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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
At Last - Realism, March 18, 2004
This review is from: Warriors: An Infantryman's Memoir of Vietnam (Mass Market Paperback)
Since the end of the Vietnam War, many memoirs have been pubished, most mediocre at best, and many that strain credibility. This book is a breath of fresh air, by far the best account of the experiences of a rifle company commander that I have read! Tonsetic' straight forward narrative captures intimate detail without overembellishment, and describes the changing pace of infantry combat, as well as the concerns a commander feels for those he commands. His writing style is simple and direct. It is worthwhile reading for anyone who wants to get a better understanding of what VN was all about. To establish my credibility, I too served as a rifle company commander during my second VN tour, though in a different unit a year later. This is the book that I would give to my 39-year old son, should he ever asks "What was it like?" This is a superb book, worthy of a read by veterans and non-veterans alike.
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The challenge of wartime command, December 5, 2004
This review is from: Warriors: An Infantryman's Memoir of Vietnam (Mass Market Paperback)
"Warriors: An Infantryman's Memoir of Vietnam," by Robert Tonsetic, is an excellent addition to the canon of American military memoirs. In the preface Tonsetic notes that the book is "essentially a personal history" of his tour as a rifle company commander during the first six months of 1968--"the bloodiest year of the Vietnam War."
The book includes eight crisply drawn maps that illustrate the places and tactical situations covered by the text; 16 pages of black-and-white photos of people and places mentioned in the book; a useful glossary of military terms and acronyms; and a bibliography of relevant books and documents. These supplemental features greatly enhance the book.
But in the end it's Tonsetic's fine text that stands on its own. Tonsetic writes in a sober, matter-of-fact prose style that I found very effective, and well suited to his subject matter. His text is full of fascinating technical details about the art and science of 20th century warfare. But he never gets excessively technical; his narrative remains grounded in the human dimension of his gripping story.
Tonsetic covers a lot of ground: night fighting tactics, the danger of "friendly fire," enemy tactics, dealing with prisoners-of-war, etc. He writes dramatically of the leadership and staffing issues he faced as a company commander. He vividly portrays the stress and harsh conditions endured by the hard-working infantry soldiers, and the author's compassion and respect for these men really shines through. Tonsetic stresses in his preface that the "people, dates, locations, and operations described in this book are real and documented in official Army records." The author's testimony of the truthfulness of his narrative adds to the book's power.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
We owe a tremendous debt to the warriors , so we can live in peace.., April 29, 2007
This review is from: Warriors: An Infantryman's Memoir of Vietnam (Mass Market Paperback)
A real personal and up close look at what Warriors go through when fighting in military combat. It has often been said that,"War is Hell" and this book comes as close as possible to describing what battle in an infantry Company is like.
The author was a highly trained soldier ,ready to use his skills and everything else he could muster;to lead his men into battle ,defeat the enemy and get as many of his men home safely as possible.
He spent 9 months ,fighting battles in Vietnam,in 1968 during the bloodiest months of the war. While this was going on, he was totally aware of the politics of the war that was being fought out in the anti-war protests in the streets and on the campuses of America.He was also fully aware of the politics that were also being played over the war.
The author was not only a dedicated hero,but he is able to convey to the reader what it was like to be there.As strong a person as he was,we can see that a human being can take only so much stress of battle when he is in a position that his last breath may only be an instant away...and to be subjected to this for 9 months.
There are endless ways to look a the whole business of war;but to the people who sacrifice their all for the freedom of others;we owe them our greatest gratitude, thanks,and respect.
When you talk about service to one's country;Robert Tonsetic shows what it really means.
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