Courage Under Fire

The 101st Airborne's Hidden Battle at Tam Ky

By: Ed Sherwood LTC US Army (Ret.)

Narrated by: Jim Seybert

Courage Under Fire is the first book published about Operation Lamar Plain. After fifty 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. This book uses actual battle records and eyewitness accounts to follow "Never Quit" Delta Company and its sister companies through 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.

©2021 Ed Sherwood, LTC, US Army (Ret.) (P)2022 Tantor

Great detail

Great listen, appears the research was in depth. I had never heard of this battle and the timing in most interesting

Reality of the conflict.

Loved historical information. Did not know any of this. Wish there were more books with this info.

Better to buy the text

The book was great, well written and narrated. The issue is that is FULL of number, stats, names, and other data that is better understood by being able to see them. Definitely worth buying a hard copt.

Tedious recounting of combat

Narration is clear but dry and boring.

Content is equally as focused on unmemorable statistics as on matter of fact descriptions on combat.


Certainly there are more engaging Vietnam memoirs.

Good story but . . .

A somewhat dry almost tedious tale of a battle that needs to be told. Some individual stories but more of a 30,000 foot view of the battle. It is a story that needs to be told and added to the official history of the Vietnam War. It would have been better if not for the performance of the reader. I still don't get why the readers aren't screened for their knowledge of military nomenclature. Just one example: the "Tactical Operations Center" is not called "Tee Oh See", it's " Tock". There are others as well, like the time. No one says at "One thousand four hundred and twenty hours", it's "fourteen twenty hours". As a veteran (of the 101st) though minor, these errors detract from the story.