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Charlie Company's Journey Home: The Forgotten Impact on the Wives of Vietnam Veterans
The Boys of ’67 and the War They Left Behind
The human experience of the Vietnam War is almost impossible to grasp--the camaraderie, the fear, the smell, the pain. Men were transformed into soldiers, and then into warriors.
These warriors had wives who loved them and shared in their transformations. Some marriages were strengthened, while for others there was all too often a dark side, leaving men and their families emotionally and spiritually battered for years to come.
Focusing in on just one company’s experience of war and its eventual homecoming, Andrew Wiest shines a light on the shared experience of combat and both the darkness and resiliency of war’s aftermath.
The human experience of the Vietnam War is almost impossible to grasp--the camaraderie, the fear, the smell, the pain. Men were transformed into soldiers, and then into warriors.
These warriors had wives who loved them and shared in their transformations. Some marriages were strengthened, while for others there was all too often a dark side, leaving men and their families emotionally and spiritually battered for years to come.
Focusing in on just one company’s experience of war and its eventual homecoming, Andrew Wiest shines a light on the shared experience of combat and both the darkness and resiliency of war’s aftermath.
- GenresHistoryWarNonfiction
400 pages, Hardcover
Published October 23, 2018
7 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Wiest
36 books12 followersAndrew A. Wiest is presently a Professor of History at the University of Southern Misssissippi, and serves as director of the Vietnam Studies Program and co-director of the university's Center for the Study of War and Society.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 5, 2018
Netgalley review:
I know very little about the Vietnam War. I saw this title available for request and figured it would be a good way to learn about life during the war from a female's perspective. It ended up being the perfect choice, because I got some insight into the war through letters and interview excerpts from the soldiers themselves, but there was a heavy focus too on what life was like for the wives they left at home.
I liked the personal aspect of this book. It was heartfelt and gave me a deep appreciation for our veterans. I was so shocked to learn that these men faced such horrible taunts and abuse from the public once they returned home, especially because most of them were drafted and did not willingly go into the service.
I struggled a bit with the ending because of the way the author inserted the profiles of the women that he was unable to include in the book. On the one hand, I absolutely understand his desire to include their stories, even though it didn't fit the narrative of the book. After giving their time to be interviewed for the book, especially considering the emotional toll that must have been present for many of these women and men as they retold stories from such a difficult time, it would be hard to not include them and honor them in some way. And I enjoyed their stories as much as the others. It just seemed odd to have them tacked on at the end and it was also difficult to follow along at that point. I felt for sure that some of the stories were familiar and had actually been included in the book, but because it is not possible to leaf through an ebook, I wasn't able to go back and see if my suspicions were correct.
I love the pictures at the end and they were such a nice inclusion. I only wish they had been sprinkled in throughout the text so that we could see each individual picture alongside the words and stories of the people pictured in them. It would have been much more effective for me.
Overall, fantastic book. I appreciate having the opportunity to read an review it.
I know very little about the Vietnam War. I saw this title available for request and figured it would be a good way to learn about life during the war from a female's perspective. It ended up being the perfect choice, because I got some insight into the war through letters and interview excerpts from the soldiers themselves, but there was a heavy focus too on what life was like for the wives they left at home.
I liked the personal aspect of this book. It was heartfelt and gave me a deep appreciation for our veterans. I was so shocked to learn that these men faced such horrible taunts and abuse from the public once they returned home, especially because most of them were drafted and did not willingly go into the service.
I struggled a bit with the ending because of the way the author inserted the profiles of the women that he was unable to include in the book. On the one hand, I absolutely understand his desire to include their stories, even though it didn't fit the narrative of the book. After giving their time to be interviewed for the book, especially considering the emotional toll that must have been present for many of these women and men as they retold stories from such a difficult time, it would be hard to not include them and honor them in some way. And I enjoyed their stories as much as the others. It just seemed odd to have them tacked on at the end and it was also difficult to follow along at that point. I felt for sure that some of the stories were familiar and had actually been included in the book, but because it is not possible to leaf through an ebook, I wasn't able to go back and see if my suspicions were correct.
