Terry M Sater

The Nightmare of the Mekong Terry M Sater

"The Nightmare of the Mekong" is a gritty account of the Vietnam War, from a sailor who manned automatic weapons in intense combat, on the rivers, streams and canals of the Mekong Delta. It is profoundly personal, with diary entries, and letters to and from home. It includes summaries of official "Operations Reports" and military historical records. The interwoven references to music and news of the day provides a vivid picture of the culture and politics of the times. It is a true story of love, family, war, life and death. Some of this story will bring a smile to your face and warm your heart. Much of it will surprise you. Some of it will give you nightmares. Terry Sater takes the reader through the difficult training of being a "River Rat," fighting the Viet Cong on the dark and dangerous rivers, streams and canals of enemy infested territory. The men of the Mobile Riverine Force go through the legendary "S. E. R. E." (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) training, followed by boat handling and weapons training, by Army, Navy, and Marine instructors. Following the training, Sater takes the reader to the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, where death awaits around every bend in the river, or a careless step into the muddy Mekong River, "The River of Nine Dragons." Coming home, Sater sheds light on the terrible price our Vietnam veterans paid for serving their country, both in their treatment by the antiwar protestors, and the nightmares and flashbacks that came home with them. If you can only read one book to learn about the Vietnam War, this is the one. You will feel you are there.