The Beast Was Out There: The 28th Infantry Black Lions and the Battle of Ông Thanh / Vietnam, October 1967
by Brig. Gen. James E. Shelton, USA (Ret.)
(CMHS, 2002)
Military History Book Club Selection, 2002.

As noted in the Journal of Military History review, The Beast Was Out There “is much more than a veteran’s account of a single battle of the Vietnam War. The book is part memoir, part unit history, part biography, and finally an insightful analysis of the nature of battle.” As the book’s editor, I worked closely with Shelton to help shape and refine his narrative; as well, I selected the cover art for the book, acquired graphics and wrote captions, wrote flap and back cover copy, oversaw the work of the designers, and shephereded the book through print production.

From Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore, U.S. Army (Ret.), co-author with Joseph L. Galloway of We Were Soldiers Once . . . And Young:
“So sad, so incisive, so objectively/fearlessly written. . . . All told, a great read.”

From Gen. Richard E. Cavazos, USA (Ret.), former commander of 1-18 Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, during the Battle of Ông Thanh:
“An extraordinary [and] compelling account, by a great soldier, of the toughest task there is--ground infantry close combat. The Beast Was Out There superbly captures real battle. Jim Shelton gives us countless tactical and leadership lessons and honest judgements using an epic fight. Through the book shines his love of the soldier, his beloved Black Lions, and the Big Red One. A must read for all officers and cadets and students of the art of war.”

From Lt. Gen. Dave R. Palmer, USA (Ret.), former superintendent U.S. Military Academy, author of Summons of the Trumpet: U.S. – Vietnam in Perspective:
“Simply put, the book is excellent! . . . [the] feel of the battlefield is almost eerily realistic. I hope it receives a wide readership for years to come--it should. . . . the most valuable contribution (of many) you have made . . . is to show how infantry fought in that war, how they really fought. . . .Your objectivity . . . is remarkable. Heroism was present, and outstanding leadership, but so was poor performance and failed leadership. The good and the bad existed at low levels and high, generals and privates alike won accolades and deserved condemnation. That you describe it all makes this book stick out from others. . . . If any future student of the Vietnam War wants to know why we fought for so long at such cost with such meager results, he must start with your book.”