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War Story
A Green Beret veteren recreates the horrors of the Vietnam War experience and the courage and camaraderie of the men who fought side-by-side with the Montagnards, fiercely independent primitive tribesmen from the central Vietnam highlands
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
34 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Jim Morris
19 books27 followersJim Morris served three tours with Special Forces (The Green Berets) in Vietnam. The second and third were cut short by serious wounds. He retired of wounds as a major. He has maintained his interest in the mountain peoples of Vietnam with whom he fought, and has been, for many years, a refugee and civil rights activist on their behalf.
His Vietnam memoir War Story won the first Bernal Diaz Award for military non-fiction. Morris is author of the story from which the film Operation Dumbo Drop was made, and has produced numerous documentary television episodes about the Vietnam War. He is author of three books of non-fiction and five novels. He has appeared on MSNBC as a commentator on Special Operations.
For the past decade he has immersed himself in a deep study of Toltec shamanism. His research in this topic has taken him to Central Mexico, Bolivia, and Peru. He has completed two rigorous apprenticeships in this tradition.
His Vietnam memoir War Story won the first Bernal Diaz Award for military non-fiction. Morris is author of the story from which the film Operation Dumbo Drop was made, and has produced numerous documentary television episodes about the Vietnam War. He is author of three books of non-fiction and five novels. He has appeared on MSNBC as a commentator on Special Operations.
For the past decade he has immersed himself in a deep study of Toltec shamanism. His research in this topic has taken him to Central Mexico, Bolivia, and Peru. He has completed two rigorous apprenticeships in this tradition.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 14, 2016
I cannot begin to express how much I enjoyed Jim Morris' personal reflection on his time spent in Vietnam as a Green Beret in the early years of the war, as his account truly hits the mark. A vast conflict, affecting hundreds of thousands of lives, where the worst enemy was often misconception and the anally retentive "red tape syndrome" so indicative of any large military machine.
Not afraid to say it like it is - we get to meet such legends as "Cowboy", "Luette", and discover the true relationship that existed between the VC, Vietnamese, and indigenous tribes such as the Montagnara...
We get to dip into the funny side of life in Vietnam - Jim's account of the time he visited a leper colony in the company of a local missionary and ended up sharing a jug of numpai with the village elder through a shared straw (Yuuum) had me crying with laughter
And sadly, we see the poignant heartrending reality too - John Link's story near the end of the book was especially tragic and typifies the cruelty of war. A normal guy doing what he can to save a fellow soldier and paying the ultimate price. (Jim himself was badly injured during that same rescue attempt).
And this from a man who's worst fear was getting promoted out and being "8 to 5'd to death in a foul little job in a foul little office", and who never felt more alive or at home than when he was out on patrol in an endless sea of green, doing something he felt was more important than life.
If you ever feel the need to read a true life tale that's thoroughly engaging and exposes what the conflict was all about, then War Story is just the thing you need.
From one veteran who has lived through the crucible of fire to another...Respects.
Not afraid to say it like it is - we get to meet such legends as "Cowboy", "Luette", and discover the true relationship that existed between the VC, Vietnamese, and indigenous tribes such as the Montagnara...
We get to dip into the funny side of life in Vietnam - Jim's account of the time he visited a leper colony in the company of a local missionary and ended up sharing a jug of numpai with the village elder through a shared straw (Yuuum) had me crying with laughter
And sadly, we see the poignant heartrending reality too - John Link's story near the end of the book was especially tragic and typifies the cruelty of war. A normal guy doing what he can to save a fellow soldier and paying the ultimate price. (Jim himself was badly injured during that same rescue attempt).
And this from a man who's worst fear was getting promoted out and being "8 to 5'd to death in a foul little job in a foul little office", and who never felt more alive or at home than when he was out on patrol in an endless sea of green, doing something he felt was more important than life.
If you ever feel the need to read a true life tale that's thoroughly engaging and exposes what the conflict was all about, then War Story is just the thing you need.
From one veteran who has lived through the crucible of fire to another...Respects.
September 1, 2008
This is an interesting and sometimes funny book written by a former Green Beret about his experiences during the Vietnam War. Not usually my cup of tea, but I truly enjoyed it. I also learned alot about the war and the mountain people of Vietnam the Montagnards.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 3, 2012Signed by the author.
May 25, 2016
A personal look at part of the Vietnam War not generally covered or acknowledged.
February 17, 2018
Excellent writing by brave and wide warrior. Sorry it ended but a tribute to the Green Berets and Montagnards that fought together . My late brother was there and now I have more knowledge and respect for him and all his ST brothers. Thank you Him Morris for this jouri.
Excellent writing by a brave and wise warrior. Sorry it ended but a tribute to the Green Berets and Montagnards that fought together. My late brother was there and now I have more knowledge and respect for him and all his ST brothers. Thank you Jim Morris for this journey.
Excellent writing by a brave and wise warrior. Sorry it ended but a tribute to the Green Berets and Montagnards that fought together. My late brother was there and now I have more knowledge and respect for him and all his ST brothers. Thank you Jim Morris for this journey.
May 14, 2018
Informative and entertaining
This is one of the most interesting and entertaining reads of the fifth of so Vietnam books i have recently read. It is the only book i have read that details the advisor years and for that reason alone it's a must read.
This is one of the most interesting and entertaining reads of the fifth of so Vietnam books i have recently read. It is the only book i have read that details the advisor years and for that reason alone it's a must read.
June 7, 2020
Forever Vietnam
Having spent my time 67 and 68 in the Dong Ha theater I new little of the Yards role and men like Jim Morris Bravo Zola Jim and well done soldier
Having spent my time 67 and 68 in the Dong Ha theater I new little of the Yards role and men like Jim Morris Bravo Zola Jim and well done soldier
December 27, 2016
Fiction
This had to be the worst book on Vietnam that I have EVER read. I don't like fiction and this book is all about that. I had to dump one quarter of the book. Reading this thing is akin to sewing curtains, BORING!!!!
This had to be the worst book on Vietnam that I have EVER read. I don't like fiction and this book is all about that. I had to dump one quarter of the book. Reading this thing is akin to sewing curtains, BORING!!!!
May 2, 2017
A warrior's story as told by a warrior.
The book describe the thoughts that went through the mind of a man who wanted to be a soldier and was a soldier.
The book describe the thoughts that went through the mind of a man who wanted to be a soldier and was a soldier.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews