Vietnam: The Other Side of Glory

by William R. Kimball

CLICK OUR STORE NAME R-B COLLECTIBLE PRINTING 1987. HARDCOVER. DUST JACKET (ex-lib HARDCOVER. DUST JACKET.ALL PAGES IN GOOD CONDITION. CLICK OUR STORE NAME FOR CDS, DVDS & MORE GREAT BOOKS IN ENGLISH & SPANISH.

Genres: War, History, Military Fiction

253 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 12, 1988

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have no idea what that other guy meant by calling this book a literary fraud. I don't let cranks limit my reading. This book is a collection of first-hand recollections from 14 different vets (one's a female nurse). The writing is not professional quality but more of the man-on-the-street variety, though gripping and real. None are poor writers and some display remarkable patches of brilliant writing. After the 3rd chapter I realized all were written by Christians who reflect on their Vietnam experience in either coming to Christ or in deepening their faith. Among some of the things you will read about (without creating any spoilers): miraculous protections and personally felt interventions by God, explorations of death and fate, reactions under fire, and the effects of boredom, suffering and torture. There is also the best description of almost bleeding to death/out-of-body experience I've ever read. There were many detailed scenes of combat and the book as a whole gives many details about the sights and sounds the boots on the ground experienced on a tour of duty. I knew about leeches, but man there sure was a lot more out there in the jungle. At the end of every chapter is a short "what are they doing now" blurb. Most have become involved in ministry. At the end is a helpful glossary of military terms used in the accounts. I wish I had known that ahead of time. Since the chapters are around 12 pages a piece this keeps the writer from being comprehensive and in-depth as I'd have liked, but they manage to do well hitting their key issues despite the space restriction.

[James · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a literary fraud.

See STOLEN VALOR pp 406-407

There might be an occasional fact that is true,
but most of the book is fiction.