American Boys: The True Story of the Lost 74 of the Vietnam War

by Louise Esola

It was 1969. War and protest rattled the nation while the troops marched on. The warships set sail. For coming-of-age American boys, death seemed one hill away. By then, nearly 300 of them were coming home in boxes each week. They were young men caught in a war machine, one of chance, circumstance, and misfortune. In a tragedy of just the same, lost in the turmoil of what would become America’s most unpopular war, lies a story buried 1,100 fathoms deep in the blue waters off Vietnam.
In the middle of a dark night off the coast of Vietnam on June 3, 1969, the USS Frank E. Evans is rammed by a ship ten times her size, sending her forward half to the bottom of the South China Sea and into oblivion. Seventy-four Americans are killed in this mysterious collision. Three brothers from a small town in Nebraska are gone, as is the son of a chief who barely survived. Only one body is ever found. The truth is confined to a footnote of the Vietnam War. Buried in obscurity even today, as the 74 names of those killed are not on the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C.
In American Boys, journalist Louise Esola has uncovered and assembled a powerful rebuttal, putting the ship and her men in the time and place that was Vietnam. Groundbreaking and astonishing in scope and intimate details, American Boys is a story of heartbreak and perseverance. It’s the story of a shattering injustice, of love and healing, and of a great generation of those who fought and lost yet vowed to never forget, though their nation has.


In praise of American Boys

"Louise Esola has shed new light on a tragic chapter of the Vietnam War. She has dug deeply into an accident at sea that took the lives of 74 young American sailors and has told their stories brilliantly! American Boys is worth your attention."

--Joseph L. Galloway, co-author of We Were Soldiers Once...and Young

“With Louise Esola’s powerful storytelling, American Boys uncovers a lost chapter of history full of grace and determination. A compelling read.”

--Gregory A. Freeman, bestselling author of Sailors to the End: The Deadly Fire on the USS Forrestal and the Heroes Who Fought It

“Louise Esola has done a remarkable job of research in putting together this forgotten story of 74 young men who lost their lives on the USS Frank E. Evans during the Vietnam War. Ms. Esola, writing with conviction and compassion, does a long-neglected service to the memories of those killed in the line of duty. As a Vietnam War veteran myself, I salute Louise Esola and all those who have given their time and energy to keep alive the memories of the fallen.”

--Bestselling author and Vietnam veteran Nelson DeMille

“With stellar reporting and strong writing, Louise Esola has rescued a largely forgotten incident of the Vietnam War: the sinking of the destroyer Frank E. Evans in 1969. “American Boys” traces the sailors from hometowns across America to their service aboard the ill-fated ship, giving the sailors the respect that their country has denied them. “American Boys” could easily become a classic story of men and war.”

--Tony Perry, Los Angeles Times

“American Boys is that rare offering, and deserves its own commendation as a piece of powerful research into a segment of Vietnam history that many have tried to bury over the decades…one that deserves to not be forgotten.”

--Midwest Book Review

"This is the story of one of the greatest--still unresolved--tragedies of the Vietnam War, one the U.S. Navy has pretended had nothing to do with it. American Boys explores the realities of Vietnam naval operations and, in evocative prose and stunning detail, it reports the sinking of the American destroyer Frank E. Evans, along with the decades-long struggle of survivors and families to get the Navy to acknowledge the truth of the matter. This book should be read and those Evans sailors commemorated."

--John Prados, bestselling author of Vietnam: The History of an Unwinnable War, 1945-1975

“Louise Esola’s finely-wrought account of a Vietnam-era disaster at sea and its unending impact on the drowned sailors’ loved ones will echo in your mind long after you’ve put it down. This beautiful, heart-breaking book should be required reading at the Pentagon and the White House.”

--Jack Cheevers, author of “Act of War: Lyndon Johnson, North Korea, and the Capture of the Spy Ship Pueblo.”

“American Boys is an important story, beautifully told. Long after you finish this book, you will remember the men of the USS Frank E. Evans, and understand why the fight to include the names of its 74 lost crew members continues.”

