in the hectic confusion of battle were sometimes less accurate than later accounts based on additional information. The Daily Staff Journal or Duty Officer’s Log was a standard form used by all US Army headquarters from the adviser teams in the field to MACV headquarters in Saigon. These logs are useful in confirming the date and time of some actions, but most entries were extremely brief, and some were inaccurate or incomplete initial reports. Nevertheless, they were often the basis for later narrative accounts produced by various headquarters or historians. Another useful source for what happened and when it happened is the Daily Commanders Evaluation that the II Corps senior adviser, Mr. John Paul Vann, sent to the MACV commander, General Creighton W. Abrams, in Saigon. Although these messages ostensibly cover a 24-hour period starting with 1000Z each morning, Vann sometimes discussed actions that took place earlier than the period his evaluation was supposed to cover, which can be confusing to a researcher. The most useful repositories were the Modern Military Records of the National Archives at Archives II in College Park, Maryland; the US Army Center of Military History at Fort Leslie J. McNair in Washington, DC; the US Army Heritage and Education Center at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania ; and the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. The Library of the US Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth , Kansas; the US Marine Corps Historical Center in the Washington Navy Yard; the Vietnam Archive at Texas Tech University in Lubbock; and the USAF Historical Research Agency at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, also have relevant documents. Some items at the Library of Congress and in the Modern Military Records at Archives II were still classified almost 30 years after the Vietnam War ended. Having them declassified was usually 316 • SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY a lengthy process and sometimes took several years. The staffs at all these facilities were knowledgeable and helpful. Except for personal papers, personal electronic records, and specific items from archives, the sources cited in the endnotes are included in this bibliography. The former items are cited only in the notes. The bibliography also includes some sources not cited in the notes. Interviews Most interviews were conducted by the author in person or by telephone, letter, or email. Journalist and author Neil Sheehan donated his sound recordings, typed transcripts, and handwritten notes on his interviews to the Library of Congress. When material from them is used, this information is included in the endnote. The three men interviewed by Neil Sheehan only are indicated by (S) in the list given here. Ranks and assignments during the battle are as of June 1972. The date, place, and type of each interview are given in the note citations. Barker, James N. Sergeant, US Army Vietnamese language specialist. Bricker, James W. “Bill.” Lieutenant colonel, G-3 adviser, 23rd ARVN Division. Cao Van Vien. ARVN general and chief of Joint General Staff. (S) Cloninger, James M. Lieutenant, 3rd ARVN Armored Cavalry Regiment adviser. Duck, William A. Major, B-52 navigator who flew Arc Light missions. Engram, Bart J. Lieutenant, G-2 Targeting Branch, ARVN II Corps. Finch, John R. Lieutenant colonel (ret.), G-3 air adviser, 23rd ARVN Division. Fuesel, Stanislaus J. Lieutenant colonel, artillery adviser, ARVN II Corps. Giap Phuc Hai. Captain (doctor), commander 230th ARVN Medical Company. Gudat, Richard C. Major, G-4 adviser, 23rd ARVN Division. Hall, Raymond W. Captain, signal adviser, 23rd ARVN Division. Heslin, John G. Captain, pilot, and operations officer, 17th Combat Aviation Group. Hill, John G., Jr. Brigadier general, deputy senior adviser, ARVN II Corps. (S) Ivars, Richard. Sergeant, C-130 loadmaster, 21st Tactical Air Squadron. James, Stephen. Captain, Huey helicopter pilot, “Pallbearer 32,” B Troop, 7th Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry...