Lieutanant Dangerous

by Jeff Danziger

A must-read war memoir... with zero punches pulled, related by one of the most incisive observers of the American political scene. --KIRKUS (starred review)

Funny, biting, thoughtful and wholly original. --Tim O'Brien, author of The Things They Carried

Jeff Danziger, one of the leading political cartoonists of his generation, captures the fear, sorrow, absurdity, and unintended but inevitable consequences of war with dark humor and penetrating moral clarity.


If there is any discipline at the start of wars it dissipates as the soldiers themselves become aware of the pointlessness of what they are being told to do.

A conversation with a group of today's military age men and women about America's involvement in Vietnam inspired Jeff Danziger to write about his own wartime experiences: "War is interesting," he reveals, "if you can avoid getting killed, and don't mind loud noises."

Fans of his cartooning will recognize his mordant humor applied to his own wartime training and combat experiences: "I learned, and I think most veterans learn, that making people or nations do something by bombing or sending in armed troops usually fails."

Near the end of his telling, Danziger invites his audience--in particular the young friends who inspired him to write this informative and rollicking memoir--to ponder: "What would you do? . . . Could you summon the bravery--or the internal resistance--to simply refuse to be part of the whole idiotic theater of the war? . . . Or would you be like me?"

Genres: Nonfiction, History, War, Memoir, Audiobook, American History, Biography

208 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2021

Reviews

[Linden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a number of Vietnam memoirs, mostly written shortly after the war by young men who had been involved with that ill-fated war. Political cartoonist Jeff Danziger is reflecting on his time there after 50 years, a draftee who became an officer in the hope he would avoid Vietnam only to find himself there anyway. He has many questions for readers, particularly younger ones such as "What would you do? Would you obey a [draft] notice from the United States government? Would you accept forced military training? Could they make you into a killer?" A thought provoking read for
those who know something about the Vietnam War and especially for those who do not. Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Abibliofob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have had a long fascination for the Vietnam war and have read quite a few books about it. This is one of the better ones. Not so much action but lots of thought. Lieutenant Dangerous is all about the reflections upon the conflict by author Jeff Danziger. Great insight. Well written and hard to put down. Thanks to @this_is_edelweiss @steerforthpress for giving me this advance copy. Out in the beginning of July 2021.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very mixed feelings towards this book. A lesson in how not to be a leader.

The author answered the call to duty but did he do his duty? Reads like a cynically humorous after action critique or a lessons NOT learned report. It’s more a rant than a memoir and a litany of excuses. He would have been better off going to Canada.

I initially enjoyed this book but once he hit Vietnam the enjoyment turned to annoyance and disgust at his clock watching and embrace of the minimum.

Appalling behavior for an officer. Should have never been one. He didn’t go to OCS but was a direct commission due to his college degree. Survivor and shirker. Negative. Thinks he knows everything. Critical of everything. No camaraderie here. He did his duty or he thinks he did. He did everything for the wrong reason and spent more time not doing his duty. Feels too sorry for himself. He’s obviously a problem child given his numerous assignments during the course of a year.

So we’re supposed to thank him for his service? He’s very jaded. Is he feeling regret for being so mediocre? Or is just embellishing his cynicism through the safety of fifty years? He wrote the book fifty years later because today’s generation has no clue as to the “evils” of the draft in this era of the all volunteer force. He was awarded the Bronze Star and the Air Medal but really doesn’t know what he did to deserve them. Sad.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

More individual and personal in scope than many other war memoirs, Lieutenant Dangerous (a mispronunciation of Jeff Danziger’s name) seems to be one man’s attempt to explain what he himself sees as unexplainable. Like many other young men, Danziger was drafted into the Vietnam War and spent his required year in-country. Other than the excellent illustrations (to be expected from someone who makes a living drawing political cartoons), there is very little that is concrete or widely applicable here, despite broadly sweeping judgments and criticisms.

Danziger was a reluctant participant in 1970 and voices what actually sounds like a young man’s frustration and cynicism. He regularly generalizes all decisions as asinine and all soldiers as disinterested. He gives much more commentary than detail. A reader is left wanting more structure and more context before being able to truly get behind this particular anti-war message.

