Baptism Audiobook By Larry Gwin cover art

Baptism

A Vietnam Memoir

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for $0.00
Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.

Baptism

By: Larry Gwin
Narrated by: Todd McLaren
Try for $0.00

$0.00/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.05

Buy for $18.05

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

A Yale graduate who volunteered to serve his country, Larry Gwin was only 23 years old when he arrived in Vietnam in 1965. After a brief stint in the Delta, Gwin was reassigned to the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in An Khe. There, in the hotly contested Central Highlands, he served almost nine months as executive officer for Alpha Company, 2/7, fighting against crack NVA troops in some of the war's most horrific battles.

The bloodiest conflict of all began November 12, 1965, after 2nd Battalion was flown into the Ia Drang Valley west of Pleiku. Acting as point, Alpha Company spearheaded the battalion's march to landing zone Albany for pickup, not knowing they were walking into the killing zone of an NVA ambush that would cost them 10 percent casualties.

Gwin spares no one, including himself, in his gut-wrenching account of the agony of war. Through the stench of death and the acrid smell of napalm, he chronicles the Vietnam War in all its nightmarish horror.

©1999 Larry Gwin (P)2015 Tantor Military Military & War Vietnam War Wars & Conflicts War Veteran Memoir

Critic reviews

"Forcefully written, engrossing narrative, and heartfelt descriptions of some of the bloodiest battles of the war." (Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore, USA (Ret.), coauthor of We Were Soldiers Once... And Young)
Vivid Firsthand Account • Authentic War Experiences • Great Narrator • Detailed Combat Descriptions • Excellent Voice
Highly rated for:
All stars
Most relevant  
Very well narrated. the book was very well written as well. The only addition I would have enjoyed was if the author talked about going home.

Great book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Enjoyed the details the author added to give additional insight. Good speed of the story. Kept the narrative moving without boring or losing the listener. #military #leadership #Vietnamwar #Asia #Vietnam

Enjoyable book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This story was one of the best one's about the war. Did not want to stop listening.

Great book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
One of the best books I’ve read on the Vietnam war. Highly recommended! I will read this book several times and not get bored with it.

Awesome book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is a amazing book about being a 1st Cav Grunt in Vietnam. As a son of a Vietnam Vet who fought in the same unit 2-7 Bravo Company 68-69 it really does a great job of describing what it was like being in Combat in Vietnam. I grew up listening to my Dad and his fellow brothers tell there stories and this book is like the same. Can’t recommend it enough. And as my Dad would Say GarryOwen!

Great Book about 1st Cav Sky Trooper

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I wasn't sure if I should buy this book, but was glad that I did. It was entertaining, even though it was frustrating to hear how messed up some of our military was. I guess that not much has changed. Too bad more leaders don't read these books.

A great story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
just true account of the war. The good , the bad and the military way. A stand up look at how great we performed in combat. not in politics.

fabulous , no b.s. just the nitty gritty ,

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

If you could sum up Baptism in three words, what would they be?

What Vietnam was really like...... ( I know, that's five words )

What did you like best about this story?

A vivid, well told personal account.

What about Todd McLaren’s performance did you like?

Outstanding....though he mispronounced a view words.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

While they partied at UC Boulder, good men died.........

Any additional comments?

Larry Gwin has memorialized those who fought and often died for their brothers. Fine young Americans in the spirit of what made America great gave their best for a country and its politicians who betrayed them. An American tragedy. 1LT JL Pitts, US Army, Royal Thai Army, Black Panther Infantry Division (liaison), Vietnam 1968-69.

Hell of book telling a story that needs to be told

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I really enjoyed this book thoroughly. My only problem is the sudden ending or I would have had it at 5 stars for everything. Just leaves you hanging at the end.

Hard to stop listening to

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Well written book. This guy saw some serious combat and laid it out in easy reading terms

Excellent read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews