Product Description

A seasoned journalist who rose through the ranks presents an infantry company commander's insight into his soldiers' daily struggle to survive. His vivid prose explains why his brave "grunts" are still haunted by the experience and lack of public respect.

Product Details

• Published on: 2004-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 184 pages

Customer Reviews

Vietnam Vignettes: Tales of an Infantryman
Vietnam Vignettes: Tales of an Infantryman gives a first hand view of the Vietnam War as described by Lee Basnar, an American infantry sergeant and then captain during two tours (1967-1968 and 1970-1971) in Vietnam. However, though the stories are based upon Basnar's experiences many of the stories and situations illustrating in this book are common to any infantry grunt completing a tour of duty during the Vietnam War.

This book contains three parts. The first section, Opening the Duffel Bag, includes background information about Vietnam and about Basnar's first impressions of the country during his first tour of duty in 1967-1968. Commanding Charlie Company, the section of this book, includes stories about Basnar's second tour of duty in 1970-1971. This section holds the bulk of the chapters and experiences of the infantry captain's experiences during this second tour. On the Way. Wait. is the final section of this book and contain accounts of Basnar's final days in Vietnam.

The stories contained in these sections range from comical through heroic to bone chilling. Many of these descriptions aim to educate readers about the cultural and lifestyle differences between regular American life and the life of a grunt during the Vietnam War. These differences are key in understanding the significant conflicts and experiences that these people had while in Vietnam and upon their arrival back to the United States. It is important to note, however, that the author has taken great pains not to preach either the ills or glories of the Vietnam War. His accounts are simply experiences that needed to be shared.

Vietnam Vignettes: Tales of an Infantryman is an extremely valuable work. Beyond the amazing insight into the lives of those serving in the Vietnam War, this book entertains, rivets, and terrifies the reader from start to finish. No matter what your personal opinion of the Vietnam War, this book is a must read.

A great read!
Simply put, this is a great book. A facinating account that is so well written one section flows seamlessly into the next - and you can't put it down. This is a great diet book: you don't want to put it down long enough to eat lunch and taking a time-out to fix supper is out of the question.

Without realizing it you're taken effortlessly to a place and a time during the Vietnam war. By the time you've reached the last page, you have been there ... and what is left of your day is colored by the place you've visited.

Excellent!
I loved this book. It's short, fast-paced, and it really grabbed me. It is neither pro- nor anti-war, does not idealize war, and does not demonize the Viet Cong. It just tells it like it was. It shows you the action or the pathos or the humor, letting it hit you the way it hit the author at the time. I recommend it to everyone who wants to know what it was like to participate in the Vietnam War. As a female college student without any friends or relatives fighting in the war, I didn't read a lot about the war when it was happening. Of course, I saw the unsettling pictures of the fighting in magazines and on the TV news, and I attended many war "teach-ins" and discussions on campus. But it wasn't until reading this book that I really understood what the soldiers experienced over there. Everyone should read it. I'll be sending copies of it as Christmas gifts this year.