Courage Under Fire

The 101st Airborne's Hidden Battle at Tam Ky

Ed Sherwood

• Publisher: Casemate
• Year: 2022
• Print ISBN: 9781612009643
• eBook ISBN: 9781612009650
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military Biographies
• Index: History

"A thorough examination of Operation Lamar Plain from the point of view of the soldiers on the ground, particularly those of Sherwood's company." — ARMY Magazine
Courage Under Fire is the first book published about Operation Lamar Plain. After 50 years, the story of the renowned 101st Airborne's major offensive near Tam Ky, South Vietnam remains largely unknown. Fighting at Tam Ky by the 1st Brigade began 15 May 1969 while the 101st's 3rd Brigade battled on Hamburger Hill. The political consequences of Hamburger Hill's high casualties caused Lamar Plain and its high casualties to remain classified and undisclosed. Decades later, the fighting at Tam Ky is mostly forgotten except by those who fought there.
Sherwood's superb research of now declassified records uncovers how such a large battle could remain hidden and undisclosed. But that is not the heart of his story. His focus is on the courage and commitment of the young infantry soldiers who fought. Courage Under Fire uses actual battle records and eyewitness accounts to follow "Never Quit" Delta Company and its sister companies through 28 days of continuous combat at Tam Ky. Delta Company's soldiers lived up to their motto despite increasing casualties, a tough enemy, harsh battlefield conditions, and loss of leaders.
For all who fought at Tam Ky, their bravery and devotion to duty in an increasingly unpopular war is worthy to be remembered. With veterans of Tam Ky now growing older and fewer in number, it is past time to tell their story.
"Sherwood has written one of the best, most comprehensive accounts of Vietnam War combat published to date." — MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Foreword
• The Infantryman’s Creed
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• Prologue
• Introduction: Into the Fray
• Part 1 Combat Operations Before Tam Ky,1 March–15 May 1969
• Part 2 Initial Combat Operations at Tam Ky,15 May–2 June 1969
• Part 3 The Decisive Battle at Tam Ky,3–12 June 1969
• Epilogue Looking Back Over 50 Years Later
• Appendix 1 Operation Lamar Plain: A Hidden and Almost Forgotten Battle
• Appendix 2 The Enemy at Tam Ky
• Appendix 3 Organization for Combat at Tam Ky
• Appendix 4 Delta Company Soldiers
• Appendix 5 Delta Soldiers Killed in Action, 1 March–13 August 1969
• Appendix 6 1-501st Medics Killed in Action, 1 March–13 August 1969
• Appendix 7 Operation Lamar Plain Photos
• Appendix 8 PTSD and Agent Orange
• Appendix 9 Life After Vietnam
• Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations
• Bibliography
• Endnotes