Serving Our Country And Paying the Price: The Story of Recon 2/502

By Richard "Lambchops" Price

This book is the combat story of a most respected United States Infantryman. But don’t be deceived when you read his call sign was "Lambchops". It was supposed to be "Lam-Baste", which Mr. Webster describes as "to assault violently".

His intelligence, determination, courage and leadership were well-developed character traits when his country called. He was trained for service as a rifleman, sent to the Division of Screaming Eagles and assigned to a clique of equally gifted riflemen respectfully known as Strike Force Recon.

This is also their story and when you read the torment, it may help you understand the enduring loyalty combat soldiers have for one another.

- Charles J. "Shamrock" Shay, Colonel Infantry (Ret)
Commander 2/502 Strike Force

The author is a man I fought side by side with in the jungles of Vietnam. We went there as teenagers and returned home as men, as survivors. In this book the author looks into the soul of the RECON soldier.

-Don "Wild Bill" Corey
Recon 2/502

Learn what it is to be hardcore, the state of mind of a combat grunt, and how a rational being deals with the rest of his life. Better than any ivory tower study.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to know the price one pays being a warrior for democracy and freedom.

-James P. Brinker
Recon 2/502 Vietnam 1970
Author West of Hue, Down the Yellow Brick Road

$16 + $4 shipping and handling
Richard Price
440 Bear Peak Rd
Westcliffe, CO 81252
(719)371-3941

Buy Serving Our Country At Amazon.com

Hard Core

by Bud Yost, Major U.S. Army (Retired)

Death always stalked close to the “Hard Core” squad in the jungles of Vietnam, but now they faced another threat. These paratroopers of C Company of the 502nd Airborne Infantry had already endured relentless, fierce close combat with Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army, often times facing overwhelming odds. Besides fighting a formidable enemy, they also had to battle the harsh elements of the jungle: excessive heat, insects, snakes and leeches, jungle foliage and thorns ripping into their skin - causing festering infections, jungle rot, constant dysentery, malaria and other maladies, and months of being soaked from monsoon rains and filth and bone-wearying fatigue.

On March 5, 1967, near Song Mau, the squad was on a reconnaissance patrol when they encountered a new and unexpected enemy, a large Bengal tiger. The tiger was stalking and about to pounce on the point man, PFC Wendell Rose, when SSG Bud Yost and SP4 Jim Buppert killed it. This encounter was just another saga added to the exploits of the “Hard Core” squad.

Read more at: RoseDog Books Online Store

West of Hue - Down the Yellow Brick Road

By James P Brinker

This is the personal story of a 2/502 Recondo in the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam 1970. Vivid recollections of the battles for hills 714 and 882 where 30 brave Strike Force troopers died are described. It is also a story of the difficulties of going home and his ultimate redemption.

• Signed copies First Edition $10.00
• Second Edition $20.00
• Shipping & Handling $4.00

James Brinker
10 Luther Lane
Dudley, MA 01571

508 943-6936

Buy West of Hue At Amazon.com

The 2nd O Deuce Book

by Kim Coleman

(click on the image above for a larger view)
The book is at the publisher, and is expected to be available for sale December 22, 2008.
NOTE: As of mid-2009 the book is still not on the market. More updates as we know them

The Author: Kim Coleman

"I am writing about major battles that 2/502 were involved in - Dak To 1966, Hill 883 etc. but also I am writing about what it was like for you in Vietnam. I have written about the terrain in which you fought, the first impressions of the country, funny stories (I reckon 2/502 guys encountered every living tiger in vietnam), memories as you wanted to share them, the sights, smells, sounds that were Vietnam. Memories of fire fights, a particular patrol.  The book is intended to be a tribute to you guys. Generals Emerson and Danford have given me much of their time and guys like you have given me even more."

This from Kim for Reno Reunion(2008):

To all my O-Deuce Brothers and Sisters.

I so wish I was there in Reno with you today, I have missed you all this past two years but think about you every day. Actually I have no choice as I have the Company photos from Atlanta framed on top of my desk! As many of you know my other son is getting married today and I rather felt I should put in an appearance!

I know you will need an update on the book-so here goes. But First, I want to say thank you to you all for understanding how complicated the process of publishing a book can be, and how long these things take. The good side of this is there will be no mistakes! (typing or otherwise) and your story will be held in the Library of Congress and the British Library for as long as people read books. Your tale of extraordinary heroism will be there for all to see for centuries. The 2/502 will live forever! ...and you can buy your copy in your bookstores from 22 December 2008! And remember, every copy you buy puts money in the 2/502 fund. ALL proceeds from the book are going directly back to you. This is why the book is written under the name Kim Chalkley-Coleman. Chalkley is my maiden name and I have used it to avoid the British taxman getting his grubby fingers on the money!

How can I ever thank you all - you are a part of me as I am of you - my brothers. Your words fill the pages of the book and you had the courage to open your souls to a stranger. A conversation with me was sure to awaken a few personal demons and you knew that, so once again I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope you will find when you read the book I have justified your trust.

Enjoy your time together, maybe say a silent prayer for those who were with us in Atlanta but now not with you in Reno. I will see you all in 2010 (to sign copies of THAT book). Indeed, wild horses will not keep me away (even if my daughter decides to get married that weekend!). I spent a month in the USA earlier this year with some of my O-Deuce brothers - thank you for making me so welcome in your homes. Remember, you ALWAYS have a place to stay, and an unpaid guide of London if ever any of you want it.

Until we meet again, God Bless. STRIKE FORCE!

This from Kim as the book went to the publisher(2007):

Hi All.

Well the book is finished!

First of all, thank you all so much for all your help. I hope you will consider the book a tribute to you guys, who I am now so proud to call my brothers. I feel I walked the jungles with you, I can almost taste C-Rations, I have seen every tiger there was to see in Vietnam (and every snake and other creepy crawlies),I have laughed with you and cried with you. I even started getting nightmares with you after Atlanta. Truly you were all men of great courage and to me, heroes all. The book is dedicated to your fallen comrades but also to you all who served alongside them.

Dale Joritz has done all the art work and photos for the book, so a very big thank you to him. His cover is outstanding - you will certainly recognise it on the bookshelves!

I hope many of you will keep in touch. This book has taken nearly four years of my life and I now have this huge empty hole in it that needs to be filled. Certainly, you will all be part of my life forever. I will be working on editing, photo selection and then proof reading and indexing for the next few months, but after that?

God Bless you all,
Your Sister,
Kim

For a teaser, here is the Prologue to the book:  prologue.pdf  This is only the beginning of the book, not the stories.  You will need a password to read it - it is the same password as for the Roster (hint: right click on link above and select 'save target as' to save to your hard drive).