Life and Death in the Central Highlands
An American Sergeant in the Vietnam War, 1968-1970 (North Texas Military Biography and Memoir Series)
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Narrated by:
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Todd Belcher
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By:
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James T. Gillam
About this listen
In 1968 James T. Gillam was a poorly focused college student at Ohio University who was dismissed and then drafted into the Army. Unlike most African-Americans who entered the Army then, he became a Sergeant and an instructor at the Fort McClellan Alabama School of Infantry. In September 1968 he joined the First Battalion, 22nd Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam. Within a month he transformed from an uncertain sergeant-who tried to avoid combat-to an aggressive soldier, killing his first enemy and planning and executing successful ambushes in the jungle. Gillam was a regular point man and occasional tunnel rat who fought below ground, an arena that few people knew about until after the war ended. By January 1970 he had earned a Combat Infantry Badge and been promoted to Staff Sergeant.
Then Washington's politics and military strategy took his battalion to the border of Cambodia. Search-and-destroy missions became longer and deadlier. From January to May his unit hunted and killed the enemy in a series of intense firefights, some of them in close combat. In those months Gillam was shot twice and struck by shrapnel twice. He became a savage, strangling a soldier in hand-to-hand combat inside a lightless tunnel. As his mid-summer date to return home approached, Gillam became fiercely determined to come home alive. The ultimate test of that determination came during the Cambodian invasion. On his last night in Cambodia, the enemy got inside the wire of the firebase, and the killing became close range and brutal.
Gillam left the Army in June 1970, and within two weeks of his last encounter with death, he was once again a college student and destined to become a university professor. The nightmares and guilt about killing are gone, and so is the callous on his soul. Life and Death in the Central Highlands is a gripping, personal account of one soldier's war in the Vietnam War.
Number 5 in the North Texas Military Biography and Memoir Series
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My War in the Jungle: The Long-Delayed Memoir of a Marine Lieutenant in Vietnam 1968–69
- By: G. M. Davis
- Narrated by: Alex Hyde-White
- Length: 5 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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This memoir tells the story of a Marine rifle platoon commander’s time in the mountainous jungle of the northernmost province of the then Republic of Vietnam. While tasked with fighting the enemy, G.M. Davis made some great friends but saw too much death. The author tracks his tour of duty in the jungle, leading Marines not against the Viet Cong but against the North Vietnamese Army, a well-trained and well-supplied professional army dedicated to unifying the two Vietnams.
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Outstanding
- By Andrew on 02-04-24
By: G. M. Davis
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Abandoned in Hell
- The Fight for Vietnam's Fire Base Kate
- By: William Albracht, Marvin Wolf
- Narrated by: Brian O'Neill
- Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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In October 1969, Captain William Albracht, the youngest Green Beret in Vietnam, took command of a remote hilltop outpost called Fire Base Kate, held by only 27 American soldiers and 150 Montagnard militiamen. He found their defenses woefully unprepared. At dawn the next morning, three North Vietnamese Army regiments - some 6,000 men - crossed the Cambodian border and attacked.
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Amazing story
- By Effie on 04-12-16
By: William Albracht, and others
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Run Through the Jungle
- Real Adventures in Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne Brigade
- By: Larry J. Musson
- Narrated by: David Drummond
- Length: 12 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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From Larry J. Musson comes an authentic account of combat with an airborne company in the waterlogged rice paddies and demanding jungles of South Vietnam. Share the experiences of fighting men under punishing conditions, extreme temperatures, and intense monsoon rains as they search for the enemy in the rugged mountains and teeming lowlands. Relive all the terror, humor, and sadness of one man's tour of duty with real-life action in spectacular, stunning detail.
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One of the best!
- By Brendan O'Connor on 02-09-18
By: Larry J. Musson
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What Now, Lieutenant?
- By: Robert O. Babcock
- Narrated by: Bob Souer
- Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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Every now and then a work comes along that is so simple and refreshing in its originality that it immediately captures the spirit of American fighting men throughout the ages. Such is this work by Bob Babcock. What makes this work unique is that it is based upon his wartime writing as it occurred, without the softening of time and the refining of modern memory applied to past experience. In it you will find the thinking of a young officer as he struggles to take in all that he is responsible for while experiencing everything himself for the first time.
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Robo Cop Lullaby
- By Gavin on 04-19-20
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SEAL Warrior
- Death in the Dark: Vietnam 1968-1972
- By: Thomas H. Keith, J. Terry Riebling
- Narrated by: Michael Prichard
- Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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The old battle tactics were useless for the U.S. soldiers in Vietnam, who were fighting a guerrilla war on foreign soil for the first time in American history. With the depth and honesty of Steel My Soldiers' Hearts, SEAL Warrior sheds light on the operations of the SEAL teams in Vietnam and shows how the SEALs laid the foundation for the modern guerrilla warfare that is used today.
