| A Knavish Piece of Work a novel by Ejner Fulsang It's here!! Copyright 2006 272 pages Genre: Military Fiction - Vietnam Era ISBN: 0-9778108-0-1 LCCN: 2006921945 Århus Publishing www.AarhusPublishing.com |
| Preview 1st Three Chapters |
Signed Copies available at Author-Direct! |
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*** Synopsis *** A Knavish Piece of Work is a novelization of the infamous Mayaguez Incident of May 15, 1975 wherein the Khmer Rouge of Cambodia captured a U.S.-registered container ship en route to Sattahip, Thailand on a routine resupply mission. Then president Gerald Ford called for an immediate rescue of the crew, believed to be held on Koh Tang, a minute island in the Gulf of Siam. A last-minute mission was thrown together in which a force of Marines would be airlifted from U Tapao, Thailand to Koh Tang by Air Force CH-53s and HH-53s. The mission was a disaster with eighteen men killed in the assault and only three of the original fifteen helicopters flyable at the end of the day. Among the dead was the author's friend Richard Van de Geer, the last name on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Wall. Everything from inexperience to poor intelligence was blamed for the fiasco. And the captive crew? They were released by the Cambodians early in the morning of 15 May, not from Koh Tang, but from Rong Sam Lem, another island twenty-two miles away! Moreover, Ford knew the crew was not on Koh Tang and he knew it some twenty hours before the assault began. Why would a president go through with an assault on an island that held no captives? |
*** News ***
is out in full-release available on-line at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Borders. Pricing: Perfect Bound: $16.95 USD Hardcover w/jacket: $26.95 USD eBook: $12.00 USD Remember, buy online or author-direct! You won't find this book in stores. About 15% of sales revenues are ear-marked for veterans' and educational charities: Jolly Green Association Special Operations Helicopter Association National League of POW/MIA Families Paralyzed Veterans of America West Point Organization Monmouth University |
specials on the History Channel to articles in military magazines, we see a special reverence for the fallen comrades. Fulsang’s book pays homage to his close friend, Richard van de Geer, the last man to die in the Vietnam War. In addition, since it’s human nature to imagine conversations ten or fifteen years later after the deaths of loved ones, the book conjures up a Twilight Zone twist that takes friends into parallel worlds, where wicked bureaucrats are forced into their special Circles of Hell." —Howard Denson, Judge, Florida First Coast Writer’s Festival
—Charles Henderson, Author of Goodnight Saigon (2006 Pulitzer nomination) "As one who was there I feel this book is a subject that needs to be retold in any way possible in order for the public to realize that the true story is yet to be printed--hopefully, you can remedy this." —Gary 'Doc' Connor, Navy corpsman with the Marines on Koh Tang
loved the way you made the protagonist an observer instead of a participant. I thought your representation of the characters was excellent and found the book very informative. A must-read. Thank you for keeping these guys from being forgotten." —Susan Evans, sister of Danny Marshall lost on Koh Tang "After reading the first few chapters of your book I was taken by surprise when I came upon my name when your character spoke to Elwood Rumbaugh. Woody and I were great friends and the loss of him has been one my life’s biggest sorrows. When you publish your book, I would be honored to be one of the first to purchase it.” —Woody Freeman, Air Force helicopter flight technician “I gave the book an A-minus. You will thoroughly enjoy reading this book. I think what impressed me the most was the writer's ability to allow me to look at the Tang battle from every-one's eyes. A true gift indeed.” —Larry Barnett, lance corporal with the Marines on Koh Tang “Thanks for allowing me to read your book. I enjoyed it. You are very good at drawing pictures with words--made the surrealistic excursions seem very real. You have stirred up some muddy waters." —Barry Kamhoot, COL USAF (ret'd.), president of the Jolly Green Association 2004-06
lives. Semper fi!" —Gale Rogers, private first Class with the Marines on Koh Tang “A controversial work of fiction that had me deeply engrossed and re-living my combat experience from that day.” —Dan Hoffman, a second lieutenant with the Marines on Koh Tang “I think it is so wonderful that you are doing this.” —Sandy Hargrove, sister-in-law of Joseph Hargrove, abandoned on Koh Tang
an A+. And I am thankful to you for putting it into this forum as you so wonderfully have for posterity." —Phillip 'Doc' Cottrell, Navy corpsman with the Marines on Koh Tang
"I previewed the chapters from OUR Beach Club website and was disgusted with your endeavors. Honestly, I think you should be ashamed of yourself for what you are going to be doing to some of the family members still alive today..." —XXX (name withheld), with the Marines on Koh Tang
cause additional pain." —(name withheld), with the Marines on Koh Tang Author's response:
they certainly won't get it from only reading the four chapters that described the realities of dying in combat. While I am truly sorry for any pain and suffering my book may have brought to the Koh Tang veterans and their families, I did not take on this book to make them feel better about that awful day in May of 1975. I wrote it for future generations of service men and women who are contemplating enlistment. And I wrote it for those of flag rank and higher who will one day face the decision of whether to go to war or not. It is my sincere hope that through this book I can in some way reverse the decline in integrity that seems to have taken hold in the Oval Office since the end of WWII. |
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NEW!! John Parks is a Marine Vietnam Vet from '68-69
Check out his Richard Van de Geer page
Ralph Wetterhahn's Book -- The Last Battle John Guilmartin's Book -- A Very Short War Roy Rowan's Book -- Four Days of the Mayaguez National Security Council Meeting Minutes -- 12-15 May 1975
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with a lot of writing paper, and a dog, and a fireplace, and maybe enough money to give myself some Irish coffee now and then and entertain my two friends..." --Richard Van de Geer, Co-pilot of Knife 31 KIA East Beach of Koh Tang, May 15, 1975
Richard Sandza, before Richard was killed. You can read the whole message -- scroll to the bottom. Frito Bandito, if you read this, contact me at ejner@ejnerfulsang.com. |
| Richard as an Army helicopter pilot Camp Casey, Korea, 1969 We flew Hueys with the 239th Assault Helicopter Company. |
| The crew of Knife 31 Richard, Al Corson, JD Harston, Randy Hoffmaster NKP, Thailand -- 1975 Richard was a 2LT in the Air Force. |
Spec Ops, told me that Richard used to date Catherine Deneuve. I wrote her and asked if it was true. Ever the consummate lady, she would not kiss and tell, but she did grace me with a signed picture! Since then an former girlfriend of Richards has informed me that the girl was definitely not Deneuve. Oh, well! |
| Richard Van de Geer KIA May 15, 1975 Koh Tang, Gulf of Siam Buried October 27,2000 Arlington National Cemetary |
| Panel 01W Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Though technically not the last man to die that day, his is the last name on the Wall. |
| Photo courtesy of Phil Hutcherson www.realpeoplephotography.com |
| Photo courtesy of Larry Barnett www.kohtang.com |