Customer Reviews

Street Without Joy

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Thirty six years ago I read Street Without Joy and after two tours in Vietnam and alot reflection and anguish since then, I still am at a loss for words. How could we have gotten into such a conflict without someone paying attention to history. This author told a saga of what strife and terrible history that southeast Asia has had and no-one listened. I have re-read this book many times and still am amazed at its context. Unfortunately I have loaned it out too many times and now have to order another copy. Its a book that needs to be read by every politician that has any thoughts of trying to change history.

This is the masterpiece that introduced Bernard B. Fall to the elite of the US political, diplomatic and military decision makers who made the fatal and tragic error to involve the United States in the internal deliberations of Viet Nam and her people after the ened of the French colonial period in Indo-China.

While many in Washington in the early 1960s claimed to have read this book, obviously, very few heeded its message. Had they done so, it would seem that the United States, despite all its arrogance, might have avoided the quagmire that Viet Nam became and the multitude of deaths that occurred as the result of our hubris.

Published in 1961 (more than 4 years before the beginning of the US build-up in SE Asia), Fall provided his readers with an exceptionally strong historical and political analysis of the region, its people and their leaders. Again, the Washington elite seemed to have disregarded the quality of the material and the skill of the messenger as they barged head-long into our longest and most divisive war. It was one that would ultimately cause America to question itself and to cause the American people to question the honesty and integrity of their leaders. That could have been avoided had more people heeded the message contained within the covers of Fall's outstanding treatise.

To be sure, Fall's loyalties were divided and often conflicted. Born and raised in France, he came to the USA after WW II to study. He first saw Viet Nam as a Fulbright scholar. He returned many times and became a recognized expert in the cultural, political and economic realities of the region. He knew Ho Chi Minh and Vo Nguyen Giap personally and had great admiration for their ability to unify and motivate the Viet Minh against the French Expeditionary Corps and later, the armed forces of the most powerful nation on earth. But, he also respected and admired the courage and professional ablities of French soldiers fighting for a cause few at home cared about. At the end of the supply and communications lines, the French Army in Indo-China was mired in a war they had little control over and governed by successive regimes in Paris that had no clue as to what might be needed to effectively and successively defeat the Communist Viet Minh. Despite all these failings, Fall never lost sight of the fact that the soldiers from metropolitan France did their best for a lost cause and a populace at home who cared less.

After the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu in May 1954, France realized that continued attempts to hold onto Indo-China were futile. They eventually left, only to be replaced by the United States as the benefactor for the nominally democratic republic of Viet Nam, which had established itself south of the 17th Parallel. American arrogance and pride of position surpassed anything before by the French and the proof in the pudding is that we heeded none of the lessons offered in this fine book or others coming from on-scene observation.

Much as in his outstanding successor volume on the Battle of Dien Bien Phu entitled HELL IN A VERY SMALL PLACE, Fall doesn't miss a thing as he writes of the end of France's empire in Indo-China. The key personalities are all here, as well as the battles that undid the French military position in the region. His descriptions are accurate and unbiased, although on occasion they do carry a melancholy tone as he reveals the thoughtlessness of the French commanders and colonial administrators in the region.

If you want to read a single volume that will lead you to an understanding as to how the United States could have made such a colossal error in its thinking by choosing Viet Nam as a place to make its anti-Communist stand, then you need to read this book. Like its companion volume on Dien Bien Phu, it is a must for any serious student of Viet Nam and the war that drained the best from two of the world's most modern and professional armies. This book is also must reading for teachers of recent American and European history because the events of the late 1940s through the late 1950s were instrumental in what followed in the 1960s and 70s.

If you really care about the hows and whys of America's part in the tragedy of the Viet Nam War, then you MUST read "Street Without Joy."

Paul Connors

In this first hand account of the French war in Vietnam, Dr. Bernard Fall provides a critical analysis of French combat operations in a war that lasted from 1946 to 1954. Over 94,500 gallant, French soldiers died in this vain, yet valiant attempt to contain communism in Southeast Asia. What could and should we have learned from this tragedy?

Lessons learned included the folly of employing heavy, road-bound, mechanized/armored forces that were highly vulnerable to Viet-Cong (VC) ambushes, effective use of the jungle as a sanctuary by the VC, underestimating the stamina of the VC, and the ultimate war-weariness that caused the French public to rebel at fighting a seemingly endless conflict for no tangible gain. Add to this, the close coordination of political and military objectives that caused the Viet-Cong to sacrifice people, places and things to achieve a single objective: A Vietnam united under Communism. Does this sound familiar? This book, published in 1961, was readily available in the U.S. If it was read, it was ignored.

