A Rumor of War by Philip Caputo: Discusses the Meaning of the Viet Nam Conflict
It was a conflict that will live on in the minds of historians forever. It was a 13 year battle that didn't seem to have definable purpose or meaning, yet many lives were lost. For those who are in their 50's and older the images of 17-19 year old men being sent to defend an indefinable cause will never go away, however, for those who are college aged today, the Viet Nam conflict is one that is touched on in history books but not truly understood. During the 1960s and 1970's many families bid tearful goodbyes to their teenage sons as they were shipped across the ocean. While wars before the Vietnam Conflict also captured lives at least they knew what they were fighting for. In the Viet Nam conflict reports came back about having to hold lines without capturing, allowing themselves to become surrounded before defending their troops and other horrors that were inexplicable. While the government maintained the conflict was needed there were many in the US that believed it was unnecessary and protests broke out in record numbers. It has been over for three decades but the mental scars and personal issues remain for those who lived it and their subsequent families. Few authors have been able to capture the theme and essence of the Viet
"At the age of 24 I was more prepared for death than I was for life"(Caputo). At first glance the main theme of the book appears to be the Viet Nam Conflict, however, upon a second and third reading there are various sub themes that come to light. This book provides a concrete understanding of the Viet Nam War and what the true toll was on the psyche not only of those who were there but for those who waited at home for their young men to return. "Most of all we learned about death at an age when it is common to think of one as immortal" (Caputo) The reader comes to understand the devastating impact the war had on America's youth from the first sentence. The author was very successful at getting his points across in a way that readers an understand, take to heart and never forget. It is clear that the chosen approach was used to put the reader there. The conflict turned young men and women into fighting, killing machines who began to crave the excitement of the kill. The book defines the actions of the government, the troops and the citizens that waited at home for their loved ones to come back. The author analyzes the true meaning of courage as he takes the reader on a step by step experience of patrol with a platoon. "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country" and leads the reader through the discovery that the government has lied to the hundreds of thousands of young men and women that it sent to battle. Whether it was about patriotic duty or the dead young men everyone covering the situation seemed to have an agenda of some type. The author illuminates the issues of the war including the destruction of hope for the young. In his book, A Rumor of War he explores and explains the "war" its reasons and the controversy surrounding it. It is this reading that can help prevent a repeat of Viet Nam ever happening again which makes the author a hero in many eyes. This book is one of the most useful resources available about the Viet Nam War.
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