Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam

by Elizabeth Partridge

In March 1965 President Lyndon B. Johnson sent troops into Vietnam. 57,939 American soldiers would be killed and seventeen years would pass before this controversial chapter of American history concluded with the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 1982.

The history of this era is complex; the cultural impact extraordinary. But it's the personal stories of eight people--six American soldiers, one American nurse, and one Vietnamese refugee--that form the heartbeat of Boots on the Ground. From dense jungles and terrifying firefights to chaotic medic rescues and evacuations, each individual's story reveals a different facet of the war and moves readers forward in time. Alternating with these chapters are profiles of key American leaders and events, reminding readers what was happening at home, including Kent State, Woodstock, and Watergate.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, War, Historical, Teen, American History, Audiobook

226 pages, Paperback

First published April 10, 2018

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

National Book Award Longlist for Young Adults 2018. Partridge has written an excellent overview of the Vietnam War. She has blended the personal stories of six soldiers, a nurse, and a Vietnamese refugee with the historical record. Presented in chronological order, Partridge recounts the key decisions of Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford that most impacted America’s War in Vietnam. She also includes anti-war events and people that turned the population against the war—Martin Luther King, Kent State, the Detroit riots, Woodstock, and Walter Cronkite. She ends with the emotional dedication of the Vietnam Memorial. Highly recommend!

[Richie Partington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richie’s Picks: BOOTS ON THE GROUND: AMERICA’S WAR IN VIETNAM by Elizabeth Partridge, Viking, April 2018, 224p., ISBN: 978-0-670-78506-3

“You that never done nothin’
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it’s your little toy
You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly”
-- Bob Dylan, “Masters of War” (1963)

“‘The bitterness I feel when I remember carrying the lifeless bodies of close friends through the mire of Vietnam will probably never subside. I still wonder if anything can be found to bring any purpose to all the suffering and death.’”
-- Jan Scruggs, former U.S. Infantryman, as quoted in BOOTS ON THE GROUND

The upbringings of my Boomer contemporaries and I were framed by the Vietnam War, or, as the Vietnamese called it, the American War. From my perspective the men of my generation can be identified by their relationship with the war. Some volunteered or were forced to go to Vietnam and died; some volunteered or were forced to go to Vietnam and survived; some had the resources to work the deferment process and avoid being forced to go to Vietnam; and some left the country or went to jail to avoid being forced to go to Vietnam. Then there were those like me, who had the luck to come of age just after the military draft was abolished.

Although it seemed like ancient history, World War II was chronologically closer when I studied it in high school than the Vietnam War is now. It took something special to understand the war: fathers, uncles, family friends or, in my case, a history teacher who’d served and brought it to life.

For my generation’s children and grandchildren Elizabeth Partridge’s BOOTS ON THE GROUND will bring the now-long-ago Vietnam War to life.

BOOTS ON THE GROUND vividly reveals the Vietnam War from the perspective of Americans who fought in it, American presidents who oversaw it, American citizens who protested it, and Vietnamese refugees who survived it. It’s not hyperbole to suggest that this is a book that could change lives and and alter futures for the young people who are fortunate enough to encounter it.

The power of BOOTS ON THE GROUND results from extensive interviews that the author conducted with machine gunners, medics, nurses, protest singers, and refugees. There are also chapters of third-person history, including stories about JFK, LBJ, and MLK that reveal the messy ways that powerful human beings affect and are affected by world events. The writing is elegant and engaging, and the story is chunked into digestible pieces that keep you wanting one more. To pick up and open the book is to be hooked.

Anyone familiar with Ms. Partridge’s background in the world of photography and her previous nonfiction books for young people won’t be surprised by the high quality of the photographs that accompany the chronicles.

“Some folks inherit star spangled eyes
Ooh, they send you down to war, Lord
And when you ask them, ‘How much should we give?’
Ooh, they only answer ‘More, more, more’”
--John Fogerty, “Fortunate Son” (1969)

As a grandfather and a citizen who is terrified by the manner in which the ship of state is being captained by one of its “fortunate sons,” I consider this book about America’s past to be as timely as it gets.

Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book about the Vietnam Conflict that I have read in as many months. The other (Vietnam: A History of the War by Russell Freedman) I gave 4 stars. While it is an excellent survey, it does not break new ground and delivers little information (including photographs) not found in other works.