--Kristen Graham, Pulitzer prize-winning journalist with the Philadelphia Inquirer

Genres: History, War, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, American History

452 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2014

Reviews

[JD · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story in these pages of the loss of the USS Frank E. Evans in a training accident with the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne, and the wake of heartache it left is truly a tragedy all around. The author does a great job at giving all the necessary background to how the ship and the crew ended up in the South China Sea on that faithful night. She focuses on a few of the survivors and some of the 74 sailors who lost their lives, but the main focus is on the three Sage brothers who all went down with the ship.

The surface fleet of the U.S. Navy of the Vietnam War was not the mighty one it was at the end of World War 2, and a big portion of these vessels, including the Evans, were of World War 2 vintage. These ships were then under-manned by inexperienced and under-trained officers and sailors and were still expected perform too many duties and deployments. What makes this tragedy more sad is that most of these men volunteered for the navy to not be drafted and thought they would be safer as the navy only had a supporting role in the war.

The book up to the sinking and its aftermath is really good, but then it gets a bit dragged out in the official enquiries and court-martials when blame was handed out for the accident, in both navies. The author also puts too much of how she travelled to meet everyone and how she felt while meeting them in the book and tried to connect her personal sense of loss to those who actually lost someone in the accident too much, which I found a bit tasteless.

Still this tragedy continues as the names of the 74 are still omitted from the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC because of some bureaucratic nonsense after all these years, and I sicerely hope their names are incuded in the future, as they deserve to be. Still a good and informative read and highly recommended.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This being an account of history, I lapped it up. I have no understanding of the navy, the training, the way of life and so learnt lots from this.

The author, a journalist by trade, kept this story alive and a great deal of that is down to her skills with the pen. I would imagine it was easier for the navy folk to keep track; for me, it did take some doing.

The writing did make me feel akin to those aboard and their family members, and I give great credit to the author for the time, research and care she gave to that side of this story.

This was a sad and terrible tragedy and lots is made of the names of the 74 young men who died not being added to the Vietnam Memorial Wall. Bureaucracy rules, although I do sympathise with those who wish the ruling to change.

I am but a simple girl and I'd say, "Not the brightest of them all." How it happened and why it happened, for me, was not clearly explained. Again, I have no understanding of the navy, or understand the ease, intricacies, difficulties, complexities of manoeuvring a destroyer. I presume the length of curve the boat takes to change course is larger when the boat is moving faster: I'm not sure, maybe I'm wrong. If that was explained here, I missed it.

This happened, at night, during a training exercise, some 160 miles or more outside of the declared war zone. If it was a training exercise wouldn't all the people required to manoeuvre the boat safely have been at their station, doing what they were trained to do? Those, it seems, who could make statement to that effect, or not, are lost.

During the night hours on 3 June 1969, the USS Frank E. Evans (DD-754), a destroyer of the US Navy, was hit by the HMAS Melbourne (R21) a Royal Australian Navy aircraft carrier and cut in two by the collision, the front half sinking within minutes, with the loss of 74 lives.

During the night hours on 10 February 1964, the HMAS Voyager (D04), a destroyer of the Royal Australian Navy, was hit by the HMAS Melbourne (R21) a Royal Australian Navy aircraft carrier and cut in two by the collision, sinking with the loss of 82 lives.

Me, I'm a simple girl. How is it possible that within the space of five-years the same aircraft carrier can cut two destroyers in half?

And, it would seem from what I have read that the circumstances behind both collisions were identical: training and manoeuvring for the same reasons; and Captain John Robertson was in command of the HMAS Melbourne (R21) during both incidents.

I'm not, for any one moment in time, suggesting that officers of the HMAS Melbourne were intent on sinking as many destroyers as they possibly could, come hell or high-water. But does that not suggest their is something wrong with night-time naval manoeuvring or at least Australian night-time naval manoeuvring? Or is night-time naval manoeuvring that dangerous? I can accept it would be fraught with danger whilst at war and under attack, but in both these incidents the ships were undergoing training exercises.

I'm not blaming this book which I found absorbing, but I remain in the dark over that.

What made this book for me was the family research and quality of the writing, and also when my tiny brain says, "Hang on. Something here does not add up," I become a little mouse, constantly chewing away, without satisfaction ...... "What?" "Why?" "How?"

Is there someone out there with a naval background who might please answer that for me?