Fall gives detailed accounts of communist tactics and the results that accrued to French commanders who refused to recognize the fact that, "the (tactics) book," they had been schooled under simply did not apply in Vietnam. Amazingly, the U.S. then deployed our troops to Vietnam, with our own officers schooled by the same, "book!" Gallantry, esprit-de-corp, machismo, and/or faith in a righteous cause were no more effective against well-laid ambushes in the `60s and `70s than they were in the `40s and `50s. The lessons of history were there for the reading. Why we refused to heed them is a mystery that still calls for an answer.

Street Without Joy is not a left-wing condemnation of western "imperialism," or, the evils of "intervention." Fall neither condemns nor condones the goal of containing communism. He merely analyzes reasons for the French defeat. There was no precedent for fighting a "revolutionary war," prior to the French experience. The same could not be said for the U.S. If the French defeat was borne of ignorance; America's came seemingly from arrogance.

George Santayana said, "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to relive it." There are two lessons to be learned here: First, tactical schemes should be derived from the terrain and situation, not from blind adherence to, "the book." Books can be altered. Terrain, climate, and enemy forces cannot. Second, never again should U.S. troops be compelled to walk any, "street without joy," that is combat, without conducting a thorough review of the mistakes made by our predecessors. Reinventing the wheel is not only inefficient; in war, it is deadly! Ninety-four thousand, five hundred eighty-one crosses scattered throughout Indo-china, each bearing the name of a French soldier testifies to the truth of lesson one. Over 50,000 American names on, "The Wall," silently attest to the second.

The late Bernard Fall presents a hard-hitting, cynical history of the French period in Vietnam in the 10 years just after WW2 and an even more critical look at the early U.S. efforts in the early 1960s. This is not light reading and its not pretty.It will give an accurate description of what the "West" faced over there. As any Vietnam Vet would attest, there is nothing "light" or "pretty" about that place and cynical is the only appropriate attitude. It's so obvious now how Ho Chi Minh and General Giap were successful."If only we knew then..." Mr. Fall also does a first rate job in compressing the conflict into less than 400 pages (including notes and appendices). He didn't have to recount every battle to paint his picture. This reader appreciates his account of Viet Cong convoy attacks -from only one first hand experience- they put cook, clerk and grunt alike in equal, sudden and random danger. Its ironic that the author met his sudden death in just that way. Serious students of the French years in Vietnam should read "Street Without Joy" first and then proceed to "Hell In a Very Small Place", which concentrates on the tragic but heroic struggle of the French Army at the garrison at Dien Bien Phu. Were he still with us,I'm sure M. Fall was one of those guys it would be great to hava a few beers with. What stories he could tell! I'd love to know more about the two prostitutes who were commended for bravery and proposed for medals! What would Westy say about that!

A heartrending tale of the French experience in IndoChina during the 20 years prior to US arrival there. Poignantly written, the Author- a university professor - spent his summers in VietNam in combat with the French troops. Incidentally: He also died there - KIA with the men of whom he so eloquently wrote. As a Marine myself, with some field experience, I was deeply touched by the story he tells. It's a story of unfliching valiance on the part of the enlisted men of the French forces - and unbending stupidity on the part of their senior leaders. Absolutely heartbreaking and maddening at the same time. Fall takes you there. Highly recommended. Oorah. And Semper Fi to those valiant hearts who epitomize selflessness in an otherwise selfish age - our servicemen and women - then and now.

Bernard Fall's classic on the First Indochina War is useful not only for the excellent historical account it provides of the French experience in the war, but also in its later importance to American commanders in Vietnam. Some reviewers, and even prominent Vietnam vets like Colin Powell have pointed to the failure of American commanders to learn the lessons of the French debacle in Vietnam as being instrumental in the United States's withdrawl from the country in 1973. It is important to understand however, that for the most part this failure was not due to an ignorance of Fall's work. Indeed, the reason Fall's book is still in print today is because Street Without Joy was widely reaad by American military leaders in Vietnam, including LTC Hal Moore, COL Joseph Bellino and many others down to the company level (epsecially infantry and transportation officers). Despite what some reviewers have said, the Americans learned the lessons of Fall's work fairly well: one need only look at the creation and use of hardended convoys(guntrucks, air cav escorts), the wide use of air support, and the employment of helicopter-borne troops to see that American officers benefited greatly from Bernard Fall's work. The US forces in Vietnam did not have any Dien Bien Phu's, Street Without Joys or Groupement Mobile 100's/42's. Indeed as one American general pointed out to a North Vietnamese counterpart during the Paris Peace Negotiations in 1973, the Americans never lost a major battle to the NVA or VC during nearly ten years of war. But, of course, as the Vietnamese general rightly pointed out, that fact it made little difference since the United States lost the war politically both at home and in South Vietnam. This where Fall's work fails to effecively grasp the root problem of the French experience: even if the the French had dominated the battlefield as the Americans were able to after them, they could not overcome the image of being seen as colonial oppressors, and therefore could not succesfully wipe out the widspread and fanatical political and nationalist insurgency they faced. The US would similarly fail in this manner as well, making their battlefield success moot.

