Platoon: Bravo Company Book

THEY GAVE HIM A COMPANY, A MISSION, AND A WAR. HE GAVE THEM HIS ALL.Lieutenant Colonel, Retired Robert Hemphill takes us back to his fighting days in Vietnam when he commanded Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Division-the same unit director Oliver Stone fought in and based his Oscar-winning movie Platoon on. Fresh off a promotion and brand new to Vietnam when he was unceremoniously given command of Bravo Company: the worst fighting unit in the 25th Battalion, Captain Robert Hemphill had to prove his courage and skill as a commander over the next five months-taking Bravo into an endless series of search and destroy missions, reacting to midnight mortar attacks and ambushes, and trying desperately to not only keep his men alive, but also sane in the madness of Vietnam. Then, just when Hemphill was getting the hang of it, the NVA unleashed their 1968 Tet offensive, and Bravo was plunged into the most horrific fighting of the war.From days of immense boredom to electrifying, toe-to-toe battles with the NVA, this riveting novel at last tells the real story of Platoon.AUTHORBIO: ROBERT L. HEMPHILL grew up in Georgia, graduating from the University of Georgia with a B.A. in Political Science in 1964. He served in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1989, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel of Infantry, receiving a Silver Star (for Gallantry in Action), Bronze Stars with "Vs" (for Valor in Ground Combat-4 awards), a Purple Heart (for Combat Wounds) and several other citations and awards. He served two years in Vietnam. Hemphill completed an M.A. in International Relations at Johns Hopkins University in 1973. He is a much sought-after speaker at veterans' organizations and teaches English and Civics part-time. Hemphill currently lives in Northern Virginia with his family.Read More