A Marine Amtracer’s Vietnam Experiences

A unique “tour of duty” in Vietnam by USMC veteran W. Steelman makes “The Dirty Bird” an very interesting memoir. Not only does the author face injuries and near death from the enemy forces but at the end of his tour he is subjected to a kidnapping by one of our own deranged soldiers in a bizarre ending to his time in the Nam.

This autobiography is simply told without much ceremony – he just writes it straight like he remembers things even with the blemishes. This book easy to read and is only 135 pages; but it is filled with solid action with little wasted verbiage or prose. The writer is economical in his use of descriptions of both the action and his emotions.

The author actually educated me to something I knew little about – the Amtrac vehicle and what it was like for those crews. It is obvious that Steelman has some sense of humor as he takes an emotional look back at his relationship with the Marine Corps and with his time in Vietnam.

It becomes obvious that Steelman endured and survived a difficult period of his life and I would assume that today he still pays the emotional price.

Recommend reading for anyone interested in what life for Marine Amtracers were like in Vietnam. This was a rare breed of men and the book captures the flavor of that experience quite well.

Reviewer: Joe Fabel – MWSA Review Board

We are presented with a Marine’s view of combat from the inside of an Amtrac fighting vehicle. The going is tough, equipment often breaks down at the most inopportune time, the enemy is trying their best to put you out of business, neighboring Amtracs are hit by devastating rounds, the dead and wounded continue to add up.

The author has another “enemy” trying to make life difficult: certain temperamental fellow Marines as well as officers who force their personal agendas as important.

This is a descriptive, no holds barred story of battle dirty and up close. At times the enemy is an innocent appearing civilian or, in one instance, a woman guiding the Amtrac through a village while in reality she is setting up an ambush for the Marines. Not all foes are dressed in distinguishing uniforms. As the author says, “often you see death eye to eye."