A great, great book

A must read/listen to book for those interested in war. I understand the authors standpoint although do not agree with it, however all books should allow for differing points of view other than you own.
A highly recommendable book, a must.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

great account from the soldiers side

took a while to get into it,but overall a great book. narrator was very good

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A Marine's experiences on War in Vietnam

Always been fasinated by the Vietnam conflict, in how a superior force is beaten back by unseen "Yellow Men" beaten by the environment, politics and the fogness of war, This has become my second favourite book of the conflict. Chicken Hawk by Robert Mason being the what I think the best written encounter of the War.

I'm not a fan of American Narrators in audible books but L.J Ganser does a fantastic job of putting you there, in fact couldnt imagine another accent or person to do this, At first I thought it was the Author narrating.

I highly recommed this book.

I feel I was born 20 years to late and 3000 miles away.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Stunning - Like a Sonic Boom!

I was 8 years old in 1975 when Ho Chi Minh City was finally Liberated by the North Vietnamese! When the NVA tank smashed its way into the grounds of what had been the US Embassy - we all cheered in the UK and held up pictures of Ho Chi Minh! Although around 3 million Vietnamese had been killed by the US - not to mention hundreds of thousands of innocent Cambodians and Laotian (compared to just 58,000 US KIA) - the author of this book refuses to take responsibility for the US policy of destruction of which he was a part. Instead, he asserts the fiction that the situation was 'equal' and that somehow the Americans were victims of their own policy. Furthermore, whilst the author seduces the reader with an engaging and well-written book full of reliable facts and figures - he also continues the Eurocentric 'lie' of Vietnam. He is as dishonest as he is honest. This is a typical symptom of US anti intellectualism - a malady that permeates the American system. Vietnam is not the first war the US lost. The US lost the war in North Korea. The Chinese Army destroyed the US Forces and pushed them out of the country they had invaded. US terrorists in Mexico were wiped out at the Alamo. After declaring war on Great Britain in 1812 - virtually every US Force sent to meet a small force of invading Scottish troops from Canada were soundly beaten. In the 1770s - entire American Armies ran away from British troops, etc. The list of reversals, lost battles and war defeats is endless for the US. Do not fall for this Amero-centric narrative of superficial, John Wayne nonsense. This book is about the use of force by the US to ruthlessly kill people of a different race because they want to be different. Vietnam was a War Crime committed by the United States.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Fascinating account with a front row seat

I’ve seen most films and plenty of documentary touchstones on this hideous war, but this was an altogether different experience. The narrator was extremely good and did a great job at drawing you inside the story. Highly recommend and a perfect place to start your true Vietnam education!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Puts you in the jungle

I've read quite a few memoirs from the Vietnam War and I have to say this is among the finest. From the optimism and bravado of training and the early months in-country, through to the horror and tragedy as the body count rises and Caputo and his Marines realise this is a war that cannot be won - this book packs an emotional punch. I always feel audio books lend themselves to the first person narrative and the narrator does a good job here. Moments of laughter, despair, terror, confusion, frustration and gallows humour are brought to life. At times you feel like you're in the fox hole with them. Recommended.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Good addition to the Vietnam story.

A good addition to the Vietnam story but not the best I've listened too. It adds to the picture but I would suggest starting somewhere else.

Not bad just not as gripping a story as others like "To The Limit" and sometimes I drifted off and just wanted to get to the end so I could start a new book.

Having said that the final chapters are the best and were worth waiting for and the author poses some great moral questions about the conflict.

So very good and happy I listened to this, but not 5 stars from me.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Deeply moving and unforgettable

An outstanding, disquietingly honest book that paints an unforgettable picture of the nature of war in general and Vietnam in particular. It is also beautifully written and quite wonderfully narrated.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Vey good read

Honest account of one man journey through a conflict that America wanted to forget. Not surprising that so many brave soldiers went back home damaged souls

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

The Best

This really is one of the best books I've read. Just incredible. A real good narrator as well.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!