Images from the Otherland: Memoir of a United States Marine Corps Artillery Officer in Vietnam [Hardcover]

Kenneth P. Sympson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1995 | ISBN-10: 0786401443 | ISBN-13: 978-0786401444

In the summer of 1963, Second Lieutenant Kenneth P. Sympson, fresh out of the ROTC program at the University of California at Los Angeles, reported to Marine Corps Schools at Quantico, Virginia. Here he was trained in the essentials of being a marine officer, never imaging that he would be a part of OPERATION STARLITE, the first major U.S. action in what would become the Vietnam War. Sympson later served as the artillery liason officer of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, a unit dubbed the Magnificent Bastards. As a member of this legendary battalion, the author participated in OPERATION TEXAS, one of the bloodiest battles of the war. In a matter of hours, the artillery pieces under the direction of Sympson fired over 2,500 rounds. From the frontlines of Vietnam, this is the story of fear and dread, anticipation and boredom-of a man who served in country. It is also an exploration of how the war still affects him thirty years later.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"fact-filled...a thoughtful meditation on the meaning of Sympson's action-filled tour and how it impacts the author's life today" -- VVA Veteran

"fast-paced...candid" -- Military

About the Author

Kenneth P. Sympsons decorations include the Bronze Star with Combat Distinguishing Device, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, and Navy Unit Commendation. After 35 years as an engineer in the telecommunications industry, he is retired and resides with his wife Angela in Rochester, New York. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 172 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (October 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786401443
• ISBN-13: 978-0786401444
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,304,562 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerfully moving...sensitively recounts the horrors of war., December 11, 1995

By A Customer

This review is from: Images from the Otherland: Memoir of a United States Marine Corps Artillery Officer in Vietnam (Hardcover)

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... "