4
PLATOON LEADER: A MEMOIR OF COMMAND
INDEX
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ABOUT THE BOOK
INTRODUCTION
SALIENT FEATURES
OWN IDEAS
CONCLUSION
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
COL (RETD) JAMES R. MCDONOUGH IS A BROOKLYN NATIVE .
DID GRADUATION FROM BOTH MIT AND WEST POINT AND SERVED AS AN ARMY OFFR IN THE US
ARMY.
WAS AWARDED THREE BRONZE STARS (ONE FOR VALOR) , THE PURPLE HEART AND THE
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEADAL , AMONG OTHERS.
SERVED US ARMY IN VIETNAM WAR AS A LT IN COMMAND OF 2 nd PL BRAVO COY , 503 INF
(AIRBORNE).
HELD NATIONAL POSITIONS IN DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENTS AND SECURITY POST ARMY CAREER
JAMES R MCDONOUGH WAS THE AUTHOR OF FOLLOWING BOOKS:
• PLATOON LEADER : A MEMOIR OF COMMAND IN COMBAT.
• DEFENCE OF HILL 781.
• THE LIMITS OF GLORY : A NOVEL OF WATERLOO.
• SKY RIDERS : HISTORY OF 327/401 GLIDER INFANTRY.
• WAR IN THE FALKLANDS : THE USE AND DISUSE OF MILITARY THEORY.
ABOUT THE BOOK
BOOK NAME : PLATOON LEADER : A MEMOIR OF COMMAND IN COMBAT.
AUTHOR : JAMES R. MCDONOUGH
COUNTRY : USA
GENRE : MEMOIR
PUBLISHER : PRESIDIO PRESS
PUBLICATION DATE : 1985
MEDIA : PRINT
PAGES : 208
INTRODUCTION
US ENTERED WITH AN AIM TO CONTROL COMMUNISM SPREAD IN SOUTH
VIETNAM.
VIETNAM WAR WAS A TRAGEDY IN THE MILITARY HISTORY OF US ARMY.
IT LED TO THE LOSS OF 58,000 LIVES AND ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF
RESOURCES.
AN UNPREPARED ARMY , NO KNOWLEDGE OF ENEMY TERRAIN , A DETERMINED
ENEMY , NOTHING FAVOURED THE US ARMY.
THIS BOOK TOUCHES THE LIVES OF THE YOUNG MEN WHO FOUGHT IN
VIETNAM.
IT GIVES A GLIMPSE OF THE FEAR , TRAUMA AND HORRORS THAT HIDE
BEHINDS THE BRAVERY IN A WAR.
THE BOOK SPEAKS OF LEADERSHIP IN SUCH SITUATIONS.
INTRODUCTION
DISPOSITION OF 2d PLATOON
SALIENT FEATURES
CHAPTER 1
• THE AUTHOR TALKS ABOUT HIS LIFE POST HIS SERVICE IN VIETNAM .
• HOW THE THOUGHT AND NIGHTMARES OF WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS PLATOON IN
VIETNAM STILL HAUNTS HIM.
• HE WAS AMONG THE VERY FEW THAT CAME BACK WITHOUT LOSING A LIMB OR
THEIR LIVES.
CHAPTER 2
• IN THIS CHAPTER THE AUTHOR TALKS ABOUT HIS YEARS AT WEST POINT.
• HE ALSO TALKS ABOUT HIS PERSONNAL LIFE BEFORE GOING TO WAR.
CHAPTER 3
• THE THIRD CHAPTER TALKS ABOUT HIS FIRST DAY AT VIETNAM .
• THE AUTHOR GETS THE ORDER TO GO TO THE 173d AIRBORNE BRIGADE .
• HE HAS AN UNPLEASANT MEET WITH A LIEUTENANT OF THE SAME UNIT , BRINGING
OUT THE MADNESS BORN OF TERROR AND DEHUMANIZING FEROCITY.
SALIENT FEATURES
CHAPTER 4
• IN THIS CHAPTER HE TALKS ABOUT HIS ARRIVAL IN 2D PLATOON.
• HE MEETS THE THEN PLATOON LEADER Lt. TOM ROFLE .
• A LEADER WITH NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS MEN , HIS PLATOON BUT THOUGHTS
CONCERNED TO HIS SURVIVAL .
• HE THEN CHECKS THE PLATOON LOCATIONS , DEFENCES , POSTS ETC.
CHAPTER 5
• HE TAKES THE CHARGE OF THE PLATOON.
• HE CHANGES THE COURSE OF ACTION FROM DEFENSIVE TO OFFENSIVE.
• HE SENDS OUT PTL , LAYES AMBUSHES , HE GOES OUT WITH THE PTLS.
• HE MEETS THE PLATOONS SERGEANTS AND PASSES THE FIRST SET OF INSTRUCTIONS AND
ORDERS TO THEM.
