The Odyssey of Echo Company: The 1968 Tet Offensive and the Epic Battle to Survive the Vietnam War

I'm not even all the way through this book but I felt compelled to post a review anyway. I'm not a war history fan but the reason I bought this book is because I love the way the author writes about the personal stories of a select few within the topics of his books. He did the same thing with Horse Soldiers and In Harm's Way. He takes you along as their lives unfold. It makes it incredibly readable and easy to enjoy. Up until this book, I didn't know the specifics of why, exactly, we were involved in the Vietnam War. Everyone knows about Vietnam, but not like this. I am absolutely loving this book. Stan Parker is amazing. Thank you Doug Stanton for another great personal story. So far, this did not disappoint! Can't wait to finish it! Update: Enjoyed the entire book and the end was so touching. Really moving. Regarding Paul Sudano's poor review of the book due to what he catalogs as inaccuracies throughout. How I wish he had constributed to the research and lent his input to the book in the first place. All a person can do when telling someone else's story, especially 50 years later, is go by the info you have. Too bad Mr. Sudano didn't contribute to the book instead of just criticize it after the fact. I enjoyed reading his updates and appreciate the further accuracy and accounts of what happened.

This is a true story of a young high school graduate who joins the Army right after graduation during the Vietnam war. The solider wants to go to Vietnam immediately but he is assigned to Germany because his older brother is already in Vietnam. He is transferred to Vietnam and is assigned to a recon platoon just before the Tet offensive in January 1968. His recon unit participates in heavy combat just south of the city of Hue. The descriptions of the combat are chilling recollections of how horrible war can be. The book also explains how the soldiers had to interact with the local population when at times they could not distinguish between friend or foe. After the solider, Stan, is wounded a third time he has to leave Vietnam ad gets sent back to the states on leave just before Christmas of 1967. Even on leave Stan finds it difficult to adjust to civilian life. Stan has a second military career. He and a fellow Vietnam veteran return to the country as civilians on a tour and some interesting developments occur. The book recalls how some of Stan’s fellow veterans tried to adjust to civilian life after combat in Vietnam. All of the emotions of war and trying to recover from combat are detailed in this book. If you enjoy military history and your life was some how changed by the Vietnam war, I think that you will enjoy this book. Stan Parker and his fellow recon unit soldiers are among the heroes of the Vietnam war.

58,282 deaths. 304,000 wounded with 75,000 of those severely disabled. Perhaps the Vietnam War did not have to be fought, should the United States had not given in to the threats of Charles de Gaulle, following WWII, that France must have back their Indochina colony or otherwise they would join the Soviet sphere of influence. But, the war was fought and the lives of millions have been changed forever. Literature on WWII is still being written, as well as on Vietnam. New literature, in additional to historical fiction will continue to be published for years to come, as it should. Doug Stanton’s recently published “The Odyssey of Echo Company” is a powerful contribution to the literature on Vietnam. It follows Echo Company, of the 101st Airborne Division’s 1-501 Infantry Regiment’s tense deployment in 1968. More specifically it follows the journey of one young soldier, Stanley Parker, from his Gary, Indiana, home through the rice patties of Vietnam, as well as those other young men who served with him. The journey is not easy as death can come at any moment. This is not an easy book to read for those that had been there, yet it is important in trying to understand the complexity of that war and the reasons for conducting the war, both for Americans and for Vietnamese. The final chapter when Stanley Parker returns to Trung Hoa in 2014, the site of an intense battle on February 18, 1968, it becomes powerful when he meets, by accident or destiny, the VC commander that tried to kill him that day. Author Stanton has made two previous contributions to the literature of war, including the story of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis in the final days of WWII, and the story of US Special Forces working in northern Afghanistan shortly following 9-11. All three of his books are well researched and written. When this reader boarded the plane back to the United States in September 1969, he thought that he would never see Vietnam again. As fate would have it, he has been back multiple times in subsequent years for business, and grew a love for Vietnam that he did not have in 68 & 69. A final note is that the 1st Battalion, 501st Infantry (Airborne) Regiment remains in the business of killing our enemies, although no longer with the 101st Airborne Division. They have since become part of the 25th Infantry Division. This reader’s paratrooper son served two combat tours with the 1-501st in Iraq and Afghanistan. His pride in his regiment is simply reflected on his Arizona license plate, which reads 1-501. Their history lives on.

is a military classic and as good as most military histories. That's this books biggest problem, while it doesn't measure up to its predecessor, it's still a good read. Not really a war book, but the story of a everyday person, who does his duty for his country, and spends the rest of his life squaring it with himself. Always thank a veteran when you see one, you don't have to agree with the politics, but respect the service of the individual

I served Jan 2 1970 until the end of November 1970. I found the book to bring back a flood of memories and the faces and names of the men I served with. It brought me to tears on many occasions while reading what Stan Parker went through. I could relate to some of his situations. For 10 years after the war I told lies that I never served in Vietnam. I told people I was in Germany while I served in the army. I then worried they might ask about Germany and I would have to make up more lies. Like Stan I had a total stranger ask me if I served in Vietnam about 10 years after my returned. I reluctantly said yes and this man reached out his hand and said to me “welcome home”. I was in shock and my eyes filled with tears. It really took me back. I was shocked at the way my mind and body reacted that day. What a struggle it can be sometimes. Also like Stan. I went back to Vietnam in 2010. It was a healing time for me. I am glad I went back but I was very worried how I would feel with my boots back on the ground after 40 years. I also went back to Cu Chi back to the same Park where they called it the American war. I also crawled through the tunnels and couldn’t wait to get out. While shooting was going on in the distance from the firing range, I again reacted somewhat like Stan did. I couldn’t wait to leave the area. I want to thank Stan Parker for his service and I want to say to him Welcome home Stan. God bless you. Everyone should take the opportunity to read this book. You might get the taste of what Vietnam vets went through. Not only while in country but also the return back home. Sp/5 Doug Kaherl

