Mekong Mud Dogs: Story of: Sgt. Ed Eaton

Proudly served - July 1968 to July 1969 in the Mobile Riverene Forces as a 50 Cal. Machine gunner (River Rat).
This book is excellent. It's gripping, it's accurate, and it's real. It is extremely difficult to describe/convey the horrors of combat through the written word. SGT Ed Eaton does that and he does it extremely well in 'Mekong Mud Dogs'.

Glad to add this to my library. A great read - Highly recommend this book.
Ron M., NC

Not written by a literal genius. This piece shows little imagination in descriptive wording and possibly was never proof read but fair trade for what is most likely a realistic review of events and that aspect is important to me on this subject. I enjoyed the raw truthful quality.

I was immediately transported to the heat and wet of South Viet Nam. Finished the book in one sitting, muddy, sweaty, and out of breath.

I don't know how the author recalled all the details of his tour, but he nailed it!

Excellent read!

Since I also served as a Platoon Sergeant with the 9th (6/31st) in the Delta, I enjoyed the book; however, the ending where he just pretty much did what he wanted was rather strange to say the least. I did, however, question one of his comments concerning the M-79. He mentioned that the M-79 WP round had a parachute attached and was used for illumination. Unless my memory fails me, the WP and the illumination rounds were two completely different rounds. I doubt that one would want a White Phosphorus (WP - Willie Peter) round dropping down, via a parachute, around their position....the first thing to go would probably be the parachute. LOL

Just finished this book, it only took 2 days, could not put it down. 5 out of 5 stars! I laughed, I cried, and am still in awe of men like this who served under such grueling conditions in a thankless war. This book brought me to the sweaty, humid, muddy delta alongside Ed and the grunts of his company. Ed Eaton does not mince words or sugar-coat anything in this book regarding his year of violent combat in Vietnam. From a line company grunt walking point, baptized by fire and dodging booby traps, to RTO and Grenadier. Surviving and rising to Platoon Sgt, and becoming a leader of men. Then to be a school-trained sniper and go on dedicated sniper missions on land, rivers, and shooting from helos. His hair-raising combat missions were risky and heroic for him and his fellow soldiers. How he volunteered and fought in a thankless war, and how poorly he and his fellow vets were treated when they returned home is also revealed in his no nonsense language. This book is highly recommended! It is humbling to know that men like this exist in every generation, and fight for our freedoms. Thank you Ed for your heroism, and for your brothers who didn't come home, may God Bless them and their families. Semper Fi to all you soldiers from this Marine. Texas Mark

Ed Eaton has written a very personal account of his experiences in Vietnam. This book does an excellent job of presenting the view of Grunt's-eye of war in general and the Vietnam war in particular, warts and all. Whether they admit it or not, every Vietnam veteran, particularly vets who wrote books about their own experiences in Vietnam, had the same or worse warts as the ones owned up to by Mr. Eaton. Although my experiences in Vietnam were much further to the North than his, my own experiences closely mirrored those of Mr. Eaton.

If you want a book that is an exceptional example of a Grunt's view of history that was the Vietnam war, this book is a wonderful example. I highly recommend it.

OUTSTANDING! This book was recommended by my friend, Dan, who served in the same platoon as the author, Sgt. Ed Eaton. This brutally honest account of the horrific experiences endured by Ed, Dan, and their brothers in arms fighting in the nightmarish Mekong Delta was a shocking revelation to me. As a young Marine grunt in Northern I Corps, I thought no one In Country could be having it any worse than we were up along the DMZ. Now, after all these years I know better. Ed Eaton, Dan, and all you other Mekong Mud Dogs, living and dead, you have my undying respect and admiration!

