Platoon - Bravo Company [Hardcover]

Robert Hemphill (Author), Joseph L. Galloway (Foreword), Pia S., Ph.d. Seagrave (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1998

Lieutenant Colonel, Retired Robert Hemphill takes us back to his fighting days in Vietnam when he commanded Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Division--the same unit director Oliver Stone fought in and presumably based his Oscar-winning movie Platoon on.

Fresh off a promotion and brand-new to Vietnam when he was unceremoniously given command of Bravo Company, the worst fighting unit in the 25th Battalion, Captain Robert Hemphill had to prove his courage and skill as a commander over the next five months--taking Bravo into an endless seres or search and destroy missions, reacting to midnight mortar attacks and ambushed, and trying desperately to not only keep his men alive, but also keep sane in the madness of Vietnam. Then, just when Hemphill was getting the hand of it, the NVA unleashed their 1968 Tet offensive, and Bravo was plunged into the most horrific fighting of the war.

From the days of immense boredom to electrifying, toe-to-toe battled with the NVA, this riveting account at last tells the real story of Platoon.

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

ROBERT L. HEMPHILL grew up in Georgia, graduating from the University of Georgia with a B.A. in Political Science in 1964. He served in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1989, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel of Infantry, receiving a Silver Star (for Gallantry in Action), Bronze Stars with "Vs" (for Valor in Ground Combat-4 awards), a Purple Heart (for Combat Wounds) and several other citations and awards. He served two years in Vietnam. Hemphill completed an M.A. in International Relations at Johns Hopkins University in 1973. He is a much sought-after speaker at veterans' organizations and teaches English and Civics part-time. Hemphill currently lives in Northern Virginia with his family. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Sergeant Kirkland's Press; 1 edition (October 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1887901256
• ISBN-13: 978-1887901253
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,443,713 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Targeting the Hollywood Cliche, May 8, 2004

By 

S. Annand (Alexandria, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Platoon - Bravo Company (Hardcover)

Hemphill did not intend to write a book about his experiences in Vietnam. What some people fail to gather from this book is that the author was only prompted to write his book after he saw Oliver Stone's "Platoon." The fact was that Stone was in his platoon and he still remembers him, not to mention staying n touch with reunions.

What this book is is a chronological and factual account of his platoon as shown in the movie (at least how he saw things as an officer). Hemphill lets you know that he has three problems with Stone's movie portrayal: there were no large dope parties at the time, no villager was murdered (or raped), and two of his sergeants were not trying to kill each other.

If you go to see Hemphill talk about his book, as I have, you can get a real treat. He is quite engaging, even though he still keeps that stiff officer bearing which I always found so annoying. He is a real gas when he repeats his talks with Stone about the film. He even brought a framed set of Stone's handwritten reply to him. Stone sticks to his story that his movie is "fiction," but Hemphill always counters "so why did you put on the film B Co., 22nd Infantry Regiment?"

What grates on Hemphill is the inability of so many people to separate fact from fiction. It is his mission to correct "inaccuracies" in the "fictional" account given by Stone. A fool's errand? In an odd way, by this we actually have Stone and Hemphill, from the same combat company, fighting it out in real life, not Elias and Barnes. Oh, how Hollywood.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hemphill Scores, June 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Platoon - Bravo Company (Hardcover)

Robert Hemphill is to Oliver Stone's Platoon what G.Posner was to Oliver Stone's JFK. Case Closed. It is so refreshing to read history from the perspective of people like Hemphill and Harold Moore because we get a feeling for the entire operational overview. I first listened to Robert Hemphill on C-Span, ordered the book, reviewed Stone's movie again, then read the book. Hemphill's account was not only detailed but was good reading. I, for one, would not like our soldiers to be remembered by a Stone portrayal (betrayal?) but rather someone like Hemphill, Moore, Lee, and Jorgenson...all prolific writers from the viewpoint of ethnographic portraits.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PLATOON: BRAVO COMPANY, August 25, 1998

By 

Ronald R. Seagrave - See all my reviews

This review is from: Platoon - Bravo Company (Hardcover)

The unit in the movie Platoon is identified at the beginning of the film as Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Division. That unit, Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 25th Infantry Division, was commanded at the time by Captain Robert Hemphill, now Lieutenant Colonel, Retired. Colonel Hemphill considers Platoon to be its director's own interpretation of events which occurred in his Infantry company. However, since the line infantryman is not normally privy to the thoughts and actions of the commander or of the overall scheme of combat activities, much of his story is speculation or sheer imagination. Nevertheless, this film, and other sensationalist movies like it, have been very influential in shaping American - and world - public opinion concerning the conduct and accomplishments of the American soldier in Vietnam. Based on Platoon and his other Vietnam-related movies, this director apparently views the average American soldier in Vietnam as a cruel, racist, pot-headed malcontent.

Hemphill says that this is a serious misinterpretation. He found the Vietnam combat infantryman to be like American combat soldiers everywhere: some were very good, some not so good, but most took their job and service seriously and did the best they could with what they were given to do. While isolated incidents of indiscretion did occur and were voraciously reported in the media, the vast majority of frontline infantrymen were not habitual dopers, did not commit atrocities, did not hunt down their fellow soldiers and were not psychotic killers. In contrast to many depictions of the Vietnam combat soldier, this book represents him as he really was, particularly during the time of Colonel Hemphill's tour of duty as Bravo Six: profane, yes, but honorable in the performance of his duty.

Robert L. Hemphill grew up in Georgia, graduating from the University of Georgia with a B.A. in Political Science in 1964. He served in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1989, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel of Infantry, receiving a Silver Star (for Gallantry in Action), Bronze Stars with "Vs" (for Valor in Ground Combat - 4 awards), a Purple Heart (for Combat Wounds) and several other citations and awards. He served two years in Vietnam. Hemphill completed an M.A. in International Relations at Johns Hopkins University in 1973. He is a much sought-after speaker at veterans' organizations and teaches English and Civics part-time. Hemphill currently lives in Northern Virginia with his family. Published by Sergeant Kirkland's Press, 912 Lafayette Blvd., Fredericksburg, VA 22401. Printed in the U.S.A.,10 - 1998 release date.1st edition limited to 2,000 copies! $24.95 retail list price.