This book consists of letters written by American soldiers during the Vietnam War. It's extremely heart-breaking to read these letters as they gives "voices" instead of a mere figure. A lot of times, the figure of how many were killed, wounded, missing, etc but it does not portray any "emotions" the soldiers felt. At the end of each letter, the editor includes a few sentences on what happened to the author. It's extremely sad to read how many of those killed were just 19 year-olds, 20 year-olds, and these soldiers were just kids! It makes you think how wasteful, stupid, unnecessary wars are, and the sacrifices that has to be made.

The last chapter of this book speaks a lot. It is chronologically listed and you can see the evolving sentiments of the soldiers. At the beginning of the war, the soldiers were proud to fight against the Communists, how they think the war will be over soon. Towards the end of that chapter, most soldiers were scared, depressed and just wanted to get out of the war... alive! This shows why many Vietnam War veterans suffered from postwar depression as the horror of the war, how their friends, buddies were killed or wounded in front of their own eyes and how many could not possibly forget these horrifying images.

I highly recommend this book as this book speaks a lot. To me, the important message that it is trying to convey is the unnecessary sacrifices that these soldiers have to make, to fight a war that is not theirs, and the horror and bloodiness of the war is vividly described by these soldiers.

I have seen the movie in class last week and my teacher was in the war, but only as an engineer controller down in a ship. When my eighth grade class saw it, it was very good only some parts my teacher cut out because of nudity. I would suggest this boook or movie to anyone that has ever wondered about the Vietnam thing. This "war" that some people like to call it was not a war at all, it was just a police action and the soldiers were the police and we were just looking and were going to arrest the V.C.'s. If you have any problem with what I am saying then you can contact me at my address below. Thank You!

Sarah Quartuccio 14yrs. old

I still remember the day I walked into my college's library back in the late 1980s and saw this publication sitting on the table of new releases. I picked it up and headed for a couch. About six hours, many tears, mixed emotions, and several missed classes later I emerged from that couch and put the completed book back on the table. In those six hours my view about the Vietnam experience and those who fought it changed. The words of those soldiers in their letters are powerful evidence of the collision between innocence and experience that takes place when young men are thrust into battle.

This book should be required reading for all students of that war and required reading for every President who ever contemplates sending soldiers into battle.

This simply is an outstanding book!!! It offers keen insight into what it has been like to live in the 20th-century. It is similar to Edelman's other book, DEAR AMERICA, LETTERS FROM VIETNAM, in that it has been written and edited with a rare intelligence. It is a must for anyone at all interested in American history.

A truly first hand look at the times and lives of the immigrants/citizens that helped shape our country.

As we come upon the millenium, we must hold on to our roots which the centarians so dearly fought for, worked for and died for.

This is a true reflection of the personal struggles that so many families faced and yet survived!

I was comforted with warmth, saddened by some losses but fortunate enough to come from immigrants that risked their lives, not only in war, but the struggle to enter our free world.

I would like to see this book in our schools as part of the history curriculum Truly wonderful reading.

Bless them all!

In July of 1968 I found myself standing in line ready to start basic training at Ft Dix N.J. Standing next to me was a hippie - long hair, beard, hippie clothes. That hippie was Mark Jury and over the next two months we became close friends. Mark detested the war, as did I, but he was determined to see it first hand. Mark expected to be assigned to the infantry but in its infinite wisdom, the Army assigned Mark to the Information Service - or some such thing - and gave him free reign to cover Vietnam. The result is this wonderful book. I went on to Offocer Candidate School and ended up in Vietnam several years later. I was assigned to the cushy part of Vietnam working for the generals. Mark shows this part in all its opulent, luxurious silliness but he also shows the dirty part where the "canon fodder"- kids just out of high school - got shot. He shows the Vietnamese hospitals where children misfortunate enough to stumble onto mines were sent. He shows the insanity of racism among the GI's. In a word, he shows it all. The pictures are powerful and they are enhanced by Mark's perceptive commentary. If you want to see what Vietnam was like, read this book.

This book shows it all: the fun, the botherhood, the grief, the stupidity, the arrogance, the cynicism. When someone asks "what was vietnam like?" I set them down with this book. Jury is an honest photojournalist with a young person's eye. The photos are straightforward, clear, well composed, non gimmicky. A good book. Any Vietnam vet should have a copy.

These books are very interesting and informative. It is important for people, especially children, to read. They will only do so if the books spark their interest. My daughter has read almost all of the books in this set and loves them. they inspire her to do research and read more books about the past.