[Aprille]

Oh this just pisses me off to think..here were these young men and boys..who enlisted in the navy..who died in a horrific accident at sea..and their names are not ON the Memorial Wall?? What an insult!! This sits on President Obama's desk..or his files..or in the SAMR frickin vault left for Nixon when HE went into office..and no one is doing ANYTHING!!? Honor our troops!! All our troops!! All the men and boys and women who walked,flew,ran,swam or in any way went into battle or battle zones..Stop being nit-picky and man up damnit! They gave their lives. They deserve this respect! The families deserve THAT much respect! A very well written book. Great researching on the authors part. Seeing what she came up against. The rules and regs for disclosure, stolen pieces of information..ARRGH!! So frustrating. God bless those families and may their souls all rest in peace.

[Carlton Phelps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great piece of historical writing.
Ms. Esola, did a lot of research, contacted, and became friends with the families that lost sons and husbands on the night the crash happened. As of her writing, there were even a few survivors alive as she wrote this book.
It is a sad story, but one that has been hidden away by the military. As well as keeping her from researching official files. These files were open to her to read and then they weren't. Strange but true.
The names of these brave souls were lifted off the Vietnam wall in D.C. because the Navy claims they weren't in the war. But as you read the book, and you should, you will learn that the USS Frank Evans was in the war.
Great piece of history that few knew about.
My hat is off to the families who lost members and to Ms. Esola, who wrote this book.
Please take a moment and read this book.

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an author signed copy of this book from Louise Esola as a Goodreads Giveaway. Thank you, Ms. Osola, for sharing your work with me. I look forward to an informative read.

XXX And it was an informative and heart-rending story, following some of these lost boys from childhood to enlistment to the sinking of the USS Frank E. Evans. Insult to injury, the lost sailors of the Evans, because they were 200 miles from the Vietnam coast involved in a UN training mission on antisubmarine maneuvers, these boys were not included on the 1982 Memorial Wall for Vietnam deaths. The families, not informed, were devastated to find their great loss not recognized on this Memorial Wall.

This is a book I would love to share with everyone who served in our forgotten war. Louise Esola speaks not just for these naval casualties, but for all our boys who served in this UN 'Conflict" and returned to an uninvolved USA.

[Michael · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received this book on a Goodreads giveaway. I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an agreement to write an objective review.

The book discusses an incident probably forgotten by most by now, the tragic deaths of 74 Navy men assigned to the destroyer Frank E. Evans when it accidentally collided with an Australian aircraft carrier during an exercise in the South China Sea during the Vietnam War. The drill was not a combat operation and it occurred outside of the Vietnam combat zone, but there is no question that the Frank E. Evans was in that area because of the war and it had conducted offshore shelling as part of the war effort and was slated for additional participation in the war effort later. A primary motivation behind the writing of the book, which was self-published, was that of having the deceased men's names added to the Vietnam War Memorial wall in Washington. The men's names are not included, supposedly because the deaths occurred outside of the war zone.

The book tells an important story, and the book is very well-researched, and emotionally gut-wrenching. Unfortunately, it is not well written and was badly in need of editing. The author is a professional journalist, but it does't read like something put together by a professional. There are grammatical errors, misspellings, cliches, stereotypes, peculiar characterizations and hackneyed phrases throughout. the author's delivery detracted substantially from the story she was telling. Examples: "red-headed stepchild," "shoe-in" instead of "shoo-in," characterizing New York City as a "beatnik town."

Another problem with the book is the lack of objectivity. The author, who has children of her own, identifies strongly with the mothers who lost children in the incident, and the story is told from that standpoint. At times it seemed like the author used language to try to manipulate the reader's emotions, which wasn't really necessary because of the tragic circumstances of the Navy men's deaths. There is a strong suggestion throughout that the Navy and the US government have wronged these men by denying them their rightful place on the wall and by covering up what really happened on the night of the accident. There is no evidence to support this, however. The Navy conducted an inquiry after the accident and the author reviewed the transcript. If she interviewed any Navy or other government officials as part of her research, that cannot be discerned from the book.

My other issue with the book was the presentation of the men themselves. While the author stated that she wanted to have the reader get to know the men as people, this is true in only a handful of cases. She repeatedly infantilizes the men by constantly referring to them as "boys," and one is left with the impression that they were a group of children sent off to summer camp, telling dirty jokes and snapping towels in the locker room. That isn't accurate. Most of them were very young, for sure. But some had wives and children of their own. They had gone through military training and were involved in a war effort. It wasn't child's play. I prefer to think of them as men, who courageously volunteered for dangerous duty in the US Navy.

