Gardens Of Stone

by Nicholas Proffitt

Two men--Jack Willow, a young man in search of glory, and career soldier Clell Hazard, an older man who knows first-hand the horrors of war--find a home in the Army during the Vietnam War

Genres: Fiction, War, Military Fiction, Historical Fiction, Novels

373 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Nicholas Proffitt's novel Gardens of Stone was based on his service as a member of the 3rd U.S. Infantry detachment detailed to serve as the honor guard at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington, D.C. After his military service, he graduated from the University of Arizona with a journalism degree and went to work for Newsweek as a reporter, subsequently working in Vietnam and Lebanon. He eventually rose to the position of Newsweek's Bureau Chief in London and, later, Nairobi; he retired in 1981 and devoted his time to writing book-length fiction and short stories.

Reviews

[Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually read this book during the Desert Shield phase of the Gulf War in 1991. It was a very sobering read; this book made the rounds of my whole platoon. I gave it one of the highest marks of respect I have for a book or a movie; I have never re-read it. If I really like a book, I won't re-read it because I want to remember the emotions and thoughts the book gave me. Same for movies; if I really like a movie, I will only watch it once. I saw the movie of this book, and I won't watch it again either. The movie had Richard Caan, Angelica Huston and James Earl Jones in it.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and powerful book. Impressive.

[Lysergius · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling evocation of the horrors of war.

[Joe Bruno · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stars are not so much for the writing, Proffitt tries too hard at times and leans too heavily on cliché at others, or the plot, which is both slick and clunky at the same time and overdramatic. But I read this before I went to basic myself and watched the movie some time later. I have grown out of so much of the idea of honor, not so much that of glory, but I am giving this 4 stars for how I recalled it affected me.

Any plot would be a spoiler, just know it focuses on the Viet Nam War and The Old Guard Burial Detail at Arlington National Cemetary. Proffitt served in that unit and reported the war in country on the civilian side and completely represented the thoughts of America at that time. I remember thinking of this book while in basic. I was very fortunate not to have served in a combat zone, but did pack for Desert Storm, and at the time thought it would have meant something to have gone. Proffitt nails these feelings, and I have to guess his combat scenes are inspired by first hand accounts from U.S Military membersand what he heard in country reporting while the war was going on.

Quite an interesting book really. I thought there were a couple of things a bit too cliché, and there was some unneeded violence and I did not remember the sex from my previous reading. I would have sent him an email asking about things but Proffitt passed in 2006 at 63. I thought the writing was not even through the whole book, I felt like the last half was better written than the first. It was his first novel, he wrote at least two more. I borrowed this from the library.

[Esteban Stipnieks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nails it..... from a military brat's point of view son of Vietnam Vet ..... this book NAILS IT COMPLETELY the son trying to emulate his father a military corrupted as it became in Vietnam from basic training to parade dress tricks of the trade ..... I saw the movie as an adolescent read the book as an adult. This book gets right.

[Marguerite Woodward · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book many times in the past. It talks about what it is like to be part of the Old Guard who guards the unknown soldiers tombs and bury the dead in Arlington Cemetary. Loved and enjoyed this book.

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 1987. War toughened sergeant trains soldiers to fight in an elite squad in Vietnam.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gardens of Stone by Nicholas Proffitt (Carroll and Graf Publishers 1987)(Fiction). Set during the Viet Nam era, a young soldier is assigned to the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Unit, which is a ceremonial outfit known as “The Old Guard” that guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia and which provides the Honor Guard for burials at Arlington. The story centers around the young soldier’s desire to be in battle in Viet Nam and the influence of his mentor in the Old Guard, an old military battle-weary veteran. I read this book about twenty-five years ago; the only thing I remembered about it was the humorously disrespectful chant that the “Old Guard “ members would whisper to each other as they performed at yet another funeral at the end of a long hot day: “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust; let’s bury this bastard and get back on the bus.” Awful, just awful (smirk). My rating: 7/10, finished 1988.

[Chrystine Collins-blums · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story touched me to the core. Yes, it is slightly cliched; the enlisted man's son marrying the officer's daughter, the couple who hate each other winding up madly in love (in a couple instances), the unit screw up becoming a hero - but despite all this I still love this book. I think every soldier wants to be like Jackie and have leadership like he had. I don't want to give away too much but read the book. Get past a few of the cliches - it's worth it. I joined the military at 17 and retired reluctantly almost 25 years later. Perhaps that's why I'm a bit sentimental but I just love this book.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written and touching story set in a time many would like now to forget. It brings home many of the arguments that we are still having to this day in terms of the army and its role in our national consciousness.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Purchased in Vietnam upon realizing my knowledge of the war was lacking. This didn't help much, but the characters were vivid and it was an interesting perspective.