Don't Bunch Up: One Marine's Story and Some Notable Exceptions

By William Van Zanten

Book Overview

As a first lieutenant, Bill van Zanten was a company executive officer in the first stateside Marine unit committed to combat in 1965. A year later, Captain van Zanten was one of the 'Magnificent Bastards' of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, fighting in the boonies near hill 69, outside of Chu Lai. Van Zanten's experience in Vietnam is very different from the pictures made in Hollywood. It had a soldierly professionalism built on sound and rigorous training. Dedication and boot camp forged the volunteer Marines of the early war years, so that when the stakes went through the roof in Vietnam, commitment of man to man and man to unit was total. There was a soldier's intimacy, and a soldier's humour. Together they meant survival, and that is what this memoir is about.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 020802347X
• ISBN13: 9780208023476
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Archon Books
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 1.09 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.0" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

What's Going On Here? This Is A Good Book!

Since my newest book, "Kill Me If You Can" came out I've read every book about the Vietnam War I've come across, and "Don't Bunch Up" was an interesting read. Truth is, I'd have to rate it higher than my book because it attacks the NVA, not the sociopaths in Washington as does my work. I was spellbound; Zanten's writing was rich, firm and moving. I didn't even know Marines could read, more less write.