Time in the Barrel: A Marine’s Account of the Battle for Con Thien

Summary

Con Thien was a United States Marine Corps firebase that was the scene of fierce combat for months on end during 1967. Staving off attacks and ambushes while suffering from ineffectual leadership from Washington as well as media onslaughts, courageous American Marines protected this crucial piece of land at all costs. They would hold Con Thien, but many paid the ultimate price. By the end of the war, more than 1,400 Marines had died and more than 9,000 sustained injuries.

For eight months, James P. Coan's five-tank platoon was assigned to Con Thien while attached to various Marine infantry battalions. The author kept a diary recording the thoughts, fears, and frustrations. Time in the Barrel offers an authentic firsthand account of the daily nightmare that was Con Thien. With authentic depictions of combat, it allows listeners to fully grasp the enormity of the fierce struggle for Con Thien.

More than a retelling of military movements, Coan's engrossing narratives focus on the sheer sacrifice and misery of one Marine's experience in Vietnam. Through his eyes, we experience the abysmal conditions the Marines endured, from monsoon rainstorms to the constant threat of impending attack. Climatic moments in history are captured through the rare, personal perspective of one particularly astute and observant participant.