Customer Reviews

Platoon - Bravo Company

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

... I was in Vietnam 2 years,including Third Corps during TET-68, and Hemphill's book was like reliving it all over again. His book is the greatest book ever written about a combat unit in Vietnam -- not sensationalistic, but a calm retelling of what really happened. The "reader from Iowa" needs to get his head out of his fourth point of contact and give an excellent author his just due.

Platoon: Bravo Company is an excellent portrayal of men performing their service to their country, some with extraordinary enthusiasm, others reluctantly, but nevertheless serving admirably without default. The key point that the author drives home in his narrative is that Company "B" was comprised of men from all walks of life, some more dedicated perhaps than others. The human element of man in an environment of fear and concurrent diligence is depicted in the pages of this book. If one actually reads the book, and doesn't pass judgement on a first impression from a TV presentation, it becomes clear that this book stands on its own and doen't need to rely on other literature to buoy it in historical fact or characterization.

In"Platoon: Bravo Company", Mr. Hemphill's account of the 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, Bravo Company's Vietnam war experience, while under his command as Captain is unflinching, candid, and necessarily detailed. The author takes the reader with him from the very first day that he takes the helm of Bravo Company for the duration of his command. The author carefully pays attention to battle site, historical, and factual detail, and weaves sufficient prose to pique the readers interest by describing the surrounding elements of experience, characters and survival. This book is recommended for the military enthusiast or avid reader who appreciates excellent non-fiction.

The book Platoon Bravo Company contained it all. From the missions all the way down to the soldiers. An awesome book! The best part of the book is how it takes us to the front lines and lets us experience what the war actually may have been like. This is an excellent book for schools to refer back to and show what it was really like to fight in Vietnam. It is also a book that keeps you interested from beginning to end. A good element of the book is how Hemphill tells us his story from the day he takes over Bravo Company and until the day he leaves his command of the Infantry. This is a great aspect because it was meant to show us how Vietnam took drastic measures on American soldiers.
The book showed us how Vietnam really was, rather then what it has been portrayed as. It also shows us why the madness takes over the soldiers. Hemphill's explanation of the Tet Offensive is tremendously helpful to get an understanding of its effect in this book. The book over time gives a basic understanding of how these men not only had to save their lives and lives of others; but also save men from the madness brought to them by the war. This book to me portrayed the realistic madness of Vietnam as well as the surroundings Americans were forced to fight in. It gives a great understanding on how hard it was to fight in a place like Vietnam. The explanation to me was so great that I now have a totally different feeling about Vietnam. In my opinion the best Vietnam book out there.

In this book, Lt. Colonel Robert Hemphill takes us to the front lines where the real story is told of the Vietnam fighting man with all his courage, competence, and camaraderie. Our troops in Vietnam were well-trained and ready to take on any mission. This book puts on record the kind of excellence displayed in the field and will provide libraries and schools with an excellent counterpoint to a literary record too often distorted by political prejudices and polemical intentions. General William C. Westmoreland,US Army, Retired, Former Commander, US Military Assistance Command, Vietnam

The book Platoon Bravo Company contained it all. From the missions all the way down to the soldiers. An awesome book! The best part of the book is how it takes us to the front lines and lets us experience what the war actually may have been like. This is an excellent book for schools to refer back to and show what it was really like to fight in Vietnam. It is also a great book if you like action and a book that keeps you reading from beginning to end. A good element of the book is how Hemphill tells us his story from the day he takes over Bravo Company and until the day he leaves his command of the Infantry. This is a great aspect because it was meant to show us how Vietnam took drastic measures on American soldiers.
The book showed us how Vietnam really was, rather then what it has been portrayed as. It also shows us why the madness takes over the soldiers. Hemphill's explanation of the Tet Offensive is tremendously helpful to get an understanding of its effect in this book. The book over time gives a basic understanding of how these men not only had to save their lives and lives of others; but also save men from the madness brought to them by the war. This book to me portrayed the realistic madness of Vietnam as well as the surroundings Americans were forced to fight in. It gives a great understanding on how hard it was to fight in a place like Vietnam. The explanation in this book was so good that I now have a totally different opinion about Vietnam. In my opinion the best Vietnam book out there.

"Written by a bona fide soldier, who knows the deadly and unforgiving nature of infantry close combat, this book portrays the excruciating pressure on young soldiers in battle. Unvarnished and unpretentious, it comes straight from the heart. Rarely have books written about warfare captured the life-or- death drama that small infantry units face every day in combat. This book does that "in spades." I heartily commend it to all serious readers and guarantee that you will never forget it.

Bruce Palmer, Jr.,General, U.S. Army, Retired, Former Commanding General, US Army, Vietnam