Abandoned in Hell
The Fight for Vietnam's Firebase Kate
New York, New York : NAL Caliber, [2015]
Format: Book
Description: xix, 356 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
"In October 1969, William Albracht, the youngest Green Beret captain in Vietnam, took command of a remote hilltop outpost called Fire Base Kate, held by only 27 American soldiers and 150 Montagnard militiamen. He found their defenses woefully unprepared. At dawn the next morning, three North Vietnamese Army regiments--some 6,000 men--crossed the Cambodian border and attacked. Outnumbered three dozen to one, Albracht's men held off repeated ground assaults by communist forces with fierce hand-to-hand fighting, air support and a dangerously close B-52 strike. For days, the NVA blanketed Kate in a rain of rockets, mortars, artillery, machine guns, and small arms, blocking efforts to resupply, reinforce, or evacuate the outpost. Albracht continually exposed himself to enemy fire to direct air strikes, to guide re-supply helicopters, to distribute ammunition and water to his men, to retrieve the dead and to rescue the wounded, often shielding men with his own body. Wounded by rocket shrapnel, he refused medical attention or evacuation. Exhausted from days without sleep, he continued to rally his men to beat off each new enemy attack. After five days, Kate's defenders were out of ammo and water. Aerial resupply was suicidal, and reinforcements were denied by military commanders who had written off Kate. Albracht refused to surrender or die in place. Refusing to allow his men to surrender, Albracht led his troops, including many wounded, off the hill and on a daring night march through enemy lines. Abandoned in Hell is an astonishing memoir of leadership, sacrifice, and brutal violence, a riveting journey into Vietnam's heart of darkness, and a compelling reminder of the transformational power of individual heroism. Not since Lone Survivor and We Were Soldiers Once, And Young has there been such a gripping and authentic account of battlefield courage. Includes photos"-- Provided by publisher.
Subjects:
Albracht, William.
United States. Army. Special Forces -- Officers -- Biography.
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal narratives, American.
Escapes -- Vietnam -- Central Highlands -- History -- 20th century.
Soldiers -- United States -- Biography.
Heroes -- United States -- Biography.
Command of troops -- Case studies.
Courage -- Case studies.
Fire Base Kate (Vietnam)
Albracht, William.
United States. Army. Special Forces -- Officers -- Biography.
Vietnam War, 1961-1975 -- Personal narratives, American.
Escapes -- Vietnam -- Central Highlands -- History -- 20th century.
Soldiers -- United States -- Biography.
Heroes -- United States -- Biography.
Command of troops -- Case studies.
Courage -- Case studies.
Fire Base Kate (Vietnam)
ISBN:
9780451468086 (hardback)
Availability | |||
---|---|---|---|
Call Number | Location | Shelf Location | Status |
HISTORY War Vietnam Alb | Ballentine Indoors | Nonfiction | In |
HISTORY War Vietnam Alb | Edgewood | Nonfiction | Out (Due: 6/29/2024) |
HISTORY War Vietnam Alb | Southeast | Nonfiction | In |