Fire Base Illingworth

Another Point of View
by Paul D. McInerny

Comments on p. 227, from the book Fire Base Illingworth, by Philip Keith

This recently released book prides itself as "an epic true story of remarkable courage against staggering odds" regarding the battle at Fire Base Illingworth in the Republic of Vietnam. I had anxiously awaited the arrival of the book, having placed an order a month before it was due for release.

As most of you are aware, the McInerny family has a personal and powerful connection with Fire Base Illingworth and this book chronicles the circumstances surrounding the battle of April 1, 1970.

This was the battle in which Roger J. McInerny, Jr. fought valiantly to his death. For his specific and determined actions, he received (posthumously)the Silver Star, our nations 3rd highest Award for Valor.

I was aware that Roger was mentioned in the book, so when it arrived, I immediately went to the index, found his name and page he was referenced to. I turned to the page, expecting to read about his courageous act of valor. Instead, here is what I found:

Private First Class Roger J. McInerny, Richfield, MN, August 17, 1950-April 1, 1970: Roger McInerny was in Vietnam eighteen days, had been in Charlie Company less that twenty-four hours, was only nineteen years old, and was blown away by a rocket on his first day of combat duty. Could there be a more sorrowful coda to this conflict?

I re-read the entry two more times to make sure I hadn't missed anything. Where was the mention of Roger running to the perimeter to repel the enemy, firing his weapon until it jammed and then engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat? And then the anger began to swell in me. There was no mention of Roger being awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Silver Star. What source of information did the author seek to determine that Roger had been "blown away by a rocket?" I cannot describe the anger I felt at such a disrespectful and insensitive choice of words as "blown away."

I immediately went on Amazon.com and left a review expressing my anger and displeasure. The author, Mr. Keith, responded with the following:

In all cases where it was possible, I requested and received copies of the Army's official records in these matters, and such was the case with PFC McInerny. The records still could be wrong, of course, as a number were ultimately proven to be; but, absent eyewitness accounts (there were none to Private McInerny's death that I could find) it is the best information available to a researcher. It seemed clear to me that PFC McInerny's death was the result of wounds received from rocket and/or mortar fragments. I am sorry if I used a term that seemed in-artful when I said "blown away." I certainly did not mean to be insensitive or to cause anxiety. Frankly, it was a term that the men themselves used to describe the unfortunate deaths of some of their comrades. Nevertheless, nothing should take away from the legacy of bravery and honor created by this fine young man. If I offended anyone by my use of the term, I am deeply apologetic.

Mr. Keith was sorry if he "used a term that seemed in-artful" Oh, "blown away" was in-artful? While it may be a term men used to describe the unfortunate deaths of their comrades, Mr. Keith was not quoting an eye witness to Roger's death. Mr. Keith was not at Fire Base Illingworth, therefore, not a comrade of Roger. His stance that it is used by men in combat falls short of a plausible explanation as to why he, a Harvard educated author chose the phrase to describe Roger's death. At best, it is a slang phrase and only the most most insensitive among us would not consider its impact on surviving family members reading the book.

My brother Maurice and sister Vivi have also written critical comments regarding Roger's entry in the book. Mr. Keith, not surprisingly, has dug his heels firmly into the ground and has pushed back. He cites The Wall, an Internet cite that provides all the names inscribed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall. In Mr. Keith's defense, it does indeed list Rogers death as being caused by, "Artillery, rocket, or mortar." There is no mention of Roger's Silver or Bronze Star.

Since Mr. Keith apparently used the Internet as a research source, I suggested he visit the web page virtualwall.org. Located on Roger's memorial page are icons of Roger's medals on display. One would think, if researching material for a book, the presence of the Silver Star, the nations 3rd highest Medal of Valor, would prompt additional research. What did this young man do to warrant such recognition? Mr. Keith took a short cut and decided "blown away" would be a most appropriate description of Roger's death. After all, he certainly did not mean to be insensitive or cause anyone any anxiety.

Obviously, Mr. Keith is not going to re-write his book. Roger's entry is but one paragraph and there are other stories being told. As an author and veteran himself, I thought he would be more cognizant of the impact the written word could have on his readers. As a Harvard educated man, I held the presumption of a writer with a vocabulary cache of descriptive and powerful words at his disposal. As a researcher, I anticipated a more thorough and complete examination of the subjects he mentioned by name in his book. In short, I expected substantially more than what I read.

I was wrong.

Finally, Mr. Keith's insensitive and disrespectful description of my brother's death could never detract from Roger's deliberate and heroic actions. Our family has always known, but my purpose in writing a review to Mr. Keith's book was to let potential readers know there was more to the Roger J. McInerny, Jr. story and that Roger fought gallantly to the very end.