Victory Betrayed: Operation Dewey Canyon: US Marines in Vietnam

If Operation Dewey Canyon, fought in the northern I Corps area of South Vietnam and Laos in early 1969, was defined in relation to World War II Marine Corps battles in the Pacific, it would include the isolation of Guadalcanal, the miserable terrain, weather and vegetation of Bougainville, an entrenched enemy similar to Peleliu, and the strategic importance of Iwo Jima.

Most WWII Marine battles were fought by division-sized forces that often outnumbered the enemy. Dewey Canyon was fought by the 9^th Marine Regiment, consisting of the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Battalions. These battalions were more often than not under-strength and undersupplied. Even when augmented by air power, and the artillery of the 2^nd Battalion, 12^th Marines, the Marines who fought in Dewey Canyon numbered only a fraction of the Marine forces that fought enemy units in previous wars.

Yet, they prevailed.

About the Author
Winter, Ronald: - Ronald E. Winter joined the U. S. Marine Corps in January, 1966 serving four years on active duty including a 13-month tour in Vietnam as helicopter crewman, avionics technician and aerial gunner. While in Vietnam, in addition to his duties in avionics and flying left seat on test flights, Winter flew more than 300 missions as an aerial gunner, and was awarded 15 Air Medals, and Combat Aircrew wings with three stars. Winter is the author of three books in addition to more than a thousand magazine and newspaper articles. He recently finished work on Victory Betrayed, US Marines in Operation Dewey Canyon. After completing his enlistment, Winter returned to college, earning undergraduate degrees in electrical engineering and English Literature. He spent nearly 20 years as a print journalist including stints as reporter, investigative reporter, supervising editor and columnist, earning numerous awards for investigative reporting, including a Pulitzer nomination. He has worked as an adjunct professor of communications, runs an event management business with his wife, specializing in military reunions, and is a certified personal trainer, as well as an amateur competitive power-lifter. He works as a media relations specialist.