Rockets Like Rain: A Year in Vietnam (Hellgate Memories Series) [Paperback]

Dale Reich (Author)

Book Description

Series: Hellgate Memories Series | Publication Date: August 1, 2001

Ten men from the little town of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin were killed in the Vietnam War; Dale Reich survived. He wants his hometown heroes and the war that took them to be remembered. This is the story of his year as an American infantryman in Vietnam-365 unforgettable days that took Dale 30 years to finally write about.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The tiny Wisconsin town of Oconomowoc lost 10 young men to the war in Vietnam. One who survived was Dale Reich, who approximately 30 years later has put his 365-day experience into words. Reich was in the infantry until a bout with malaria almost killed him, after which he served both in the rear and with his troops until an offer from the army's Public Information Office put him in a position to observe and reflect on the war. He successfully recounts how for every soldier the goal of winning the war became secondary to surviving the 365 days and then rotating out--in one piece. In six months, dreams of medals and John Wayne-like heroics gave way to the reality of avoiding enemy rockets, shrapnel, and booby traps. Even with a PIO position, the enemy was always close and within firing distance. Reich has added to the extensive Vietnam War literature a readable and profoundly personal account of his year there. Marlene Chamberlain
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Dale Reich was raised in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. After graduation from high school in 1965 he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and two years later he volunteered for the draft. He left for Vietnam in June, 1968, and returned home one year later. He holds a BA in Journalism and a MA in History from the University of Wisconsin.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Hellgate Press; 1 edition (August 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555716156
• ISBN-13: 978-1555716158
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,214,694 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One man's story, January 17, 2002

By 

Martie Wells (Genoa City, WI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rockets Like Rain: A Year in Vietnam (Hellgate Memories Series) (Paperback)

Not since 'Apocalypse Now' has a Viet Nam story moved me so deeply. The film made me feel the raw fear and mindless cruelty of war. When the GI's stepped off the boat to face the unknown terror of the faceless jungle ahead of them, I, too was gripped in fear and panic. The impact of that emotion has never left me.
Often, I have wondered how I would have behaved had I truly had to face the reality of that fear. Dale Reich talks about that fear. He faces the evil that I only suspected was lurking in that jungle. He was changed by it, as you will be after reading this book.
Rockets Like Rain is one man's very poignant, very personal, and very honest account of a year in Viet Nam as an infantryman. Simply written and profoundly deep, it is a book that stays with you long after you have turned the last page.

3.0 out of 5 stars An average book about the Vietnam War., November 12, 2006

By 

Kevin M Quigg (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Rockets Like Rain: A Year in Vietnam (Hellgate Memories Series) (Paperback)

I have read a number of these books about Vietnam. I respect the author's service to his country in this war. However, the book is a series of complaints about pot smokers, RAMF, and so many others. War is certainly not civil. The author served in a front line position for six months and then as a correspondent for another six months. During his six months on the front line, he spent a lot of time nursing illnesses like malaria and an infected leg.

This is certainly not the best read about the Vietnam War. It is at best an average read. In addition, their were many spelling and other errors in this book. It certainly needed a proof read before going to press.
The author certainly developed a very negative reaction to his time spent in this war.

3.0 out of 5 stars A pretty good little book, but suffers from poor editing, July 30, 2002

By 

brazos49 "brazos49" (Sugar Land, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Rockets Like Rain: A Year in Vietnam (Hellgate Memories Series) (Paperback)

I enjoyed this book and almost gave it four stars because I found the author likeable and found his story to be quite a bit different from many other Vietnam experience books I've read. But, I had to mark it down because of the editing. From a form standpoint, I'm not sure when I've read a book with more misspelled/misused words. From a substance standpoint, I had a big question which the author didn't answer well for me and I think his editor should have pressed him to address it better than he did: Why was he so widely disliked and trampled on by the other soldiers? Was it because he was a virgin who didn't smoke dope? Because he wouldn't stand up for himself? Because the other guys thought he was goldbricking his medical time out of the field? Because the other guys were just total losers? I could reasonably draw any or all those inferences from what was written, but I think good editing or good writing would have forced him to address the issue directly.

It's a short book and an easy read and I don't regret reading it at all. But, I think if you're looking for a really good Vietnam book, there are lots of better choices. I'm very surprised to see all the 5 star ratings here. Maybe I'm all wet or maybe they are. Read the book and see what you think.