CHAPTER 6
• THE AUTHOR IN THIS CHAPTER COMES ACROSS CRITICAL DECISION MAKING IN COMBAT.
• LATER HE IS HIT BY A BOOBY TRAP , HE IS CAUGHT BY FEAR .
• ACCORDING TO HIM HE FAILES IN HIS FIRST ATTEMPT AS A PLATOON LEADER.
SALIENT FEATURES
CHAPTER 7
• IN THIS CHAPTER HE TALKS OF A INTERLUDE IN HIS SERVICE AT
VIETNAM DUE TO HIS INJURIES.
• THE PERSONAL FEAR THAT GRASPS HIM AS THE DAY OF HIS
DISCHARGE COMES CLOSE.
CHAPTER 8
• THE AUTHOR RETURNS BACK TO HIS PLATOON .
• HE WENTS OUT ON A PTL , WHERE HE COFRONTS HIS FEARS AS HE
DIVES DOWN YELLING BOOBY TRAP MISTAKING THE SOUND OG HIS
COMPASS HITTING A ROCK WITH THAT OF A BOOBY TRAP.
• BUT THE FEAR LEAVES HIM IN RUSH .
• HE MAKES SOME TACTICAL CHANGES IN THE ROUTINE OF PLATOON
AND FOCUS MORE ON TACTICAL AND WEAPON TRG.
SALIENT FEATURES
CHAPTER 9
• THIS CHAPTER REVEALS TO YOU VARIOUS CHARACTERS OF THE BOOK .
• SOME OF THE IMPORTANT ONES ARE
PHIL NAIL , RTO
SPECIALIST BARNES
CORPORAL JOHN KILLIGAN
NGUYEN NHAN , A FORMER VIETCONG
TRAN VAN DONG , THE VILLAGE CHIEF
CHAPTER 10
• THIS CHAPTER INCLUDES ALL HIS ACTIVITIES PRE HIS FIRST BATTLE .
• THE AUTHOR ALSO COMES ACROSS A REBELLIOUS SOLDIER , SPECIALIST KING .
• KING THREATENS AUTHOR’S LIFE AND AUTHORITY BY LAUNCHING A GRENADE
PAST HIM .
• THE AUTHOR REACTS BY PUTTING HIS GUN UNDER HIS CHIN .
• IT ALSO NARRATES THE KILLING OF A VILLAGE LADY , TUAN CAO KY BY THE
VIETCONG.
SALIENT FEATURES
CHAPTER 11
• IN THIS CHAPTER THE AUTHOR NARRATES VIET CONG’S ATTACK ON THE PLATOON.
• THE ATTACK FAILED BECAUSE THE PLATOON WAS ABLE TO DELAY THEM .
• MEANWHILE THE REINFORCEMENT CAME IN FORM OF ATTACK HELICOPTERS AND
ARMOURED VEHICLES.
• THE US ARMY HAD OVERWHELMING ADVANTAGE OF FIREPOWER AND MOBILITY.
CHAPTER 12
• THIS CHAPTER NARRATES THE AFTERMATH OF THE BATTLE.
• THE VISITS BY SENIOR OFFICERS , GENERALS .
• THE PLATOON WAS REINFORCED WITH
AN ARMOURED CAVALRY PLATOON
THREE NEW RIFLE SQUADS FROM DIFFERRENT COMPANIES
• THIS ALSO CREATED A PROBLEM AS THEY WERE NOT AN INTEGRATED UNIT , THEY
WERE NOT BETTER QUALITY SOLDIERS BUT UNWANTED SOLDIERS OF THE RESPECTIVE
COMPANIES.
• THE SAME NIGHT THE PLATOON OPENS FIRE ON A VIETNAMESE PATROL LEAD BY AN
AMERICAN ADVISOR THINKING THEM TO BE ANOTHER VIET CONG PATROL.
SALIENT FEATURES
CHAPTER 13
• THE PLATOON WAS ONCE AGAIN BROUGHT UNDER FIRE BY THE VIETCONG BUT WAS REPULSED.
• THIS CHAPTER ALSO INCLUDES THE ENTRY OF TWELVE MEN AND A WOMAN INSIDE THE
PLATOON’S PERIMETER AS A PART OF THE REVOLUTION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
• ONE OUT OF THESE TWELVE MEN WAS A VIET CONG , WHO WAS TAKEN AS PRISONER OF WAR
WHEN HE TRIED TO DETONATE THE AMMUNITION DUMP.
• THE SAME NIGHT THE PLATOON WAS ENGAGED IN A FIRE FIGHT BUT THIS TIME THE PLATOON
WAS PREPARED FOR IT , THE ATTACK WAS CRUSHED AND THE PLATOON WENT IN FOR A
PURSUIT BUT THE ENEMY HAD DISAPPEARED.
