Rumor of War Book Review - 1614 Words

A Rumor of War Book Review â€Å" ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, see that ye be not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet†¦he that shall endure unto the end, he shall be saved† Matthew 24:6 Philip Caputo’s relationship with the Vietnam War is depicted in a disturbingly beautiful way in the memoir â€Å"A Rumor of War.† Throughout the course of the book, approximately 16 months, we observe a young, ambitious boy ready to prove his manhood, in search of adventure turn into an aged disillusioned man. The words Caputo uses give the sense of involvement, the sense of being right there with the troops, seeing what they see, feeling what they feel, but really, we are never even close. Caputo has humble†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Our interpreter, a Vietnamese marine lieutenant, roughly interrogated a woman†¦his voice rose to a hysterical pitch and holding the forty-five by the barrel, he raised his arms as if to pistol whip her. I think he would have but Peterson stepped in and stopped him†¦ the old woman shuffled away, a sack of bones covered by a think layer of shriveled flesh. The Enemy.† (Pg 90). This situation is particularly important because it depicts the confusion and frustration felt by the troops in regards to the enemy which leads to their eventual breakdown. However, at this point, Caputo is only an observer; Peterson, a fellow soldier, even acts to prevent any unnecessary harm. Here is the signal of observation and isolationism. Some of the men are now aware of what is to come, but they are also strictly witnesses trying to comprehend the necessity behind the interpreters force. Understanding the tactics of the Viet Cong (VC) is crucial to analyzing the war that these marines faced. VC strategy was based on two simple concepts: blending in, and hit and run. The VC hid within the dense forests at night, and by day took on the role of peasant farmers. It was nearly impossible to distinguish between a Viet Cong guerilla, a Viet Cong supporter, and an innocent villager. An elderly lady was as much a horrific killer as a guerilla soldier completely camouflaged; a child running toward aShow MoreRelatedIn What Ways Were the Byzantine and Islamic Civilizations Different from Civilizations Developing in Western Europe? in What Ways Are They Similar?984 Words   |  4 PagesA. Student AMH2010: United States History to 1877 Professor McKeown October 1, 2012 Book Review: The Black Codes of the South Although this book is titled, â€Å"The Black Codes of the South,† the writer begins his story discussing slavery, then leads up to emancipation, where four million slaves were freed. The freedom of slaves brought about the enactment of the Black Codes in the southern states. 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