The book Platoon Bravo Company contained it all. From the missions all the way down to the soldiers. An awesome book! The best part of the book is how it takes us to the front lines and lets us experience what the war actually may have been like. This is an excellent book for schools to refer back to and show what it was really like to fight in Vietnam. It is also a book that keeps you interested from beginning to end. A good element of the book is how Hemphill tells us his story from the day he takes over Bravo Company and until the day he leaves his command of the Infantry. This is a great aspect because it was meant to show us how Vietnam took drastic measures on American soldiers.
The book showed us how Vietnam really was, rather then what it has been portrayed as. It also shows us why the madness takes over the soldiers. Hemphill's explanation of the Tet Offensive is tremendously helpful to get an understanding of its effect in this book. The book over time gives a basic understanding of how these men not only had to save their lives and lives of others; but also save men from the madness brought to them by the war. This book to me portrayed the realistic madness of Vietnam as well as the surroundings Americans were forced to fight in. It gives a great understanding on how hard it was to fight in a place like Vietnam. The explanation to me was so great that I now have a totally different feeling about Vietnam. In my opinion the best Vietnam book out there.

The book Platoon Bravo Company contained it all. From the missions all the way down to the soldiers. An awesome book! The best part of the book is how it takes us to the front lines and lets us experience what the war actually may have been like. This is an excellent book for schools to refer back to and show what it was really like to fight in Vietnam. It is also a great book if you like action and a book that keeps you reading from beginning to end. A good element of the book is how Hemphill tells us his story from the day he takes over Bravo Company and until the day he leaves his command of the Infantry. This is a great aspect because it was meant to show us how Vietnam took drastic measures on American soldiers.
The book showed us how Vietnam really was, rather then what it has been portrayed as. It also shows us why the madness takes over the soldiers. Hemphill's explanation of the Tet Offensive is tremendously helpful to get an understanding of its effect in this book. The book over time gives a basic understanding of how these men not only had to save their lives and lives of others; but also save men from the madness brought to them by the war. This book to me portrayed the realistic madness of Vietnam as well as the surroundings Americans were forced to fight in. It gives a great understanding on how hard it was to fight in a place like Vietnam. The explanation in this book was so good that I now have a totally different opinion about Vietnam. In my opinion the best Vietnam book out there.

In"Platoon: Bravo Company", Mr. Hemphill's account of the 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, Bravo Company's Vietnam war experience, while under his command as Captain is unflinching, candid, and necessarily detailed. The author takes the reader with him from the very first day that he takes the helm of Bravo Company for the duration of his command. The author carefully pays attention to battle site, historical, and factual detail, and weaves sufficient prose to pique the readers interest by describing the surrounding elements of experience, characters and survival. This book is recommended for the military enthusiast or avid reader who appreciates excellent non-fiction.

This is a complete book with color pictures of beatifully prepared dishes. For non-vietnameses, you can find popular dishes like Hanoi soup, crab egg rolls, shrimp rolls, and the 7 courses of beef (with her modifications to adapt with the available ingredients from the supermarkets). For vietnameses, you can find the recipes for common meals like ca kho, canh chua, etc...The only dish missing here is the noodle soup from Hue (bun bo hue).

Nicole Routhier was trained from the Culinary Institute of America, so her intructions are meticulous, elegant and easy to follow. Her instructions are two to three times longer than those found in typical cook books. She is obviously a talent chef who has grown up in vietnam and is familiar with the foods.

However this book was written back in 1985-1989, so the taste is very strong with fish sauce and salt. My recommendation is to buy the book because it is cover all of the basics like techniques and ingredients. Except for the dipping sauce, you have to play around the amount of the fish sauce and salt used in seasoning. I usually cut down the amount called out in the recipes to 1/4 or none at all. If not, you will be intoxicated with fish sauce.

