Customer Reviews

Return To Eden

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Smallwood was a STRAC candidate (and, later, Tac Officer), a redoubtable and inventive MACV Advisor, (respected by his ARVNs and feared by those bad guys who had the misfortune to venture into his AO), a courageous vanquisher of horrific wounds, an excellent blues picker and singer, and, now, nothing less than the first part-American Indian Yaweh, white suitedly appearing on the nation's tube screens, spreading wrathful justice and fearful wisdom to all, (except, regrettably, to the recalcitrant and obtuse Sarah Silverman). Wotta man.

This book is, (to borrow a phrase from a previous combat veteran polymath), a real "movable feast", and an often funny one at that, recounting in equal measure the impressive highs and the occasional depressing lows of Smallwood's remarkable life. Reading it is a real trip, in all senses of that word, and once you've finished it, I feel safe in saying that you won't soon forget either the book or the man.

As a member of the Mekong River Water Skiing Club, reading Smallwood's discription of the close relationships in Mobile Advisor Teams took me back.

The MAT Advisor (if he was lucky) lived a completely different war, and the story has largely been forgotten.

This isn't a bad book to give relatives that may look at you funny.

Tucker's distinctive voice comes through loud and clear in this strong collection of essays which will make you chuckle and make you think. The photos, particularly the ones of 1960s Officer Candidate School and old and new Vietnam, are a treat. Tucker is frank, sentimental, unafraid of controversy and easy to read. You need two copies, one for yourself and one to give to a friend.

Tucker Smallwood tells the story of a harrowing tour of duty with charm, modesty and an understatement that is utterly disarming. He wears his valor lightly whether telling of brutal living conditions, the recreational water skiing that made him an inviting VC target, or the nightmare attack that ended his war.

He writes with grace and more than one passage brought a lump to my throat. His descriptions of his recovery and his growing awareness of how deeply the war had affected him are particularly moving.

This book will remind you that America's greatest resource is young men like Smallwood who will serve with honor and humanity when called upon. Let's not squander them.

This is a good book giving a perspective that is not often seen.
The MACV teams operated with the Vietnamese forces and local people. It was very different from being in a regular US division like what you may see in 'Platoon'.

If you like this book, then you will also like the book 'Once a Warrior King' written by Terry Turner using the pen name David Donovan.
Terry Turner (Donovan) was on a MAT/District team near the Cambodian border, without a lot of personal or US military support.

I served on MACV Advisory Team 88 in Ben Tre, Kein Hoa Province, IV Corps, Sept. '68 - Aug. '69.
(That was where 'We had to destroy the town in order to save it.'
A dumb statement which was not true. Some buildings were damaged but were quickly repaired.)
I was fortunate to be at Province headquarers where we were able to live in a decent manner. By comparision, the MAT teams had a more rustic environment.

A very important gentle, simple story telling of a violent and complicated time in our history. All of us should read this and never forget the legacy of wars.