Vietnam war

[theclearspot]

Im looking for a good book on the Vietnam war. I have the 'Dispatches'
book by Herr. Any recommendations? Any Vietnam veterans on here with their own stories, take on the war and how they feel about it now? (I know there was the guy who wrote the 'Log Cabin In the Wilderness' thread which was awesome).....

 

[GreenHills]

I took a class on the Vietnam War in college. We had a really great book, I will have to see if I can find it, and tell you the name. I am sure I still have it somewhere!

 

[subrob]

As far as historical literature i dont know enough to recomend the best...but as far as fiction written by a vietnam vet..the 13th valley by john del vechio(?)...i think reading a book like that along w non fiction on vietnam can help get a.....perspective...on the vietnam experience for those of us who were not there..or too young or not even born at the time...worst case..its a kickass read

 

[easy420dude]

I agree with subrob, the 13th valley is excellent fiction on Vietnam - maybe the best. For non-fiction I'd recommend A Bright Shining Lie by Neil Sheehan or The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien.

 

[mpd]

Definitely the 13th Valley for fiction. Great read.

 

[SirTOKESalot]

Go to Vietnam, Check out the War remanence museums. It was more than I had ever learnt in a book, to see the cells that were there, photos (very large, very graphic), bombs, equipment, read stories on the walls...

Visit small towns, and talk to people. There is still so much evidence of the war there, cripples, birth defects, deforestation. It is pretty wild to actually experience. + the People are amazing!

 

[Easy7]

I used to read all sorts of books on Vietnam from the local library, there are good no-fiction books written by the first SEALs that served in the delta.

 

[Terroir]

Good book i read was Highways to a War by Christopher Koch but it might have been about POl Pot on cambodia or abit of both. About a photographer if i remember correctly.

 

[Green lung]

Carlos Hathcock 93 confirmed kils.






.

 

[Rob547]

Highly recommend Patriots by Christian Appy. Had to read it for a Vietnam class in college, my professor actually was Appy. One of the best classes I've taken. Travels all around US and Vietnam interviewing all walks of life and at all levels of involvement in the war. Very emotional. I want to say there was an interview with one person at the event where the monk burned himself alive but not positive, that was quite a read.....

Anyway, that and Things They Carried, and also for a more analytical historical book - Why the North Won The Vietnam War. Interesting but much more dry than the others.

 

[k-s-p]

Domino

 

[Terroir]

also the watch the film The Saphires. Its not a war film but its set in Vietnam during the war.

 

[motaloca]

Here in these parts of the world we call it the American War.
Great book Sideshow. Kissinger, Nixon and the Destruction of Cambodia. by William Shawcross

 

[Arthritis_sucks]

Victim of The Vietnam War here. A big F-U to Agent Orange an a bigger F-U to Dupont!

Sorry, dont know of any good books on Nam. Here is a link to some good films.

http://www.agentorangefilm.com/4436.html

 

[greenmatter]

Chicken Hawk is a good book, so is And a Hard Rain Fell. the 13th valley is a great book too, but i like non fiction if i have a choice

 

[ThirdEyeVision]

Ive read a lot about the Vietnam War.

'The Tunnels of Cu Chi' by Mangold and Penycate
'The Village' by Bing West
'Achilles in Vietnam: combat trauma and the undoing of character'

Those three books are amazing reads you will be riveted.

'War Comes to Long An' by Race
'When Heaven and Earth Changed Places' by Le ly Hayslip

Two good reads as well.

 

[theclearspot]

thanks everyone. Im ordering some of them today, Chickenhawk gets good reviews on amazon. I was reading 'The Dragon Apparent' by Norman Lewis which is set in IndoChina before the war in the 50s, its fascinating. Just as the shit is hitting the fan for the French, so it really got me interested in Vietnam.....films like 'Apocalypse Now' sort of romanticise the war with the music etc...not sure it was really like that....

 

[greekgardner]

it wasnt.................2/34th armor 25th infantry 66-67

 

[Hermanthegerman]

Before some weeks I read a novell about the vietnam war,: "Matterhorn" from Karl Mallantes.

'One of the most profound and devastating novels ever to come out of Vietnam - or any war' Sebastian Junger, New York Times 'Incredible - I came close to reading it in one sitting - I was living and dying in Vietnam with Bravo Company' Sunday Times 'Astonishing... A Vietnam novel of astonishing power and insight - the definitive Vietnam novel of our times - Marlantes steps alongside Stephen Crane, Joseph Heller and even Ernest Hemingway.' Observer 'That Marlantes served in Vietnam lends the book a rare and immersive veracity - bewildering and brilliantly rendered' The Times

 

[Stoner4Life]

idk any good 'Nam books but you might try this.

walk into your local VFW and as if yelling to a friend (and yet still just yelling) call out "CHARLIE!!!" as you point across the club, all the guys that duck & start looking around are Viet Nam vets; and now you owe them all a drink for scaring the crap outta 'em, don't forget to tell them "oh, I guess that wasn't my friend Charlie."

You've got their attention, bought a round of drinks, ask a few questions.