I love the pictures at the end and they were such a nice inclusion. I only wish they had been sprinkled in throughout the text so that we could see each individual picture alongside the words and stories of the people pictured in them. It would have been much more effective for me.
Overall, fantastic book. I appreciate having the opportunity to read an review it.
August 17, 2018
Growing up during the 1960s and '70s, I read countless newspaper and magazine articles on the Vietnam War, as well as watched countless news stories on TV about it. Lo and behold, though, this is the first nonfiction book I have ever read on that war. It was not an easy read, either. While Andrew Wiest concentrated on the wives and families of the soldiers, there was still no shortage of graphic descriptions of combat, injuries and deaths in letters home and such. Dr. Wiest did an excellent job, too, getting the reader to understand how young most of these soldiers and their wives were when they married, and how different their lives were from others their age whose lives had nothing to do with Vietnam and never would.
The Vietnam War would always be part of the lives of the families of the soldiers. Yet, while the war scarred everyone in one way or another, this was not a book where most of the young vets came home with severe mental or physical problems, ending up on disability for the rest of their lives. Life went on in a normal fashion for the majority in this book who survived the war. Most left the military, got civilian jobs, stayed married to the wives they left behind and raised children. Many of the wives continued working after their husbands returned, too, or went back to work later on in their marriages. They liked the independence and skills they acquired while their husbands were in Vietnam. It was hard not to think while reading, however, that the descriptions of the wives' lives were somewhat superficial; like the main concern was how good a helpmate they were to their husbands; exactly the way the military would perceive their successes or failures. Hence, I'm not sure Dr. Wiest was the best person to write about the lives and feelings of these women, although he definitely does not place blame on any wives for divorces.
Memories of the war seemed always there for everyone, though, at least below the surface. Interestingly, it was after they retired from their civilian jobs when some of the vets started dealing with memories they had kept buried for years. Wives may have asked their husbands to talk about their wartime experiences, but many husbands did not want to talk, until later in their lives. For some, it was when they went to Charlie Company reunions that finally sparked their desire to talk. While this book was intended to tell the wives' stories, it always seemed to go back to the husbands' stories. It was hard not to think after finishing the final chapter what an absolute waste war always is, especially the Vietnam War. Yet, according to Andrew Wiest, many Vietnam vets, including PTSD disabled ones, see Vietnam "as one of the very best events of their lives". That's true of so many other veterans of other wars, too. Humans are a strange, resilient species, indeed.
(Note: I received a free ARC of this book from Amazon Vine.)
The Vietnam War would always be part of the lives of the families of the soldiers. Yet, while the war scarred everyone in one way or another, this was not a book where most of the young vets came home with severe mental or physical problems, ending up on disability for the rest of their lives. Life went on in a normal fashion for the majority in this book who survived the war. Most left the military, got civilian jobs, stayed married to the wives they left behind and raised children. Many of the wives continued working after their husbands returned, too, or went back to work later on in their marriages. They liked the independence and skills they acquired while their husbands were in Vietnam. It was hard not to think while reading, however, that the descriptions of the wives' lives were somewhat superficial; like the main concern was how good a helpmate they were to their husbands; exactly the way the military would perceive their successes or failures. Hence, I'm not sure Dr. Wiest was the best person to write about the lives and feelings of these women, although he definitely does not place blame on any wives for divorces.
Memories of the war seemed always there for everyone, though, at least below the surface. Interestingly, it was after they retired from their civilian jobs when some of the vets started dealing with memories they had kept buried for years. Wives may have asked their husbands to talk about their wartime experiences, but many husbands did not want to talk, until later in their lives. For some, it was when they went to Charlie Company reunions that finally sparked their desire to talk. While this book was intended to tell the wives' stories, it always seemed to go back to the husbands' stories. It was hard not to think after finishing the final chapter what an absolute waste war always is, especially the Vietnam War. Yet, according to Andrew Wiest, many Vietnam vets, including PTSD disabled ones, see Vietnam "as one of the very best events of their lives". That's true of so many other veterans of other wars, too. Humans are a strange, resilient species, indeed.
