A Patch of Ground

A Patch of Ground Khe Sanh Remembered by Michael Archer

"A poignant, often humorous, recollection of the siege of Khe Sanh - a pivotal turning point in the American war in vietnam. Under constant bombardment from the enemy, Michael Archer and his cadre of young Marines - Orr, Pig, Old Woman and Savage, just to name a few - managed to survive and, in the process, learn about manhood, sacrifice and the darkest recesses of fear and loneliness.

"Mike Archer captures the essence of the young Marine in Vietnam; tough, longely, living miserably and dangerously, yet committed to his mission and especially his fellow Marines. This is a must read for anyone interested in knowing (or remembering) what it was really like at Khe Sanh in late 1967 and early 1968." -Major General Ray Smith, USMC (Ret.) Comppany Commander at Khe Sanh

"Archer blends humor, irony and drama to craft one of the best books written about the Vietnam War and certainly the preeminent account of the battle of Khe Sanh." - Robert Topmiller, Ph.D., Asst. Professor of History, Eastern Kentucky University and author of Lotus Unleased: The Buddhist Peace Movement in South Vietnam, 1964-1966. 

Michael Archer was born in Oakland, California, and served in the United States Marine Corps from 1967 to 1970. For his work as a field radio operator during thirteen months in South Vietnam, he earned the Navy Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. Today he lives in Reno, Nevada, with his wife and three children.

Yet there were times during those years when I could close my eyes and see the insolent young faces of my buddies, the fine red dust of Khe Sanh etching their every pore. The Ease, humor and courage with which they endured such relentless peril would sometimes seem to me like a dream. In those moments, it did not matter how I felt about the war, the nation that wished to forget, or myself. It mattered only that I was proud to have stood with them and defended a little patch of ground. - Michael Archer A Patch of Ground"

Format: Paperback

Page Count: 192