In contrast, Partridge is nothing except fresh in her treatment of our Vietnam experience. The story of the war is told by those who fought it -- both abroad and stateside. She personalizes this war, giving a face to the players -- high profile leaders and the average joes. In her introduction, Partridge explains she was a college student during the war and sets the tone for the book by sharing her moving experience of meeting a young soldier who has just returned from the war. She then tells the story of the American involvement in this war from the point of view of a handful of soldiers, three Presidents, a Civil Rights protester, a musician, a nurse and a medic, a Vietnamese refugee, and an artist. Each voice in heard in chronological order, telling of their personal experience as the war progresses from the role to U.S. military advisor in Vietnam to the building of The Wall and the National Salute to Vietnam Veterans. Not every major event of the war is reported, however highlights given are the most important events.

Partridge has done extensive research -- and it shows -- conducting interviews with nine survivors and other "players" who were willing to share their stories, by scouring holdings of Presidential Libraries and books for both broad knowledge and intimate details, and by consulting other sources to fill in details. Partridge includes many black and white photographs not normally seen, with each serving to punctuate poignant moments or clarify what could be confusing descriptions. All are well-selected.

She leaves conclusions up to the reader as to whether fighting in Vietnam was a just war or a mistake.

A first choice book!

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a child of the 70's I have found the subject of the Vietnam War to be difficult to get a handle on until I read "Most Dangerous" by Steve Sheinkin. That particular book is cataloged as Juvenile Nonfiction in our system and I believe that it manages to just qualify with a lexile under 900.

"Boots", however, seems to me to most definitely be a YA Nonfic and is definitely Printz worthy. The timeline of the war is shown to us through the eyes of the presidents who were in office, personal stories of veterans, a refugee story and the story of the memorial wall. There is even a chapter on Woodstock. It is an evenhanded, comprehensive presentation that is effective and moving. I would highly recommend its use in high school history classrooms.

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful

Is a very well written book that touches the emotions of all Vietnam era people like me.

The book is not 100% balanced because they don’t talk about both sides of issues.

I recommend, and for some Vietnam veterans might need some tissues.

[Monica Edinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

For professional review.

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must read history book

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge. Partridge was a college student during the war and she begins by describing her experience meeting a young soldier who had just returned from Vietnam. Partridge then tells the story of the Vietnam war from the point of view of those who were involved - soldiers, a nurse, a medic, a Vietnamese refugee, the artist (Maya Lin) who designed the Vietnam Memorial, and the three Presidents who oversaw the war. I found it incredibly moving to hear from their different perspectives and it was a striking reminder of another period when the US was divided. I was also interested to learn about the criticism that Maya Lin received for her design of the Vietnam Memorial, which I have always found to be powerful and visually striking.

Note that this is not a comprehensive book about the war, but it shows the human side and the people who were involved in the conflict.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The war in Vietnam and the government’s response to it were arguably the most impactful experiences of my formative years. When I speak of those volatile times and compare them in some respects to today’s political climate and the divisions that seem to separate our country, my students tend to look on with boredom or cluelessness because they know very little of the Vietnam War or what happened during the 1960s. According to most of them, they just didn’t study that part of history when they were in high school. Although they might disagree, that seems to be a pity to me. Although it might be a platitude, it is true that history has much to teach us about ourselves and about our political leaders or elected officials and how individuals often find themselves helplessly caught up in situations that have little to do with themselves. This book goes a long way in eradicating anyone’s ignorance or disinterest in the war or conflict in Vietnam that plagued four different Presidents and cost the United States close to 58,000 lives. Complemented with well-chosen archival photographs that fit the text perfectly, the story of Vietnam that is told here is personal, riveting, and not for the faint of heart. Partridge relies on interviews with eight individuals—six American soldiers, a nurse, and a refugee—that take readers up close and personal to what it was like on and off the battlefield. While some men enlisted with hope and belief in keeping the world free for democracy through their service, often they found that the administration and military leaders had no idea what they were doing or how to fight this particular type of battle, much less, win the war. Their accounts speak of bravery but also of disappointment and having to live and work under unthinkable conditions. Because the accounts appear in chronological order, interspersed with vignettes concerning the men who led the country during those times—John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford—as well as other influential individuals such as civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr., and musician Country Joe Fish—readers are plunged deep into the conflict as the nation became increasingly divided about what to do about Vietnam as well as its aftermath. As the author points out, some might say that we are still healing from that great division of opinion and disappointment even four decades later. Interestingly, Partridge has chosen to focus on the war from the American perspective, for the most part, not spending too much time on providing much background on Indochina but instead looking at how the nation became increasingly involved in the mess in Southeast Asia from 1963 and on to 1982 with the dedication of the black granite wall, a memorial to those who gave their lives in Vietnam. Although the review copy of the book I received didn’t contain an index or some finishing touches, I was impressed with the entire publishing effort, from the cover and title to the photographs, some double-page spreads, and the thorough research that underlies this volume. I can only imagine that this will spark even more interest in the time period covered in the book as readers seek to learn more about the Pentagon Papers, peace protests, the 5,000 dogs who served in Vietnam, and Woodstock, for instance. I’ll be purchasing the final copy of this book once it is ready, adding it alongside my Ken Burns documentary and accompanying book as I continue to try to make sense of a confusing time. This one is highly recommended as even those who avoid history will find themselves compelled to read every story included here and wonder once again about the inhumanity of man to others.

