A review by lrmsreads
A Rumor Of War by Philip Caputo

4.0

This review is by an admitted Vietnam War novice who was looking to learn more. Caputo served in the war for about 18 months starting in early 1965. What I gathered from this book is that America decided to intervene on behalf of the South Vietnamese army against Viet Cong gorillas who were under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh who was trying to take over the government and turn Vietnam into a Communist state. Unfortunately, the Viet Cong were very good at ambush, booby traps, mines and hiding in the jungle. And, when you can't see your enemy most of the time, it is very difficult to conquer him. Caputo vividly paints the picture of how difficult it was to be there both physically and mentally. And, while I think in hindsight everyone knows the war wasn't a good idea, that doesn't change the fact that all these men had no other choice, but to go to Vietnam and do what they were told even if it was futile. My heart breaks for all the families of the young men lost. I think Caputo summed it up perfectly when he said, "We would not return to cheering crowds, parades, and the pealing of great cathedral bells. We had done nothing more than endure. We had survived, and that was our only victory." Now while I wouldn't go around recommending this book to people, I am glad I read it to have a better understanding of what my father-in-law and all the other young men went through. And, the book was very well written, although at times assumed the reader had more military/Vietnam War knowledge than I really had, but I would think it safe to say most readers of this book would have that knowledge.