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The Tunnels of Cu Chi A Harrowing Account of America Tunnel Rats in the Underground Battlefields of Vietnam Tom Mangold Books

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The Tunnels of Cu Chi A Harrowing Account of America Tunnel Rats in the Underground Battlefields of Vietnam Tom Mangold Books

I served in Vietnam in 1967-68 in a support role, and was always amazed by the resilience of the Viet Cong in facing off against the most powerful military on earth.

This book is AMAZING! It explains why and how the Vietnamese were able to endure unbelievable hardships to outlast the greatest power on earth. When I was in Saigon during the Tet Offensive, I marveled at how the Viet Cong could muster the forces needed to attack so many cities at the same time......the tunnels provide one answer...

There are many lessons to be learned from this book......some which should have been learned much earlier by American Leadership. The key lesson for me was that TECHNOLOGICAL SUPERIORITY doesn't always result in eventual victory. History is replete with this lesson, going back to our own Revolution, when the British had the most powerful military on the planet, but eventually lost the American colonies. More recently, the Russians learned their hard lesson when they took on the Afghanistan people and eventually had to withdraw in spite of overwhelming military advantages. America could have avoided many of the lives lost in Vietnam had the leadership of the time remembered the lessons of the past.

However, as evidenced by the more recent occupation of Iraq, when the leadership attempted to occupy a totally fractured country with too few troops, it took us over ten years to untangle ourselves from a mess we helped to create......in fact we are STILL embroiled there.

The other lesson I've learned is this.....While I'm very supportive of HELPING other nations protect themselves, but THEY MUST TAKE THE LEAD in their own defense......if the populous isn't willing to do that, any regime we prop up will eventually fail.

Lastly, I salute the soldiers who bravely fought this "underground war". They are truly among the very few who would be willing to do a job that most of us would never do. They deserve the special recognition that I believe this book delivers.


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The Tunnels of Cu Chi A Harrowing Account of America Tunnel Rats in the Underground Battlefields of Vietnam Tom Mangold Books Reviews

As Viet Nam veteran, that worked in that area, was really surprised at what was under me all the time. A very interesting account of the part of the war. I could never be a rat, two reasons too big, and too scared. Hats off to our rats, you have my utmost respect.
Stated couldn't find many GI tunnel rats and spent most of the book interviewing VC. I was based out of Cu Chi for half my tour (1967) and found the book not as I remembered.
This is one of the best books on the Vietnam War, mainly because it includes a great deal of insightful perspective from the the other side - namely the Vietcong. It also highlights American tactical failures absent from most American histories. For example, placing the 25th Infantry Division main base of operations virtually on top of the enemy's biggest tunnel complex and never recognizing that fact. At times the narrative becomes plodding and I'll ding it a star for that, but I'd only take half that star away if I could.
Everyone should read this book. They will discover things they probably never thought of about these tinnels. I could not imagine having tunnels so big they had hospitals too plus many other things. They had different elevations or floors. The men who lived or served here were a special group who took take the darkness, little air at times and the dirt of course. Our own soldiers that explored them were a very brave group to even dare go into a hole inthe ground so small. Kind of a long story yet very good reading and one you really want to keep reading.
Loved the book. As a 25th Division infantryman in 69/70 I was familiar with the base camp at Cu Chi although I spent my tour in near by Tay Ninh province. Always amazed by the mental and physical strength of the VC and this book proves why.
I spent some time in Cu Chi, 25th inf, so naturally the topic was of interest. What I found so wonderful was the quality of the writing and most importantly the writers ability to share both the G.I. and V.C. side of that tragic waist of life and dollars. I was unable to put it down. Even if your not a Military history buff but appreciate a talented writers ability to tell a story , you will like this book
I found it very well-balanced in terms of telling both sides, though conservative readers might find it too sympathetic to the communists. Some amazing and terrifying stories. Makes you appreciate modern comforts, such as, you know, not living underground for years at a time.
I served in Vietnam in 1967-68 in a support role, and was always amazed by the resilience of the Viet Cong in facing off against the most powerful military on earth.

This book is AMAZING! It explains why and how the Vietnamese were able to endure unbelievable hardships to outlast the greatest power on earth. When I was in Saigon during the Tet Offensive, I marveled at how the Viet Cong could muster the forces needed to attack so many cities at the same time......the tunnels provide one answer...

There are many lessons to be learned from this book......some which should have been learned much earlier by American Leadership. The key lesson for me was that TECHNOLOGICAL SUPERIORITY doesn't always result in eventual victory. History is replete with this lesson, going back to our own Revolution, when the British had the most powerful military on the planet, but eventually lost the American colonies. More recently, the Russians learned their hard lesson when they took on the Afghanistan people and eventually had to withdraw in spite of overwhelming military advantages. America could have avoided many of the lives lost in Vietnam had the leadership of the time remembered the lessons of the past.

However, as evidenced by the more recent occupation of Iraq, when the leadership attempted to occupy a totally fractured country with too few troops, it took us over ten years to untangle ourselves from a mess we helped to create......in fact we are STILL embroiled there.

The other lesson I've learned is this.....While I'm very supportive of HELPING other nations protect themselves, but THEY MUST TAKE THE LEAD in their own defense......if the populous isn't willing to do that, any regime we prop up will eventually fail.

Lastly, I salute the soldiers who bravely fought this "underground war". They are truly among the very few who would be willing to do a job that most of us would never do. They deserve the special recognition that I believe this book delivers.