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McNamara's Folly : The Use of Low-IQ Troops in the Vietnam War by Hamilton Gregory (2015, Trade Paperback)
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Their death toll was appallingly high. Paperback : 266 pages. Item Weight : 12.6 ounces. ISBN-13 : 978-1495805486.
- Buy It NowMcNamara's Folly: The Use of Low-IQ Troops in the Vietnam War Paperback –...
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About this product
Product Identifiers
PublisherInfinity Publishing
ISBN-101495805484
ISBN-139781495805486
eBay Product ID (ePID)246226724
Product Key Features
Book TitleMcnamara's Folly : the Use of Low-Iq Troops in the Vietnam War
Number of Pages266 Pages
LanguageEnglish
TopicMilitary / Vietnam War
Publication Year2015
IllustratorYes
GenreHistory
AuthorHamilton Gregory
FormatTrade Paperback
Dimensions
Item Height0.6 in
Item Weight12.7 Oz
Item Length9 in
Item Width6 in
Additional Product Features
Intended AudienceTrade
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Ratings and Reviews
Most relevant reviews
- Jan 26, 2017
Sad story
Mr. Gregory's story unearths facts that prove rumors from the Vietnam War had substance. Specifically, recruiters were allowed to bring in people with lower intelligence to serve and people with impending jail time for criminal acts were given the choice of incarceration or Vietnam. I was in an infantry unit, the 199th LIB, and we saw the result of men who were rumored to be part of this program (note--we never had proof, and Gregory's book still does not provide that). Two men in particular were suspected, one of whom killed himself on a heroin overdose and the other was taken out of the field after his carelessness almost killed another man. If these were our only two, that's a pretty high incidence of loss (50% mortality and 100% loss of field effectives). Did we also have criminals? That might be hard to tell when the mission is to kill people and break things. Gregory told many stories that were very personal--and therefore hard to prove. But my main complaint is his giving President Johnson a pass. McNamara was doing a hard job for an unpopular war; and it was at the direction of LBJ. Note that McNamara left his position (probably fired) in 1968, and the program continued for another three years. Although we still have registration for the draft, our voluntary forces today make a repeat of this program highly unlikely. But if large number is required for a future war, look for this to be offered again. Someone no doubt said in 1971 when the program ended, "It seemed like a good idea at the time." It wasn't--it did no favors to these men who were inducted, it did no favors to the services they served...so who benefited? Gregory does a good job on this--it was (1) politicians (2) draft dodgers and (3) those who could afford to take advantage of draft exemptions. There is a better book on this subject, written in 1971 (Robert Heinl's "The Collapse of the Armed Forces"), but that was long ago. We need a reminder, so a tip of the hat to Hamilton Gregory. Better sourcing and less personal narrative would improve the effort.Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
- Nov 19, 2018
McNamara's Folly--a lesson for today
Since the boys & girls at the pentagon are trying to implement a similar program, this book should be read by anyone interested in the subject. Gives the author's personal perspective as well as reflects his research on this controversial program.Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
- Aug 15, 2017
The Truth Behind the Program
I served in the Army during the time frame that is the subject of the book (1967 to 1972) and I knew a couple of challenged soldiers in both Vietnam and in the States. I particularly enjoyed the first half of the book about basic training as it was a romp through the past for me. The author's memories and research are quite good and he presents the facts about the program, how it was implemented, its impact on the military as well as the resulting chaos of the program on the military and finally its horrible impact on the Category IV and V soldiers. These poor souls were allowed to serve in a situation they could neither comprehend or come to grips with. The book is a fast read and an interesting one, particularly if you served in the late 60s and early 70s. It's probably a must for any serious student of the Vietnam War or even the mid Cold War.Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
- Nov 21, 2018
book review
excellent reading.Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
- Feb 02, 2021
Title says it all
True story but a sad commentary on the way we treated draftees/volunteers who weren’t fit for military serviceVerified purchase: YesCondition: New
- Dec 28, 2016
Expected more.
I was aware of the of what the book was talking about but found the information vague.Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
