- "Superb. A fascinating, fast-paced account of military and diplomatic action. Often achieves the level of a high-tech military thriller." ~ Terry Lloyd, Military Writers Society of America
- "Highly recommended. Well-researched and crisply written. Keith Saliba does an excellent job telling the military, political, and diplomat[ic] stories of that fateful Vietnam War year." ~ Tom Werzyn, The VVA Veteran (Vietnam Veterans of America)
- Great Book. Analysis of North Vietnam's 1972 Easter Offensive and the U.S. and South Vietnamese response...is the best I have ever read. Chapters on the success of Operations Linebacker I and II alone are worth the price of the book." ~ Michael Griffith, author of Reclaiming the Vietnam War: The Betrayal of South Vietnam.
- "Truly magnificent. An easy to read and richly resourced volume. Highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the Vietnam War and US foreign policy during that war." ~ Col. Andrew Finlayson, USMC (Ret.)
- "Really nailed this one! In 1972, I was in many of the places the book described...I recall some of it as it happened and some when I researched for Air War College...but never have I ever seen this level of depth and detail! I highly recommend this book to anyone that was involved or to anyone that wants to learn what was done to bring our POWs home." ~ Col. Charles Tupper, USAF (Ret.)
- "Excellent book of Vietnam War detailing the engagements, political climate, American Air Campaigns leading up to the end of the conflict. Quite detailed and accurate engagements from Navy, Air Force, Army, Marine participants at the time. An excellent account of the reality during the end of that period. A must read if you served in Vietnam in the 70s." ~ Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class Jerry Phillippe, USN (Ret.)
- "Great book! Paints a very clear and detailed picture of a very interesting period of American history. Great writing and research!" ~ Amazon Reviewer
- "A riveting and comprehensive look at the military and diplomatic events of America's final year in Vietnam. Exceptionally well written and thoroughly researched. Definitely recommend to anyone interested in Vietnam or military history." ~ Amazon Reviewer
- "Great read!...Well researched and compelling expose of the last year of the Vietnam War." ~ Amazon Reviewer
J. Keith Saliba
Crucible 1972
New Release
Available Now!
"Truly magnificent" - USMC Col. Andrew R. Finlayson (Ret.), author of Killer Kane: A Marine Long-Range Recon Leader in Vietnam, 1967-1968 and Rice Paddy Recon: A Marine Officer's Second Tour in Vietnam, 1968-1970
J. Keith Saliba, award-winning author of Death in the Highlands: The Siege of Special Forces Camp Plei Me, returns to the fiery crucible of America’s final harrowing year in Vietnam.
1972…the Year of the Rat.
America is on its way out. Troop strength plummets to its lowest ebb since early 1965. President Richard Nixon's Vietnamization program to train and equip the South to stand alone continues apace. All that remains is to secure his "honorable peace.”
But the president’s overtures fall on deaf ears. Convinced military victory is at last within reach, North Vietnam's ruling politburo instead launches a massive, three-pronged invasion of the South. As tanks roll and artillery thunders, the plan is brutally simple: crush South Vietnam's military, depose its "puppet" regime, and drive the Americans into ignominious retreat.
Yet communist leaders severely underestimate their adversary in Washington. Despite overwhelming public and Congressional pressure to call it quits in Vietnam, Nixon instead vows to destroy Hanoi's very ability to wage war. What follows is the most devastating air and naval campaign of the conflict, drowning the North’s military, industrial, and economic infrastructure in a deluge of fire and steel.
Can Hanoi's massive invasion be rolled back before South Vietnam collapses? And what of Nixon's "honorable peace"? After sacrificing so much blood and treasure, would America's nearly two-decade effort to realize a stable and non-communist South Vietnamese republic finally come to pass? The answers would decide the fate of the Indochinese people for decades to come.
Drawing on archival research, interviews with combat veterans, and perspectives from all sides, Saliba takes you into the heat of the last desperate fight for peace in Vietnam.
