Book Review 2
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Book Review: Phase Line Green: The Battle for Hue, 1968
Christi
College of Arts and Sciences, Liberty University
HIUS 380: Modern American Military History
Dr. David Snead
November 9, 2023
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Book Review: Phase Line Green: The Battle for Hue, 1968
"Phase Line Green: The Battle for Hue, 1968" by Nicholas Warr is Warr's memoir as a
Second Lieutenant (2LT) in the Marine Corps and platoon commander during the Battle for Hue
during the Vietnam War in 1968. Warr recounts explicitly the beginning of the Tet Offensive, a
coordinated attack on several significant targets in South Vietnam, to the American assault on the
Citadel of Hue, the cultural center of the country for many Vietnamese (18). Although a
compelling historical memoir, Warr chose to write this book for more than just history. Fifteen
years after his time in Vietnam, Warr began accumulating any document he could acquire about
the Battle of Hue or his unit (Charlie Company 1st Battalion 5th Marines, 1/5) (12). Through his
research, he realized that the historical documents of the battle do not match his memory of how
the events took place. Warr wrote about his experiences to dispute the lies he had found in the
documents about the Battle for Hue. Which account is correct is up to the reader to decide.
In the book's Preface, Warr describes his experiences after his time in Vietnam and the
events that led him to begin his research about the Battle for Hue, particularly the Citadel. When
doing his research, he unveiled several discrepancies about what had actually happened during
the Tet Offensive. Although he agreed with the description of the battle from several historians
and writers, he has issues with the take on the "rules of engagement" that the documents refer to
(13). Warr writes, "I do not dispute that [the battle of the Citadel of Hue is universally considered
by writers and historians as the most hard-fought and blood battle] … Neither do I dispute the
outcome... The dispute, here is over the 'rules of engagement' established by higher authorities
and placed upon the Marines of 1/5"(13).
The "rules of engagement" that Warr is referring to, stated in the documents he acquired,
directly contradict his memory of the battle of the Citadel of Hue, especially at the sight of his
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platoon's first objective for which the book is named, Phase Line Green. The day before 1/5's
assault on the city, Warr and the other platoon commanders of Charlie Company received a brief
from the commander of Charlie Company. The brief specifically explained that due to the
Citadel's cultural significance for the Vietnamese people, there were to be no prep fires (artillery
on an enemy position before a ground assault) on the Citadel, and only small arms weaponry was
to be used against the enemy (179). To 2LT Warr and his Platoon Sergeant, this order made no
sense. Through all his Marine training, Warr was taught that prep fires were necessary for a
successful ground assault, especially if the enemy had had time to emplace adequate defenses
(181). Warr was correct in the necessity of prep fires and heavy weaponry. Their absence was the
cause of much death and destruction for the 1/5 Marines, especially Charlie Company First
Platoon.
The documents that Warr refers to would have the reader and others seeking the same
documents that he did believe otherwise. Warr writes, "Specifically, these documents state that
every effort was made to provide heavy artillery, air strikes, and naval gunfire support to the
ground troops from the beginning of the battle. The reports further state that American attacks
during this battle were made 'upon completion of prep fires, walking artillery in front of
advancing troops'" (14). However, during his description of the battle, particularly at the street
known as Phase Line Green, Warr states that time and time again, his requests for heavy artillery
support were denied (212, 215, 220). After his last plea for heavy firepower was denied, Warr
writes, "The powers that be had established the rules of engagement, and we would go forward
across phase line green using the limited firepower of our small-arms weapons, or we would die.
And, so, Charlie One died" (220).
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Nicholas Warr's personal account of the battle of the Citadel of Hue and the rules of
engagement appear to be the truth, and the official documents written about the battle appear to
be a fabrication of the truth. Warr certainly thinks so as he refers to the events of the documents
as "'facts'" several times (14). However, Warr's account may not be the most credible either.
Warr began writing this book fifteen years after the events described in the book, and
Warr admits that details of his time in Vietnam have "eroded" (12). Although he explains that he
remembers the story in "graphic detail," the reader should be cautious of the validity of all that
Warr describes. (12) Another reason the reader should be cautious about the validity of Warr's
claims is his several descriptions of what appears to be split personas within him, which he refers
to as "the observer" and "the Lieutenant" (119). There are several instances throughout the book
in which Warr explains that one of these personalities is in control due to whatever circumstance
occurred on the battlefield. These descriptions of two personalities inside of Warr should caution
the reader not to accept everything as absolute truth openly.
"Phase Line Green: The Battle for Hue, 1968" is a compelling firsthand account of the
battle of the Citadel of Hue. Although Nicholas Warr's reason for writing his memoir, the
documents and reports of the events he experienced were intentionally changed and are logical,
his account cannot be fully trusted on its own. The lengthy period between the events and the
beginning of the book and the apparent mental distress during the events reduce the story's
credibility. Furthermore, the documents may not be entirely false either. When an official order is
given in the military, especially one predicated on protecting a foreign cultural treasure, it is
complicated to overturn. Usually, several echelons need to agree to include the foreign nation.
When Warr requested heavy weapons support, that request may have traveled through several
levels of leadership with persistent pleas on his behalf. However, one "no" would have been all it
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took to deny his request from a higher level of leadership than himself, and he would have never
known that that was happening. Any account can easily be believed, but the more believable
account is that it is a mixture. Each account, the documents, and Warr's provide a holistic view of
the events that took place in the Citadel of Hue in 1968, and it would be irresponsible to discredit
or credit either with the whole truth on the matter.