The book exhibits a bit of Middle American snobbery, sending the message that real people from the heartland are somehow superior to elites from the coasts who had the options other than signing up for military service. It was odd coming from an author who grew up on the east coast and now lives on the west coast. On the other hand, she points out that several members of the crew had joined the Navy in order to escape being drafted into the Army, with the idea that they would be safer on a ship than in a jungle in Vietnam. One is left with the idea that it was somehow unfair that these men lost their lives after opting for Navy service in the interest of self-preservation. Of course it was unfair, just as it was unfair for those who didn't have the opportunity to join the Navy, were drafted into the Army, and then died in Vietnam.

I didn't enjoy the book, but I applaud the work of the author and of the families of the lost men to keep alive their memories and to claim their rightful recognition as American heroes.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I belong to a Facebook group and the leader is Luanne Reilly Oda. Shortly after I joined the group, Luanne's father passed away and it was a devastating time for her and for all of us in the new phase of friendship. She recommended the book American Boys for us to know the story of her father and her family. Her father was one of the captains on the ill-fated USS Frank E Evans, a warship that was on duty outside of Vietnam in 1969. On maneuvers, it was hit by an Australian destroyer and 74 navy men were lost, never to be recovered. Luanne's brother, Larry, was one of the 74.
The book was written by a Philadelphia born journalist, Louise Esola. It is well written and tremendously well researched. It is about the men and their families and the despair and disappointment by the Navy. Luanne was proud of it, which meant that it captured the essence of that time and event. It is heartbreaking...and heroic.

[Diane Silcox-Jarrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book written with much passion. It is also very factual, the amount of time and effort Louise Esola had to put into it is unbelievable. When she writes scenes you feel as though you are right there. You can tell she truly felt for the families of those who lost their lives. Read it, and learn more about the Vietnam War.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this as a GoodReads first read. This book was informative and opened my eyes. Why were these 74 sailors left off the Vietnam Memorial. I appreciate the research that went into this book and congratulate Louise Esola for taking the time to write this book. As a country, we should be ashamed at the way the veterans of Vietnam have been treated.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well researched book on another little known Vietnam tragedy. Author often expresses personal opinions in a subtle way and overuses adjectives to the point that facts end up as background. Her intentions in writing the book are honorable and it is worth reading.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a great story about the sailors who were lost on the ship and the impact their lost lives took on their families, their shipmates, the navy, and the nation.

There is still a need to seek justice and have the 74 names added to the Vietnam memorial in Washington DC.

[mary jane Warrior · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

A very interesting read. My husband served on a sea plane tender in CamronI bay in 66-67. I think the 76 should be included on the wall.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book!!! Everyone should read it and write their reprsentatives.

[Erika RS · Rating 3 out of 5]

On June 3, 1969, the USS Frank E. Evans was hit by the HMAS Melbourne during nighttime exercises. The Evans, and other ships in the exercises, were heading back to the Vietnam combat zone after having refueled and picked up more ammunition. 74 men on the Evans died when it was sliced in two. The names of those men are not on the Vietnam memorial because although the ship was coming from and returning to combat, they were not technically in the combat zone when tragedy occurred.

This story intrigued journalist Louise Esola who investigated the Evans and its tragedy. American Boys is the result of that investigation. This book is not just the story of the accident. It is a story of the men-- many of them just boys -- on that ship. She conveys how they were just, as the mother who lost three sons in the collision noted, normal American boys, boys sent with too little training to a war they -- and at that point, most people -- did not want to fight.

I came to this book because of a family connection. One of the men who died, Alan Armstrong, is a relative of mine. That connection made reading the book even more poignant, especially reading of the last family gathering he attended -- his sister's wedding, hosted at my grandfather's old farm. But even with out that connection, Esola creates a human connection to a war that, for most of my generation, is nothing more than an abstraction glossed over in history class and US culture.

