I had the pleasure of being presented this book from the Author himself, during one of his stays in Italy. The reader is really taken by the history of a Soldier(a Captain of US Navy) who, throughout the dreadful experience of the captivity in Vietnam is supported only by a deep, very hard to find, sense of Duty. A great lesson for all the generations to come and a great tribute to all people "who paid the price of Vietnam"(from Preface) - Vincenzo DE ROS

"The Hanoi Commitment" is the only book I've read so far on what it was like to be a prisoner of the North Vietnamese. Mulligan's book is interesting because he give the reader a "play by play" account of a day in the life of a prisoner from his capture in 1966 to his release in 1973. One of the things I appreciated about the book was his faith. He kept referring to the Lord Christ and the fact that he prayed to Him several times daily for strength. As a Christian, I found this a great testimony. The story was told fairly as well, for Mulligan not only tells the reader of the evil things that the animalistic North Vietnamese did, but also the compassion (genuine, not propaganda) that some of the NVA soldiers showed him. This book will put the reader's own life in perspective. The small things we go through pale in comparison to what Captain Mulligan went through. He is truly an inspiration to me.

A no holds barred view of how Naval Aviation played an important role in the Vietnam War. Truely patriotic and humbling. This is an account of a man who loved his country and made the ultimate sacrifice.

This is the story of 14 Vietnamese who had escaped Vietnam after the end of the war and came to reside in the USA. The author had spent a long time interviewing them and penning down their stories.

After the war, these people were ready to "accommodate to the communist life style" when they realized they were harassed then thrown into concentration camps where they had to endure punishment and revenge for years and years. Even after release from the camps, they were watched closed, lost their human rights and were returned to jails at the slightest infraction. Unable to live under this suffucating environment, they escaped abroad.

An ex-colonel detailed his incarceration in a northern camp where 12 inmates out of 500 died of dysentery (a curable form of intractable diarrhea) and others hunted for and ate mice and crickets "raw" in order to survive. He was then transferred to a Nghe An camp where he was forced to collect human wastes with his bare hands to be used as fertilizers and was not allowed to wash his hands before having supper. After one week of such treatment, all inmates in his company gave up resistance.

This is a fascinating book, which although published in 1989 remains an important contribution to the Vietnamese American literature and folklore.

Yup. Another review of a book no one read (but should have). If I remember right, Sherry's bad luck was having this book published simultaneously with the onset of the Gulf (not)War. This book was poised for moderate success when WHAMMO! America's jingoistic instincts rose up with the Gulf (not)War and no one wanted to hear about how to NOT be sent off to kill our pigment enriched brethren. Anyway, this book contains an excellent cross section of attitudes about not getting drafted, including a very direct and cogent essay by Muhammad Ali. Generally, this is a mix of interesting and amusing anecdotes involving everything from peanut butter to letting animal scratches fester before you take your physical. The author spent a lot of time and effort on this book and it is a crime that it didn't sell better.

This novel is enjoyable and easy to read- it is also beautifully written. It is well translated and true to the author's goal, revealing the (albeit mystical) calm joy that comes to the characters, mainly Princess Amazing Jewel, through living and experiencing life. Captures the beauty, customs and languid pace of life for 14th century Asian royalty. I am buying this book!

Since Amazon didn't post an editorial review for this book, here's the description from the back of the book to help you decide if this story is for you: "After spending one year back in the World, U.S. Special Forces Captain Mack Gerber returns to Vietnam smack in the middle of a political boondoggle. Although the Americans have incontrovertible evidence of a major enemy buildup in the Hobo Woods region, they are advised to exercise extreme restraint against the NVA. This mandate is the result of a press-whipped U.S. administration bucking under severe antiwar sentiments. The ripple effect touches officers in the field in Vietnam, and they are cautioned to keep all missions low-profile. Mack Gerber is stunned at these new events, especially since the American military has now been allowed to shed its adviser role and openly take part in combat. Gerber can't believe his orders: Go look for the enemy, but don't find him!" Eric Helm is the pen name of two Vietnam veterans, men who were there and who now tell it like it was.

Home Before Morning Is one of the most amazing books I have ever read. I bought the book when it was originally published back in 1983. At the time I was a young O.R. nurse and I was fascinated by the idea of nurses in Vietnam. Oh, if only I had been old enough to volunteer the way Lynda VanDevanter did. She quickly dashed the stars from my eyes with her descriptions of life in Pleiku. And if the horror of Vietnam wasn't bad enough, what she (and so many other returning vets) endured when she returned to the U.S. makes me ashamed, even today. That she emerged from the years of PTSD to help other women veterans is a testament to her courage and strength of character. My copy of Home Before Morning remains on my bookshelf, and always will. It has been passed around to many friends and co-workers. I think it should be required reading in every high school American History class.

I have had this book on my shelf since 1992 when it was re-published. I first saw the book with my friend Robert McLane, who is quoted in the chapter on "Zones of Rage and Violence." Bob was one of my healers during a time of ongoing depression back in the 1980's. We went our seperate ways so hello BOB! I next saw the book with a vet in Phoenix during the winter of 87-88 again with depressions. He helped me along my journey.

I was afraid to open it up. My healing took a long time. I can say that Lifton's advice about encountering the false, counterfiet cliches about that war are essential for healing and now as I am reading it in retrospect, I can see how much work I really did. The reinforcement about not-lying to oneself or others about the heinous dimension of the Vietnam War and the anti-war activity that we were engaged in is of great historical importance, for all time. All wars that may evolve from this great country are encased in a fabric of semi-truths. It is up to us, the citizenry, to interpret reality without blindly following orders.

Lifton has done us a service. We are healers and so he has given us new life. Jim Willingham

One of the most unique and entertaining books I've ever read concerning Vietnam veterans and the Baby Boomer generation. Kudos Mr. Mannino!