Nobody should begin to try to understand the catastrophe that U.S. involvement in Vietnam (& indeed in Laos & Cambodia) became without first reading Bernard B. Fall's 'Street Without Joy'. Many of America's generals read it, but as events show, they didn't understand it or take its lessons to heart.

Fall's account of the French Union Forces' experience in Southeast Asia is gritty, down-to-earth, fearless, & accurate. He went beyond the official communiques & press releases, beyond the brief of the usual war correspondents of the French Indochina War & thus, into 'Street Without Joy', Fall perspicaciously packed wealth of detail & nuance.

'Street Without Joy' is a bit dated in lexicon (but this latest edition contains an apt new foreword that does much to help the reader gain a useful appreciation of Fall's viewpoint), but its central truths remain accurate & valid & worthy of absorption by citizens, politicians, & military leaders alike. This book is a "must read" for any Vietnam-era scholar or writer, & many of its lessons continue to apply today in the war against terrorism.

Of course one should follow reading 'Street Without Joy' with a reading of Fall's masterpiece on the siege of Dien Bien Phu, 'Hell in a Very Small Place'. This pair of books has enduring value as histories, & as illumination for present-day & future citizens, soldiers, & leaders.

In the last few years there's been many books about the ground war in Vietnam. The grandfather of such authors has to be Bernard Fall with this book and also "Hell In a Very Small Place". "Street Without Joy" does get a little slow in places but is well worth capturing Fall's vision of what was and also what might have been. I recommend this book to anyone interested in learning the particulars of our early involvement in SEA. Just think of the young boys that could have grown old pursing life, liberty and happiness if just a few decision-makers would have read this book and heeded the caution.

If you're going to read both of these books, I'd suggest "Hell In A Very Small Place" first simply because of the chronology.

A must for anyone wanting to learn about the ground war in Vietnam.

The Vietnam War encompassed thirty years; 1945-1975. The first nine years were fought between the French and the Viet Minh and, after the defeat at Dienbenphu, the French exited, defeated and demoralized. This book is the best history of that campaign, bar none

Unlike many histories of conflicts, this effort by Dr. Fall is not so much a study of each battle, or a chronological log of the French Indochina War, as it is a series of fascinating vignettes. The overall theme is a catalogue of the seemingly endless French tendency to underestimate the foe.

Included in the history of French military defeats, and occasional victories, are studies of such things as the role of women in the war and the decimation of a superbly equipped French task force by concerted, brilliantly conceived guerrilla activity by the Viet Minh. The role of the French Foreign Legion is examined, as is the history of the French desire to seek a set battlefield, which of course, they got in Dienbenphu, to their regret. The book ends with Dienbenphu and an epilogue.

Interestingly, the book was published in 1961, just as the United States was preparing to enter the conflict in South Vietnam. Dr. Fall crisply and presciently points out the parallels between the views of the defeated French and the heedless, entering Americans. Had the right people read and heeded this book, perhaps we would not have The Wall in Washington D.C. today.

Ironically, Dr. Fall was killed in 1967 in Vietnam, when he stepped on a landmine. This book at once serves as his memorial, and as a horrifying reminder of what happens when one side enters a war without understanding the culture, ethos, and motive of the other.

The book contains numerous black and white photos and maps, and is excellently written in every possible respect. One cannot possibly understand the Vietnam War, including our history in it, without reading this landmark work. It is a true work of genius, and receives the highest recommendation.

I wish I had read this book before going to Vietnam. I would have benefited from Fall's insight into the Vietnamese, the war, and "The Street Without Joy" where I earned a Bronze Star with "V." No wonder the punji pit I stepped into looked so old!