[Nicole R · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were aspects of this book I really liked, and other aspects that just didn't work for me.

First and foremost, stories of the Vietnam War absolutely break my heart. I want to read more about the war itself and how it started and why we stayed in it for so long and the protests in the US, but reading the personal stories of men and women who fought just make my heart hurt.

These were kids. Ill-prepared and dropped into the jungle to fight a war they didn't believe in and didn't support. They then made the reverse trek back to the US after their year "in country" and faced a society that despised them and a government that didn't support them. They suffer from PTSD and fall victim to suicide at a stunning rate.

I was obviously not alive during the Vietnam War, but I cannot even imagine.

Partridge told the story of the war in an interesting way. She told it, more or less, chronologically, through the eyes of eight men and women during their year "in country." She peppered in short chapters focused on the Presidents who presided over the war to tell more about the politics and social issues happening at home. And, of course there was a chapter on Woodstock. And the full book wrapped up with the dedication of the Vietnam Memorial.

I thought it packed a punch to hear stories from those eight people. They each served at a different time and their stories captured the status of the war at that time. The problem was that I wanted more. The stories were brief, there was minimal backstory on each person, and most of their stories ended when they left Vietnam except for a paragraph epilogue on each of them. It made the book choppy and uneven.

And yet I think it truly honored each person as well as stood for the three million people who served in Vietnam, including the over 58,000 whose names are etched in the black granite of the memorial. And the final chapter about the memorial, the controversy surrounding it and its dedication, really hit me and I closed the book knowing that I will think back on it often.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book through a Good Reads "First Reads" Give-away. Partridge provides a general history of the United State's Vietnam War through the personal experiences of eight individuals - six soldiers, a nurse, and a Vietnamese refugee. She intersperses those stories with overviews of the key events, both those that occurred in Vietnam and back in the States, through the prism of several major political and cultural personalities. Her presentation is both sensitive and balanced. While I am reviewing an advanced readers' addition of the book which is subject to change, the book itself contains over a hundred photographs and the layout is beautifully done. The target audience for this book is younger readers (e.g., 12-18) - a fact of which I was unaware when I entered the give-away. Let's just say it has been a while since I qualified as a younger reader, but I do believe the target audience will find this book to a very effective (i.e, not dry and boring) overview of a turbulent time in American history, with the personal experiences of the eight individuals (many of whom were not much older than 18 at the time) being particularly engaging.

[Brandi Rae Fong]

This title did something well that a lot of narrative, historical non-fiction doesn't--it gives just enough context without overwhelming the reader and dragging down the flow and pacing of the overall narration. Partridge weaves brief chapters of the political happenings of the Vietnam War with personal oral histories of people who spent time in-country. And it's good she kept the context chapters short and to the point, because it's the oral histories that are the real, shining strength of this book. Hearing first hand accounts from people of varying backgrounds who did varying jobs during their year 'in country"--Mexican Americans, Japanese Americans, nurses, medics, machine gunners--that's what will draw readers in and put a meaningful slant on the history.

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was all at once scattered and dense lacking a fluid narrative to get me invested though certain individual stories caught my attention while others were distracting. Particularly the chapter about Martin Luther King Jr. and his relationship with LBJ, the war, and his speech (in particular because a student was recently researching the speech) and the piece about Maya Lin and all she overcame as a young architectural student (and Asian) when she won the contest to design the Vietnam veterans wall.