I am Vietnamese and love to eat Vietnamese food. I tried several recipes from this book and they turned out great. I highly recommend this book to whoever wants to learn about Vietnamese cooking. The instructions is very easy to follow. The only disappointment that I have is that there is no "Bu'n bo` Hue^'" recipe in this book.:=(

My mother is a superb Vietnamese cook and I have been able to teach her a thing or two from this book. Notably, the recipe for the Steamed Meatloaf takes a fraction of time than my mother's recipe and tastes just as good (if not better). The recipes are superb and easy-to-follow. If only all cookbooks delivered such consistently delicious results....

It was like reliving Tuscaloosa all over again. As I was reading Johns book I could almost close my eyes and tell you what was on the next page. I was there with my face in the sand trying to servive. And I am extremely proud of the way my fellow Brother wrote our story. The reality even allowed me to see the young marines faces that I now will never forget. Thank you john Culbertson for an excellent, excellent accounting of times that should never been forgotten, nor the young Marines who laid down their lives that day. Semper Fi

The courage of the Marines have often been told. This book will take you into the battle of the Viet Nam mud marine. John puts you on the line with them and shows you the courage of the young men who fought these battles. Not only is it a true depliction of the battles,but the thoughts of the men who fought them. A must read for the young men and women who are thinking that war is all glory. I know I was there!!!!!

I have not completed the book yet. I never met my brother. All I had were letters sent to my mother to read. In this book it mentions my brother and it also answers a 35 year old question. To me, this book has brought a part of my brother to me. I have also purchased A Sniper In The Arizona. Thank you Mr. Culbertson..

As a good frind of the author , I am biased in his favor. But I am a HUGE fan of this book , belive me there are a lot of untold storie's waiting to be told. Hopefully he will be writing a new book. To all who are thinking about reading this book , I strongly recomend it. It is a great book . Here's to you Jerry , Long Live Apache Troop.

I can attest to the authenticity of Jerry's book because I served with him in Apache Troop. He tells it like it was. His book brought back memories that made me laugh and some that brought tears to my eyes. He reminded me of friends whose names I may have forgotten but not that they are friends. I haven't seen anyone from Apache Troop since I was there from March 1970 to May of 1971. I have seen Jerry and he is still the hell-raiser he was then.

I am honored to call him friend. He did things that would make most men soil their pants. He survived his tour in Vietnam so he could write this book to help us remember to never have another atrocity to be placed upon our military men and women.

The military did their job with one hand tied behind their back and still kicked ... and not bothering to take names. The politicians on the other hand sat on their thumbs and let the military take the brunt of the misgivings of the war.

Once again, Jerry's book is GREAT ! ....

Jerry's book reminds me of those things and more. I say to Jerry, I sure hope there is a sequel. I one of many are sure looking forward to it.

Thank you Jerry!!!

Apache Sunrise is the best personal account that I have read on Vietnam helicopter aviation. This book combines descriptions of the hard hitting and gutsy combat with the human side of Mr. Boyle's Vietnam Tour. Not only full of facts about tactics and operations, he describes the little things you do not get in most history books! I felt like I was sitting listening to him tell his story in person. His description of his buddies and fellow pilots made them your friends too. Great job Mr. Boyle.

Even for those who grew up watching the Vietnam War played out daily on television, this story of Navy SEALs in action provides a zoom-lens camera eye on jungle warfare. While fascinating details reveal how individual men transform into a single, deadly unit with seemingly superhuman powers, this book also takes the reader into the heart of one man who is all too human. The authors of Men in Green Faces walk an unusual path as they neither villify nor glorify war, but simply and effectively tell it like it was. And "like it was" is nothing like you imagined unless you were there. For those who only saw the media's version of the fighting in Vietnam, this novel drops you into the jungle and stands you in the middle of an elite and heroic unit called SEALs. It's an experience you won't soon forget.

Gene Wentz paints a real life picture of how the SEALs battled the NVA and VC. The action described was so real you felt as though you were there along with them. This is a real SEAL story. Ten times better than the corny "Rogue Warrior" series where all that mattered was smart wise cracks. Men in Green Faces is the best book I have ever read.

