Reconciliation Road: A Family Odyssey

by John Douglas Marshall

In his prize-winning memoir, Reconciliation Road , John Marshall recounts a road trip around America in search of the truth about his famous grandfather General S. L. A. (Slam) Marshall, author of Pork Chop Hill . In the process he comes to terms with his own past and that of others whose families were torn apart by the Vietnam War.

315 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2000

Reviews

[Michael Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A grandson's journey to find the truth about his famous grandfather's (S.L.A. Marshall) wartime historical writing and research--a controversy that was sparked by an American Heritage magazine article that called into question Marshall's classic work "Men Against Fire." In that book Marshall claimed that approximately 75% of American troops did not fire their weapons during combat in WW II. The grandson's research trip to discover the truth is also a journey about a nation coming to grips with the Vietnam War. The author had completed officer training and was preparing to be sent to Vietnam, when he decided to apply for "conscientious objector" status. When that status was granted John Marshall, his grandfather sent him a letter disowning him and kicking him out of the Marshall family. The book is indeed an effort at reconciliation on many levels--father & son--grandfather & grandson--CO and combat veteran --- hawk & dove.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read this for school many moons ago. It's about people forgiving each other. That's about it.