CHAPTER 14
• THE PLATOON GETS HOLD OF A SUSPECTED VIETCONG FAMILY WHICH IS TAKEN IN FOR
INTERROGATION.
• THE AUTHOR IS CALLED IN TO LEAD A RECCE PAATROL TO LOCATE A NORTH VIETNAMESE BN
ON THE MARCH.
• HE LEAVES THE PLATOON UNDER SERGEANT HERNANDEZ .
• DURING THE RECCE , ACCIDENTLY HE IS FIRED UPON BY THE MEMBERS OF THE RECCE PTL AS
THEY WERE DISORIENTED DURING DISPOSITION.
• THE RECCE PTL IS COMPROMISED BUT THE AUTHOR DECIDES TO STAY THERE UNTIL DAWN AND
THEN HE MOVES BACK TO THE RANGER CAMP.
SALIENT FEATURES
CHAPTER 15
• IN THIS CHAPTER THE UNIT IS ROTATED OUT OF THE FIELD FOR REST AND
RECUPERATION.
• THE UNIT WAS ROTATED OFF THE FRONT FOR THREE DAYS.
CHAPTER 16
• MEANWHILE THE VIETCONGS HAD TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF MONSOON AND THE
PLATOON’S ABSENCE .
• THEY DUG TUNNELS , SPIDER HOLES , LAYED DOWN BOOBY TRAPS .
• THEY BUILT AN EFFECTIVE SIGNAL SYSTEM
IF A PTL WOULD GO OUT AT DUSK, A LIGHT WOULD GO ON IN A CERTAIN HUT
IF A PTL EXITED TO THE NORTH , A CERTAIN RADIO STATION WOILD BE
TUNED IN LOUDLY ON A PORTABLE TRANSISTOR. A NEARBY MONASTEERY
WOULD PICK UP THE SIGNAL LIGHTS ITS OWN LAMP AND SOUND ITS GONG.
WHEN ALL SQUADS WERE IN , THE LIGHTS WOULD BE EXTINGUISHED.
• THE AUTHOR CONFOUNDES THE INT SYSTEM BY CHANGING HIS TACTICS AND
TIME PLAN .
• LATER HE LAYS AN AMBUSH AT THE MONASTERY KILING THREE VIETCONGS.
SALIENT FEATURES
CHAPTER 17
• THE AUTHORS GETS HOLD OF A 60MM MORTARAND EIGHTEEN ROUNDS.
• THERE IS ANOTHER THRUST THAT IS REPULSED , THIS TIME BY USING THE MORTAR.
• THE AUTHOR SENDS A SQUAD TOWARDS THE BEACH WITH THE THOUGHT THAT A DIP IN
THE OCEAN WATER WOULD HELP THEIR SORE FEETS.
• THIS TURNS OUT TO BE A DISASTER AS HE LOSES TWO OF HIS MEN DUE TO STRONG
CURRENTS.
CHAPTER 18
• THE AUTHOR APPOINTS KILLIGAN AS HIS RTO , KILLIGAN WAS UNHAPPY ABOUT THIS BUT
LIKE A GOOD SOLDIER HE OBEYED.
• THE VIET CONGS RAIDED THE ARVN BASE CAMP LEAVING 30 ARVN’S DEAD.
CHAPTER 19
• THE AUTHOR IS CALLED INB Y COY HQ TO CONDUCT A RAID ON A PLATOON SIZE
STRENGTH.
• THE AUTHOR TAKES BULK OF THE PLATOON AND LEAVES THE PERIMETER AFTER LAST
LIGHT.
• HE CAPTURES A VIETCONG ALIVE AND KILLS FOUR OTHERS.
• OUT OF THE FOUR , TWO WERE WOUNDED BUT WERE KILLED BY THE MEDI C AT POINT
BLANK RANGE SHOWING HOW WAR CAN CHANGE THE HUMAN BEHAVIOUR.
SALIENT FEATURES
CHAPTER 20
• THE AUTHOR IS CALLED IN BY THE COY CDR TO CARRY OUT A SADO INTO
OTHER COY AREA OF OPERATION.
• HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY TWO OTHER JUNIOR LIEUTENANTS , HE BRIEFED
THEM ABOUT THE PLAN.
• BUT WAS HIMSELF NOT SURE ABOUT IT AS HE DOUBTED THE CAPABILITIES OF
THE YOUNG LIEUTENANTS AND THE CAPTAIN WHO REFUSED TO LEAD THE OP.
CHAPTER 21
• ON THEIR WAY BACK THE PTL IS AMBUSHED .
• DUE TO KILLIGAN’S VIGILANCY THE PTL DOES NOT ENTER THE KILLING AREA ,
BUT HE TAKES A GRENADE BLAST AT POINT BLANK RANGE.
