Ghosts and Shadows: A Marine in Vietnam, 1968-1969 [Paperback]

Phil Ball (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1998 | ISBN-10: 0786405058 | ISBN-13: 978-0786405053

On November 8, 1967, the author arrived at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, ill-prepared for boot camp, and was soon in Khe Sanh as an infantry grunt, like the other youths of the 3rd Marines, doing a difficult and deadly job.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Ball was a typical Midwestern teenager in 1967 when he volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corps. His young adult days were quickly transformed from peacetime tranquility to the unending stress of Marine boot camp, infantry combat in Vietnam (ten combat operations and one Purple Heart), and the long and difficult struggle with posttraumatic stress syndrome as he began to readjust to civilian life. Ball's memoir reveals the face of war as viewed by the rifleman on the sharp end. A finely crafted and emotionally charged portrait of combat and the young men caught up in it, this narrative will certainly find an admiring audience. Recommended for public and academic libraries.?John R. Vallely, Siena Coll. Lib., Loudonville, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"captivating, evocative...not just a 'war story' but a human story of desperation, courage, sacrifice, and everything else that reflects the 'true' story of what happened. ...will be a lasting historical record of great significance" -- Khe Sanh Veterans, Inc

"this is not just another book about Vietnam. ...heart-wrenching" -- The Cincinnati Enquirer

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Mcfarland & Co Inc Pub (July 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786405058
• ISBN-13: 978-0786405053
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,619,619 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting, April 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Ghosts and Shadows: A Marine in Vietnam, 1968-1969 (Paperback)

This book was written about heroes by a hero. It's a page burner, there is no time to put it down once you start reading.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ghosts and Shadows by Phil Ball, August 22, 2001

By 

yolanda moore (universal city, texas United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ghosts and Shadows: A Marine in Vietnam, 1968-1969 (Paperback)

This is one of the best Vietnam books I have read. It is so truthful. Written in a way that made you feel what they (the marines) and all our young men who served in that war must have gone through. Wonderfully written!! ON July 5th, Phil Ball died, he was a wonderfully gifted man. He will be missed for all he was and all he could have been.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Memoir, November 21, 2000

By 

MICHAEL CASALE (WEST PATERSON, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ghosts and Shadows: A Marine in Vietnam, 1968-1969 (Paperback)

Over the past 13 years i have read well over 100 books on ww2 and vietnam, the majority of which were memoirs written by those who were there. Ghosts and Shadows is, one of my favorites. Although a basic description of it would make it sound like one of many books written by vietnam veterans, young man goes off to war then writes about his experiences, Phils book manages to cut several layers deeper than your average in describing the emotional and physical effects combat has on a person. I rank it up there with my other favs like Chickenhawk, Rumor of War, Suicide Charlie and Father,Soldier,Son. A couple chapters are about phil and his platoon defending a hilltop position against a vc night attack and in my opinion its one the best descriptions ive ever read about one of an authors single combat experiences. I highly recomend it and i really feel you will not be disapointed.