Bloods: Black Veterans of the Vietnam War: An Oral History (Mass Market Paperback)

~ Wallace Terry (Author) "I'm in the Amtrac with Morley Safer, right?..." (more)
Key Phrases: papa san, black sergeant, mama san, Viet Cong, Air Force, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"Simply the most powerful and moving book that has emerged on this topic." UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
The national bestseller that tells the truth of about Vietnam from the black soldiers' perspective. An oral history unlike any other, BLOODS features twenty black men who tell the story of how members of their race were sent off in disproportionate numbers and the special test of patriotism they faced. Told in voices no reader will soon forget, BLOODS is a must-read for anyone who wants to put the Vietnam experience in historical, cultural, and political perspective.
Cited by THE NEW YORK TIMES as One of the Notable Books of the Year
"Superb."
TIME

From the Publisher

As a senior in high school I took a class on the History of the Vietnam War. BLOODS was not required reading for the class nor do I remember the teacher talking specifically about Black Veterans, but since I enjoyed the class I wanted to read some more firsthand accounts of what the soldiers went through. I noticed BLOODS in the Vietnam section of the bookstore and on a whim I started reading it in the store and was really into it, so I bought it.

BLOODS is the oral history of twenty black veterans of the Vietnam War, and the author is also a veteran. The stories in it are gripping and you can sense what a horrible experience war is, particularly for these minority soldiers who are fighting for an America that hasn't always been fair to them. This book gave me a perspective that I was glad to get.

As a result of Steven Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan," there has been a renewed interest in stories of our war veterans. BLOODS provides the kinds of insights into war and the military that only those who've experienced its horrors can convey. The additional (and key) component of race adds another dimension to this remarkable tale.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 5th printing edition (July 12, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345311973
• ISBN-13: 978-0345311979
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #246,331 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly a must read for the full story of Vietnam, October 19, 1997

By	[e-mail] (Oceanside, California) - See all my reviews

If you really want the full story of the men and wormen who served in the Vietnam war, Wallace Terry's book is must be read. "Read it, share it, discuss it with other vetrans, and put it on your library shelf." This fact filled story of black soliders in Vietnam is gripping.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended by Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 295, December 3, 1998

By A Customer

This book is on the "Recommended Reading List" of Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 295, Indianapolis, Indiana

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars gives great dimension to the VN experience, June 21, 2002

By	P. J. Rowan (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is similar to Santoli's book regarding individual experiences in the Vietnam conflict. You definitely get a feel for the Vietnam experience, and it is very readable. The narratives portray the unique challenges of this experience, along with the added dimension of the race issue. The range of assessments of the racial issue was amazing and educational for me; some of the vets had active civil-rights values and even revolutionary values before getting to Vietnam, and some had little or no opinions regarding race relations despite the turbulent times. The great range of views regarding whites and the dominant U.S. culture, including government, was intriguing. The attitudes toward the Vietnamese, both North- and South-, also held great range, and was fascinating. This leads me to feel that the strength of this memorable book is the common experience conveyed simultaneously with the diversity of experiences and attitudes.

My only disappointment was that I could not tell the manner in which the narratives were elicited. Were these vets asked to describe their Vietnam experience? Were they asked to explain what it was like to be a Black soldier?