Wanted to add a female perspective on this well-written, fascinating book about Navy SEALs in Vietnam. Even if you don't usually read in the military genre, this story has something for everyone. The accurate details and realistic characters give this novel something many others lack ... a clear portrait of what these courageous men did (and still do) for their country and those of us who take our freedom and safety for granted. We owe a tremendous debt to those who serve, and gratitude to Gene Wentz and Betty Abell Jurus for giving us a valuable glimpse from behind the scenes. The Hollywood versions simply don't cut it. If you want a dose of reality, read this book!

Darryl Young has brought the true horrors of war and life experiences of the Seal Teams to those of us that were kids growing up during the Viet Nam war. It tells it all and with out the "sugar coating" I usually do not read this type of subject and was given this book by a friend, I was totally blown away at the grit and heroism that these men had. I deffinately will be reading all the rest of Mr. Youngs books and have renewed my respect for all veterans of foreign wars. It's a required read for my teenagers. A deffinate MUST read for all.

Being a great fan of military books I was suprised to find out the vivid accounts of Darryl Young, and his accounts of war in Vietnam. I also enjoyed his boot camp stories. Especially the one where they cheated and sat up on the hill and waited for everyone else to arrive. But when they went across the finish line, the course had been changed. So they got in a lot of trouble with their DIs. I enjoyed his writings of the silent waiting. I also enjoyed his writings of his accounts with the VC and NVA. I would reccomend this book to anyone who is interested in the SEALs and their role in the Vietnam war.

This was my first book that I had ever read that involved Navy SEALs in Vietnam and it hit me like a shock wave. This book is full of action, emotion, and spirit that makes this book reach another level. This book inspired me to read more Navy SEAL books and to join the TEAMs after highschool. HOO YAH!!!

I loved this book! Ward Just's writing is, as usual, some of the best around (the first page is one of the most beautiful pieces of prose I've ever read), and his topic couldn't be more timely: the slow but inextricable involvement of the U.S. in Vietnam, as seen through the eyes of a quasi-civilian, who has come to the country in 1965 as an idealistic "nation builder." As he becomes more deeply involved in his mission, he realizes that the country and its people are more complex than they first seemed - as is his purpose there. These realizations come late, and at some cost. The descriptions of Vietnam and its people are hypnotic and allegoric; I found myself enjoying the story on several levels. For every Ward Just fan, for anyone who wants to know what it was like to be an American in Vietnam in 1965, and for anyone who wants to know how our country's best intentions can turn into quagmires (a very timely question!) I highly recommend this novel.

I liked this book and liked seeing the civilian side of the war revealed. What a crock these people must have been about in the early days of the war. As an Army helicopter pilot, we viewed their efforts and flew them around on their missions to improve this country. Watching their seriousness and intrigue was amusing and quizical at best. We flew a lot of single ship missions in support of MACV and USAID; thank God our seriousness was about flying the Huey.
Read further about our side of the war with OUTLAWS IN VIETNAM; my book on flying UH-1D's out of Vinh Long in the Delta. Ward Just's book shows a very interesting story of what it must have been like to be French as this American involvement unfolds.

The beauty of this novel is the understated way in which it is told.

I'd been meaning to read this book since it first came out last year and finally sat down with it over the weekend ... and couldn't put it down. In just a spare 256 pages, Ward Just recreates the fallen splendor of colonial Vietnam at the start of the conflict and examines the opposing philosophies of those caught in the gathering maelstrom - the American government presence there to provide "humanitarian" aid and support the rapidly diminishing infrastructure and the expatriate colonials who have lived there for years in relative calm and peace who are unwilling to give up what they call home for the sake of political interventionists who, they believe, have little relevance on their lives.

It's a delicate book but one that gives you pause to think. Ward Just is an verbal wizard at providing descriptions of climate and landscape. His characters are finely drawn and subtle (one might almost say understated) and the plot, while not particularly dramatic in the more traditional sense, evolves in such a way the reader knows something terrible is going to happen because the inevitability is there.

In some ways, this book reminded me of the French film done several years ago, "Indochine", with Catherine Deneuve. While the film is set in the 30's and chronicles the start of the Communist conflict in Vietnam, it portrays a similar crisis of conscience between the old established colonial point of view and the rapidly changing tides of modern history.