Like Esola, it's hard to read these stories and stay distant. The reasoning for not including the names of the 74 lost men on the Vietnam memorial rings shallow -- they were 200 miles on the wrong side of a line drawn mostly for accounting purposes (not only that, but the men on the Evans and other ships received Vietnam Service Medal credit for the exercises, implying that they were recognized at the time as having been participating in war related activities). But the survivors and the families of the victims continue to try to change that. I hope they eventually succeed.

[Roxanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick disclaimer on this review - my dad is a featured "American Boy" in this book, although he had the good fortune of being in the aft section of the USS Frank E. Evans and survived the horror that was that night. I loved reading this important part of my family history from a multifaceted perspective. Esola definitely maintains a journalistic perspective even though I know she has become emotionally invested in this ship and its service members. The chapters that covered the crash and sinking of the forward section of the ship were gut wrenching to read as I imagined the fear that my dad faced, waking up having been dumped out of his rack and with his bunkmate landing on top of him, pushing him into the 2 feet of water in their compartment (this wasn't detailed in the book, but I know it from my dad's own story). Reading the likely experiences of those who didn't survive, along with the harrowing tales of those who did, but with horrific injuries was almost too much, and I only read a few pages at a time for this section to avoid nightmares. It is so hard to believe that the lost 74 men are not on the Vietnam Wall. Not all the rules of who qualifies have been applied the same way.

My only criticism of the book is that since it had to be self published, there are sections that could have benefited from a better editing process. Grammatical mistakes (there vs. their) and spelling errors are hard to forgive - but because it was so important to get this book released quickly while survivors and grieving family members could still be around to appreciate it, I did manage to look past these mistakes. The author's detailed approach to telling this largely unknown story is well worth it.

[Bob Gelina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opening

A awesome account of what happened with the crew and how it affected their families. A must read for any veteran.

[Arianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

[I got this book for free from a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.]

I'm not much of a history buff, I'll admit it. My brother is, but not me.
However, I ended up actually really enjoying this book. It's a very thorough look at a tragedy in history that I had never actually heard of.

The style of writing reminds me of some books about the Titanic, with the step by step recounting of the events leading up to the accident, with many events being told from the point of view of the people involved. I really like how it doesn't just end after the accident, or after the inquiry, but how the author includes how she got involved in researching, how she interacted with the survivors or with the families of the lost.

On a random side note, the book itself is beautifully printed. It is one of the nicest quality books I've ever held. Sometimes, no matter how involved and interesting a story might be, the print or the book itself serves as a distraction, but this copy of the book made reading easy, which allowed me to focus fully on the events unfolding within.

I'm going to pass this book onto my brother - the history nerd in the family, I think he'll enjoy reading it as much if not more than I did. :)

[Luanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not just another war story! Louise Esola has done a fabulous job in bringing this virtually unknown story of the Vietnam war to the forefront. Her meticulous research enabled her to tell not only the accurate history of the tragic collision of the USS Frank E Evans and the HMAS Melbourne and it’s aftermath, but weaves in the stories of some of those men lost and their families. You will feel as if you know them by the end of your read. She gives extensive evidence as to why this was tragedy was “overlooked” by the US government and support to why the names of these 74 sailors should be added to the Vietnam Memorial. Wonderfully written I couldn’t put it down. A must read for any navy family member, history enthusiast, history teachers. A great book for any high school teacher to use as required reading. Book contains a reading group guide and would be perfect for any book club. Esola’s writing skills are outstanding, an excellent job for a first book. I hope it becomes a best seller.

[Ray Stowe]

I just finished reading "American Boys" by Louise Esola. I found the book excellent. I was introduced to a tragedy I had hear about many years ago. It was one of those passing news flashes that came and went. But I was completely unaware of the struggles that the families and survivors were going through. Louise Esola's book plunged me, as an observer, into the event as though it was yesterday. Why would I be interested in an event that happened so long ago? When I saw the name "Frank E. Evans" I remembered I had served on that ship, as a reserve seaman back in 1956. I was 18 years old and it was only a 2 week training cruise, off California's coast. I remember lots of thing about that criuse, and was grieved when I heard year later that she had
had been cut in half by the carrier. Thank you Louise for the book. It brought to me so many missing pieces of a puzzle, but most of all it introduced me to the families and men of the Evans.

[Ms. Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book for free from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review...