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Seal Warrior
- By Charles on 04-25-10
By: Thomas H. Keith, and others
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Violence of Action
- The Untold Stories of the 75th Ranger Regiment in the War on Terror
- By: Charles Faint, Marty Skovlund Jr., Leo Jenkins
- Narrated by: Sean Crisden, Paul Boehmer, Emily Durante
- Length: 13 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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Violence of Action is much more than the true, first-person accounts of the 75th Ranger Regiment in the Global War on Terror. Within this audio are the heartfelt, firsthand accounts from and about the men who lived, fought, and died for their country, their regiment, and each other. Objective Rhino, Haditha Dam, recovering Jessica Lynch, the hunt for Zarqawi, the recovery of Extortion 17, and everything in between...
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Great Book
- By shane on 06-18-15
By: Charles Faint, and others
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Fire Base Illingworth
- An Epic True Story of Remarkable Courage Against Staggering Odds
- By: Philip Keith
- Narrated by: Michael Prichard
- Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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In the early morning hours of April 1, 1970, more than four hundred North Vietnamese soldiers charged out into the open and tried to overrun FSB Illingworth. The battle went on, mostly in the dark, for hours. Exposed ammunition canisters were hit and blew up, causing a thunderous explosion inside the FSB that left dust so thick it jammed the hand-held weapons of the GIs. Much of the combat was hand-to-hand. In all, twenty-four Americans lost their lives and another fifty-four were wounded.
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The Most of Courageous Soldier's
- By Pamela Dale Foster on 09-08-14
By: Philip Keith
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One Million Steps
- A Marine Platoon at War
- By: Bing West
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Battalion 3/5 suffered the highest number of casualties in the war in Afghanistan. This is the story of one platoon in that distinguished battalion. Aware of U.S. plans to withdraw from the country, knowing their efforts were only a footprint in the sand, the fifty Marines of 3rd Platoon fought in Sangin, the most dangerous district in all of Afghanistan.
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Humbling
- By David T. on 02-20-15
By: Bing West
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Into the Rising Sun
- World War II's Pacific Veterans Reveal the Heart of Combat
- By: Patrick K. O'Donnell
- Narrated by: Jeff Riggenbach
- Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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Patrick K. O'Donnell has made a career of uncovering the hidden history of World War II by tracking down and interviewing its most elite troops: the Rangers, Airborne, Marines, and First Special Service Force, forerunners to Americas's Special Forces.
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Vet accounts = 5 stars; Narrator = 1 star
- By Sean on 10-04-05
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Blood on the Risers
- An Airborne Soldier's Thirty-five Months in Vietnam
- By: John Leppelman
- Narrated by: Scott Sowers
- Length: 2 hrs and 1 min
- Abridged
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In three straight years he was a paratrooper, an army seaman, and a LRRP - and he lived to tell about it. As an FNG paratrooper in the 173d Airborne, John Leppelman made that unit's only combat jump in Vietnam. Then he spent months in fruitless search of the enemy, watching as his buddies died because of poor leadership and lousy weapons. Often it seemed the only way out of the carnage in the central highlands was in a body bag. But Leppelman did get out.
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Missing Chapters
- By James S. on 07-28-18
By: John Leppelman
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Nine Days in May
- The Battles of the 4th Infantry Division on the Cambodian Border, 1967
- By: Warren K. Wilkins
- Narrated by: Richard Peterson
- Length: 17 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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Nine Days in May is the first full account of the bitterly contested battles fought between three American battalions and two North Vietnamese Army regiments. This prolonged, deadly encounter was one of the largest, most savage actions seen by elements of the storied 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam. Drawing on interviews with the participants, Warren K. Wilkins recreates the vicious fighting in gripping detail. This is a story of extraordinary courage and sacrifice.
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Excellent
- By David on 06-12-18
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The Killing Zone
- My Life in the Vietnam War
- By: Frederick Downs
- Narrated by: Barry Press
- Length: 9 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Among the best books ever written about men in combat, The Killing Zone tells the story of the platoon of Delta One-six, capturing what it meant to face lethal danger, to follow orders, and to search for the conviction and then the hope that this war was worth the sacrifice. The book includes a new chapter on what happened to the platoon members when they came home.
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It dont mean nuthin.
