“A historical novel that reads like a modern political thriller, full of exciting action, larger-than-life characters, and unforgettable events.” — Kirkus Reviews A Daring Plan. A Deadly Trap. The Siege at Dien Bien Phu. Hanoi 1953. An American fighter pilot, Tom Coyle, volunteers to fly for the French military during the Indochina War. “Just cargo and troops, no combat” that is the deal. Make some money and head back to the states before he and his friend, Earthquake McGoon, get their asses shot off. But things rarely go as planned… French commander Major Marcel Bigeard is the fittest man in the army, eats raw onions for breakfast, and has courage beyond reason. He leads his brigade of elite paratroopers into the Muong Thanh Valley, far from French supply lines. A dilapidated airfield is rebuilt into a fortified air bridge – the paratroopers’ lifeline and only means of escape. The French garrison is a tempting target for Ho Chi Minh and his General Vo Nguyen Giap, considered the most brilliant military strategist of his time. Such a victory could bring a swift end to the seven-year-long war between the Viet Minh and the French. To win, they will need to achieve the most remarkable engineering feat of the 20th century before the French can slip away. But the French aren’t going anywhere. They want the rebels to attack… The Viet Minh and French paratroopers square off in a winner-take-all battle in this unforgettable epic based on actual events and real people. If you are a fan of history with accurate details and riveting suspense, then you’ll love David Lee Corley’s historical war novel – We Stand Alone. "David Lee Corley establishes himself as one of the masters of the thriller genre with rock-solid characters and a great plot." — Readers' Favorite "Not only are the characters compelling, but Corley skillfully builds tension with purposeful prose using sensory details and vivid descriptions." — Forward Clarion "The book's greatest strength, perhaps, lies in its precision and delivery. The author has clearly done his homework..." — BlueInk Review "No combat; just cargo." So reads the contract American pilot Tom Coyle signs with the French Air Force in 1953. Hired to supply French ground forces as they fight to maintain their economic interests in Vietnam, Coyle is soon caught up in the nightmarish battles at the climax of the First Indochina War. "Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake." - Napoleon Bonaparte (attributed) French General Henri Navarre has a plan to establish a fortified airhead to lure Viet Minh forces into a frontal assault, a strategy that had worked very well at Nà Sản the prior year. Despite the tactical differences, and over the objections of every one of his subordinate officers, he chooses Dien Bien Phu as the location of the base. "When you move, fall like a thunderbolt." - Sun Tzu, The Art of War General Võ Nguyên Giáp has learned from his defeat at the Battle of Nà Sản in 1952. As the French build up their base in the valley, he directs his forces to dig tunnels and trenches throughout the surrounding mountains, covertly positioning the heavy artillery that will unleash fifty-four days of hell onto the surrounded soldiers. Expertly blending fictional characters and real people, David Lee Corley delves into the men, the motivations, and the missions of the battle of Dien Bien Phu, the last major conflict before the Vietnam War. We Stand Alone is a historical novel that reads like a modern political thriller, full of exciting action, larger-than-life characters, and unforgettable events. -Kirkus Reviews A Novel Based on a True Story of the Indochina War It wasn't his war... not yet. The American pilot, Tom Coyle, had already fought in two wars and had no desire to fight in a third when he was hired by the French Airforce to fly cargo missions. "No combat, just cargo" was what the contract read. His job was high pay and low risk when compared to the bomber missions he flew in World War II and Korea... and that was the way he wanted to keep it.All that changed when Coyle met Brigitte Friang, a French war correspondent assigned to cover the courageous paratroopers jumping into the northern highlands of Vietnam. Constantly on the move in the most dangerous of places, Brigitte was not the easiest girl to court, but Coyle was inexplicably drawn to her and determined to win her over. Things became even more complicated when Brigitte discovered that the commander of the para battalion she was sent to cover was her former lover and fellow French resistance fighter, Major "Bruno" Bigeard. The two rivals in the unspoken love triangle soon become friends when both struggled to protect Brigitte as the battle raged. But time was running out for Brigitte, Coyle, and Bruno as the Viet Minh closed in on the French garrison to cut it off from the outside world. Bound by duty, Brigitte was determined to stay and Coyle was forced to choose between surrenderi