As a whole I can't get behind it, it's more valuable in pieces and is not a favorite narrative nonfiction like others are.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, so good. First hand accounts that give little peaks into the war, but all together give an overview from the start straight through the memorial dedication. Enough detail to convey the gravity, sadness, destruction of the war, without reading like a textbook or sharing too many details beyond a middle school level. And the pictures... amazing.

[Kate Bengtson · Rating 5 out of 5]

#hubchallenge19

This is what nonfiction for teens should look like. Heck, this is what nonfiction for anyone should look like. Stories of people who are affected deeply and permanently by the choices of governments. Thoughtful and personal narratives woven intricately into the historical happenings of our world.

I knew nothing about the Vietnam War before this book. I am hungry to know more upon finishing it. Indeed, I am ravenous for not just greater knowledge, but greater understanding.

The reading level is appropriate for high schoolers and adults. I love how the author doesn't write down to her audience, but expects them to rise to the subject matter. Eloquently researched and crafted.

[Clyde Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers an interesting and refreshing take on the depressing events of the Vietnam War. It is comprised of a number of short stories as recalled by Vietnam veterans and others involved in the war, as well as accounts of politicians and other prominent figures at the time. Through these stories, different aspects of the war are highlighted, from those on the front lines to those who created the Vietnam War Memorial. Through this lens, many layers of discrimination and injustice are highlighted. I would recommend this book to all those interested in war history and 20th-century politics, as well as those who enjoy reading books from a diverse cast of characters.

[Tyler Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve recently learned how much I like biographies. This book was full of mini biographies woven into the the timeline of the war. Exceptionally well written for the age range it’s intended (middle grades).

I really enjoyed the crash course on the Vietnam war and how much it impacted people in a real way.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and wonderful. Partridge combines a broad social-political overview of the Vietnam War with personal interviews from 8 survivors. Rather than ending with the withdrawal of American troops, she ends years later with the dedication of the Vietnam War Memorial. There’s so much here that I am hearing for the first time. Seeing how Vietnam always seems to be glossed over in history class, I want to hand this to everyone.

[Erikka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up on stories of Nam, of valor and sadness and disrespect upon return to the home front. Of lost buddies, weeks without showers, and PTSD that means the war never really ended. Not for many of our troops. Not for my dad. But I grow increasingly concerned that future generations won't know about Vietnam, won't know about the war we protested, the war we begrudgingly fought for a government safe in their marble buildings, the war we lost. That future generations won't know the shit my dad went through because someone told him to, not because he wanted to. That in a few decades, some random teen will say "why don't these old guys just get over it?" and I, in my enfeebled state, will think of my dad and try to control my urge to punch them directly in the face. Vietnam was a fool's errand, but the brave soldiers and nurses who fought there were no less heroes.

Partridge's excellent photodocumentary, in the style of Russell Freedman, is possibly the best tool at our disposal to combat this encroaching ignorance. Its concise, well-balanced, heartbreaking, inspiring, thorough, well-cited, and a necessary addition to the teen nonfiction repertoire.

Also, just throwing this out there for myself, thanks, Dad. Ooh rah! I won't forget the men who have followed you all of these years, even though they never left Nam.

[Alexa Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Partridge does a beautiful job of telling the story of the Vietnam using the stories of specific people, from soldiers and medics to LBJ and civilians in Vietnam and protesters and even Maya Lin, who designed the Vietnam War Memorial in DC. It is a shockingly compelling read, despite the intensity of the subject matter. She follows each of the soldiers during their time "in-country" and beyond, including a lot of suicidal thoughts and near suicidal actions. She manages to cover a fairly diverse set of people, specifically some Asian-American service men and women who really struggled both in Vietnam and after. Plus, she contrasts the experience with those of black servicemen, and how they were received coming back to the United States. A really worthwhile read, especially for those of us who were too young to know all the intricacies of people's emotions abotu this, despite the many textbooks and even my parents' recollections of that time (neither served so it was missing a large chunk from that side of the story which is filled in here). This is neither pro -war nor anti-war but about what happened in our country. Really manages to put politics in there without having to go too far in-depth to get to what was relevant for this conflict.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Russell Freedman's Vietnam: A History of the War gives a great overview of the war. It focuses on the politics and general strategies. Boots on the Ground focuses on individual experiences. Based on interviews as well as numerous primary source documents, Partridge has created a powerful reading experience. The experiences of both some of the primary decision makers (Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon) are combined with the experiences of a variety of on the ground service people including a nurse, a medic, a green beret, a machine gunner, and an infantryman. In addition, the experiences of a variety of others are also included: a protester, a protest singer, a refugee, a veteran, and the memorial designer also have a chance to share their experiences. I appreciate Partridge's attempt to cover many different aspects of the war. With these first person accounts, the war came to life in a way a basic history book does not. The writing is fabulous and the photographs add a glimpse into the experiences shared. A nice complement to Freedman's Vietnam.

