Brown Water Runs Red: My Year as an Advisor to the Vietnamese Navy Junk Force

383 Pages·2015·9.72 MB·English

by  Andretta

Brown Water Runs Red

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“Bob Andretta is that rare individual who combined aggressiveness as a warrior
and empathy for the Vietnamese people. As an advisor to the Vietnamese Navy
in a remote and dangerous outpost he pursued the war with innovation and vigor.
As a human being, he found ways to minimize the impacts of the war on non-
combatants. Both qualities frequently led him into dangerous situations. While
the U.S. military command was counting bodies, Bob was winning hearts and
minds through his self-initiated and compassionate aid to non-combatant
civilians.”
Doug Burgess, Officer-in-Charge, U.S. Navy Swift Boat
“Andretta has written a genuine thriller about his 1969 tour of duty in Vietnam.
His descriptions of the events and dangers of warfare on the Cua Dai River are
truly memorable. Andretta’s concern for his fellow combatants and the
Vietnamese people is clearly evident.” Colonel (Ret) L. Nick Lacey, USAF
“Andretta has a way with words. He captures the nuances of difficult, if not
dangerous, situations while recounting them with his self-deprecating humor. As
Andretta writes, the jungles and rivers of RVN flood one’s memories.” Bob
Sullivan, former USMC and Vietnam Vet.
“This book provides an outstanding perspective on what happened in the
trenches, actually on the rivers of Vietnam, by someone who has been there and
done that. This is a must read for anyone wanting to gain an understanding of
river warfare during this controversial war. Written to entertain as well as
educate. Well done!” Sam Dutrow, CDR, USN, Retired
“Bob Andretta has combined his good humor and exceptional writing capability
to create one of the great memoirs of the Vietnam War. Coming off a tour as a
division officer on a frigate, he was assigned to the Vietnamese junk force as an
advisor. His vivid portrayals of the pace of life on his base, the sharply defined
personalities surrounding him, and the stress of combat all bring his year “in
country” to life. Full of insightful, sometimes humorous, and often searing
observations, this is a book for anyone interested in a little known piece of the
larger Vietnam conflict. Bob’s book is a must read!” James R. Stark, RADM,
USN (Ret)
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Brown Water Runs Red
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My Year as an Advisor to the Vietnamese Navy Junk Force
Bob Andretta
Brown Water Runs Red
My Year as an Advisor to
The Vietnamese Junk Force
By Bob Andretta
Published by:
Stanton Park Publishing
651 Maryland Avenue, NE
Washington, D.C. 20002
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information or storage retrieval
system without written permission from the author or the Publisher, except for the inclusion of brief
quotations in a review.
Copyright © 2015 by Robert A. Andretta ISBN: 1515342867
ISBN 13: 9781515342861
Frontispiece: Lieutenant Robert A. Andretta, USN, Cua Dai River, Republic of Vietnam, 1969.
Note
The people, locations, and events described in this book are real. The names of
some individuals discussed have been changed to nicknames which I have given
them. In many cases, I am now unable to remember the names of certain people,
especially many of the Vietnamese who so bravely fought alongside our forces
during the Vietnam conflict. Any omissions or errors are totally the
responsibility of the author.
In Honor of
Richard A.B. Phillimore
CDR, R.N. (Ret.)
(1907-2004)
Who Taught Me To Remember
And
Dedicated To
The Class Of 1965
United States Naval Academy