This was an amazing book to say the least. Painful to read about the shabby and obscene treatment the Vietnam vets received by their fellow Americans when they returned home. Felt like a punch in the gut as I read it. I am or was too young to know about or see to much of this nasty stuff, thank God. Let's Damon the socialists suck who would do that to a soldier who comes home from overseas. To he'll with the hippies and the John Kerry types. Make me sick

A good account of life in that war. The personal accounts of one man the author. Quite good till. He more or less goes AWOL. Then the story wanders a bit. Read it, if you wish to understand the vets of this war.

the store Review Mekong Mud Dogs

This is a remarkable and accurate account of what it was like for a Riverine infantryman in the Mekong Delta. Sgt. Eaton’s book describes the unforgiving Delta environment -- one that can kill and is just as dangerous as the Viet Cong. If your looking to read a book that doesn’t hold back and tells it like it was, this is for you.

This book recounts Sgt. Eaton’s incredible Vietnam experience and takes the reader on a harrowing journey beginning with Eaton’s early days as a grunt, his eventual emergence as a top-notch sniper, and his current candidacy for the Medal Of Honor.

This is a significant and exceptional book that won’t disappoint.

Paul “Dino” DeNicola
Served with Ed Eaton in Bravo 3/60

This book relates the story of Ed Eaton, who enlisted. In the ARMY after high school. His entire army career is documented in an interesting fashion, from boot camp to combat SGT and sniper. Great read, lots of combat action, and a nomination for the MOH. GREAT READ.

Good book enjoyed every page I give my full support and recognition to Ed Eaton so glad he came back to tell his story. Too bad so many others didn't. It was a bad time in us history to treat these men so horrible upon their return. All the wanted was to serve their country proudly like so many before them.

This is an excellent written book. Thank you so much for writing this account of your tour of duty. It was very informative about a man doing his duty for his country. It's to bad others in our generation failed their country so bad. I could go off on them but we'll leave them to their own poison. Thank you for your service and God bless you.

This book relates the story of Ed Eaton, who enlisted. In the ARMY after high school. His entire army career is documented in an interesting fashion, from boot camp to combat SGT and sniper. Great read, lots of combat action, and a nomination for the MOH. GREAT READ.

Good book enjoyed every page I give my full support and recognition to Ed Eaton so glad he came back to tell his story. Too bad so many others didn't. It was a bad time in us history to treat these men so horrible upon their return. All the wanted was to serve their country proudly like so many before them.

This is an excellent written book. Thank you so much for writing this account of your tour of duty. It was very informative about a man doing his duty for his country. It's to bad others in our generation failed their country so bad. I could go off on them but we'll leave them to their own poison. Thank you for your service and God bless you.

First hand account of the everyday life of a vietnam veteran. A lot of action and what these brave soldiers went through only to be rejected by their own country upon returning. Thank you to veterans of all our wars for putting your lives on the line for the American people.

Viet Nam era, my era. This book had me captivated. The horrors of what our military personnel lived each day while in Viet Nam are just horrifying. This book portrays the story of how it was through a year of duty in Viet Nam. I thank the author for such a well written book.

Just read the chapter on his first mission and expect that it is an accurate picture for that time and place. Same as my experience, give the new guy a heavy load or have him walk point, walk till exhaustion and the inability to defend yourself, SOS (same old s***). Easy fixes would be to have every medivac with a basic load of 20 gal. of water, assign the FNG a buddy, and make sure that everybody had some bug spray. I wonder how many of the 58,286 names on the wall could have easily been prevented.

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My cousin Major Mike Perkins was the severely injured man that Sgt. Eaton got back off the rescue helicopter to "Not going to let that man die by himself", Basically saving his life for the second time in that battle. Definitely if you know the whole story you will see where Sgt. Eaton is a very strong candidate for the MOH.

Being a native Oregonian I may be a little biased but this was a great read. The book was well written and it was easy for me to relate to the author. A must read if you like these type of books as I do.

I usually don't write reviews but this story just push me to do it. I have never read a story so honest. I really recommend this if you are interested in knowing how life was for a foot soldier in the Mekong Delta. Amazing and moving story.

Yep... re lived the most inhumane conditions, always thought hard to put in print but my Brother Ed had me there. He absolutely nailed it. A must read for those who want to really know what is was like being a grunt in the Mekong Delta. "Turk" A co. 3/60th-9th Infantry.... Erol