(Note: I received a free ARC of this book from Amazon Vine.)
June 20, 2018
We are all still learning about the effects the Vietnam War had on us as a nation, and Andrew Wiest is helping us to see and heal. This story focuses more on the wives of the soldiers of Charlie Company and fills in the stories of "what happened" after they returned. Using mostly interviews and official military records, Wiest also publishes many of the letters wives and soldiers exchanged.
Reading this is pretty sobering stuff. Nothing I have read previously does a better job of explaining the aftereffects war has on men, and by extension their wives and families. When these soldiers returned, nobody knew what PTSD was and even the VA doctors told suffering Vets to go home and suck it up, nothing was wrong with them.
But the wives knew better. ALL of the men came back changed for the worse....nervous, angry, violent, prone to brutal nightmares and not being able to understand what was wrong with them. In many cases it showed immediately, in others years later, but it was always there. Almost to a man they refused to talk about their experiences, and only later learned through counseling and talking to other Vets the therapeutic value of talk.
This book is heartbreaking, but Wiest does illustrate so much good that comes out of all this pain and suffering. The men who actually went through their year in Vietnam need for you to read this and understand...their fellowship....their terrors.....their experiences and their healing.
Reading this is pretty sobering stuff. Nothing I have read previously does a better job of explaining the aftereffects war has on men, and by extension their wives and families. When these soldiers returned, nobody knew what PTSD was and even the VA doctors told suffering Vets to go home and suck it up, nothing was wrong with them.
But the wives knew better. ALL of the men came back changed for the worse....nervous, angry, violent, prone to brutal nightmares and not being able to understand what was wrong with them. In many cases it showed immediately, in others years later, but it was always there. Almost to a man they refused to talk about their experiences, and only later learned through counseling and talking to other Vets the therapeutic value of talk.
This book is heartbreaking, but Wiest does illustrate so much good that comes out of all this pain and suffering. The men who actually went through their year in Vietnam need for you to read this and understand...their fellowship....their terrors.....their experiences and their healing.
November 16, 2021
These are the stories of those left at home, the families. A lot of attention on young people 17/18 years old marrying, husbands go to Vietnam, and in some cases babies are born, never meeting their father. Dilemmas with setting up homes at young ages. The author also explores the servicemen coming home and the traumas they faced not diagnosed.
This is a heavy read. I read a chapter each sitting, and not more than one a day. There is a lot to digest.
I picked this up as a clearance book at Book Outlet, and will donate hoping it finds a forever home.
This is a heavy read. I read a chapter each sitting, and not more than one a day. There is a lot to digest.
I picked this up as a clearance book at Book Outlet, and will donate hoping it finds a forever home.
July 11, 2022
Well researched and well written. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and hearing about the war from another perspective. I had to read it in small chunks in order to digest it. War is terrible. This is the first book that I’ve read from a wife/female perspective of the Vietnam War. This book is definitely worth your time to read.
March 6, 2019
Heartrending account of the impact on marriages/relationships for returning men and the women they loved. I read this book in 2 days - couldn't put it down. It was all set in a time that I remember, having dated several returning vets and marrying a Vietnam vet. Years ago I read another book on Charlie Company and so when I saw this at the library I couldn't pass it up.
This is about the men, their service, their wives/girlfriends and the impact on them and their families. It's not an easy read, but for anyone who lived during the Vietnam War, it is a must read.
This is about the men, their service, their wives/girlfriends and the impact on them and their families. It's not an easy read, but for anyone who lived during the Vietnam War, it is a must read.
November 4, 2019
This is a very enlightening book. It should be required reading in school along with The Greatest Generation books.
October 28, 2018
The author did a great job of writing about a period in our history that many do not know too much about. I found myself wanting to learn more after reading this book and spent time researching online. Definitely recommend this one!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews