Customer Reviews

Gardens of Stone

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4 star:		(4)
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This is a frist rate novel; page turning. A novel about honor and caring. This novel we see a unique side to the army and Vietnam. We see the inner workings of the 3rd US Inf, the Army's Old Guard, which is the unit responsible for Arlington Cemetary and Burial Details. The Nations Premier Honor Guard and the Presidents Own.

This book is for everyone. We will see the enthusiam and innocence of youth in the '60s. Those young men who wanted to go and fight for their country. Worried the war would end before they could get there and help the US win. To the reality the soldier's who had allready been there wake up to, knowing we could not win the war the way it was being waged.

An excellent novel about the Old Guard of the Army. Mr. Proffitt, as a veteran of the 3rd US Inf., is able to bring you into the "other" world of the Army. The side that has to do with the burials, rather than the killing.

As a veteran of the Old Guard, who was there for the filming of the movie, I was dissapointed that the Army would not let Mr. Coppola keep to Mr. Proffitt's work, but if you both read the novel, and view the movie, I'm sure that you'll understand the reasons.

Anyhow, I digress. Mr. Proffitt's telling of the "other side if the Vietnam War" is without compare. Even though, by his own admission, he does change some facts around.

I would recommend this novel to all the "doves" and "children of doves", as well as anyone interested in the nations Premier Honor Guard.

Scott R. Williams
3d U.S. Inf (TOG)
84-88

I've read dozens of novels in my life, some good and some bad. One day I found Gardns of Stone in a bargain box at a local used bookstore. I'd heard of the movie, but never saw it. Having worked near, and traveled through Arlington Nat'l Cemetary, and observed The Old Guard in action many times, I bought it. I literally couldn't put it down.

The drawing of the characters is very believable, and the feelings of the servicemen are authentic, based on my military experiences. Even the passages with Sgt Hazard's girlfriend, as she struggles with her feelings about Hazard, but her resentment of his profession, are ones that military men often face. Even Hazard's ambivalence towards his superiors in particualr, and the Army in general, comes across as genuine.

It's one of the finest books I've ever read, and one that makes you think about your responsibility to others. It's a great read, and everyone I've passed it to has felt the same way.

10/08/02 - I just finished - for at least the fifth time - Nicholas Proffitt's highly entertaining and provoking first novel. Just as I know how Gone With The Wind ends and how this book ends I still cannot put it down until I get there. Proffitt's experience while in the "Third Herd" certainly shows through and gives the reader another face of war. While stationed in the D.C. area in '66-'67 I attended more than my share of military funerals and can understand how the men of the Third tried to detach themselved fro the day-to-day work of burying their comrades. This book rates in the top 25 in my all-time favorites list.

I WAS IN THE 196TH L.I.B. THE PEOPLE MAY HAVE BEEN FICTIONAL MUCH OF THE STORY WAS NOT!

Having served for a year in be Third Infantry, I can attest to the fact that this book captures the spirit and essential character of the men I served with. Passionate, dedicated, uncompromising and imbued with a desire to serve others over self, they embody the qualities that make America great. If you have never been in the service and want to get an idea of what it is like, both the people and the flavor of military life, this book is worth every nickel.

Of the many"war" novels that I have read none have had the effect on me that this one did. With characterzations that hit very close to home. The novel shows a glimpse of an orgarization(the army) and a place(the united states in the 60's)in a state of change. Through the eyes of Jack Willow the inocense of youth is shown. Along with the exuzberance that goes with it. Jack wants nothing more then to go to Vietnam. Ceil Hazard a friend of Jack's father from WW2 tries to tell Jack of the horrors of war with little success. Samantha Huff becomes a love interest of Ceil's which adds to his continuing disillousment with his profession. One of a select few novels to successfully to switch time and place. At times extremely funny yet with an end that can break your heart. Few novels of Vietnam show as much depth in putting a spotlight in what was our nation's most costlist conflict.

Of the many, many books I have read about soldiers and war, this is one is perhaps the best -- certainly the best I've read about Vietnam. The characters are multidimensional, the pathos authentic, and the story of a subculture in crisis touchingly poignant. Everyone aging hippie intoning against soldiers and the military ethic should read this book.

Nicholas Proffitt, an ex-Old Guardsman himself, has written an exceedingly accurate portrayal of the Vietnam-era Old Guard (3rd U.S. Infantry regiment, "President's Honor Guard, "The Old Guard of the Army"). As I was reading it, I felt as though I was transported back to Ft. Myer myself. I have shared it with many of my fellow Old Guard veterans and the feeling that the author has the pulse of the period was universal. I highly recommend the book (and the movie by Francis Ford Coppolla that is faithful to it) to veterans and non-veterans alike.

Until about a year ago, this was my favorite novel of all time. It takes place during the height of the Vietnam War. Most of the novel centers around the Old Guard, who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and provide burial details at Arlington Natl. Cemetary. The story has two main protagonists, Clell Hazard and Jackie Willow. Hazard is a crusty, veteran NCO who entered service during WWII. Willow is the son of one of Hazard's Army buddies. The story revolves around Hazard's efforts to cool Willow's desire to get "starched" in Vietnam. Realizing that Willow (who is a model soldier) is deadset on going to Vietnam, Hazard does all he can to prepare the boy. I could go on and on with the subtleties, but you get the point. The story is told with frequent flashes of humor. I actually laughed out loud on several occaisions. It is also a fairly accurate depiction of life for the enlisted in the Army. The main problem I have with the novel is that Willow's character does not seem very realistic. It seems as though he represents the tremendous waste America suffered in Vietnam. If that is the case, the author could have used a more accessible, less idealized character.