Into the Green by Cherokee Paul McDonald is a great book. Into the Green is filled with action, suspense,and interesting clues as to what a soldiers life is like. This book is perfect for males like myself who require some action, and lude humor to keep them tied to a book. Not only does the book portray an accurate picture of what soldiers experienced during the Vietnam war,it also does so in a way that will make you feel as if you were there. McDonald's short, yet deep chapters are filled with emotions like fear, and anger, which are hard to find by simply reading a book, but he pulls it off. McDonald uses impressive imagery when describing the lush jungles of Vietnam. Cherokee Paul McDonald's struggle through the jungles of Vietnam is a rough awakening to the effect war has on a soldier. Overall this a very well written, interesting novel which will keep you hooked the whole way. I highly reccomend this book whether you are an avid war reader, or have never read a book about war.

This was one of those books that I read slowly, savoring the content and the word pictures given to me. As a former Army Aviator, who flew combat missions in Vietnam in the very same Area of Operations (AO) described, and in the very same time frame, I felt as though I was living the Vietnam experience all over again.

This time, I could reflect upon the memories, the vivid and accurate portrayals of combat and daily life of an Army combatant; without the constant cloud of fear that was always there, mostly just pushed into the background. The portrayals of the news media, political tactical decisions and the enemy were right on target.

Extremely well written, exciting, and heart rending when he received the typical Vietnam veteran homecoming reception. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to see what the Vietnam War was really like.

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This is a great book because it takes a different approach from most war memoirs. Instead of giving a day-by-day recount of events, McDonald shares his experiences through short snapshots of episodes which are more easily digested than long winded narratives. He also includes simple and poignant details that allow the reader small insights into the emotional turbulence that affected everyone involved in Vietnam in a different way. If you don't think you like reading about war, try Into the Green. I think its humanity will appeal to most people, and it helped me gain a better understanding of a very misunderstood time in America's history.

The book Paradise of the Blind describes the hardships of three young Vietnamese women. Paradise of the Blind is a very interesting and truthful book that allows readers to understand what Vietnamese go through daily. Written by Dyong Thu Huong, Paradise of the Blind goes in great depths describing the Vietnamese's idealistic hope and betrayal of Communism.
This book focuses on the life of a young lady, Hang, and her relationship with both her mothers and fathers relatives. Hang is a twenty-year-old exported worker in Russia, who has a series of flashbacks. On her train ride to Moscow, Hang recalls how her uncle Chinh tore her family apart and destroyed the relationship between her and her mother. Her mother Que moved to Hanoi and became a street vendor because of the land reforms. Hang blames her uncle Chinh for her father's departing, her Aunt Tam becoming poor, and her mother becoming a street vendor. She realizes that she can only move on with her life and succeed only if she distances herself from her family and their history. "I can't squander my life tending these faded flowers, the legacy of past crimes," (Huong 57). Her Aunt Tam is convinced and determined that her hard work will benefit Hang someday. Hang is forcefully torn between her mother Que and her Aunt Tam.
Overall, Dyong Thu Huong expresses a great deal of description of both the characters and their thoughts and feelings. One fact that really shocked and surprised me was that Paradise of the Blind was one of the first books written under Vietnamese Communist Regime ever translated into English. This book is well translated and is an easy read. It makes you think and appreciate how lucky you really are. If you truly want to understand the history of Vietnam and what life is like under communism, this is a must read.