Such an amazing read. Could not put it down. Will probably read once again. The 360o view of Stan’s life before and after VietNam will remain imbedded in my own memories. What a remarkable book. The technical capture of Stan and team mates in Viet Nam are so compelling so stark so brutal and so equally painful to learn. Thankyou Stanton for making this phenomenal book come to light.

This book was very graphic is detail and 50 years later I can still remember exact events that took place serving with the Company C, 1/501st Infantry, 101st Airborne Division as a combat medic. All the medics got Mohawks and we deployed to Vietnam on December 13,1967. Before we left Fort Campbell, KY, all us medics signed a one dollar bill called a “Come Back Buck” and I still have mine with all those signature covering the front. Wish I could have shared a few stories with the writer Doug Stanton but most of all, wish I could sit down and have one last cold beer or hot cup of coffee with those I knew who were not mentioned but gave up their lives at such a young age. I salute Paul Sundano and Daniel Bagley mentioned in the book and pay the same respect for James Gregory Evans and William Walker McConnell, who are not mentioned in the book but were the first two medics killed in action with only a couple of months in Vietnam. We called everyone by their last name and since we were all 18 to 21 and McConnell was just 26, we called him “Old Man McConnell”, both him and Evans were really true grit and very nice guys. You can Google their names to see their and read a little more about them.

Account of one average American male who comes of age during the Vietnam war at a particularly difficult time. Stan’s recount of the role Echo Company is gripping, and while the rest of his military career is exemplary it is somewhat passed over. The book is still well worth reading.

I struggled a bit in keeping this review short, but there is so much about this book I want to pass along to would-be readers, it made it a bit difficult knowing where to stop. Since finishing the book months ago, I’ve not stopped thinking of all the courageous young men of Recon platoon, 1/501 engulfed in such vicious fighting during Tet 1968. Their individual actions are so excellently woven together with that of Stan Parker and the events of his remarkable life as told through Doug Stanton’s exceptional writing in The Odyssey of Echo Company. I wasn’t prepared for the impact it would have on me, and more than once I had to put the book down either to wipe tears from my eyes, or to simply try and digest an event or moment that I had just read. This is Stan Parker’s story, and through his incredible experiences we are given a glimpse into not only his life, but also some of the events and motivations that shaped his, as well as the lives of the other young men in Recon serving with Stan for their country, in a war that quickly became unpopular. The book helped to give an understanding of what these young men faced and sacrificed during the bloody battles of attrition where the only goal for survival was “kill or be killed”. Doug Stanton writes with fantastic detail – placing the reader on the ground with Stan and his fellow paratroopers – without ever being cold or clinical about the events taking place. There is a much-needed empathy in dealing with the subject matter, allowing the reader into the world of these young men who while constantly facing death were at times being forced to give up a piece of their humanity in order to survive. Stan Parker’s story is an extraordinary one and considering how many times he’d escaped death you might think he’s physically indestructible (he’s wounded on 3 occasions during his time in Vietnam and had one serious brush with death at home). He is however very human, as were his fellow Recon platoon comrades in arms, and has had to deal with the horrors of war and the lingering effects it has on a person’s soul. Stan’s story comes full-circle during his trip back to Vietnam - while there he is able to visit one of the former battle sites – a battle in which he was wounded, and for which would receive his first Purple Heart (1 of 2 he was awarded during his time in Vietnam as he declined a third PHM to stay in Vietnam and avoid rotating to a state side assignment). It’s during Stan’s 2014 civilian return trip that we are witness to an incredibly touching and unexpected reunion of two former warriors, Mr, Sinh and Stan who literally tried to kill each other during a close encounter on a battlefield. But as Mr. Sinh was to say, “We were enemies, but now we are brothers.” I wasn’t there to be able to welcome Stan or any of the other Recon warriors home in December, 1968 (Jerry Austin, Al Dove, Tony Beke, Dwight Lane, or Mike Bradshaw), but I am able to say “Thank you” now for all of their unselfish time and sacrifice serving their country and standing up for the ideals they believed in, and just as importantly for putting their life on the line for their fellow paratroopers. Doug Stanton deserves huge praise for bringing the Recon platoon story to life on the page with such incredible detail and a deft emotional touch. I’ve rarely been affected by a book as I was by this one, so much of this story will stay with me forever.

War spannend.

One of the best books about the Viet Nam war. Easy to read and herd to put down. Interesting also the post war part where the author follows what happened to the platoon. I recommend this.

if you have already anything by Stanton you'll know his research and detail are exemplary, solidly engaging read, if you are squeamish then stay away as this is as gritty as it gets,

Incredible story and life of Stanley Parker, (who’s alive today) and the ‘Tet Offensive’ attack in Vietnam. This book is a must read for anyone interested in the Vietnam War and its history.