I was looking forward to reading this book. It appeared so very captivating and the topic it was exploring seemed very interesting to me. I got through the Introduction, which felt like it should've been half the novel. Within a few chapters later, I was ready to put this book away for good.

The author is talented and knows how to put together a book. It was very well-written and organized. I just grew bored of it almost immediately. Everything about it was incredibly dull: the plot, the characters, the facts, the history, etc. What should've been something to keep me intrigued from start to finish, wound up being a massive disappointment. This book just wasn't meant for me.

[Leslie Clement · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway and received an author-signed copy, which is really cool. "American Boys" is an outstanding account of one obscure event which occurred during the Vietnam War. I knew nothing of the topic and I must say that Ms. Esola definitely held my interest from first page to the last. I don't want to provide any spoilers but the ending was incredibly evocative and left me crying.

Ms. Esola brought the characters to life with her incredible research and I found myself barely able to put the book down. I thank her so much for giving us a glimpse into the men, their families and their shipmates - their stories I won't soon forget.

I highly recommend this book.

[Lisa Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lest We Forget! They died in the Vietnam war and their names are not on The Wall. The U.S. Navy conducted operations in the South China Sea just off the coast of Vietnam to prevent infiltration and maintain pressure on any vessels attempting to assist the enemy. These sailors that sunk to the bottom of the sea did so because their ship was heavy laden with a full cargo of ammunition. The US government needs to do the right thing and recognize the injustice that these families have suffered in not having their men recognized on the Vietnam Memorial wall. Time is of the essence. These families have waited long enough for the honor of their sacrifice.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first third of the book read like a textbook or research paper at times, and I found it more difficult to connect with than first person memoirs, perhaps because it is so much broader in scope and more technical/distanced in voice. However, by the midway point, the pieces came together and the author's description of her process and the extensive endnotes and bibliography showed true commitment to accuracy and the honor of the men who died and their families. It is a story that should be told, and Esola does it justice.

[Michelle Kaderly Welsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I didn't learn about the Vietnam War in school, an article about Louise Esola's American Boys caught my interest. I soon found a copy. This book is educational, moving, full of grief, and finally, a call to action for the 74 lost whose names aren't on the Vietnam Memorial wall because their ship was lost during a SEATO exercise, a break from their fighting in the war. I recommend reading it, lest we forget the high cost of war and to remember brave men. I hope their names will soon be added and the families' sacrifices honored.

[Sita Milchev · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so enthralled by this book that I couldn't put it down. I have too many friends who experienced Viewnam from a Chopper and a Jet to an infantry man. This story is powerful and very moving. I hope that our Government will celebrate the lives of these 74 men who lost theirs on the USS Frank E Evans by including their names on the Vietnam Memorial. I highly recommend this book...The True Story of the Lost 74 of the Vietnam War.

Rest in Peace Gentlemen.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. It was an emotional read as it brought back memories of those I knew who died in Vietnam. What was surprising and unknown to me was the fight to get the names of those lost on the Evans listed on the Vietnam Memorial. I can't believe that there would even be a question of not including their names.

[Sandy Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has got to be one if the best books I have read. If you were around during the Viet Nam War, I suggest you read this book, especially if you knew someone who served. These young men did not deserve the treatment from Washington DC or from the Navy. Word of warning, you will cry for these young soldiers and their families

[Anayansi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Vietnam War, like all wars, is made up of a million points of views. American Boys sheds a necessary light on the heartbreak and guilt that goes with the choices we make regarding our country, our families, our sense of duty, our idea of honor and justice. Lest we forget...read this so you don’t.

[Christian J · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant look at the cataclysm we call war, but done on a personal level which drives home the constant terror these men lived through on a daily basis. This is highly recommended reading, as it bashes the fiction that war is glorious.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won a copy from Goodreads Giveaway.
American Boys is the story of the USS Frank E. Evans and the sailors during the Vietnam war. The book tells what happened when the Evans and the HMAS Melbourne Collided on June 3, 1969, what happened after, and the family's of those sailors. I thought it was a well put together story of the events of the collision and the court proceeding. I enjoyed reading the story's of these Sailors who survived and lost their lives. The sage brothers in particular was saddening to read and the mother saying they were ordinary American Boys. I cant believe they wont put the names of those lost on the Vietnam Memorial.