Customer Reviews

The Soldier Factory: A Window

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After some time away from the space graciously dedicated to my nonfiction retrospective book, THE SOLDIER FACTORY - A Window, (George Braziller, NY - 2006)I was of course dismayed to find the single scathing review by Mr. Cagle who preportedly was a Lieutenant, and was stationed at Fort Ord about the time I was there in 1968 & 69. Apparently the book was not the kind or content Mr. Cagle was looking or hoping for. Admittedly, it is not the conventional battle ground recollection piece, or war time record which is the norm, and enjoyed by many veterans of many ages across time. And for the most part only veterans.

I must state in my own defense, that I stand by everything that is in the text in terms of my recollections. It is not my story, it is my experience. And with due respect to Mr.(Lt) Cagle, the minutia (in terms of military facts) he choses to dispute, in one instance was taken out-of-context - that being the single-minded devotion to the US Army and ongoing self-improvement witin the ranks by Captain Tate whom I wrote of. This was the 'scrambled egg' reference. At the time Captain Tate was attending MPC for degree necessary to be promoted to Major and thereby be privileged to wear the concomitant regalia of an officer of that rank. Secondly, Mr. Cagle contradictes himself regarding General Stilwell being A WW I officer in his very next sentence. Apparentely General Stillwell gained notority in WWII. My book is not about General Stillwell.

As to the part about the 'dead sea animals' shot below the rifle ranges on the beach - to be accurate, the majority of them were a good quarter to half mile north of the ranges, and I defy anyone to dispute what I saw on more than one occassion on my walks, and what was admitted openly to me by soldiers in charge of weapons meant for training. In any event, I call my book a 'window' for a reason. It is a clear and absolutely accurate view of what I saw and experienced in Fort Ord over my extended stay there in 68 & 69. The book has a broader appeal than 'Vets only'. Although I have been praised and even thanked for the history recorded between those covers by combat veterans of Vietnam, as well as women and civilians of diverse age groups who are interested in that volitile time in our common American history.

Thank you in advance for posting this, should you choose to.

Ed Salven - Author of THE SOLDIER FACTORY - A Window

This book is garbage. I served at Fort Ord in 1970-71, and though it was not my most pleasant experience, it was nothing like this book's description. In the first place, if I were writing a pseudo-history, I would at least get my facts right. Book-MOS 109B-Light Weapons Infantry-no it is 11B10/20/30/40. Book-Stillwell hall for a WW I general. He was in WWI, but made his name, and built the hall in WWII.

Book-a captain with "scrambled eggs" on his hat. That is a field grade officer-major and above.

Book-Dead animals on the range from lead poision. I served on Range 3 on the Beach for 6 months and never saw one dead animal. He might have seen it, but I did not.

My impress is this is typical soldier gossip, rumour, and bitching all put down as fact in a pseudo verse poetry (and not even good poetry). And the publishers seeing an opportunity to put out a anti-war book because we are in another Vietnam (aka Iraqi), jumped right in. I would not trust this book as far as I could throw it. And there I put it, in the recycle bin. I would not even donate it to a library or used book store, it is that bad. If Mr Salven wishes to discuss this with me, he has my email.

I served at Ft. Ord from November, 1969 through the last day of August, 1971. I certainly never saw dead animals on the beach or off-duty soldiers on the beach shooting animals. I never saw off-duty soldiers with weapons. And the author can indeed be careless about rank. But a great deal of what he says about the tenor of the times is entirely true. The book's paintings do not appeal to me, so I wish that more photographs had been included, but I found the author's musings well worth reading. It was an era when so many of those of us who were then young were pulled in opposing directions at the same time. Very exciting, very uncomfortable, often maddening, and easily brought back by writers such as Mr. Salven. Incidently, I was perminent party in Receiving Company after Mr. Salven left, and I was in SSG. Campbell's barracks. He did indeed have a lot of pain and caused a lot of fear among the rest of us.

Unlike Mr. Cagel I enjoyed Mr. Salven's book. Though not in the Army at the time, I was serving in Southeast Asia with the Air Force. I cannot vouch for any accuracy of Army terms, rank, nor history, but I can state that I found the book thought provoking and in its way an insight into the military at the time. There was a fracture in society which was also evident in the services over what was happening in SEA, what our true purpose was there, and how that endeavor was to be achieved. Mr. Salven brings this to light as well as hurmous thoughts of his service at Fort Ord. Personally, I am glad Mr. Salven has his memories published along with poetry and photos in a presentation which reflects both his past and present. Thank you Ed Salven!

I served in the US Army from 1966 to 1968 and spent my final 9 months in South Vietnam. Early morning on November 7, 1966 I boarded a crowded bus in Los Angeles and settled in for the long, silent drive up the coast to Monterey. Final distination, Fort Ord. When we arrived well after dark a drill sargeant hopped on board and started screaming loudly for everyone to get off the bus. The screaming didn't stop for the next 8 to 10 weeks. Basic training, I was told, is 8 weeks but they have this time period they call "ZERO WEEK" which is supposed to be one week of testing, getting your uniforms, getting screamed at, etc. Mr. Salven's book was spot on and hit the mark on what a lot of people were thinking at that time. It brought back good and some bad memories. Most of all it made me laugh out loud. Stillwell Hall was a great place to gather and drink beer and the East Garrison was, and I hope still is, an extremly beautiful place. His discriptions and mind set of those crazy times are thought provoking beyond compare. The Lt. Chito chapter was histerical!! Another book by Mr. Salven, please....