Thank you to Jeff Danziger, Steerforth Press, and NetGalley for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Cynthia Capra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short memoir by the political cartoonist Danziger vividly brings back that desperately long stretch during which it was the Vietnam War that was fracturing the US. Danziger recounts his draft story, and his stateside experience of the army's idiocy as he attempted to wait out the war by way of many training convolutions. When his delay tactics and luck finally ran out, his one year tour in Vietnam began in '71, allowing a glimpse into the bizarre, confusing and harrowing days of an American officer. He exposes the insanity of this specific war in stories of senseless exercises, decisions risking soldiers/civilians, illogical rules, and the absence of a plan or concern for troops. Danziger is bitingly funny, but expect to be reminded of how shockingly tragic the war was; he makes it very clear that the notion of a post-WWII imperative to save the world from communism did not hold up long. The book is a great review of America's dawning realization that the war was a monumental mistake, and that lies and cover-ups abounded. Danziger was living through the war in the phase when people at all levels, civilian and military, were realizing there was no end in sight, no plan to admit a military loss and exit. He makes no bones that his tour was all about surviving day to day, avoiding risks and staying under the radar, because there was no point or meaningful mission that was worth caring about or dying for.
I was school kid for most of the Vietnam War, and reading this memoir also elicited some troubling memories of the hostility returning soldiers faced; largely drawn from the underclass and unwillingly drafted to go, there was not always a welcome home.
Danziger writes, "we seem doomed to a Vietnam-like quagmire every few decades;" such possibilities loom large and do not seem to be a dubious assumption. He asks repeatedly what would you ( the reader) do in various situations with which the Vietnam- era young male was faced?

[Bob Lingle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeff Danziger gives a very straightforward account of his experience with the Vietnam War. It removes the perceived glamour of war, and presents a very biting critique of the leadership that led us into Vietnam, and the indifference of the combatants.

Tune into our interview with Jeff on July 7 at 7:00 PM
https://fb.me/e/Kim9kXg3

[Nate Didier · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brutally honest account of one man’s views of his time in Vietnam, and his turmoil of trying to understand the difficult question of “Why?”

Danzinger explains in detail that he didn’t want to be there, didn’t want to do it, and did everything he could to survive and put that year behind him. He doesn’t write his memoir as a work to brag about his heroics, but as an account of getting pulled into the idiocy of political quagmire that was Vietnam.

Anyone that has served in the military can relate to the countless examples of absolute absurdity he experienced. As a combat veteran of Afghanistan, I can draw many parallels of the frustrations he experienced and what I went through.

I don’t condone his “shammer” mentality, but it was a very different time then when I served and I respect his honesty in what he has written.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A snow day & an exercise bike combined to allow me to polish off this fast moving, cynical, pointed memoir of a particular Vietnam veteran's experience. It's a very conversational, ironic, funny, frustrating set of memories that has a very melancholy view of the future. Not quite what one might expect from a war memoir, but I think it's perfect for the bleak early decades of the 21st century.

[Kenneth Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic...read this as well as "The Things They Carry" for a honest look at a soldiers life

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Courageous truths detailed in brilliant writing of government deceit, reality in battle, and loss of freedoms. This book should be on the "mandatory read list" in every high school and college history class. Education of truths about a government exploiting freedom simultaneously denying freedom from men forced into the draft, and the reality of war stealing their identity for the profits from war. These truths are the continual government business as usual, lied about, covered over for the same bottom line...money.
Thank you Mr. Danziger.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I finished this today the Talliban have taken over most of the outer provinces of Afghanistan. We are leaving having never changed the "hearts and minds" of the people with war. Just as Danziger describes his evaluation of our war in Vietnam. This memoir is worth the read. Danziger is very honest. He was a reluctant soldier, not schooled enough to flee the country (having a young wife and a child on the way). His aim in the military is not to go to Vietnam. That ends up not working. Danziger writes with humor, honesty and insight. People should read this, though, we probably will make the same mistake again and go into another war that only helps the military-industrial complex.....

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

The themes were the typical Vietnam themes seen in most books of that war. However, I still enjoyed the personal viewpoint/experiences of the author, which is the important thing. Danziger noticed his reading skills (in terms of reading other people) was a blessing but more of a curse, which I found as an interesting point. "Detecting a lie when there is no lie" seems degrading and sounds pitiful. Lieutenant Dangerous is no Tim O'Brien, but it's still a great Vietnam Book. All in all, this book is a solid 4/5.

[Dennis Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished Lieutenant Dangerous: A Vietnam War Memoir by Jeff Danziger, the award winning independent newspaper cartoonist. Danziger was drafted in 1968 and spent 1970 in Vietnam. It is part Catch 22 (Joseph Heller), part brutal account of what he saw and completely anti-war. He pulls no punches. It’s ultimately sad and tragic.

[Korra II Allison Baskerville · Rating 3 out of 5]

 This review is going to be for the audiobook version. I normally save my audiobook comments for the end, however, in this instance, most of my commentary has to do with the audiobook and not the physical and or kindle version.

I was surprised to find Jeff Danziger was the narrator for the audiobook version as he sounds much younger than he is. He often stutters, mispronounces words, or begins a chapter sounding totally different than he did in the one before. While it makes sense that he’d want to narrate his own memoir, it’s apparent that he lacks the professional talent of other narrators. My first impression was that the narrator was chosen for his age, due to his poor reading abilities.

While the information presented in the story is interesting from a historical point of view, the lifeless, emotionless narration makes this one of the most boring listens I’ve ever sat through. At one point, after listening for what felt like hours, I was getting ready to write my review, only to find I’d only been listening for an hour or two.

Another issue with the novel itself is how poorly planned it seems. The author will occasionally bring up a fact or mention something of historical importance, only for it to not be mentioned for hours. It feels like hours anyway; I genuinely can’t tell. I have an hour or more left and I feel as if I’ve been listening to this book for days. At one point in the story, he talks about how a friend of his wanted to help a woman he was smitten with, by borrowing 200$ to send her away to his home so he could marry her. He then proceeds to tell you that he doesn’t even know if things ever worked out, making that story a complete waste of time.

This audiobook really feels as if you’re sitting down in from of your grandfather as he prattles on for seemingly an eternity about the bad old days. As I said at the start of this review, I listened to the audiobook, so I can’t comment on the illustrations or their quality.

I’m giving this book my middle-rating of ‘meh’. It’s not a bad book, just rambly. It’s an interesting look into the Vietnam War and the absolute lunacy of it all through the eyes of a soldier. It reads like a well written ” and then …… and then …….. and then …… and then…..” type of story. You’d be better off picking up a physical or kindle copy as the Audiobook is likely to put you to sleep.

NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval. 

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook. The author says he wrote the book, relating his personal experiences during the Vietnam War, because he was dismayed to meet younger people who knew nothing of that time. He gives a detailed and engaging account that includes how the draft worked, the politics that lead to the war, what his military training was like and how it seemed at times to not be applicable to what they would be facing in the jungle, what it's like to be fighting a war you have no enthusiasm for when surrounded by others feeling the exact same way. The author uses his personal experiences as a lens to show readers the futility of the Vietnam War and, by extension, subsequent wars. He manages to convey these hard truths with a light tone that makes this book really readable (or listenable).

[Ryan Leuenberger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably one of, if not the, most interesting books I have ever read. I haven’t ever read a book written this way and I probably won’t again, not because it’s bad. It is written in an mashup of nonfiction, opinion, and story that led to an eccentric sum. But its lens was overly focused. It was too gloomy, too pessimistic, and if that’s Danziger’s goal that’s fine, but it failed to be realistic by being too realistic, if that makes any sense. There are also certain opinions that I find quite wrong, even though opinions can’t be wrong (ex. the part about strategic bombing was right on paper but technically incorrect in the context of WW2, where strategic bombing was actually quite successful, like Germany or better the Pacific Islands theatre). Interesting premise, but the opinion base is not my style, but I appreciate it for what it is.

[Kate Schwarz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was telling my dad, a voracious reader and retired Army LTG (who just missed being drafted to Vietnam), about this book. “It’s neither about the war it self nor about the lead up and aftermath. It’s not about one lieutenant’s experience exactly, but it’s not a sweeping history of the Army there, the war, the many ways the U.S. massively misstepped. It’s a little bit of all of these.”

He said he’s easily read 20 books about the Vietnam War, and he’s yet to read one that covers everything. There’s just too much; it was just that complicated.

So with my dad’s experience and perspective fresh in my mind, this is a good and accessible book if you’re looking for a book about Vietnam with a little bit about everything.

[Jason Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The missions were definitely suicidal. And suicide has to have a better reason than simply someone orders you to do it."

This is Jeff Danziger's account of his service in Vietnam which began as a draftee who became an officer to hopefully avoid Vietnam. Finding himself there anyway, he discusses his experience through a unique lens, layered with questions, confusion, honesty, and sarcasm. I have read many who said he should not have been an officer as he did not truly do his duty. I have seen praise heaped upon him. I find myself questioning how I would have handled being in his situation. Not ever truly knowing this, I am only left with his memoir, which I found an interesting read. I found this both informative and challenging to read, overall, loving the account.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I won't read this book again (my usual criteria for rating a book with 5 stars) I had to rate 5 stars. It is that good. Jeff Danziger doesn't try convince the reader that he is some sort of super warrior! Just the opposite. He is humble and points out his weaknesses with self deprecating humor. He also points out the senselessness of the Vietnam war. The waste and foolishness of some of the practices and policies of the military. Two of the more ridiculous were about the shortage of nozzles and sweat detecting plastic jungle plants. Read it and decide for yourself!

Narrated by Jeff Danziger himself

[William]

Disappointing read. Danziger was “spot on” regarding the inept political and military reasoning surrounding the Vietnam war. After that the book read like a memoir from a person bent on unhappiness. There were educational deferments, not exemptions during the war. Many of my friends attended school and then went to Vietnam. That seemed more like a win for both the student and the Army at the time. Danziger makes those deferments sound like a scheme for rich kids to avoid the military. Deferred students were just as afraid to go to war…just not as cynical. It is concerning that someone with this cynical, morose view on our way of life spent ten years teaching our kids.

[Northwestreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new and interesting vantage point to look at a young man's experiences in the Army during the time of the Vietnam from 50 years out. Danzinger is roughly my contemporary so I can relate to many of the things he is talking about which makes this book particularly interesting. His mission to "learn" the army and use this knowledge to keep himself as safe as possible during a conflict he did not want to be part of was both enlightening and eye-opening.

He performs his own book and he does it well. It comes across in a very personal, conversational manner.

[Carter Wintsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

An “everyman” kind of Vietnam experience. Danzinger was intelligent, and became an officer who wouldn’t be in infantry. That makes this not the most thrilling first hand account, but in a way, that adds to its power.

The author feels like it could be your dad, uncle, or neighbor. Just a normal guy who, despite not having some of the nightmare stories of many infantrymen, still has plenty to say that shows the nation’s incompetence and lack of care for its own soldiers, let alone the civilians of Vietnam.

[Lee Cornell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This memoir recounts Jeff Danziger's time in the Army (1967-71) and his year in Vietnam. (Yes, Jeff Danziger, the political cartoonist.)

There a times when his recollections ramble, and he pauses the narrative to take some (not undeserved) shots at past and present politicians and military leaders.

Even so, it is a detailed memoir that shows why it is so hard for the US and its citizens to come to terms with the Vietnam War.

[Nick Ueber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really insightful look at the Vietnam experience. It is not so much an action packed war story rather it is the story of the corrupt and inept political and military leaders on both the American and South Vietnamese side. He points out the absurdity of army life and the disaster that was the ARVN. His last chapter where he posits a group of meaningful questions is really though provoking. A different look at the war than most books written by former soldiers.

[Wharton Sinkler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Danziger has had great fun at the Army's expense. His term of service in Vietnam provided him with innumerable ineptitudes for skewering the bureaucratic SNAFUs of military life. Many of his illustrations are funny, some infuriating, most simply sad. The author writes very well, his words shining like sabres flashing in a dark night.

He reminded me of Heller's Catch-22 and of James Lord's lesser known work, My Queer War, both writing about similar ineptitudes in World War II.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tragic juggernaut

Long ago and far away with other tragedies in between then and now. War is hell.

The stories, so to speak, recounted by Jeff Danziger, are informative and, in many cases, a nutshell history of the results of decisions from the 1950s, on. The chapters provide a viewpoint from which to consider the entire era.

What you see depends on where you’re standing. LT Danziger shows us where he was.

[Scott Resnik · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unorthodox memoir of the Vietnam war that is insightful, cynical and at times hilarious. No institution or individual encountered by the author during his wartime experience emerges unscathed. A thoughtful exploration of the wastefulness of our nation’s post-WW2 conflicts and the burdens placed on the young men and women asked by politicians to go fight them.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danziger's memoir of his Army service during Vietnam is interesting. He starts out in language school to avoid the infantry and then ends up being given a direct commission and assigned as an ordnance officer. He eventually gets back to being an interpreter after writing his senator saying his language training was a waste of taxpayer money.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A biting story of one man’s Vietnam War experience from the draft to his homecoming. Danziger demonstrates the absolute inanity of this war, the disaster that was, and I hope, not still, the army and their lack of care and attention to the lives they are responsible for. There is waste of lives and resources on every page.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

great memoir

This memoir captures most of what the army is like in war. It doesn’t cover the infantry’s perspective, but remember while the infantry sustains 90% of the casualties, it’s a relatively small part of the overall forces. This memoir also sounds a lot like Catch -22 . Both books capture the lunacy of war and the stumble bums who end up in charge. It’s a great read