- By Jack OBrien on 06-21-17
By: Frederick Downs
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Blackhorse Riders
- A Desperate Last Stand, an Extraordinary Rescue Mission, and the Vietnam Battle America Forgot
- By: Philip Keith
- Narrated by: Dick Hill
- Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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This is the incredible true story of a brave military unit in Vietnam that risked everything to rescue an outnumbered troop under heavy fire-and the 39-year odyssey to recognize their bravery.
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Battle Forgotten
- By Pamela Dale Foster on 06-11-14
By: Philip Keith
What listeners say about Life and Death in the Central Highlands
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- tienglongmy
- 08-10-14
True Grit of Vietnam Delivered
This is one of the most compelling stories that I have ever heard, and it was so good I listened to the entire 9 hours in one sitting. Sergeant Gillam's story is a roller-coaster of training, fighting, despair, and post-trauma recovery. He is also a true scholar and in each chapter provides the historical context of battles and events before going into his personal experiences. Sergeant Gillam-now Professor GIllam-is also an excellent storyteller and describes the battles and conflicts in the most lucid and realistic ways. The narration of this book is also excellent and is never boring or tiring. This man is not only a humanitarian and hero, but an intellectual and a scholar, and his harrowing memoir is amazing to say the least.
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- Marksharrar
- 06-22-22
excellent book on several fronts
great book! enjoyed the history and politics that surrounded the war. always love reading about the courage of the American military
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- Pete Escallier
- 05-17-18
All I can say is “WOW”!
As a Vietnam vet, I can attest to the accuracy of both the facts and feeling in this book. This vet had it all happen to him, as he fought for his life daily. The tunnel and Sapper fights initiated my own hyperventilating. And the death on the plane ramp caused this trained killer to cry like a baby. The author is my hero.
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- Tammy
- 01-23-23
Thoroughly enjoyed it
Sgt Gillam does very well articulating his story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Probably the best story on Vietnam I've heard yet. The narration is alright. I just completely loved the content. I'd consider listening to it again. 5 stars.
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- Dave Miller
- 03-15-17
Absorbing
Very engrossing, it's just incredible what this one soldier experienced. Very well written and fast moving. It's easy to understand the difficulty this person had returning home and trying to instantly begin a "normal" life.
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- Amazon Customer
- 04-28-23
Best One I ever read about the war
This book is beyond amazing. It is one of the best books I have ever read. Mr. Gillam, thank you for sharing that experience with us. This was one of those books that’s stays with you awhile after you read it. I served 16 months in Iraq. The more things change, the more they really don’t. What you guys went through…pure insanity. Once again thank you for sharing.
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- Dan
- 02-27-15
Astonishing
loved the story of a true man's man. His story of war leaves you stunned.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Aero Engineer
- 07-16-17
Best I've Read
This is the most honest and sincere account of what it was like to fight as a drafted soldier for the Viet Nam war. Incredibly engaging.
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- Matthew M. Clarke
- 10-27-16
Very Entertaining and Informative
What made the experience of listening to Life and Death in the Central Highlands the most enjoyable?
The author is very detailed and descriptive in his story.
What did you like best about this story?
The author really takes you into the time and place.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No. I needed to break it up.
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- Doc Holliday
- 04-03-17
Excellent Narrative
What did you love best about Life and Death in the Central Highlands?
The narrative, (in between the facts & figures; and pedantry), was excellent. Very vivid and "up close." The narrative is more personal than in most books about Viet Nam. He described feelings and situations so well, I thought I was there. His description of the smells was especially engrossing- (Gross?) I had heard about the rotten fish head rice sauce, now I have a better idea what it really was about.
He seems to be honest and laid it out, no matter how it came down. His problems with officers, especially. It, also, showed how hard it must be to be an officer in a war; having to make all the right decisions and not being able to. It gave a good view of the army "caste system," as he described it.
A good, well researched book, based on actual fact that seemed not to have a political agenda. It cut through an experience that is, often, seen through the lens of politics. It just told the story of what the life of a grunt was like. He was an intelligent, educated person thrown into a maelstrom that made anything, but staying alive, superfluous.
What other book might you compare Life and Death in the Central Highlands to and why?
Robert Mason's "Chickenhawk." Both seem to be honest, personal accounts of a brutal, very life changing experience.
What about Todd Belcher’s performance did you like?
It was a bit stilted and monotone. Otherwise good narration.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
"Viet nam, Class of '69. You don't have to die to go to hell."
Any additional comments?
This book is missing the clichéd being chased by a water buffalo or being spit upon story. These two events seem to be in every first person account of Viet Nam I have read/listened to. He is a little pedantic and the statistics where not that interesting. Although, he did tie them nicely to the narrative; which made them more interesting.
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3 people found this helpful