• THEY CLOSED IN ON ENEMY FROM TWO SIDES USING THE REINFORCEMENT
FROM OWN PL AND 1 PL , WHILE ENGAGING HIM FROM THE FRONT.
• BUT THE ENEMY WAS ABLE TO BBREAK CONTACT AND FLEE.
SALIENT FEATURES
CHAPTER 22
• AFTER LAST LIGHT HE LEAVES FOR THE SADO.
• HE MOVES TO 3d PLATOON LOCATION TO GET SOME EXRA MEN.
• ON THEIR WAY THEY ARE AMBUSHED AGAIN , LEADING TO ONE CASUALITY.
• AT 0530 , THEY ALONG WITH MEN FROM 3d PLATOON SET UP 4 AMBSH
POINTS.
• THE ENEMY WALKS INTO TWO OF THE AMBUSH SITES AND IS KILLED.
CHAPTER 23
• ON DEC 28 , THE VIETCONGS TOOK A HIT ON THE VILLAGE .
• THEIR MISSION WAS TO KILL AS MANY VILLAGERS AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE.
• THE AUTHOR ALONG WITH HIS PLATOON RUSHED UPON THE VIETCONGS
AND DROVE THEM TO THE EDGE OF THE VILLAGE.
• BUT THE DAMAGE WAS DONE , MANY VILLAGERS WERE KILLED , HALF OF
THE VILLAGE WAS DESTROYED , THOSE WHO WERE RESCUED LEFT THE
VILLAGE .
OWN VIEWS
THE AUTHOR LETS YOU SLIP IN HIS BOOT AND SEE THE WAR FROM HIS
PERSPECTIVE.
JAMES R. MCDONOUGH IS HONEST AS AN AUTHOR , HE TALKS ABOUT HIS
FAILURES AND FEARS THE SAME WAY AS HE TALKS ABOUT HIS
ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
HIS BOOK ALSO QUESTIONS THE REAL MEANING OF A LEADER THROUGH HIS
OWN EXAMPLE AND THAT OF THE FORMER PLATOON LEADER.
HE GUIDES US THROUGH THE DIFFICULTIES OF ESTABLISHING LEADERSHIP
AND AUTHORITY OVER TROOPS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OVER ONESELF.
OWN VIEWS
HE ALSO TAKES US THROUGH THE LONELINESS OF A LEADER.
A LEADER HAS PATIENT EARS FOR HIS MEN YET NEVER HAS THE LUXURY OF
DOING THE SAME.
THROUGH THE CHARACTER OF KILLIGAN , HE EPITOMIZE THE MEN’S
RESILIENCE , DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT.
SERGEANT DORNE AND SERGEANT PALLOMAN WAS ANOTHER EPITOME OF
SOLDIERY , NOBILITY AND THE SENSE OF DUTY A SOLDIER CARRIES.
THIS CERTAINLY SHOWED THAT NOT ALL MEN ARE SAME , AND THE WAY TO
HANDLE DIFFERENT MEN IS NOT THE SAME.
HE ALSO DIFFERENTIATES BETWEEN SOLDIERING AND INHUMAN KILLING.
CONCLUSION
IT IS A REMARKABLE MEMOIR OF SMALL UNIT LEADERSHIP.
A MUST READ FOR ALL THE YOUNG OFFICERS TRYING TO PREPARE FOR
FUTURE.
THE EXPERIENCES RELATED IN THE BOOK REINFORCES WHAT WE HAVE
LEARN
“DISCIPLINED SOLDIERS WILL FIGHT TO WIN , WIN TO SURVIVE
, AND SURVIVE TO FIGHT AGAIN.”
IT CLEARLY BRINGS OUT THAT WAR IS A SERIES OF STARK
CONFORTATIONS THAT MUST BE FACED UNDER THE MOST EMOTION
WRENCHING CONDITIONS.
CONCLUSION
THE BOOK BRINGS OUT THE FACT THAT DECISIONS ON SMALL LEVEL ARE NOT
DELIBRATE AND WELL PLANNED , THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE QUICK AND AT
THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT.
A LOT DEPENDS ON TH INGENUITY OF THE LEADER AND HIS COMMITMENT
TOWARDS THE TASK AND MEN.
IT SURELY TEACHES THAT KNOWLEDGE OF ENEMY AND DOMINATION OF AREA
OF RESPONSIBILTY IS MUST .
THE BOOK IS VIVID AND COMPELLING IT COMPELS YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE
FACT THE BEST DEFENSE IS OFFENSIVE ACTION .
“A LEADER HAS NO ONE TO LOOK FOR ADVICE ON DECISIONS . HE MUST DO
WHAT HE THINKS IS BEST , BUT HE MUST NOT FOOL HIMSELF AS TO THE
CONSEQUENCES OF HIS CHOICE.”
THE END
