Muddy Jungle Rivers: A river assault boat cox'n's memory journey of his war in Vietnam

I just finished the book and thought it was great. I was the cox'n on Tango 10, the medivac boat so as you can see this really took me back. I don't remember Wendell but being that close I know we had to of talked, drank a beer together or whatever. I didn't make it a point to make close friends over there since my best friend Joe was killed on Tango 7 after we had only had been in country for about a month. They had asked me to escort Joe's body back home to the Chicago area but I told the Lt. that if I went I wouldn't be coming back. He decided to send someone else. I really like the way the book flowed and took notice of small things along the way. The description of the rivers, the jungle and the distant look of people who had been there for awhile. Sometimes I look calm cool and collected on the outside but the inside will be going ninety to nothing and the mind will be back in that world. I think this book eased a few of those feelings by just knowing that someone else that had been in the exact same spot as me was having the same thoughts and feelings as me. I don't know, maybe it justified my feelings or something like that. Since I'm not a writer, it's hard to put into works.I highly recommend this book for those who were over there and for the ones who were not. It's a different part of the war that you don't hear about unless you read a book like this. The book is very accurate and you can tell that a lot of research went into it to be able to keep with the timeline.Thank you Wendell for opening up your heart and letting so many in.

You may see my name and think I'm biased. Well I am. This is my father's book. But you should still read my review.I am not quite halfway through the book, and am in AWE of this story. My father never spoke to us of his time in Vietnam, so this is all new to me. He has done an AMAZING job making this not just a book of facts, but a story that anyone can get involved in - from page 1. I am not the type to pick a book up off the shelf that would be a true story of any war. My husband is active duty and has been serving in these current wars for over six years now - so all of this hits really close to home for me. This book, while I read it through my father's eyes, flows wonderfully regardless of whether or not you know him. You, the reader, will be able to put yourself in his shoes as he takes you on this dangerous journey that so many of our men went on, and sadly, so many that did not make it home.I will update my review as soon as I am finished reading the book. I am taking my time, absorbing every word. If you are a veteran, or you know a veteran, may you find some peace after reading this book knowing that you are not alone.UPDATE - 3/23/2012I finished the book a week ago...and I have yet to put into words what I am feeling. Nothing I can say will give my father's book <and story> justice. I find myself in tears when I think about what he and his crew went through...during the war and after. This story will move you in ways you may not expect.

This was an eye opening story of a young sailor's life aboard a river assault boat in1968, incuding the Tet offensive. I found the story especially interesting because I arrived in DaNang February 12, 1968. In addition to running the gauntlet of Viet Cong ambushes the author sheds light on the varied views of the war by the crew members and how it effected their response to these ambushes.I found this book to be a quick engaging read that revealed the complexity of human belief systems in the face of combat.

GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU GREAT MEN. YOUR SACRIFICE FOREACH OTHER AND OUR COUNTRY.YOU ARE NOT ONLYGREAT MEN BUT TRUE PATRIOTS. OUR COUNTRY OWESYOU A GREAT DEBT THAT CAN NEVER BE REPAID.A BOOK THAT MUST BE READ.!!!GLENN: Middle Village NY. OCT.17 2021.

Muddy Jungle River gives us the first-hand experience of a cox'n in the Navy's Mobile Riverine Force in 1968 during the Vietnam conflict. The vivid pictures presented in this writing portray the reality of the ugliness of war. I appreciate the honesty, Wendell says it like it is from his point of view. It must have been painful to go back and write these details about a time most would rather forget and yet the author describes rather matter-of-factly the horrors he saw and the miserable conditions he endured. The foul language, no doubt in the vocab of men at war, is something the reader will have to tolerate as they read his story. The difficulties in returning home, including judgements, post-traumatic stress, guilt and facing those who have no idea what you have been through, were eye-opening. I found myself wanting to hear more about his life. Thanks to the author for sharing his recollections of this time in history.

Wendell Affield has written a fine book, "Muddy Jungle Rivers", describing his navy journey as a cox’n aboard ATC 112-111in Vietnam, February - August 1968. His journey on inland waters took him to the NVN - SVN border and on the Mekong River waterways and canals. His boat carried army troops into the U-Minh forest where considerable weapons and supplies were captured in August 1968. Affield sprinkles his account with historic updates and several views - many presented as if provided by a fellow crew member nicknamed the Professor. Dar Weston, Assistant NILO Ca Mau, 1968-69.

As someone who had a high draft lottery number and did not go to Vietnam, I found this book compelling, chilling and intensely real. The experience of being there with a slice of American youth good and bad, the tension of frequently being on edge, the horror of battle and being wounded severely is the start, but the rejection upon returning home and carrying all of those feelings for the rest of a vet's life sank even deeper. I found myself profoundly grateful that the author described his experience, and even more so that he was able to get this off his chest. As a fellow author, I understand the catharsis of pulling thoughts from within and describing them for others on a printed page. Congratulations and thank you Mr. Affield.

I am still reading this book. I attended elemetary school with Wendell. Interestingly we were in the same part of Vietnam during the same time. I did ride one of the boats to Cua Viet during the same time period when he was there. Finding out about this book was something that happened due to meeting with my high school classmates in November. I would recommend this book to others.

another side to a conflict long forgotten that could have been left that way. glad it wasn't. gripping and harrowing. a piece of history that should be heard not forgotten