Hearing people complain about their lives and how the world treats them so unfairly will really make one think about the reality of what they are saying after they read the novel, Paradise of the Blind. Coming from a Vietnamese background, I was intrigued to read this novel because I saw a slight connection, but after just a few chapters, I realized that people from all ethnic backgrounds could appreciate this novel. Paradise of the Blind deals with the struggle of three women in Vietnam and how they try to overcome their obstacles in their communist world and make a future for themselves and their family.
Hang, the main character of the novel, is summoned in the first chapter to go attend to her sick uncle. The story takes place on the train to Russia where Hang remembers back to her life living in communist Vietnam. She reminisces about her mother, Que, who would do anything to keep her and her daughter healthy and happy. She can still remember playing the streets of Vietnam while her mother was out selling odds and ends to keep them alive. Along the way, we hear details about Hang's father and about his death that Que never wants to tell Hang about. With Hang's father, comes Aunt Tam. She is the rich aunt that won't deny Hang anything. Paradise of the Blind tells about the life of these women and how through land reforms, death, poverty, love, and hate, these women survive and make a life for themselves.

The accounts of these women left me with a sense of knowledge about the restrictive time period that they lived in. Although very profound, this novel can surely be enjoyed by all audiences. The simplicity of the language helps the reader understand the real meaning that this novel is trying to share, and a truth like this one should not be kept in the dark.

When the Vietnamese Communist Party slightly gave people freedom of speech in 1987, Duong Thu Huong cleverly borrowed many stories to analyze what had happened to ordinary people of the northern part of Vietnam under the communist regime. She challenges the communists to look at people's miserable lives that they have made and lured people into. Paradise of The Blind depicts some realities of negative aspects of communism. The story circles around the life of a young lady, Hang, in her relationship with her both mother's and father's relatives. All of them, her mother, her aunt, her uncle, her cousins and herself are all intertwined in a twist of the country without a way out. The story gives readers a mixed feeling of pity, sympathy, hatred and love for these Vietnamese people. However, Duong Thu Huong does not tell the whole truth. She does not point out some crucial details of the horrors the Land Reform Movement had created and of how poor people had been through. For example, these communists and even common people would sacrifice their parents and their siblings for their own fame and future during the Land Reform Movement. Moreover, many communists would not give their immediate families' members a way out. Paradise of The Blind was among the first books written under Vietnamese Communist Regime ever translated into English. I think you will enjoy it. If you are among those suffering and struggling by the ideal or "paradise" of the communists, you will share the same feelings of those people. If you don't know what live under the Communist Regime is like, you may have a great insight about it.

I read the original book when it was first published in '90. I also had the pleasure of being a collegue of Ms. vandevanter when she was living and working in CA. When I knew her, I considererd her rude, brash, undiciplined, crazy,contemptuous of the "RULES." Words such as hero, post traumatic stress disorder, or combat nurses were not in the popular media in the mid seventies. There were no heros, just people who did not fit into neat civilian boxes. Ms. Vandervanter's book was about the first nurses story published. It laid bare how torn a soul becomes when subjected to the daily horrors of war and then the hate of your own countrymen on return. It then chronicals how many years it takes to rebuild-a process I'm sure was helped my this book. Ten years have gone by, millions of words have been written about Viet Nam but this is still the first and the classic book about nurses in combat. I look forward to rereading this book and have two Viet Nam era nurses waiting to read it. Keep this book in print as reqired reading about the "glory"of war.

October 4, 1999 I read this book in my senior year of high school and i've recently visited the women's memorial in D.C. and i'm telling you the emotions that i felt were none like i've felt reading Home Before morning. I feel as if I was right there with Lynda Van Devanter and visiting that memorial was such a great accomplishment for me. I really admire you gals. no one could do what you have done!!

I read this book close to 10 years ago in a college history class. It was on a list of choices and I picked it because it was the only book about the experience of a woman in wartime. I'm glad I did, because the book still ranks in my mind as one of the most interesting points of view of the Vietnam experience in print. There are hundreds--maybe thousands--of books about the memories and heroic deeds of the male soldiers in various wars, but what about the women who had to put them back together, nurse them back to health, and often send them back to the front to be wounded again? Since reading Home Before Morning I actively seek out the stories of the doctors, nurses and other "support" personnel involved in military actions.

I read so many books that I often don't remember the names of authors or even the titles of the books, but this one has stayed with me. That is a testament to the writing ability of Van Devanter and the emotional pull of her story. I'd recommend this book to anyone considering a career in the military, medical field, or anyone interested in women's history. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes.