Author Nguyen Xuan Phong used to be a governmental Minister, Ambassador and Peace Negotiator of the South Vietnamese regime.

He is not related to me and I've never known him until I met him at the Vietnam Center's Symposium [Texas Tech University-Lubbock.]

I saw myself and founded HOPE in this book. The Hope and Vanquished Reality was written by Author's Head, his Heart, his hands and of course his HOPE.

If you don't have HOPE, read this book. If you don't know HOPE, find out HOPE in this book, and if you don't believe in HOPE, meet the author of HOPE : Nguyen Xuan Phong [Xuan : Spring, and Phong : Wind]

...

God bless and HOPE you read this book....

This is possibly the best down-home earthy style book I've read about the Vietnam Conflict. It is heartwrenching and true, and something you'll not soon forget. I'm sorry that it has fallen out of print, because it deals with an issue no one wants to talk about: the war we lost, and the stashing of our veterans out of public view.

HUEY is an excellent reading book that reveals the inner workings of being a Vietnam helicopter pilot. Back in '88 I checked this book out from the local library and never forgot it. I purchased my own copy in '92 and have been averaging 4 years between readings. Aside from one chapter on Buda which I always skip, the book is a real page turner.

A dozen biographies of those opposed to or affected by Vietnam serve as the foundation for revealing how individuals were influenced by events of the times. Human Tradition in the Vietnam Era goes beyond most Vietnam books to provide a cross-section of opinions and experiences documenting the lasting effects of the war.

These comments are from the review by Marcia Morphy that appeared in the December 4, 1995 issue of the Brighton-Pittsford (New York) Post. The following is excerpted from Ms. Morphy's review:

"There are moments in this book that are powerfully moving. Kenneth P. Sympson takes us on a wartime journey with a descriptive account of his tour of duty as a Marine Corps artillery officer during America's longest war - Vietnam. (Quoting from the book) 'Villages in the distance. Rice paddies framed by dikes. Occassional Vietnamese in the fields. Bent over in the paddies. Shuffling along the roads. Lined with palm trees. Peaceful. Primitive. Lush and green. So pretty from up here... The helicopter about 75 meters ahead of us begins its descent into the LZ. Suddenly it's hit by ground fire from the hamlet. (Jesus, what was that!) ... Trailing smoke and clutching its Marines, it rolls to the left and free falls out of sight beneath us. Now we are the prey.'

"Sympson started writing this book as a form of self-therapy after he was stricken with non-Hodgkins lymphona, a cancer probably caused by exposure to Agent Orange. In his book, Sympson vividly and sensitively recounts the horrors of war: small pockets of Viet Cong hiding in hedgerows and tunnels, booby traps and punji stakes... "

Good book. The reader sees the world through the eyes of the character. It will give a perspective of where the former immigrants that make up America are coming from. It shows how much love these newly arrived folks have for their new country. Was the main character fighting for America or was he still at war with the Russian and Gerrmans that left his native country all but uninhabitable, or was it a mixture of the two. I'm looking forward to his rumored sequels about his experiences and the political climate he survived.

This book unlocked hidden truths and falsehoods for me and broadened my knowledge of the Vietnamese policy concerning the American M.I.As. It was widely thought-provoking and educational. Anyone interested in the aftermath of the war will be glad they choose to read this book. It helps to illustrate the relationship between these two countries and the growth both have endured since that catastrophic era.

The author recounts his experience as an Australian platoon commander in the Vietnam war. It is very frank and can be quite brutal, however it is compelling reading and is especially recommended for junior army officers.

Remember James Stockdale running for Vice President in the early 90's under the third party? He was perhaps the candidate with the greatest personal integrity in ages.

This book is just as genuine and is a vivid examination of what it's like to be a POW in brutal captivity for years. The book also has his reflections on the present-day U.S.. Here, he is refreshing, and can be brutally candid on such institutions as the South's best-known anachronistic walled military place.

Mostly though, it's the love story between what he and his wife have been though these years. No candy coating: A rare American hero with the straight story.

This book is an excellent introduction to the complexities of the Vietnam war. It is particularly strong on the subject of South Vietnamese politics, though it makes clear that the American side was the more byzantine. In particular the book indicts both military and civilian advisors to LBJ. It is thinnest on the activities and motivations of the enemy.