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The book chronicles the path of the author from his farewells to his family prior to his departure to Vietnam—and subsequent attraction to a flight attendant during his trip out—through his experiences as an officer in the war in the late 1960s. His education, from a young Army officer who is uncertain of his mission to his abrupt education in war, is gripping, as well as both familiar and unique. Taylor's story is impressive for its details, such as its comprehensive list of military abbreviations, as well as the author’s candor about his actions and emotions. He is also honest when he feels the futility of the mission and questions the wisdom and even the cognizance of the US Administration and its role in Vietnam.
In some ways, this is every combat soldier's story. It chronicles the uncertainty, loneliness, training, letters home, food, and the growing awareness of the host country's situation, But it also tells of some personal situations involving the Vietnamese people. The author experiences a plethora of unexpected situations that he documents well. The honesty in this autobiography is as refreshing as it is unblushing. Two quotations that he employs, one of enthusiasm for life, attributed to Helen Keller, and another by an anonymous author ("Life's a bitch and then you die."), describe a couple of Taylor's differing attitudes.
The book, begun as a journal, is important as the United States becomes increasingly enmeshed in violent polarization and warfare at home and internationally. Its contents refer to a time when many people in the US were more positive about the government, as well as trusting of it. Taylor's well-expressed journey is a road map to his personal education, as well as a general guide to the metamorphoses between the theories and practices of a variety of conflicts.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review