[Leonard Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The oral histories that make up much of this book are what make this worth the price of admission. The book depicts horrific violence, as well as drug use and racial slurs, but I would give this to my 13-year-old, and indeed he asked if he could read it when he saw me with it. The historical context stuff focusing on presidents and other personages is OK but perhaps doesn’t rise above other treatments and isn’t what makes this book notable. And I think there are perhaps too many photos of the “generic” sort where the book would probably be more powerful if it’d stuck to personal photos directly connected to the narrative at hand. All that said, this would probably be my first choice to hand to an interested middle schooler, even over Sheinkin’s Most Dangerous or Freedman’s Vietnam: A History of the War. Also want to observe that the book’s structure has some similarities to Ryan’s Echo. I had some issues with that in Echo but thought it effective here.

[Thomas Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. Since this was on some Newbery watch lists, I was hoping for something of the Russell Freedman caliber. Nope, not even close.

I was also hoping to learn something about the Vietnam War. This book is hardly a history of the war. It is rather a glimpse into how people felt about the war and how it entered into politics. We learn just a little bit about the coup, the Tet Offensive, the Paris Peace Accords and the American pullout. But not really... But we learn about race relations during the time period. And we learn that the author thinks the soldiers were justified in constantly getting stoned. And we learn about Woodstock, the Watergate Scandal and some events loosely related to the war.

Anyway, if you're looking to learn about the war in a fun book, then this is not for you. If you just want to see how certain individuals felt during their time in Vietnam, or if you want to learn the history of the Memorial, then this should be perfect.

[Jamie Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. The chapters feature various people who were involved in the Vietnam War, based all on personal interviews conducted by the author. The book follows the timeline of the war, and interspersed throughout are chapters on the presidents who led our country through the war. The writing is accessible for students and lots of pictures are included. One chapter features the story of a South Vietnamese young refugee. Another features the story of a young African-American enlisted in the army in 1966 who hears of King's assassination before going into a firefight. Required reading for sure, this book gives a clear overview of the controversial and complex nature of this war. Would make an excellent read-aloud and would clearly illustrate the differences between primary and secondary sources.

[Penny Peck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six men and two women dominate this history of the war in Vietnam (from the U.S. perspective), who gave the author in-depth interviews on their experiences. Filled with b&w photos as well as these primary source interviews, this is an excellent choice for middle and high school reports, but also for interest reading since many of those under age 30 really don't know very many details of the war. The book has a nice balance between what happened in the war and the anti-war movement at home, as well as information on LBJ and Nixon, the experience of refugees, and the building of the war memorial in Washington, DC.

[Abby Johnson]

Wow, what a powerful book to take the study of the Vietnam War to a whole new level. Patridge interviewed veterans from diverse backgrounds and who served in many different ways to present the Vietnam War from the perspective of those who were actually involved in it. She intersperses these first-person "boots on the ground" accounts with sections describing how America's presidents and leaders were dealing the war from home. Students will benefit from having some background knowledge of the Vietnam War before reading this book. Hand this to older teen readers who are looking for military history with lots of action.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This is an amazing account of individuals who served in Vietnam and also of the politics of the time. I really liked how the chapters were arranged giving the reader an account of a service member and then an account of history. I have visited the Wall in Washington D.C. and have also viewed the traveling memorial. The feelings that engulfed me were the same in both locations. Partridge has done an outstanding job of making the Vietnam War accessible to readers of all ages. A great addition to middle school and high school libraries.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extraordinary book. Chapters based on personal interviews by the author alternate with chapters on American policy, all in chronological order. The reader can understand what the president was thinking & planning and then read a chapter and see just how his decisions affected a specific man or woman serving in Vietnam. The variety of experiences represented range from the beginning of the war to the end and after.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An impressive variety of first-hand accounts makes this a stand-out in war history, esp. for a war that was so misrepresented and divisive for America. Great timing since we might be headed for another.

[Loren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. Very powerful.

I only wish that an editor had caught the typo on page 93. Nixon's first day in office was in 1969, not 1968. Hopefully they will fix in future editions.